NCERT recalls majority of sold class 8 textbooks following Supreme Court ban

The National Council of Educational Research and Training’s (NCERT) Class 8 Social Science textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond – Vol II , has sparked controversy after the Supreme Court imposed a complete ban on a chapter discussing corruption in the judiciary. The court labelled the content offensive, ordering recall of all copies, removal of digital content, and deletion of social media posts , while issuing show‑cause notices to the NCERT Director and the Secretary of School Education. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan have emphasised respect for the judiciary and pledged accountability for those responsible.

Following the directive, NCERT has retrieved 31 of the 38 copies sold and urged schools, libraries, and individuals to return the remainder. Officials are also enforcing deletion of digital content. Yet the underlying concern persists: children are being denied the opportunity to learn about real societal problems at a formative age.

The chapter addressed corruption, case backlogs, and shortage of judges , highlighting systemic challenges. Far from undermining institutions, such lessons equip students with critical thinking and awareness to understand and eventually tackle societal issues. Shielding students risks fostering ignorance and weakens future accountability.

Prime Minister Modi reportedly questioned, “What are we teaching Class 8 children about judicial corruption?” and asked, “Kaun dekh raha hai ye sab?” Union Minister Pradhan stressed the chapter’s inclusion was unintentional and assured full compliance with the court’s order.

The Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant , described the chapter as an affront to institutional dignity but, in doing so, risks discouraging transparency and civic engagement , treating discussion of corruption as taboo rather than a learning opportunity.

NCERT has apologised for the “inappropriate content” and pledged to rewrite the chapter before reissuing textbooks for 2026–27. Understanding corruption early empowers young citizens to demand reform and uphold accountability, strengthening democracy. With hearings scheduled for 11 March 2026 , the episode underscores the tension between institutional respect and the need for civic education .