Fact Check: Image claiming to be excerpt from CBSE textbook on dating is FALSE

Dating and relationships are a taboo in India so much so that people hesitate to share information about their acquaintance with a person of the opposite sex, even with their parents and siblings. For any suggestions and tips on relationship, teenagers discuss with close friends or surf the internet.

In such a backdrop, an image of a page is shared on social media claiming that the Central Board of Secondary Education(CBSE ) introduced chapters on relationship in its Class IX value education textbook, detailing about terms used in dating and explaining how healthy relationships should proceed.

Several X users shared the image with a caption “9th class textbooks nowadays

On the other hand, we found some social media users share the same image with a positive comment: “We should approach this topic with sensitivity and empathy to ensure that it is taught in a way that respects cultural diversity and inclusive of all perspectives.”

Fact Check:

After careful observation of the post on different media, we found that the claim is false. Also, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a clarification regarding the viral post which showed a Class IX textbook discussing dating and relationships. The CBSE took to its official X  account and mentioned that it does not publish books.

In the clarification, the Board mentioned, "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."

When we searched using the keywords " Dating & Relationships", we found a tweet by @nhgps_in in there the users posted a acknowledge by G. Ram Books (P) LTD

Then we searched for social media accounts of G Ram Books (P) Ltd. And found a clarification: “We are grateful for the positive response that our chapter on Dating & Relationships evoked on social media. We hope to continue creating more revolutionary educational content for the promotion of positive mental health of students, thoughtfully and responsibly.”  

According to an article on Times of India, the viral image circulating on different media platforms was making a false claim that it was an excerpt from a CBSE textbook. Dismissing the claim, the CBSE clarified that it does not publish books .

Conclusion: Based of the above evidence and different media reports, it is clear that the viral image is not from a CBSE textbook on dating and relationships. It is being wrongly attributed to the CBSE.