Amid growing controversy over a Class 8 Social Science textbook that included a section on “corruption in the judiciary,” the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on Wednesday issued an apology and withdrew the controversial book.
In a press statement, the board acknowledged that certain “inappropriate textual material and an error of judgement” had been included in one of the chapters.
The NCERT said the book, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II, was released on February 24. “However, upon receiving the textbook, it was observed that certain inappropriate textual material and error of judgement had inadvertently crept into Chapter No 4, entitled 'The Role of Judiciary in our Society',’” the board noted.
It added that the Department of School Education and Literacy, under the Ministry of Education, had also raised similar concerns and directed that the textbook’s distribution be put on strict hold until further notice.
The NCERT’s apology came hours after the Supreme Court expressed strong disapproval of the issue. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant described it as a “calculated move” and said he would take up the matter suo motu, emphasising that no one would be allowed to defame the judiciary.
The board, however, stressed that it holds the judiciary in the highest regard, viewing it as the guardian of the Indian Constitution and protector of fundamental rights. “The aforesaid error was purely unintentional, and NCERT regrets the inclusion of inappropriate material in the chapter,” the statement added.
NCERT further said that as part of its continuous review process, it remains open to constructive feedback. “Hence, the chapter shall be re-written in consultation with the appropriate authorities, as necessary, and will be made available to Class 8 students at the commencement of the 2026–27 academic session,” the board said.
What is the controversy about?
The revised Class 8 Social Science textbook had listed corruption, a massive backlog of cases, and an inadequate number of judges as key “challenges” facing India’s judicial system.
The section, titled 'Corruption in the Judiciary', notes that judges are bound by a code of conduct governing not only their behaviour in court but also their conduct outside it. Earlier editions of the textbook primarily focused on the structure and functions of courts, making the addition of this section a point of contention.
“People do experience corruption at various levels of the judiciary. For the poor and disadvantaged, this can worsen the issue of access to justice,” the chapter states.
It also notes that “efforts are constantly being made at the State and Union levels to build faith and increase transparency in the judicial system, including through the use of technology, and to take swift and decisive action against instances of corruption wherever they may arise.”
Concerns in legal circles
The inclusion of a section on judicial corruption, while omitting graft in other sectors such as the executive and bureaucracy, drew criticism from legal and political circles.
“NCERT's Class 8 book includes a section on corruption in the judiciary! What about the massive corruption among politicians, ministers, public servants, and investigation agencies? Why is all that being brushed under the carpet?” senior lawyer Kapil Sibal wrote on social media.
On Wednesday, Sibal, along with Abhishek Singhvi, brought the matter to the Supreme Court for urgent consideration, terming the NCERT chapter “scandalous.”
“We are deeply disturbed as members of this institution to find that Class 8 children are being taught about corruption in the judiciary. It is part of the NCERT book. We have a great stake in this institution, and the chapter is entirely scandalous. We have copies of the book,” Sibal said.
Chief Justice Surya Kant acknowledged the issue, noting that he had received numerous calls and messages and that many high court judges were “perturbed.”
“Wait for a day. This is definitely a matter concerning the entire institution. The bar and the bench are disturbed. Every stakeholder in the system is really concerned. I am receiving a lot of calls and messages. High court judges are perturbed,” he said, hinting that the Supreme Court could take suo motu cognizance of the matter.
Following NCERT’s apology and the withdrawal of the contentious textbook, the controversy seems to have resolved for now.