NCERT Issues Apology Over Controversial Judicial Content in Class 8 Textbook

NCERT's Apology for Textbook Content

New Delhi, Feb 25: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has expressed regret for including "inappropriate content" in a Class 8 textbook, following criticism from the Supreme Court regarding a chapter discussing judicial corruption.

The NCERT emphasized its respect for the judiciary, stating it views the judicial system as a guardian of the Indian Constitution and fundamental rights. The Council described the inclusion of the contentious material as an unintentional mistake.

A senior official from NCERT remarked, "It has come to our attention that certain inappropriate textual elements and errors in judgment have inadvertently found their way into the chapter in question."

He further explained that the aim of the revised textbooks is to enhance constitutional awareness, foster respect for institutions, and promote informed democratic engagement among students.

“There was no intention to undermine or question the authority of any constitutional body,” he clarified.

In response to the backlash, the NCERT, which oversees the school education curriculum, has suspended the distribution of the textbook and removed it from its website.

"As part of our ongoing review process, NCERT welcomes constructive feedback. Therefore, the content will be revised in consultation with the relevant authorities and will be made available to Class 8 students at the start of the 2026-27 academic year," the Council stated.

Earlier, a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, took notice of the "objectionable" remarks regarding the judiciary in NCERT textbooks after senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi raised the issue for urgent attention.

CJI Kant firmly criticized the chapter on judicial corruption, asserting that “no one on earth will be permitted to defame the judiciary and tarnish its integrity.”

The NCERT's updated Social Science textbooks for Class 8 highlight issues such as corruption, a significant backlog of cases, and an insufficient number of judges as challenges confronting the judicial system.