Education – Congress Targets PM After Supreme Court Halts NCERT Book
Education – A fresh political confrontation has erupted after the Supreme Court ordered an immediate halt to the circulation of a Class 8 social science textbook published by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), prompting the Congress party to criticise Prime Minister Narendra Modi over what it describes as systematic interference in academic content.
Congress Alleges Political Influence in Textbook Revisions
Addressing the controversy, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the Prime Minister of playing a direct role in shaping what he termed an ideological framework influencing school textbooks. He claimed that over the past decade, educational material has been altered under a broader political design rather than through independent academic processes.
Ramesh argued that the leadership in New Delhi cannot distance itself from the current dispute, asserting that the rewriting of textbooks reflects a deliberate pattern rather than isolated editorial lapses. According to him, the developments surrounding NCERT publications demonstrate deeper structural issues within the educational ecosystem.
Supreme Court Imposes Immediate Ban
The political remarks came a day after the Supreme Court issued a complete prohibition on the printing, sale, and digital distribution of the concerned Class 8 social science textbook. The bench observed that certain portions of the book contained objectionable references relating to corruption in the judiciary.
During the hearing, the court expressed serious concern, stating that the integrity of judicial institutions must not be undermined. It ordered authorities to immediately withdraw all physical copies in circulation and remove digital versions from public platforms.
The bench, headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant, also issued notices to the NCERT director and the secretary of the Department of School Education. They have been asked to clarify why action should not be taken against those responsible for approving the disputed chapter.
Government Promises Accountability
Responding to the controversy, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan conveyed regret over the inclusion of the contentious material. He assured that accountability would be fixed and that appropriate steps would be taken after reviewing how the content was cleared for publication.
NCERT subsequently removed the textbook from its official website and issued an apology for what it described as inappropriate content. The organisation stated that the book would be revised in consultation with relevant authorities before being reintroduced.
The court also made it clear that any attempt to reissue the same material through alternate formats or digital means would be treated as a violation of its directive.
Call for Wider Investigation
Beyond the immediate ban, Congress has urged further scrutiny into the process through which school textbooks are drafted and approved. Ramesh suggested that a comprehensive inquiry could help determine whether there was any coordinated effort behind the revisions.
He maintained that the matter extends beyond a single chapter and touches upon the broader credibility of educational institutions. According to him, textbooks should remain neutral and academically sound, especially when dealing with constitutional bodies such as the judiciary.
The controversy centres on passages in the social science book that listed corruption, case backlogs, and a shortage of judges among challenges faced by the judicial system. While such issues have been part of public discourse, the court indicated that the framing in the textbook raised concerns about how the judiciary was portrayed to young students.
Broader Debate on Academic Independence
The episode has revived longstanding debates about academic autonomy and the role of government in shaping curriculum content. Education policy experts note that textbook preparation typically involves multiple stages of review, including subject specialists and editorial committees. The current dispute, however, has drawn attention to whether existing safeguards are sufficient to prevent contentious material from reaching classrooms.
With the Supreme Court’s strong observations and political exchanges intensifying, the matter is likely to remain in focus in the coming weeks. The responses from NCERT and the Education Ministry will be closely watched, as stakeholders across the education sector await clarity on the next steps.