Supreme Court Directs NCERT on Textbook Chapter, Bars Experts
India's Supreme Court expressed strong disapproval over NCERT's controversial Class 8 textbook chapter on judicial corruption. The Court banned the book, demanded an apology, and later barred the involved experts from future curriculum work. It has also mandated an expert committee to approve any revised content, ensuring accuracy and upholding judicial integrity.
Key Highlights
- Supreme Court bans NCERT Class 8 textbook over 'judicial corruption' chapter.
- Court expresses deep concern over content, calls it a 'calculated move'.
- NCERT issues 'unconditional, unqualified apology' and withdraws the book.
- SC bars original experts from future curriculum work over textbook errors.
- Government directed to form expert committee to review rewritten chapter.
- SC orders action against 'irresponsible' social media reactions.
The Supreme Court of India has taken a firm stance against the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) regarding a controversial chapter on judicial corruption in a Class 8 Social Science textbook. The row, which began around February 24, 2026, when the new edition of 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II' was released, has seen the Supreme Court intervene significantly to safeguard the dignity and institutional authority of the judiciary.
The contentious textbook, specifically Chapter 4 (or Chapter 6 as per some reports) titled 'The Role of Judiciary in our Society,' for the first time included sections discussing 'corruption at various levels of the judiciary' and 'massive backlog of cases' as challenges facing the Indian judicial system. Previous editions of the textbook primarily focused on the structure, functions, and the concept of an independent judiciary, without delving into such critical issues of systemic corruption. The chapter also cited a statement from former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai from July 2025, acknowledging instances of corruption and misconduct.
Upon learning of the textbook's content, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, took suo motu (on its own motion) cognisance of the matter on February 25, 2026. The Court expressed strong disapproval, with CJI Kant describing the inclusion as a 'tentatively calculated, deep-rooted attempt' to denigrate the judicial institution. Justice Joymalya Bagchi further noted that the textbook's content affected constitutional integrity and the principle of separation of powers. The Court observed that the chapter seemed to 'wash off with one stroke of the pen the illustrious history associated with the Supreme Court, the High Courts, and the District Courts' and 'conspicuously omit the substantive contributions' of these institutions.
On February 26, 2026, the Supreme Court ordered an immediate nationwide withdrawal and imposed a complete blanket ban on the controversial Class 8 textbook. The Court also issued show-cause notices for contempt proceedings to the NCERT Director, Professor Dinesh Prasad Saklani, and the Secretary of the School Education Department, seeking an explanation for the publication. The Court directed the seizure of physical copies and the removal of soft copies of the book.
Following the Court's initial intervention, NCERT released a press note acknowledging 'inappropriate textual material and an error of judgment' and stated its intention to withdraw the contentious portion and rewrite it after consultation. However, the Supreme Court was dissatisfied with this initial response. On March 10, 2026, a day before the next scheduled hearing, NCERT issued an 'unconditional and unqualified apology' for the chapter and confirmed that the entire book had been withdrawn and was no longer available.
Despite the apology and withdrawal, the issue escalated further during the Supreme Court's hearing on March 11, 2026. The Court was 'disturbed' by NCERT's affidavit stating that the controversial chapter had been 'duly rewritten' for the upcoming 2026-27 academic session, yet failed to disclose the identities of the 'alleged domain experts' who had rewritten and approved it. The Court found this lack of transparency concerning, expressing disappointment that no eminent jurists were involved in the committee, if any, that undertook the rewriting.
In a significant directive, the Supreme Court ordered the Union Government to constitute a high-level committee of domain experts within a week. This committee is mandated to include a former judge, an academician, and a renowned practitioner of law, and its approval is essential before any rewritten chapter on the judiciary can be published. Furthermore, the Court explicitly barred the three individuals originally involved in drafting the controversial chapter from participating in any future curriculum development or textbook preparation funded by public money. These individuals were identified as Professor Michel Danino, who chaired the NCERT social science curriculum panel, and his two associate members. The Court's order extended this dissociation directive to all state governments and publicly funded institutions.
Adding another dimension to the controversy, the Supreme Court also directed the Government of India to identify and take action against 'some elements' on social media who reacted 'irresponsibly' to its previous orders concerning the textbook. The Court emphasized its commitment to upholding the law and ensuring accountability for such actions.
This ongoing controversy highlights the delicate balance between academic freedom, the right to free speech, and the need to maintain public confidence in constitutional institutions like the judiciary, particularly when shaping the educational content for young students. The Supreme Court's intervention underscores its role as the guardian of institutional integrity.
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the controversy about the NCERT Class 8 textbook?
The controversy arose from a newly published Class 8 Social Science textbook by NCERT which, for the first time, included a chapter discussing 'corruption in the judiciary' and 'massive backlog of cases' as challenges within the Indian judicial system.
How did the Supreme Court react to the textbook chapter?
The Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance, expressing strong disapproval and calling the chapter a 'calculated move' to denigrate the judiciary. It ordered an immediate nationwide ban on the textbook, issued contempt notices to NCERT officials, and demanded an unconditional apology.
What actions has NCERT taken in response?
NCERT initially acknowledged an 'error of judgment' and stated it would withdraw and rewrite the chapter. Subsequently, it issued an 'unconditional and unqualified apology' and completely withdrew the entire textbook.
What are the latest directives from the Supreme Court on March 11, 2026?
On March 11, 2026, the Supreme Court was 'disturbed' that NCERT rewrote the chapter without disclosing experts. It directed the government to form an expert committee (including a former judge) to approve any revised content and explicitly barred the original three experts involved in the controversial chapter from future public-funded curriculum work.
Why did the Supreme Court also address social media reactions?
The Supreme Court noted that 'some elements' on social media reacted 'irresponsibly' to its previous orders regarding the textbook controversy. It directed the government to identify these sites and individuals for suitable action, emphasizing that the law must take its course against such 'mischief mongers'.