NCERT Withdraws Class 8 Textbook, Issues Public Apology After Row Over Chapter on Judicial Corruption

New Delhi: The NCERT has withdrawn a recently published Class 8 Social Science textbook after a controversy erupted over a chapter that referred to corruption and structural challenges within the judiciary. NCERT also issued an “unconditional” public apology following criticism and legal scrutiny over the content.

The textbook, titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond – Grade 8 (Part II), included a chapter called “The Role of Judiciary in our Society.” The section discussed issues such as corruption in the judicial system, large backlogs of pending cases, shortage of judges and other institutional challenges.

The matter reached the Supreme Court of India, which took serious exception to the references to judicial corruption in a school textbook. A bench headed by the Chief Justice criticised the material and ordered a halt to the book’s publication and circulation, saying the content could damage the reputation of the judiciary.

Following the court’s observations, NCERT released a statement acknowledging the controversy and apologising for the inclusion of the disputed section. The council said the book has been completely withdrawn from distribution and is no longer available, while reiterating its respect for the judiciary and the constitutional role it plays.

Officials also indicated that the chapter will be reviewed and revised before any future publication. The episode has sparked debate among educators and legal experts about how institutional challenges should be discussed in school curricula and the limits of such discussions in textbooks aimed at younger students.