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The NCERT book also addresses the significant backlog of cases in courts, attributing this to factors like shortage of judges, legal process complexities, etc.
NCERT is developing new textbooks in line with the New Education Policy 2020. (Representative/File Photo)
New Topics in NCERT Class 8 Social Science Book: The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) unveiled a new Class 8 Social Science book on Monday, featuring a section that explains the judiciary’s role, tackling issues such as corruption and pending cases. This update is notable as these subjects were not covered directly in the previous edition.
As reported by the Indian Express, the new book, in a chapter titled “The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,” details the challenges courts face, particularly highlighting the prevalence of corruption at various judiciary levels.
The book also addresses the significant backlog of cases in courts, attributing this to factors like a shortage of judges, legal process complexities, and inadequate infrastructure.
The new book provides approximate statistics on pending cases in the country’s courts: about 81,000 cases in the Supreme Court of India, around 6,240,000 in the High Courts, and approximately 47,000,000 in district and subordinate courts. These figures are intended to help students grasp the pressures on the justice system.
According to the book, judges must adhere to a Code of Conduct, ensuring proper behaviour both inside and outside the courtroom. There is a mechanism for investigating complaints against judges through the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), which recorded over 1,600 complaints between 2017 and 2021. Serious allegations can lead to a judge’s removal by Parliament through impeachment, following a thorough investigation and due process.
The book also references a statement by former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai from July 2025, acknowledging corruption and misconduct within the judiciary, which erodes public trust. He had emphasised the need for transparent and strict actions to restore confidence.
The previous book detailed the judiciary’s role, the concept of an independent judiciary, court structure, and public access, but did not mention corruption. It did state that court cases often take years to resolve and explained the principle “Justice delayed is justice denied.”
Students are asked to discuss electoral bonds and the Information Technology Act (IT Act). The book explains that the 2018 electoral bond scheme allowed anonymous donations to political parties, which the Supreme Court later deemed unconstitutional, asserting voters’ right to know who funds parties. Additionally, it covers the Information Technology Act, 2009, which included a provision penalising social media posts. This was challenged in 2015 by a law student, leading to the Supreme Court declaring it unconstitutional and ordering its repeal due to violations of freedom of expression. Students are tasked with explaining the Supreme Court’s actions and reasons in these cases.
NCERT is developing new textbooks in line with the New Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). So far, new textbooks have been released for classes 1 to 8. The old textbooks were based on the 2005 curriculum, which was rationalised and reduced after the COVID-19 pandemic.
February 24, 2026, 09:05 IST
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