The controversial chapter mentioning corruption in the judiciary in the NCERT class 8 social science textbook was written by a committee of members that included a lawyer, but was not reviewed by anyone from the legal fraternity, officials familiar with the matter said on Thursday.
The officials cited above also pointed out that the previous eighth-grade social science textbook — which was in use until 2024 — did not mention corruption at all.
“There was a lawyer among the members who wrote that particular chapter that sparked controversy and others were from social science backgrounds. There was no one from the legal fraternity to review the book,” said the NCERT official, requesting anonymity.
The Supreme Court has called for action against those who wrote the chapter, and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has also promised strict action.
The textbook in question was written between 2023 and 2025 and was introduced into the curriculum in 2026. NCERT has rolled out new textbooks for classes I to VIII in a phased manner between 2023 and 2025, in line with the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 and New Education Policy 2020.
Corruption appears in both the new seventh-grade and eighth-grade textbooks—both of which have two parts each. HT has seen copies of textbooks. The seventh grade book mentions corruption in the legislature and during the electoral process – but not in the judiciary.
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She added, “The government also has vigilance committees to investigate corruption cases. You can contact them if you find corruption cases.”
Then he discusses the elections.
“We learn about the electoral process, including closed ballot boxes, members’ qualifications and duties, as well as the circumstances that could lead to their removal. For example, members will be immediately removed if they are found to be involved in any corruption.”
Finally, it discusses the problems faced by democracies.
“Issues such as corruption, wealth disparity, excessive control by a few democratic institutions, erosion of judicial independence, manipulation of information channels, and many more, can cause obstacles in realizing the ideals of democracy. What can we do as individuals, and as a society, to remain vigilant and minimize these issues and obstacles?” he asked.
The textbook also explains that the Government of India plays three main roles – protector (law and defence), provider (welfare and infrastructure), and regulator (economic activity and social justice) – which are implemented through the constitution, laws, elected representatives, bureaucracy and judiciary. It then raises a crucial question for students: If these systems work to serve citizens, “why do we still hear about cases of bribery and corruption in public office?”
Read also: ‘Accountability will be determined and action will be taken’: Education Minister’s first response to NCERT textbook row
He also discusses mechanisms for redressing grievances, noting that many government departments have designated grievance offices and vigilance committees where citizens can report complaints, including corruption cases.
The first part of the eighth-grade social sciences book (controversy revolves around the second part) also discussed political corruption. Politicians and officials were depicted violating the Model Code of Conduct during elections with one cartoon showing bundles of $500/- notes were found in the candidate’s car during the search. “The Indian electoral system is celebrated as the largest democratic exercise in the world. However, like all systems, it faces its share of challenges. Issues such as the increasing influence of money in elections, a large proportion of candidates with criminal records, and voter apathy, (particularly in urban areas), raise important questions about the health and future of our democracy,” the textbook said.
Preparation of the textbook for NCERT follows a multi-stage collective process with no single author responsible for individual chapters, people familiar with the book’s development process said.
For each subject, a Curriculum Group (CAG) is formed, which forms the textbook development team to draft the chapters. Initial drafts can be written by contributors (academics) or invited experts, and are then reviewed at multiple levels – by the development team, external experts, teachers, CAG faculty, NCERT, and finally the National Curriculum and Teaching and Learning Subjects Committee (NSTC).
“These contents have been included in the book in line with new teaching methods, as mandated by the National Economic Policy 2020, which asks students to investigate, explore and respond to complex questions, real-world challenges and problems,” people familiar with the development said.
Former NCERT director G S Rajput said the controversy had “damaged” the image of the board. “The new textbooks mention corruption in the executive and legislature and students should learn about such issues to become informed citizens. Many in the legal fraternity may not have read the books completely. Over time, NCERT could have shown in court that the judiciary has not been left out,” he said.
