NCERT to replace map showing Aksai Chin as disputed area in Class 12 textbook

NCERT will replace the map of East and South East Asia of the Class XII political science textbook that showed Aksai Chin as a disputed area after media reports highlighted the issue.

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has decided to replace the map of East and South East Asia of the Class XII Political Science textbook that showed “Aksai Chin” as a disputed area.

NCERT has decided to replace the map of East and South East Asia of the Class XII political science textbook that showed Aksai Chin as a disputed area.(HT PHOTO)

The decision was taken by the Council after media reports highlighted that “Aksai Chin belongs to China” about a map on page 56 in the NCERT political science textbook, “Contemporary World Politics.”

According to a statement issued by NCERT, this textbook covers major political events and processes in world politics since the beginning of the Cold War era.

“The Chapter 4, ‘Alternative Centres of Power’, focuses on the European Union, ASEAN and China. The map which figures on page 56 is not a map of India, but a map of East and South East Asia. It was prepared by the University of Texas. The source of the map was mentioned at the bottom. The map states that ‘Boundary representation is not necessarily authoritative,” NCERT spokesperson said.

Aksai Chin has been under the unlawful occupation of China. In the map, the border between India and China, near Aksai Chin is marked in dotted lines to indicate the dispute. Indian claim over Aksai Chin is clearly mentioned.

Later in this chapter, the topic under the heading ‘India - China Relations’ (on page 61) refers to competing territorial claims in Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin.

Aksai Chin is shown as an integral part of India in the map of India and its neighbours on page 149. However, the Council has now decided to replace it.