Operation Sindoor in NCERT Curriculum: A Balanced Narrative or Selective Storytelling?
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) is set to introduce a special module on Operation Sindoor, India’s military response to the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, into the school curriculum for Classes 3 to 12. This 8-to-10-page module, divided into two parts—one for Classes 3 to 8 and another for Classes 9 to 12—aims to educate students about India’s defence strategy, diplomatic response, and military prowess. According to sources, the module will highlight the precision strikes launched on May 7, 2025, targeting nine terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), following the brutal killing of 26 civilians in Pahalgam. However, as the curriculum takes shape, critical questions arise about the completeness and objectivity of the narrative it will present. Will it address the complexities of the operation, including intelligence failures, international dynamics, and contested claims, or will it prioritize a narrative of national pride? This article examines the potential scope and implications of the NCERT module on Operation Sindoor.
The Context of Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was a significant escalation in India’s counter-terrorism strategy, marking a progression from the 2016 surgical strikes and the 2019 Balakot airstrikes. Launched in response to the April 22, 2025, Pahalgam attack—where Lashkar-linked terrorists, reportedly from The Resistance Front (TRF), killed 26 people, including tourists—the operation involved precision airstrikes on terror infrastructure across the Line of Control (LoC). The four-day conflict, involving fighter jets, missiles, and heavy artillery, ended with a ceasefire on May 10, 2025. The NCERT module aims to showcase India’s military resolve and inter-ministerial coordination, positioning the operation as a case study in national security. Yet, the inclusion of certain contentious aspects remains uncertain.
Addressing the Pahalgam Intelligence Failures?
The Pahalgam attack exposed potential vulnerabilities in India’s intelligence apparatus, raising questions about whether the NCERT module will address these lapses. The attack, which targeted Hindu tourists and was allegedly orchestrated by TRF, a proxy of Pakistan-based Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT), caught security forces off-guard. The failure to anticipate the attack, despite rising militancy in Kashmir, suggests gaps in intelligence gathering and analysis. A comprehensive curriculum should acknowledge these shortcomings to provide students with a realistic understanding of national security challenges. Omitting this aspect risks presenting a sanitized version of events, undermining the module’s educational value. As of now, no official sources confirm whether the module will delve into these failures, leaving open the question of whether NCERT will prioritize factual history over a triumphant narrative.
Accountability for the Perpetrators
Another critical question is whether the module will clarify the status of the Pahalgam attack’s perpetrators. The TRF initially claimed responsibility but later retracted, possibly under pressure from Pakistan, highlighting the complex interplay of terrorist groups and state actors. There is no publicly available evidence confirming whether the perpetrators were captured or punished by Indian authorities. Including this information—or the lack thereof—would provide students with insight into the challenges of counter-terrorism, including the difficulty of holding non-state actors accountable in a geopolitically charged environment. Excluding this risks reducing the module to a one-sided account of India’s military success without addressing the ongoing threat of terrorism.
Pakistan’s Retaliatory Actions
The four-day conflict following Operation Sindoor saw Pakistan retaliate with firings and shelling in border areas like Poonch, resulting in civilian casualties and property damage. A balanced curriculum should include these consequences to illustrate the human and material costs of cross-border conflicts. Acknowledging Pakistan’s response would also contextualize the ceasefire and its implications for regional stability. However, the NCERT’s stated aim to highlight “Pakistan’s defeat” suggests a focus on India’s military dominance, potentially sidelining the broader impact of the conflict. Omitting Pakistan’s retaliatory actions could skew students’ understanding of the operation’s repercussions.
The Ceasefire and U.S. Involvement
The abrupt ceasefire on May 10, 2025, raises questions about external influences, particularly claims by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump has repeatedly asserted—24 times, according to some reports—that he brokered the ceasefire by threatening to halt trade between India and Pakistan. These claims, unrefuted by Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, have fueled speculation about U.S. intervention. The NCERT module must address this narrative to clarify India’s agency in the ceasefire decision. Excluding Trump’s claims could leave students unaware of the international dimensions of the conflict, while including them risks highlighting a perceived diplomatic vulnerability. The module’s approach to this issue will reveal whether NCERT prioritizes transparency or a controlled narrative.
International Reactions and India’s Isolation
Operation Sindoor exposed a stark divide in global responses. While several countries condemned the Pahalgam attack, none explicitly blamed Pakistan for supporting terrorism, and major powers like China, Turkey, and Azerbaijan openly backed Pakistan. This lack of support for India, coupled with China’s military backing of Pakistan, raises questions about India’s diplomatic standing. The module should explore whether this reflects growing isolation or a failure of India’s foreign policy to counter Pakistan’s narrative. Addressing this would provide students with a nuanced understanding of geopolitics, but the NCERT’s focus on “India’s military power” suggests this critical aspect may be downplayed. A failure to include this could reinforce a simplistic view of international relations.
Contested Claims of Military Losses
Reports of India losing five fighter jets, including Rafales, during Operation Sindoor—corroborated by the Indian Air Force spokesperson, the Chief of Army Staff, and a military attaché in Kuala Lumpur—remain contentious. Pakistan and Western media have amplified these claims, while India has not officially clarified the number of jets lost. Including this in the curriculum would demonstrate transparency and allow students to grapple with the costs of military operations. However, the NCERT’s emphasis on “Pakistan’s defeat” suggests these losses may be omitted to maintain a narrative of unmitigated success. Excluding such details risks undermining the module’s credibility and depriving students of a full picture of the operation’s challenges.
Parliamentary Diplomacy and Global Outreach
India’s response to Operation Sindoor included a parliamentary delegation’s outreach to 35 countries to explain its stance on cross-border terrorism. The module should highlight this diplomatic effort to illustrate India’s proactive engagement with the international community. Including the outcomes of these visits—whether they shifted global perceptions or strengthened India’s position—would enrich the curriculum by showcasing the interplay of diplomacy and military action. However, there is no indication yet that this aspect will be covered, raising concerns about the module’s comprehensiveness.
The China Factor: A Proxy War?
Operation Sindoor was not just an India-Pakistan conflict but also a proxy war involving China, which supported Pakistan militarily, including testing its J-10 fighter jets against India’s Rafales. This dimension underscores China’s role as a strategic rival, challenging India’s military capabilities and regional influence. The NCERT module must address whether China, rather than Pakistan, is India’s primary adversary in this context. Acknowledging this would provide students with a deeper understanding of regional power dynamics, but the module’s focus on Pakistan’s defeat suggests this critical angle may be overlooked. Teaching a sanitized version of events risks misinforming students about the broader geopolitical stakes.
The Imperative of Truthful History
The inclusion of Operation Sindoor in the NCERT curriculum is a significant step toward educating young Indians about national security and military strategy. However, the module’s effectiveness hinges on its commitment to truth and balance. By addressing intelligence failures, the status of perpetrators, Pakistan’s retaliation, international reactions, contested losses, diplomatic efforts, and the China factor, NCERT can foster critical thinking and a nuanced understanding of complex events. Omitting these elements risks reducing the module to propaganda, undermining its educational purpose. As one source noted, the aim is to teach students “how nations respond to terror threats and how defence, diplomacy, and coordination between ministries play a role in national security.” To achieve this, NCERT must embrace a fact-based narrative that acknowledges both triumphs and challenges.
A Test of Educational Integrity
As NCERT prepares to roll out the Operation Sindoor module, it faces a critical choice: to present a comprehensive, fact-based account or a selective narrative of national pride. The module’s impact on young minds will depend on its willingness to tackle uncomfortable truths, from intelligence lapses to international isolation and military losses. By fostering critical inquiry, NCERT can equip students to understand the complexities of national security and geopolitics. As the module is finalized, educators, policymakers, and parents must advocate for a curriculum that prioritizes truth over triumphalism, ensuring that future generations learn the full story of Operation Sindoor.
Hasnain Naqvi is a former member of the history faculty at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai
