The National Council of Educational Research and Training has issued an apology over a chapter included in the Class 8 Social Science textbook titled “Exploring Society: India and Beyond — Volume II” following proceedings before the Supreme Court of India.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, the Council clarified that it has imposed a strict halt on the distribution of the textbook, which was published on 24 February. The statement stated that Chapter 4, titled “Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” contained certain material that was not intended to undermine the dignity of a constitutional institution.
According to the Council, it has been found that certain inappropriate content and errors of judgment were inadvertently included in the chapter. The Council stated that it holds the judiciary in the highest regard and recognises it as the guardian of the Constitution of India. It described the inclusion of the material as entirely inadvertent.
The section in question contained references to corruption and case backlog in the context of the judiciary. The inclusion of such commentary in a Class 8 NCERT textbook was stated to be unprecedented. Earlier editions had focused primarily on the structure and role of the judiciary, access to justice, and its contribution to the democratic system.
The Supreme Court of India took cognisance of the matter and issued notice, following which the issue entered the public domain.
In its statement, the Council said there was no intention to question or diminish the authority or prestige of any constitutional institution. It stated that the objective of the new textbooks is to strengthen constitutional literacy, institutional respect, and democratic participation among students.
The Council further stated that the disputed chapter has been removed from the curriculum for the present and that distribution of the book has been strictly stopped. It announced that the chapter will be rewritten as necessary in consultation with the appropriate authority. The revised version will be made available to students by the commencement of the academic session 2026–27.
The Council stated that it regrets the error in the decision and reiterated its commitment to uphold the sanctity and dignity of institutions.
