As part of its commitment to strengthening history education in India, FIHCR YUVA  undertook a comprehensive mixed- method study to examine how history is taught, learned and experienced in schools. It brings together textbook analysis and the perspectives of students, teachers, and parents across four states and five school boards, examining curriculum content, classroom practices, pedagogy, assessment, and student engagement. The study also explores the extent to which history education reflects the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, particularly its emphasis on critical thinking, experiential learning, holistic education, and Indian knowledge systems. By bringing together evidence from textbooks and the experiences of key stakeholders, the study identifies critical gaps and opportunities for making history education more engaging, inclusive, inquiry-driven, and meaningful for students.