Controversy over Class 8 Social Science book: NCERT withdraws chapter, issues apology.

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): National Council of Educational Research and Training has decided to withdraw a newly introduced Class 8 Social Science textbook after a controversy erupted over a chapter discussing the role of the judiciary. The chapter, titled “Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” triggered debate as it highlighted several challenges faced by the judicial system, including corruption allegations, shortage of judges and the growing backlog of cases.

In an official statement, NCERT said the chapter contained inappropriate content and acknowledged an error in the approval process that led to its inclusion in the textbook. The council clarified that it had no intention of undermining the dignity of any constitutional institution and expressed regret over the incident, issuing a public apology for the mistake.

The matter also drew the attention of the Supreme Court of India, which took suo motu cognizance and made strong observations regarding the content. The court stated that material harming the image of constitutional institutions is unacceptable and ordered the withdrawal of the book from circulation. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for March 11. Education experts noted that NCERT textbooks are widely used in schools across the country, meaning any change in the curriculum can directly affect students and teachers.