The controversy surrounding the NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook has escalated following the Supreme Court's intervention. The apex court, taking suo motu cognizance of content allegedly depicting judicial corruption, has stayed the distribution and teaching of the disputed chapter. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Suryakant observed that the dignity of the judiciary can't be compromised and refused to accept an unconditional apology from the authorities. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has also addressed the matter as the court investigates the possibility of a calculated attempt to malign the institution.
Supreme Court Proceedings and Judicial Observations
During the hearing, the Supreme Court expressed strong disapproval of the content included in the textbook. CJI Suryakant remarked that portraying the judiciary as corrupt could be part of a larger conspiracy. The bench emphasized that no individual or organization is permitted to damage the reputation of constitutional institutions. Justice Bagchi noted that in the digital age, thousands of copies might have already been circulated, necessitating a thorough investigation into the reach of the material. The court has demanded an explanation from NCERT regarding the oversight in the vetting process and the identification of those responsible for the final approval.
The Mechanism of NCERT Syllabus Formulation
The process of designing the NCERT syllabus is a multi-layered academic exercise. According to official protocols, the responsibility for drafting the curriculum for Classes 6 to 12 lies with Curriculum Advisory Groups (CAGs). These groups are specialized committees comprising experts in fields such as history, geography, political science, and sociology. Their primary mandate is to ensure that the educational content aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). The process involves multiple drafts and internal reviews before reaching the publication stage.
Role of Curriculum Advisory Groups and Experts
For the Social Science curriculum, a 35-member committee was constituted under the chairmanship of Michel Danino. This committee included prominent academicians and subject matter experts tasked with modernizing the content. Under standard operating procedures, the draft prepared by the committee undergoes rigorous peer review by external experts. Following these reviews, the content is finalized and published with a foreword from the Director of NCERT. The current controversy has raised significant questions about the efficacy of this review mechanism and how the sensitive content bypassed multiple levels of scrutiny.
Alignment with NEP 2020 and NCF Standards
Under the NEP 2020, NCERT is mandated to provide students with factual, balanced, and sensitive information. The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) sets specific standards for the accuracy of content and its impact on the social fabric. Officials state that every chapter is supposed to undergo several stages of editing to maintain academic integrity. In light of the current dispute, the Ministry of Education is reviewing whether the expert committee followed the established protocols. The Supreme Court has stressed the need for a more strong monitoring system to prevent such occurrences in the future.
Accountability and Investigation into Content Oversight
The Supreme Court has directed NCERT to file a detailed affidavit explaining the circumstances under which the chapter was approved. The court indicated that it wouldn't settle for a mere apology and intends to fix accountability for the lapse. Instructions may also be issued to remove PDF versions of the controversial chapter from digital platforms. Sources within the education department suggest that a revised version of the textbook will be released after removing the disputed sections. Currently, schools across the country have been advised to suspend the teaching of the specific chapter pending further orders.