The altered version of the 'Dancing Girl' of Mohenjo-daro in the new NCERT Class 9 Art Education book..
Indiaemploymentnews June 15, 2026 06:40 PM

The famous bronze statue from Mohenjo-daro, known as the 'Dancing Girl,' appears in an altered form in *Madhurima*, a new Class 9 art education book by NCERT. In this image, the statue's naked torso has been covered, creating the impression that she is wearing clothing. Notably, while this famous Indus Valley Civilization statue has featured in NCERT books for nearly 25 years, its body had never previously been covered.

This modified image appears in the book's first chapter, 'History of Art.' Standing approximately four inches tall, the statue—recovered from Mohenjo-daro—depicts a young girl with her hair tied in a bun, adorned with bangles, bracelets, and a necklace.

**A Remarkable Example of Indus Civilization Art and Metallurgy**
The 'Dancing Girl' is considered one of the most famous artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization. Her confident posture and exquisite craftsmanship have made her one of the most recognizable symbols of the Harappan civilization. Archaeologists regard the statue as evidence of the civilization's advanced metallurgical techniques. The original statue is housed at the National Museum in New Delhi.

**Book Released Under the New Education Policy**
*Madhurima* is part of NCERT's new art education series, developed in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). Its objective is to mainstream art education for Classes 1 through 10. So far, books for Classes 1 through 9 have been released.

**No Response from NCERT**
Questions are being raised regarding this alteration to the statue's image; however, there has been no official response from the NCERT Director so far. Consequently, the issue remains a subject of ongoing discussion.

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