With April just weeks away, schools affiliated to the Central Board of Secondary Education are preparing to begin the new academic session. But this year, Class 8 Social Science teachers are in a bind.
The second volume of the revised NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook, titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II, was released on February 24. Within days, sale of the book was put on hold after objections to portions of a chapter discussing corruption in the judiciary and the pendency of cases.
On Thursday morning, Supreme Court ordered the immediate removal of all physical and digital copies of the revised Class 8 Social Science Part 2 textbook from public access. The court also directed that no instruction should be imparted from the withdrawn book, effectively ruling out its classroom use when the new academic session begins.
According to sources, of the 2.25 lakh copies printed, only 38 were sold. The remaining 2,24,962 copies have been recalled to the warehouse. Efforts are reportedly on to retrieve the sold copies as well.
This leaves schools with a practical question: what will students use in April?
HOW SCHOOLS WILL PROCEED
Given the short timeline, many schools are expected to begin the session with the older edition of Social Science Part 2, while continuing with the already available revised Part 1. Rewriting, vetting, printing and redistributing lakhs of copies in a few weeks is not a simple logistical exercise.
“There is enough time before the new academic session gathers pace. In most cases, we continue with the previous edition or use digital resources until the updated books arrive. What matters is covering the syllabus effectively. Textbooks are a tool, not the only source of learning,” says Vineeta Singh, a CBSE teacher from a Lucknow school.
“For now, we will continue with Part 1 of the NCERT Social Science book. We need to discuss with our HOD to see how we proceed next,” says Vandana, TGT Social Science, St. Angels School, Rohini.
“The Class 8 NCERT books are available with vendors in limited quantities. Some of us have got the first part and Part 2 is expected soon,” says Kshipra Pahwa Sethi, Head Mistress, Middle Wing at Silverline Prestige School, Ghaziabad.
“However, as per the sources and information from vendors, the books are expected to be available by or before the second week of March and the new session is scheduled to start on or around April 1. The soft copy of books is also available on the official NCERT website and teachers can use the same to prepare for the upcoming session,” she adds.
“Our teachers are prepared to initiate the session using the previous edition of the textbook as a reference. This can be helpful for students during the foundation weeks when core concepts are being introduced. The old edition can certainly serve as a temporary bridge until the revised books are accessible in the market,” says Principal Dr. Alka Kapur, Modern Public School, Shalimar Bagh.
“We are also closely monitoring the updates from NCERT. Parents are advised not to panic and refrain from purchasing books from unofficial sources as haste makes waste,” she adds.
WHAT SPARKED THE NCERT CONTROVERSY
The now-withdrawn chapter, ‘The Role of Judiciary in our Society’, referenced judicial corruption allegations and case backlogs. It cited around 81,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court, 62.4 lakh in High Courts, and 4.7 crore in district and subordinate courts. It also explained the impeachment of judges, stressing that no one is above the law.
The Supreme Court took strong exception to the references. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant termed it a “calculated and deep-rooted” attack on the judiciary and took suo motu note of the matter. Soon after, NCERT halted distribution and acknowledged that “certain inappropriate textual material and errors of judgement” had crept into the chapter.
The controversy comes amid a wider overhaul of textbooks under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF).
HOW NCERT TEXTBOOKS ARE DECIDED
Textbook development at NCERT is a layered and consultative process. Subject experts draft content based on the National Curriculum Framework. These drafts are reviewed by advisory groups, domain specialists and pedagogical experts. Feedback is incorporated through multiple meetings and revisions before final approval.
Importantly, NCERT functions as an academic body. It designs curriculum frameworks and textbooks but does not directly administer schools. Final decisions often involve coordination with the education ministry and alignment with national policy priorities.
This makes any last-minute change complex. A single chapter rewrite is not just about editing a few paragraphs. It involves fresh drafting, expert review, internal approval, printing logistics and distribution planning across the country.
POSSIBLE REWRITE, NOT RECALL
A full recall and reprint of 2.25 lakh copies would involve significant financial and logistical implications. Given the scale of printing already completed, it is likely that the council may explore revising only the contentious sections rather than scrapping the entire stock. Replacing specific pages during the reprinting process could prove more practical than commissioning a completely fresh print run.
In practical terms, this could mean inserting corrected pages into already printed stock before dispatch. It is faster and cheaper than starting from scratch, but still tight against the academic calendar.
For now, schools appear set to adopt a temporary arrangement. Until the revised NCERT Social Science Part 2 textbook returns to shelves, many may rely on the older edition to ensure that the academic year does not begin with uncertainty.
Beyond the classroom, the episode has sparked a larger debate. It is no longer just about a chapter. It is about how institutions are portrayed, how much critique belongs in school textbooks, and who ultimately shapes the story that young Indians read about their nation.
