CM Nayab Saini adds Sikh Gurus' history to Class 8 syllabus
Synopsis
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has fulfilled a public promise by adding the history of Sikh Gurus to the Class 8 history syllabus of state schools. The move, announced on 11 June 2026, aligns with NEP 2020 and follows similar curriculum revisions in other BJP-governed states.
Key Takeaways
The Chief Minister's Office of Haryana confirmed on 11 June 2026 that Sikh Gurus' history has been added to the Class 8 history syllabus.
CM Nayab Singh Saini had previously made this inclusion a public promise; the announcement frames it as a fulfilled commitment.
The revision aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 , which calls for greater integration of regional and community histories in school curricula.
Haryana borders Punjab and has a substantial Sikh population, giving the change both cultural and political significance.
The change follows similar history syllabus updates in other BJP -governed states since 2014 .
Textbook approvals and classroom rollout for the 2026-27 academic year are the next milestones to watch.
The Chief Minister's Office of Haryana announced on Thursday, 11 June 2026 that Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini has fulfilled a key promise by incorporating the history of Sikh Gurus into the Class 8 history curriculum of Haryana state schools.
Context
The official post stated: 'मुख्यमंत्री श्री @NayabSainiBJP ने पूरा किया वादा' ('Chief Minister Shri Nayab Saini has fulfilled his promise'), adding that the history of Sikh Gurus has now been included in the Class 8 history syllabus. The announcement frames the curriculum change as a direct delivery on a commitment made by Saini to the community.
Haryana shares a border with Punjab and has a significant Sikh population, making the inclusion of Sikh heritage in school education a matter of both cultural and political importance for the state government.
Policy Backdrop
The revision aligns with the National Education Policy 2020, which directed states to embed Indian knowledge systems, regional histories, and community contributions into school curricula. Haryana's step follows similar syllabus updates in neighbouring Punjab and broader reviews of central textbooks that seek to balance national narratives with local and community histories.
Since 2014, several BJP-governed states have progressively revised history syllabi to give greater prominence to regional figures and community legacies, including Sikh history. This curriculum change fits within that wider pattern of educational reform across BJP-ruled states.
Stakeholders and Impact
The most direct beneficiaries are Haryana's state-board school students in Class 8, who will now study the contributions and history of the Sikh Gurus as part of their formal history education. The Sikh community in Haryana, which has long advocated for greater recognition of its heritage in state institutions, stands to see its history formally acknowledged in the public school system.
Teachers will need to be oriented to the new content, and community organisations are expected to engage with the rollout to ensure accurate and respectful representation of Sikh history in the revised textbooks.
What's Next
Attention will now turn to the Haryana state education board's formal textbook approval process and the rollout timeline for the 2026-27 academic year. Feedback from teacher training programmes and Sikh community organisations will be closely watched as the revised curriculum moves from announcement to classroom implementation.
The move is likely to reinforce CM Saini's outreach to the Sikh community in Haryana ahead of future electoral cycles, while also setting a precedent for further community-specific inclusions in the state's school history programme.
Point of View
CM Saini signals both cultural respect and political intent in a state where the Sikh vote is electorally relevant. The move sits within a broader, deliberate pattern of BJP-governed states using education policy to reshape historical narratives and deepen community ties. Whether the implementation matches the announcement — in terms of content depth and teacher preparedness — will determine its lasting credibility.
NationPress
28 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What promise did Haryana CM Nayab Saini fulfil regarding Sikh history?
CM Nayab Singh Saini fulfilled a public promise to include the history of Sikh Gurus in the Class 8 history syllabus of Haryana state schools, as announced by the Chief Minister's Office on 11 June 2026.
Which class will now study Sikh Gurus' history in Haryana schools?
Students in Class 8 at Haryana state-board schools will now study the history of Sikh Gurus as part of their history curriculum.
Why is Sikh history being added to Haryana's school curriculum?
Haryana borders Punjab and has a significant Sikh population. The inclusion aligns with the National Education Policy 2020's directive to incorporate regional and community histories, and fulfils a specific promise made by CM Nayab Saini.
When will the revised Haryana Class 8 history syllabus be implemented?
The formal rollout is expected for the 2026-27 academic year, pending state education board textbook approvals. Exact implementation dates have not yet been officially confirmed.
Have other states also added Sikh or regional history to school syllabi?
Yes. Several BJP-governed states have revised history syllabi since 2014 to give greater space to regional and community figures, including Sikh history, and central textbook reviews have also moved in this direction.
