Education Minister Promises Accountability Over NCERT ‘Judicial Corruption’ Chapter

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Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has announced a high-level probe and vowed that accountability will be fixed following a Supreme Court-ordered ban on an NCERT Class 8 textbook. The controversy erupted after the court discovered a chapter titled ‘The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society’ that highlighted ‘corruption in the judiciary.’

Describing the text as a ‘well-orchestrated conspiracy’ to malign the institution, the Supreme Court has ordered the immediate seizure of all physical and digital copies nationwide.

Minister Vows Action as "Heads Must Roll"


On 26 February 2026, Minister Pradhan spoke about the Class 8 Social Science book. The book is titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond. He said he regrets the controversial content. Pradhan spoke in Jamshedpur and said the government has "full respect for the judiciary." He stated they never meant to insult the institution. His comments came after a strong warning from a Supreme Court bench. Chief Justice Surya Kant said, "They have fired the gunshot. The judiciary is bleeding."

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Reports from The Federal say the minister stopped the books from being sold. A deep inquiry is now taking place. The Supreme Court also sent notices to the NCERT Director and the Secretary of School Education. The court warned that "heads must roll" for this mistake. They said the government's plan to remove only two people was "very light action."

Who is Impacted by the NCERT Accountability Crisis?


The legal fight is in New Delhi, but students and parents feel the impact. These specific stakeholders now face a gap in their school lessons. The Supreme Court ordered a ‘blanket ban’ on the book. This means schools must stop teaching Class 8 Social Science right away.

"The NCERT, in coordination with Union and State education departments, is directed to ensure that all copies of the book... whether held in retail outlets or schools, are removed from public access," the court directed, according to Bar and Bench.

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This row will likely change how school books are checked in India. The Ministry of Education may soon start a ‘multi-tier verification’ system. This will help find errors before books are printed. This event shows the need for a balance between school lessons and respect for the law.