NEW DELHI: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has officially withdrawn its Class 8 social science textbook, “Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part II),” amidst a growing controversy regarding a chapter that addressed corruption and challenges within the Indian judiciary. Accompanying this move, NCERT issued a bold public apology, confirming that the textbook has been removed from both print and digital availability.

The Supreme Court of India initiated suo motu proceedings after recognizing the mention of “corruption” within India’s judiciary in the controversial chapter. Concerns rose regarding the textbook's potential impact on young minds, leading the court to demand NCERT’s immediate response and ultimately prompting the council's public apology, marking a significant acknowledgement of the gravity of the issue at hand.

Prominent news sources have reported that the Supreme Court has imposed a strict ban on the publication, reprinting, and digital distribution of the textbook. The court warned that ignoring this mandate could lead to serious contempt proceedings against NCERT, urging the organization to provide records of the committee responsible for the chapter’s approval process. Highlighting the key issues discussed in the chapter, which touched on corruption at various levels within the judiciary, structural limitations, and significant pending case backlogs, the court found the content troubling and potentially damaging to the judiciary’s reputation.

The Supreme Court emphasized that while constructive critique is welcome, exposing students to a potentially biased narrative could distort their understanding of the judicial system, creating misconceptions that may last a lifetime. NCERT has since requested that individuals or organizations in possession of the textbook return it, while also urging the removal of any related digital content from public platforms.

In light of these developments, NCERT reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring educational material is accurate and sensitive, expressing regret for any confusion caused to stakeholders. The council's swift response underlines the importance of careful oversight in educational initiatives, especially regarding topics as critical as the judiciary.