Since April, India has been roiled by controversy around the excision of several topics, including evolution and the periodic table, from school textbooks (up to grade 10) by the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT). This was projected as an exercise in "rationalization" of content aimed at reducing the study load on students. The move was opposed by large numbers of academics and worried citizens. As the exclusion of specific topics in history and contemporary politics appeared to be in line with the ideology of the ruling party, many critics assumed that the removal of science topics was also ideologically motivated. In turn, this spurred supporters of NCERT and the government to dismiss all criticism as being entirely political, rather than academic. Both sides in this debate have traded exaggerated accusations of mala fide intent, leading to crucial broader issues being obscured.