NCERT releases revised Class 8 textbook after judiciary content row

Months after facing controversy over alleged defamatory content on the judiciary, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has released a revised Class 8 Social Science textbook, removing the disputed sections and introducing fresh material on judicial processes.

The revised chapter, The Role of the Judiciary in Society, drops references to judicial backlog, corruption in the judiciary and two major court verdicts. In their place, NCERT has added content on public interest litigation (PIL), tribunals and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

The opening "Big Questions" section has also been revised. Instead of asking students why an independent judiciary is necessary, the new edition asks why justice is important for building a "just and



harmonious society".

Among the major omissions is the section titled "Challenges Faced by the Judicial System", which had discussed the massive backlog of pending cases and attributed it to a shortage of judges, cumbersome procedures and inadequate infrastructure.

Also removed is the section on "Corruption in the Judiciary", which had referred to remarks by former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai acknowledging instances of corruption and misconduct within the judicial system.

The controversy erupted in February after the Class 8 Social Science textbook included references to corruption in the judiciary. Following the Supreme Court's intervention, both physical and digital copies of the textbook were withdrawn, and NCERT issued a public apology.