Months after the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) withdrew its Class 8 Social Science textbook following objections from the Supreme Court, the revised edition is expected to return to schools by the third week of June.
The textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Volume II, was removed from circulation in February 2026 after controversy erupted over a chapter discussing corruption in the judiciary and the growing backlog of court cases. The Supreme Court took serious objection to parts of Chapter 4 and ordered an immediate halt to the sale and distribution of both physical and digital copies of the book.
Following the court’s concerns, NCERT issued an unconditional apology and described the inclusion of the disputed content as an “error in judgement.”
Judiciary Chapter Fully Revised
According to NCERT officials, the chapter on the judiciary has now been completely rewritten, with all references to judicial corruption removed from the revised edition.
A three-member expert committee appointed by the Education Ministry was tasked with revising the chapter. The panel included former Attorney General K.K. Venugopal, former Supreme Court judge Justice Indu Malhotra, and Justice Aniruddha Bose.
An official familiar with the development said, “The chapter on the judiciary has been thoroughly reviewed and all references related to corruption have been removed.”
Sources said the updated manuscript has completed internal approvals and has already been sent for printing. Officials expect the revised textbook to be available in schools later this month.
Textbook Recall Created Shortage in Schools
The return of the book is considered important because schools across the country are already in the middle of the academic session, and many institutions were left without access to the textbook after its withdrawal.
Reports suggest that out of nearly 2.25 lakh copies printed earlier, only a small number had been sold before the Supreme Court ordered their seizure.
Curriculum Changes Under NEP 2020
The revised textbook is part of NCERT’s larger curriculum overhaul under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Officials say this is the first major textbook revision in nearly two decades.
NCERT has said the new textbooks will include better paper quality, improved printing, updated layouts, illustrations, and more activity-based learning content to make education easier and more engaging for students.
“After nearly 20 years, NCERT is introducing a new set of textbooks aligned with the National Education Policy 2020. The focus is on better pedagogy, improved design and wider accessibility through both print and digital platforms,” an official said.
The council has also expanded digital access to textbooks through smartphones, tablets, and computers to improve educational access, especially in remote areas.
Supreme Court Later Relaxed Restrictions on Academics
The controversy also affected three academics linked to the textbook’s preparation — Padma Shri awardee Michel Danino, educator Suparna Diwakar, and legal scholar Alok Prasanna Kumar.
In its initial order, the Supreme Court had directed publicly funded institutions to distance themselves from the trio. However, in May 2026, the court withdrew those directions and removed adverse remarks made against them.
Meanwhile, NCERT officials said revised Class 9 Social Science textbooks are also expected to be released soon, while Hindi versions of several books will be made available before the end of June.
