NCERT has already infused elements of human rights in Social Science at primary and secondary levels. Following the National Curriculum Framework of 2005, NCERT replaced old textbooks with new ones in three phases in 2006, 2007 and 2008.

“The new NCERT books have used examples from real life to sensitise students about human rights issues,” M V S V Prasad, head of NCERT’s faculty of Social Sciences, said.

Joshi said, “We have prepared the syllabus and textbooks will come next. We will have everything in place by the next academic year.”

Dr Sadhana Parachar, who was involved in drafting the syllabus, said, “We have prepared a very comprehensive syllabus.”

Some schools, though, are not so certain. “It is great idea but it has to be done in a formal way,” Springdales School, Pusa Road, principal Amita Wattal said. “Human rights is a tricky subject and the issues might vary from state to state.”

But CBSE chairperson Joshi said, “We will provide context of the issue at hand in our textbooks.”

Welcoming the idea to add human rights in the curriculum, Usha Ram, principal of Laxman Public School, Hauz Khas Enclave, said the new course offers a definite career prospectus. Organisations like UNESCO and NGOs will “always prefer” students with a knowledge of human rights, Ram said.

Director of School Education Chandrabhushan Kumar refused to be drawn in the argument, saying, “I am a government servant and cannot say anything on this matter.”