The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued an “unconditional and unqualified apology” and withdrawn its Class 8 social science textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part II) after the Supreme Court of India sharply criticised a chapter discussing “corruption” and case backlogs in the judiciary.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, took strong exception to the content, calling it a serious attempt to undermine the institution and issued show-cause notices to the NCERT Director and the School Education Secretary.
The court also ordered authorities to seize all physical and digital copies of the book and ensure that it is not used for teaching. Following the reprimand, NCERT halted distribution, withdrew the entire book from circulation and requested that individuals or institutions return copies and remove related content online.
NCERT Withdraws Textbook, Issues Unconditional Apology
The controversy centres around Chapter IV of the Grade 8 social science textbook titled “The Role of Judiciary in our Society.” The chapter reportedly included a subsection discussing challenges within the justice system, such as corruption, large case backlogs and a shortage of judges.
In a public statement, NCERT said: “The Director and Members of NCERT hereby tender an unconditional and unqualified apology for the said Chapter IV. The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available.” The council acknowledged that the inclusion of certain material reflected an “error of judgement” and reiterated that it holds the judiciary in the highest esteem as the guardian of the Constitution and fundamental rights.
Officials further requested that anyone in possession of the textbook return it to NCERT headquarters in New Delhi and delete any digital versions or related materials shared online.
The apology came after strong remarks from the Supreme Court, which expressed concern that such content could create “permanent misconceptions” among students aged 13–14 and potentially erode public trust in the justice system.
During the hearing, Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly emphasised that the integrity of the judiciary must not be compromised, stating that the court would identify those responsible for approving the material. The court also sought detailed records of the committee that prepared and approved the chapter, including the names and credentials of the authors and reviewers involved.
Supreme Court Orders Ban, Seizure of Copies
The dispute escalated after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of the chapter and imposed a blanket ban on further publication, printing or digital dissemination of the textbook. The bench directed NCERT to coordinate with Union and state education authorities to ensure that all copies of the book whether in storage, retail outlets or educational institutions are seized and removed from public access. Schools were also instructed not to conduct any instruction based on the withdrawn material.
The court further stated that the NCERT Director and principals of schools where the book had reached would bear personal responsibility for ensuring the immediate seizure and sealing of all copies on their premises and submitting compliance reports. Principal secretaries of states were also asked to oversee implementation of the order. In addition, the court warned that attempts to republish the content under different titles or circulate it digitally would be treated as a violation of its directions.
The case also saw the Union government represented in court, where Solicitor General Tushar Mehta conveyed an apology on behalf of the Ministry of Education. According to reports, the government indicated that the individuals responsible for drafting the controversial section would no longer be associated with the ministry or related bodies in the future. However, the bench reportedly observed that such steps alone may not be sufficient and stressed the need to determine accountability for how the content was approved and published in the first place.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Textbooks are powerful tools that shape how young people understand democracy, governance and public institutions. In a diverse and complex democracy like India, education must strive to balance respect for institutions with the need for honest and well-contextualised civic learning.
While the concerns raised by the judiciary about protecting institutional credibility deserve careful attention, it is equally important that discussions about challenges within public systems are approached with nuance, academic rigour and age-appropriate context rather than avoided altogether.
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