NCERT clarifies Grade 6 Kannada textbook title, rejects claims of promoting vegetarianism

NEW DELHI, BENGALURU: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Thursday issued a clarification in response to concerns raised in sections of the media regarding the title and content of the Grade 6 Kannada R3 textbook, stating that the textbook neither promotes vegetarianism nor opposes non-vegetarian food.

Former Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa has expressed opposition to the NCERT Class 6 CBSE syllabus Kannada textbook. He alleged that in this book titled ‘Krishna’, Karnataka’s heritage and culture have been sidelined. He said he would request the CM to take back this book and correspond with the Centre.

In a press release, NCERT said concerns had been raised about the title of the textbook and references to diet in its content. Addressing the title of the Kannada textbook, NCERT said that its language textbooks under the R3 series have been named after major rivers of India. It noted that the Kannada textbook has been titled ‘Krishna’ after the Krishna river, one of Karnataka’s major rivers.

“With regard to the title of the textbook, it is to be stated that NCERT has named its language textbooks, including R3 language textbooks, after rivers of India. The title of the book ‘Krishna’ is after the Krishna river, which is one of the major rivers of Karnataka. It is to be noted that the Hindi textbook has been named as ‘Ganga’, the English textbook has been named as ‘Kaveri’, and the Urdu textbook has been named as ‘Jamuna’ (Yamuna). Similarly, the Kannada textbook has been named ‘Krishna’. This approach is appropriate from a localised and cultural perspective, particularly in view of the emphasis laid in NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023 on rootedness, cultural connect, and meaningful contexts for learners,” the NCERT said in the release.

𝐍𝐂𝐄𝐑𝐓’𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬 𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐚 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝟔 𝐊𝐚𝐧𝐧𝐚𝐝𝐚 𝐑𝟑 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤

1. NCERT has named its language textbooks after rivers of India. The name “Krishna” is named after the… pic.twitter.com/S4ueELyoGx

— NCERT (@ncert) June 25, 2026

On the issue of diet-related content, NCERT said a balanced diet is covered in Chapter 6 of the textbook and that the chapter emphasises the importance of nutrition, exercise and cleanliness for good health. “A balanced diet has been covered in Chapter 6 of this textbook,” NCERT said.

The council further stated that the chapter titled “Health is Wealth” explains that a balanced diet includes food items such as milk, green leafy vegetables, fruits, and other foods that should form part of a daily diet.

According to the release, the illustrative image on page 63 includes both vegetarian and non-vegetarian food items. The NCERT also said the chapter features examples of healthy traditional foods from different states to highlight India’s food diversity. “Nowhere in the textbook is vegetarianism explained or justified, nor is non-vegetarian food opposed. The purpose of the chapter is to create awareness about healthy food items,” the release stated.

The NCERT said the chapter’s message is reinforced through activities and questions, including “What is a balanced diet?” The council reiterated its commitment to providing students with high-quality teaching-learning material and welcomed suggestions and constructive criticism from stakeholders to further improve its textbooks in line with the vision of NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023.

Further, Madhu Bangarappa clarified, “I am not anti-Hindu. Those who say so are just crazy. My opposition is only to cultural discrimination,” said Madhu Bangarappa.

“This NCERT book does not introduce Karnataka’s local cultural essence. Despite the existence of ‘Savi Kannada’, ‘Siri Kannada’, and ‘Tili Kannada’ textbooks published by the State Department of Education Research and Training, they were not considered or followed, which he alleged is an affront to Kannada’s identity.

#WATCH | Bengaluru, Karnataka: On the title of the NCERT class 6 Kannada textbook, Former Karnataka Minister Madhu Bangarappa says, “… It’s very pathetic that the BJP has got a very cruel mentality of putting an ideological system into innocent children. That is the reason why… pic.twitter.com/Uqq4ly4WO3

— ANI (@ANI) June 25, 2026

Also, he argued that in the lesson ‘Balanced Diet’, topics of eggs, fish, and meat have been deliberately omitted and only vegetarian items are mentioned. “NCERT should immediately withdraw this book and, with the help of our DSERT, prepare and provide students a book that includes the culture, customs, and thoughts of this land and introduces its literary-cultural heritage”, he demanded.

“We need local culture..! But the Centre has inserted other cultures and displayed perversion. There is nothing about Sahyadri or Kuvempu. I am born a Hindu, I am not afraid of fake, pretentious Hindus.I have no opposition to Krishna, but don’t bring Krishna and divert children in another direction”. he said.

“Why oppose eating non-veg in the name of sattvic food? There should be equality in education. I will speak with the CM and request that a letter be written to the Centre. This should take the form of a struggle. There is an allegation that the folklore, literature, and regional way of life of Coastal Karnataka, North Karnataka, Malnad, and Old Mysore regions have been completely omitted from this textbook”, he noted. (With Agency inputs)