The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has put the distribution of thenew Class 8 Social Science Part 2 textbook— titledExploring Society: India and Beyond, Vol II— on hold just weeks before the start of the *2026‑27 CBSE academic session. This decision follows strong objections to content in one chapter that discussed issues related to the judiciary, such as case backlogs and references to corruption, prompting authorities to halt sales and withdraw copies from circulation.
Withof the 2.25 lakh printed copies recalled and only 38 sold, schools are now grappling with how to proceed when classes resume aroundApril 1. Given the tight timeline for rewriting, reviewing, printing and redistributing corrected textbooks, many schools are likely to begin their sessions by using theolder edition of the Social Science Part 2 bookalongside the already available Part 1. Teachers may also supplement lessons withdigital resources and available PDFsfrom the official NCERT site to ensure continuity in learning.
Educators note that textbooks are tools — not the sole source of learning — and that classroom instruction supplemented by updated online materials can help cover the syllabus effectively until the revised books are ready. NCERT has apologised for the unintentional error and said the contentious chapter will be rewritten in consultation with appropriate authorities and republished well ahead of the new academic year, ensuring students receive accurate and vetted content.
