NCERT Withdraws Class 8 Social Science Textbook, Issues Unconditional Apology Over Judiciary Chapter
New Delhi, 10th March 2026: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued an unconditional apology and withdrawn a recently released Class 8 social science textbook after criticism over a chapter discussing issues within the judiciary.
The textbook, titled “Exploring Society: India and Beyond” (Grade 8, Part II), contained a chapter named “The Role of Judiciary in Our Society,” which drew objections for references to judicial corruption and delays in court cases.
In an official statement, NCERT said that its Director and members “tender an unconditional and unqualified apology” for the content of the chapter and confirmed that the entire textbook has been withdrawn from circulation.
The controversy escalated after a court took suo motu cognisance of the issue on February 25, shortly after the second part of the book was released on February 23.
On February 26, the court ordered authorities to seize all physical copies of the book and remove digital versions that contained references to alleged corruption in the judiciary. A hearing in the matter is scheduled for March 11.
According to officials, only 32 copies had been sold before the book was withdrawn from distribution on February 24.
Court Raises Concerns Over Presentation of Judiciary:
In its notice to NCERT and the Department of School Education and Literacy, the court expressed concern about the way the chapter discussed complaints against judges and the backlog of cases in courts.
The court observed that the chapter did not sufficiently highlight the judiciary’s role in protecting constitutional morality, safeguarding the basic structure doctrine, and ensuring access to justice and legal aid.
It also noted that while democratic systems allow criticism of institutions, such criticism should not be presented in a manner that may undermine public confidence in the judiciary.
Following the court’s directions, NCERT coordinated with the Union Ministry of Education and state education authorities to halt production and distribution of the current version of the textbook in both print and digital formats.
The council stated that the controversial chapter will be revised after consultations with appropriate authorities to ensure that the presentation of judicial institutions is accurate and balanced.
Expressing regret over the episode, NCERT reiterated its commitment to maintaining high standards of accuracy, responsibility and sensitivity in educational material and said a revised version of the chapter will be released only after due review.
