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NCERT Class 8 Textbook Withdraws 'Corruption in Judiciary' Section Citing 'Error of Judgement' After CJI Suo Motu Action

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims MediumMains HighStatic GK Link
26 Feb 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:Pending Cases SC: 81,000Pending Cases HCs: 62,40,000Pending Cases Subordinate Courts: 4,70,00,000
Bodies:NCERTSupreme Court of India
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.NCERT revised Class 8 Social Science textbook included a section on 'Corruption in the Judiciary', referencing Bangalore Principles and a statement by former CJI Justice Gavai, alongside case backlog data.

2.The inclusion sparked controversy, with senior advocates calling it 'scandalous' and the CJI terming it a 'calculated conspiracy', leading to suo motu intervention and the book's withdrawal.

3.This event is part of a broader pattern of NCERT textbook revisions being criticized for ideological bias, raising questions about institutional autonomy and the balance between legal literacy and political influence in education.

The Big Picture
Prelims · MediumMains · High

NCERT's revised Class 8 Social Science textbook included a controversial section on 'corruption in the judiciary', citing specific case backlog data and a statement by a former CJI. This triggered strong reactions from senior advocates and led the current CJI to take suo motu cognizance, resulting in NCERT withdrawing the book and apologizing. This incident highlights the ongoing debate over textbook content, institutional autonomy, and the appropriate age for introducing critical perspectives on governance.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Textbook ClassClass 8 Social Science
Controversial Section"Corruption in the Judiciary"
Pending Cases (Mar 2025)SC: 81,000; HCs: 62,40,000; Subordinate Courts: 4,70,00,000
Judicial Conduct Code CitedBangalore Principles of Judicial Conduct

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Textbook Class: Class 8 Social Science
  • ›Controversial Section: "Corruption in the Judiciary"
  • ›Target this Data: Pending cases in Indian judiciary as of March 2025 (SC: 81k, HCs: 62.4L, Subordinate: 4.7Cr).
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
  • ›Target this Legal Point: 'Suo motu' cognizance power of the Supreme Court.

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which autonomous body under the Ministry of Education is primarily responsible for developing school curriculum frameworks and textbooks, as discussed in the news?

Q2Statement-basedMedium

Consider the following statements regarding the NCERT textbook controversy mentioned in the article:

1. The controversial section was included in a revised Class 8 Social Science textbook and cited data on pending cases from March 2025.

2. The Chief Justice of India took suo motu cognizance of the issue after senior advocates raised concerns, describing the textbook content as a 'calculated conspiracy'.

3. NCERT subsequently withdrew the textbook and apologized, citing 'inappropriate textual material and an error of judgement'.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricEasy

According to the National Judicial Data cited in the NCERT textbook (as of March 2025), what was the approximate number of pending cases in the Supreme Court of India?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary ethical concern raised in the article regarding the inclusion of the 'Corruption in the Judiciary' section in the Class 8 NCERT textbook?

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