NCERT releases revised Class 8 textbook after judiciary content row

NCERT has issued a revised Class 8 Social Science textbook after the judiciary content row. The new chapter removes disputed passages and reflects changes ordered during the court-mandated review.

In Short

• The chapter now focuses on PILs, tribunals and alternative dispute resolution
• Its opening classroom prompt now links justice to a harmonious society
• A section on pending cases and systemic causes has been removed

Months after facing controversy over alleged defamatory content on the judiciary, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has released a revised Class 8 Social Science textbook, removing the disputed sections and introducing fresh material on judicial processes.

The revised chapter, The Role of the Judiciary in Society, drops references to judicial backlog, corruption in the judiciary and two major court verdicts. In their place, NCERT has added content on public interest litigation (PIL), tribunals and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

The opening "Big Questions" section has also been revised. Instead of asking students why an independent judiciary is necessary, the new edition asks why justice is important for building a "just and harmonious society".

Among the major omissions is the section titled "Challenges Faced by the Judicial System", which had discussed the massive backlog of pending cases and attributed it to a shortage of judges, cumbersome procedures and inadequate infrastructure.

Also removed is the section on "Corruption in the Judiciary", which had referred to remarks by former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai acknowledging instances of corruption and misconduct within the judicial system.

The controversy erupted in February after the Class 8 Social Science textbook included references to corruption in the judiciary. Following the Supreme Court's intervention, both physical and digital copies of the textbook were withdrawn, and NCERT issued a public apology.

The Supreme Court subsequently imposed a complete ban on the publication, reprinting and digital dissemination of the textbook, observing that it contained "offending" content relating to the judiciary.

According to the acknowledgements in the revised edition, the textbook has been published after a review process undertaken in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1 of 2026.

The revised textbook also states that Chapter 4 was rewritten by an expert committee constituted by the Union Ministry of Education following the Supreme Court's March 16 order.

The development team has also been revised. While the earlier edition listed 51 members, the latest version names 48. The names of Michel Danino, Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar, who were earlier held responsible for the chapter, have been removed from the list.

The revised textbook has now been made available for distribution following the court-mandated review.

- Ends