Centre Orders Comprehensive Overhaul of NCERT Textbooks Following Supreme Court’s Strict Directives NEW DELHI, March 11, 2026 – In a landm...
Centre Orders Comprehensive Overhaul of NCERT Textbooks Following Supreme Court’s Strict Directives
NEW DELHI, March 11, 2026 – In a landmark development for India’s education sector, the Central Government today informed the Supreme Court that it has directed the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) to conduct a comprehensive review of textbooks across all classes.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing before a bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, stated that a panel of neutral, independent domain experts will be constituted to vet the entire curriculum. The government assured the apex court that "systemic changes" have been initiated and no content will be published henceforth without being thoroughly screened by this expert committee.
The "Deep-Rooted Conspiracy" Controversy
The move follows a high-stakes legal battle over a recently released Class 8 Social Science textbook, titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond (Vol II).
The Content: Chapter IV of the book discussed "corruption in the judiciary," backlogs, and shortages of judges as primary challenges facing the legal system.
Judicial Reaction: On February 26, the Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance, describing the content as "reckless" and a "calculated move" to undermine the dignity of the judiciary. The court observed that the framing suggested a "deep-rooted conspiracy."
The Ban: The Court had previously imposed a complete blanket ban on the book, ordering the immediate seizure of all physical copies and the removal of digital versions from the web.
Court Expresses "Disturbance" Over Rewriting Attempt
During today’s hearing, the Bench expressed significant displeasure after learning that NCERT had already attempted to "rewrite" the offending chapter.
"If this is the casual way of publishing curriculum for students of this country, then what can we say?" remarked the CJI, noting that the curriculum appeared to have been approved without necessary checks at multiple levels.
The Court has now barred those involved in the original drafting from any future associations with the curriculum-making process. It directed that the revised content must only be published after the approval of the new high-level committee, which is expected to include a former judge and renowned academicians.
What Happens Next?
Unconditional Apology: The Director of NCERT has filed an affidavit tendering an "unconditional and unqualified apology" to the Court.
Global Review: The review is not limited to Class 8; the Solicitor General confirmed it will span all standards from Class 1 to 12 to ensure accuracy and institutional respect.
Timeline: The government aims to have the reviewed and vetted textbooks ready for the 2026-27 academic session.
Strict Accountability: The Court has asked the Centre to identify "anti-social" handles and individuals on social media who allegedly posted irresponsibly following the previous court orders in this matter.
This overhaul marks one of the most significant judicial interventions in India's educational framework, ensuring that school textbooks maintain a delicate balance between "civic realism" and respect for constitutional institutions.
