NCERT orders immediate recall of Class 8 Social Science book amid judiciary row

The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has issued a public recall of its Class 8 Social Science textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond – Part 2, asking individuals and organisations in possession of the book to return copies immediately, as the controversy over its contents escalated into a Supreme Court-mandated blanket ban.

In a media advisory, NCERT requested that all copies of the textbook be returned to the Head, Department of Education in Social Sciences (DESS) or the Publication Division at its Sri Aurobindo Marg headquarters in New Delhi at the earliest.

It also urged that any content related to the chapter “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society”, if shared on social media or digital platforms, be deleted immediately.


Also Read: 'Graft in judiciary' chapter: NCERT pulls textbook from website, may remove controversial portions

“It is being reiterated that the NCERT has withdrawn the textbook,” the statement said.

Supreme Court’s order on blanket ban

The recall follows a stern order by the Supreme Court on February 26 imposing a complete ban on further publication, printing, sale or digital dissemination of the book. The court directed the Union government to ensure immediate compliance and take steps to stop both physical and online circulation.



The apex court had taken suo motu cognisance of the issue on February 25. It also issued show-cause notices to the NCERT Director and the Secretary, Department of School Education, asking why criminal contempt proceedings should not be initiated against them.

The Union government informed the court that 32 copies of the book had been sold and were being withdrawn. The Ministry of Education subsequently wrote to the Ministries of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Information and Broadcasting (I&B), directing them to take urgent action to curb digital dissemination and submit an action-taken report by February 27 to enable a compliance affidavit before the court.

The court further directed that action be taken against those involved in preparing the book. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has assured that accountability will be fixed and appropriate action taken.

What triggered the controversy?

The controversy centres on a chapter in Part 2 of the Class 8 Social Science textbook titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” which contained references to alleged “judicial corruption.” Hours after it went on sale, the book was withdrawn from the NCERT bookstore counter on January 24, after 32 copies were sold.

Later that night, NCERT apologised for what it described as “inappropriate content” in the chapter and said it would be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authorities.

The timing of the release also drew attention. While Part 1 of the Class 8 Social Science textbook was released in July 2025 three months after the 2025–26 academic session began Part 2 was released on February 23, 2026, barely a month before the academic year concluded.

With a Supreme Court ban in place, recall orders issued, and contempt notices served, the NCERT textbook row has rapidly evolved from a curriculum dispute into a high-stakes institutional confrontation, with implications for academic publishing, institutional oversight and judicial accountability.