Now, students will learn the full picture of justice; the new NCERT Class 8 textbook will address corruption and pending cases.
The new NCERT Class 8 Social Science textbook now explicitly discusses the role of the judiciary, as well as its challenges, such as corruption and pending cases.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) recently released a new Class 8 Social Science textbook. This year, a significant change has been observed in the textbook. While previously the focus was on the role of the judiciary, the structure of courts, and how an independent judiciary operates, students are now also exposed to the challenges of the justice system. The new textbook explicitly addresses issues such as "corruption in the judiciary" and pending cases.
The new textbook highlights the significant backlog of cases in the country's courts. Statistics have been used to help students understand the pressure on the justice system. According to the book, approximately 81,000 cases are pending in the Supreme Court of India. Meanwhile, approximately 6,240,000 cases are pending in the High Courts of India. In addition, approximately 47,000,000 cases are still pending in the district and subordinate courts.
The book lists several reasons behind this backlog of cases. Among these, the primary reasons are a shortage of judges, complex legal procedures, and a lack of adequate infrastructure in the courts. It attempts to convey to students that delivering judgments is not just a challenge, but the effective functioning of the entire system is also a significant responsibility.
Corruption Directly Mentioned for the First Time
This time, the book also highlights incidents of corruption and misconduct within the judiciary. The chapter states that the judiciary is a crucial pillar of democracy, but it also faces numerous challenges. Corruption at various levels is described as a serious problem that can make access to justice more difficult, especially for the poor and disadvantaged. The book also clarifies that judges are bound by a code of conduct. They must maintain dignified and impartial behavior not only within the courtroom but also in their private lives.
If a complaint is filed against a judge, there is a prescribed procedure. If serious allegations are leveled against a judge, Parliament has the right to remove them from office through the process of impeachment. This process is lengthy and involves investigation, in which the judge concerned is given a full opportunity to present their case. In this way, the book also explains the system of balance and accountability within a democratic framework.
Complaints and Accountability Mechanisms
The new book also describes the Centralized Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS), through which complaints can be filed. According to the book, more than 1,600 complaints were filed between 2017 and 2021. This helps students understand that a system of accountability exists within the judiciary.
Statement by a Former Chief Justice
The chapter also cites a statement by former Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai. According to his statement in July 2025, incidents of corruption and misconduct have also surfaced within the judiciary. He stated that such incidents undermine public confidence. He also stated that only transparent, prompt, and strict action can restore public trust. He described transparency and accountability as essential qualities of democracy.
The Example of Electoral Bonds and the IT Act
To better illustrate the topic, the book provides two important examples: electoral bonds and the Information Technology Act. The book explains that in 2018, the government launched the Electoral Bond Scheme, under which individuals and companies could secretly donate to political parties. The Supreme Court of India later declared this scheme unconstitutional. The court stated that voters have the right to know who is funding political parties. This example explains to students how courts protect the Constitution.
The second example relates to the Information Technology Act, 2009. The book explains that a provision was added to this law, which could lead to imprisonment for posts made on social media or the internet. In 2015, a law student challenged this provision. The Supreme Court subsequently struck it down, citing it as violating freedom of expression. Students are asked to describe the court's decisions in these cases and the constitutional rationale behind them.
How different from the old book?
The previous book, which was based on the 2005 syllabus, covered topics such as the independence of the judiciary, the structure of courts, and citizen access. It did mention that cases take years to be resolved and mentioned the saying "Justice delayed is justice denied." However, issues like corruption were not directly addressed.
Following the COVID-19 pandemic, the old syllabus was rationalized and several sections were reduced. Now, the curriculum has been redesigned under the New Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF). New textbooks for classes 1 to 8 have already been released, and this change is part of that process.
