NCERT Class 8 Social Science Book Pulled Down After Supreme Court Ban
After the Supreme Court of India verdict, the NCERT has withdrawn its Class 8 Social Science textbook from circulation. The decision follows a controversy over a chapter which raised concerns leading to its immediate halt of distribution.
Key Points
- The Supreme Court of India banned the NCERT Class 8th Social Science book.
- The ban was due to inappropriate content, with references to corruption in judiciary in chapter 4.
- NCERT admitted the error and plans to rewrite after consulting the appropriate authority.
National Council of Educational Research and Training, NCERT today pulled down its Class 8 Social Science Textbook following a blanket ban imposed by the Supreme Court of India. The apex court has instructed the Council to immediately stop the circulation of the book after concerns were raised over the contents of a chapter. The decision comes following the row over a chapter - “The Role of the Judiciary in our Society” in NCERT’s Class 8 Social Science book.
The book has been removed from its digital repository and an immediate stop has been imposed on the sale and re-printing of all physical copies of the book. It further mentioned that sharing in any form will be a matter of serious non-compliance.
The apex court has asked the Director of NCERT to provide the names and credentials of the officials involved in making of the chapter. The original minutes of meetings where the chapter was discussed and approved shall also be presented at the next hearing.
The bench headed by Chief Justice of India, CJI Surya Kant noted that the content was malicious and hampers the faith of the people in the judiciary. He further pointed out that the matter cannot be allowed to go unchecked and could be considered criminal contempt.
Calling the error 'purely unintentional’, the council has acknowledged the issue raised over the addition and declared the alteration of the textual material. The council has announced the revision of the contents of the book over the row.
The latest press release by the NCERT reads, “Hence, the chapter shall be re-written, with consultation of the appropriate authority, as necessary, and would be made available to students of Class 8 accordingly on the commencement of the academic session 2026-27.“
It further adds, “NCERT reiterates that the objective of the new textbooks is to strengthen constitutional literacy, institutional respect, and informed understanding of democratic participation amongst students. There is no intent to question or diminish the authority of any constitutional body.”
Laavanya Negi is Journalist and education news reporter. With foundational experience at top-tier media houses like HT Media and India Today, she brings a sharp, multi-platform lens to her reporting. At Jagran Josh, Laavanya covers the full spectrum of international, national, and regional education news - ranging from CBSE and State Board results to major entrance exams like CUET, JEE, and NEET, and college admissions and counselling. Combining her expertise in news reporting and creative writing, she translates complex updates into timely, actionable, and engaging content for students and educators alike. An avid learner, she possesses multiple certificates in Journalism and German Language. Her dream is to inspire the youth to follow their dreams and enable them by providing timely information.
