After being removed from circulation for nearly four months, NCERT’s Class 8 Social Science textbook Exploring Society: India and Beyond is set to make a comeback. According to sources, the revised version of the book is expected to reach schools by the third week of June after undergoing significant changes.
The textbook had sparked a nationwide debate earlier this year after the Supreme Court raised concerns over certain sections discussing corruption in the judiciary and the large number of pending court cases. Following the court’s order, all printed and digital copies were withdrawn immediately.
Why the Textbook Was Withdrawn
The controversy began in February when the Supreme Court objected to content included in Chapter 4 of the textbook. The chapter contained references to corruption within the judicial system and highlighted the growing backlog of cases in courts across the country.
The court directed NCERT to remove the book from circulation. In response, NCERT issued an unconditional apology and admitted that including the disputed content was a mistake. Soon after, an expert committee was formed to review the textbook and suggest necessary revisions.
Key Changes in the Revised Edition
Sources indicate that the revised version no longer contains any references to judicial corruption. The sections that triggered objections have reportedly been removed completely.
The review process also drew attention because three academics associated with the textbook’s development faced criticism following the Supreme Court’s observations. These included Padma Shri awardee Michel Danino, educator Suparna Diwakar, and legal scholar Alok Prasanna Kumar.
Initially, the court had directed publicly funded institutions to distance themselves from the trio. However, in May, the Supreme Court withdrew those remarks and removed the adverse observations made against them.
Book Ready for Re-Release
The updated manuscript has reportedly received all internal approvals and has already been sent for printing. The timing is important as schools across India are currently in the middle of the academic session and many students have been without access to the textbook since its withdrawal.
Reports suggest that around 2.25 lakh copies of the book had been printed earlier, but only 38 copies were sold before the Supreme Court ordered their removal from the market.
With the revised edition expected to arrive in schools by the third week of June, the textbook is set to return after one of the most closely watched education controversies in recent years.
