The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has announced that it has put on hold the distribution of its newly released Class 8 Social Science textbook after identifying inappropriate textual material and an error of judgement in one of its chapters. The textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Volume II, was released on February 24, 2026, as part of the revised curriculum for the upcoming academic session.
Issue Found in NCERT Class 8 textbook Chapter on Judiciary
According to an official press release, NCERT observed concerns in Chapter 4, titled “The Role of Judiciary in Our Society”, spanning pages 125 to 142. Following this, the Department of School Education & Literacy, under the Ministry of Education, also flagged similar issues and directed that the distribution of the book be kept on strict hold until further orders. NCERT confirmed that it has complied with the directive and suspended circulation of the textbook.
NCERT Expresses Regret, Affirms Respect for Judiciary
In its statement, NCERT said it holds the judiciary in the highest esteem, describing it as the upholder of the Indian Constitution and the protector of Fundamental Rights. The council clarified that the inclusion of the inappropriate material was purely unintentional and expressed regret over the lapse.“There is no intent to question or diminish the authority of any constitutional body,” NCERT stated, reiterating that the objective of the revised textbooks is to strengthen constitutional literacy, institutional respect, and informed democratic participation among students.
NCERT Class 8 textbook Chapter to Be Rewritten Before 2026–27 Session
NCERT announced that the chapter will be rewritten after consultation with appropriate authorities, as part of its continuous review process. The revised content will be made available to Class 8 students at the commencement of the 2026–27 academic session. The council once again apologised for the error of judgement and reaffirmed its commitment to maintaining institutional sanctity and academic responsibility in school textbooks.