NCERT apologises for error, Class 8 book to be revised after Supreme Court criticism

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): The National Council of Educational Research and Training issued an apology after the Supreme Court of India raised strong objections to a Class 8 textbook chapter dealing with “judicial corruption.” The council stated that the disputed content would be rewritten after consultations with the concerned authorities. Soon after the court’s remarks, the textbook was withdrawn from the NCERT website and its distribution was stopped. A revised version is expected to be introduced at the start of the 2026–27 academic session, while the matter remains under consideration before the court.

In an official statement, NCERT acknowledged that certain inappropriate material and errors in judgment had been unintentionally included in the chapter. The council emphasized that it holds the judiciary in the highest respect and recognizes it as the protector of the Constitution and fundamental rights. It clarified that there was no intention to undermine any constitutional institution or question its authority.

NCERT further stated that the objective of the new textbooks is to promote constitutional awareness, respect for institutions and democratic values among students. The council said it welcomes constructive feedback as part of the review process and confirmed that the content in question would be revised accordingly. The issue came to light after a bench led by Surya Kant took suo motu notice of the textbook content following submissions by senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Abhishek Singhvi. The court stressed that the dignity and impartiality of the judiciary must be preserved, prompting NCERT to take immediate corrective steps.