NCERT to release revised Class 8 Social Science textbook after SC ban

NCERT is set to reissue its Class 8 Social Science textbook after revising content flagged by the Supreme Court, with the updated edition likely to be available within a week, according to sources in the Ministry of Education.

The revised version has been cleared by an expert panel formed by NCERT to review the chapter on the judiciary that had drawn objections. Final approval is pending a meeting of the NCERT syllabus committee.

"The revised book has been approved by the expert panel. There is a syllabus committee meeting by the NCERT, which will give final clearance. Printing is expected to begin later this week," a source said.

Printing of the updated textbook is expected to begin shortly after the final clearance, and the book may reach the market within a week.

The delay in availability had raised concerns as the academic session began on April 1, impacting students relying on NCERT materials.

NCERT had withdrawn the Class 8 Social Science textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Part II), in March following directions from the Supreme Court.

The court had imposed a ban on its publication, reprinting, and digital circulation, describing parts of the judiciary chapter as "offending" and noting that the content had harmed the institution.

NCERT later issued an apology, stating that the chapter titled "The Role of Judiciary in Our Society" contained inappropriate material.

"The Director and Members of NCERT hereby tender an unconditional and unqualified apology. The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available," the statement read.

The apex court had also directed the center to set up an expert panel to finalize curriculum content related to legal studies in school textbooks and warned against the spread of misleading information.

Following this, the Centre informed the court that a committee of subject experts had been constituted to rewrite the chapter.

Separately, NCERT has reconstituted a 20-member National Syllabus and Teaching Learning Material Committee to oversee curriculum design for Classes 8 and above.

The panel includes members from institutions such as IIT Madras, the Indian Council of Historical Research, and the National Law School of India University.

New members include V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras, Raghuvendra Tanwar, Chairman of ICHR, former NLSIU Vice Chancellor R Venkata Rao, and Amarendra Prasad Behera from NCERT’s Central Institute of Educational Technology.

Three earlier members, Michel Danino, Bibek Debroy, and M D Srinivas, have been removed following the controversy.