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

NCERT has withdrawn a Class 8 Social Science textbook after controversy over a chapter discussing judicial corruption. Following objections and criticism, the council issued an unconditional public apology and said the content will be revised.

NCERT had recently introduced a chapter talking about corruption in the judiciary for Class 8 Social Science textbook. Following a huge controversy after that, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) withdrew it. This revoke came right after strong objections placed by Supreme Court and this also ordered a ban on further publication, reprinting, or digital circulation of the book.

Supreme Court Objects to Content

The textbook included a section where the challenges in the Indian judicial system were discussed. The controversy broke due to the references to corruption and the large backlog of pending cases. Supreme Court intervened in this matter and the bench led by the Chief Justice expressed serious concern over the content. They stated that no one would be allowed to “defame the judiciary and taint its integrity.”

Adhering to the objection, the court has imposed a complete ban on the circulation of the textbook and asked for explanations from officials who are responsible for approving the content.

NCERT Issues Unconditional Apology

After the immense criticism received on the topic, NCERT issued an unconditional public apology. They acknowledged that including the controversial content in the textbook was an error in judgement.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞: 𝐏𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲

The National Council of Educational Research and Training [NCERT] has recently published a social science textbook, “Exploring Society: India and Beyond,” Grade 8 (Part II), which contained Chapter IV titled “The Role of… pic.twitter.com/mZY15aJTDo

— NCERT (@ncert) March 10, 2026

The organisation regretted the inconvenience caused by the topic and emphasized that it respects the sensitivity surrounding constitutional institutions. Officials also confirmed that the textbook would be withdrawn and revised to remove the contentious section before any future publication.

Chapter to Be Revised

Now the next steps that the education authorities have indicated towards include removal of the existing chapter dealing with judiciary. It will be rewritten with appropriate revisions entirely. The aim following this, is to ensure the school textbooks present a balanced, accurate, and responsible information while maintaining respect for democratic institutions.

Wider Curriculum Review

The incident has triggered a broader discussion about the process used to prepare and review school textbooks in India. Reports suggest that the government may undertake a wider review of educational content to ensure that curriculum materials remain factual, balanced, and age-appropriate for students.

The episode highlights the sensitivity surrounding references to key institutions in educational materials and underscores the need for careful vetting of school curriculum content before publication.

Written by Shreoshree Chakrabarty

Shreoshree Chakrabarty is an experienced content writer with over five years of professional expertise in creating engaging and impactful content across diverse formats. Over the course of her career, she has collaborated with well-known brands such as Myntra and Justdial, contributing high-quality content that aligns with brand voice and audience expectations. Academically, Shreoshree holds a Master’s degree in Mass Communication, and outside of her professional pursuits, she is an avid reader and a passionate traveller who enjoys exploring new places and cultures. She also loves watching movies, finding inspiration in cinema and literature that often reflects in her writing style.

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