New Delhi: Class 10 students will no longer learn about the periodic table, democracy, and sources of energy -as these have been removed from their government-issue textbooks. Complete chapters on the subjects now stand deleted as a part of a "rationalisation" meant to reduce the "burden on students".

The removal of the theory of evolution from the Class 10 curriculum stoked significant concern earlier this year. Newly released textbooks by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) have revealed further cuts, including a chapter on the periodic table.

Among the topics dropped from the science textbook are also chapters on environmental sustainability and sources of energy.

Full chapters on democracy, challenges to democracy and political parties have also been dropped for Class 10 students after the latest revision.

According to the NCERT, the decision to reduce the curriculum load on students was driven by the need to address the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The NCERT cited reasons such as the difficulty level of the content, content overlap, and the relevance of certain topics in the present context as justification for removing these chapters from the curriculum.

However, students still have the opportunity to learn about these subjects if they choose to pursue them in Class 11 and Class 12. In the Indian education system, Class 10 is the final year in which science is taught as a compulsory subject. Only students who opt for chemistry in their final two years of education will study the periodic table.

The NCERT faced criticism earlier this year when it removed the theory of evolution from the Class 10 science textbook. Over 1,800 scientists and educators voiced their concerns through an open letter regarding this rationalization decision.

However, the government has dismissed all criticism, labelling it as propaganda and standing firm on its position.