J&K Orders Screening Of School Books Containing ‘Anti-National’ Or ‘Controversial’ Content | Education and Career News
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According to the administration, the objective is to ensure that students do not have access to content considered controversial or capable of disturbing social harmony.
News18
The Jammu and Kashmir government has issued a new directive requiring all schools and coaching centres in the Kashmir Valley to review the books and educational materials available on their premises. According to the government, students should not have access to any books or materials that are deemed ‘controversial’ or ‘anti-national’, reported Times of India. Therefore, the Directorate of School Education has issued a new order.
This announcement comes after a book distributed to government schools in Jammu and Kashmir under the Samagra Shiksha programme allegedly had content that contradicted India’s constitutional position on the Union Territory and echoed Pakistani and separatist narratives. The book, carrying the Samagra Shiksha J&K 2025-26 logo, used terms such as “Indian Occupied Kashmir (IOK)” and “Indian Held Kashmir” instead of referring to the region as the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, top intelligence sources had told CNN-News18.
Under the new order, every educational institution will be required to thoroughly examine all books in their libraries and classrooms. This new order has caused a stir in both government and private schools across Kashmir. The administration has announced that all schools will be required to submit a certificate and provide a written statement confirming that no one is practicing in their schools.
The government has described the move as an important measure aimed at safeguarding national security and protecting the interests of students. However, the decision has also triggered political debate. Opposition parties have criticised the directive, alleging that it could restrict the free exchange of ideas and influence the interpretation of history.
What does the new order say?
Under the order issued by the Director of School Education, Kashmir Division, all government schools, recognised private schools, and coaching centres must carry out a detailed inspection of books and other reading materials available on their campuses. School heads are required to certify that no material violating the prescribed rules is present within their institutions.
The directive states that content deemed to hurt the religious sentiments of any community, violate existing laws, harm national interests, or promote separatism must be removed immediately. The order follows recent protests by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the alleged procurement of books that it claimed glorified separatist leaders in government schools.
The administration has warned that failure to comply with the directive or any negligence in implementing it could result in strict disciplinary action against the officials and school management concerned.
The latest directive comes nearly a year after the Jammu and Kashmir Home Department prohibited the sale and publication of 25 books related to Kashmir, including works by authors such as Arundhati Roy and A.G. Noorani. The government had stated that these publications promoted separatist ideology.
According to official figures, the order will apply to approximately 10,787 government schools and 2,386 recognised private schools operating across the Kashmir Division.
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