'Baseless And Incorrect': CBSE Issues Clarification on Viral Class 9 Chapter on Dating, Relationships

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a clarification over a viral post showing the Class 9 chapter on dating and relationships. The textbook pictures went widely viral drawing reactions from several users. Now, the board has dismissed the claims and said that it neither publishes books nor recommends books from private publishers.

In its post, CBSE mentioned that a section of the media wrongly attributed a book, which contained objectionable material, to be a publication of the board. It further termed the matter as ‘baseless and incorrect’.

CBSE went on to inform that the chapters originally belonged to a book named ‘A Guide to Self Awareness and Empowerment’ authored by Gagan Deep Kaur and published by G.Ram Books Private Limited Educational Publishers.

Taking to X (former Twitter), CBSE wrote, “A section of media is wrongly attributing a book to be a publication of CBSE containing objectionable material on dating and relationships according to the reports. This is totally baseless and incorrect. The contents of the chapter which are going viral on Social Media are in fact from a book titled A Guide to Self Awareness and Empowerment written by Gagan Deep Kaur and Published by G.Ram Books(P)Ltd. Educational Publishers. The CBSE neither publishes any books nor recommends books of any private publishers.”

In the comment section, New Holy Ganges Public School remarked, “CBSE being a very responsible board sticks to the highest standards of ethics. Here is a photo of a letter received by our school from G. Ram Books acknowledging that they have been publishing books which deals in “problems of adolescence”

Earlier, a post featuring alleged chapters of CBSE’s Class 9 Value Education book went viral on X. The book included chapters such as dating and relationships as well as catfishing, ghosting and cyberbullying. The book also covered topics like crushes and ‘special’ friendships.

While some individuals welcomed the move, other people thought it to be an ‘irrelevant’ addition. Even Tinder India joined in and commented that it would like to add another chapter on breakups. “Next chapter: how to deal with breakups,” the dating app noted.