Chapter on 'judicial graft': NCERT issues public apology, says book withdrawn
New Delhi (PTI): The NCERT issued a public apology on Tuesday for including a chapter on judicial corruption in a recent book that had earned the Supreme Court's ire, and said the entire textbook has been withdrawn.
The social science textbook for Class 8 stated that corruption, a massive backlog of cases and the lack of an adequate number of judges are among the challenges faced by the judicial system.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the NCERT said, "The National Council of Educational Research and Training has recently published a social science textbook, 'Exploring Society: India and Beyond' Grade 8 (Part 2), which contained Chapter 4 titled 'The Role of Judiciary in our Society'."
"The director and members of NCERT hereby tender an unconditional and unqualified apology for the said chapter four. The entire book has been withdrawn and is not available," it added.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi had taken suo motu cognisance of the "objectionable" statements about the judiciary in NCERT textbooks after senior advocate Kapil Sibal, alongside Abhishek Singhvi, mentioned the matter for urgent consideration.
CJI Kant strongly objected to a chapter on judicial corruption in the NCERT's Class 8 curriculum, saying nobody on earth would be allowed to defame the judiciary and taint its integrity.
The Supreme Court imposed a "complete blanket ban" on any further publication, reprinting or digital dissemination of the NCERT's Class 8 social science book as it contains "offending" content on corruption in the judiciary, saying a gunshot has been fired and the institution is bleeding.
The government, on its part, expressed anguish over the inclusion of the controversial section in the book, with Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan promising to fix accountability and take action against those involved in drafting it.
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Andhra CM thanks President for giving assent to bill recognising Amaravati as capital
Amaravati (PTI): Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu has thanked President Droupadi Murmu for giving assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which recognises the greenfield city of Amaravati as the capital.
The Act was published in The Gazette of India, following the presidential assent.
The Chief Minister thanked the Union Government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his commitment to the southern state and his guidance to all the MPs for supporting the 'Amaravati Bill'.
"On behalf of my people of Andhra Pradesh, I express profound gratitude to Hon'ble President Smt. Droupadi Murmu Ji for her gracious assent to the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation (Amendment) Act, 2026, fulfilling the long-cherished dream of our capital," Naidu said in a post on X on Monday.
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The chief minister also thanked PM Modi for guiding state leaders and every citizen who stood with Andhra Pradesh.
"This is a victory for my people of Andhra Pradesh, especially my farmers of Amaravati," he said.
"The capital of Andhra Pradesh is Amaravati," Naidu said in a post on X on Tuesday.
With the President's assent, IT Minister Nara Lokesh said the dream of our capital has officially become a reality.
"Today is a historic day for every citizen of Andhra Pradesh," Lokesh said in a post on X.
He said that he was joining millions of Telugu people to express his gratitude to PM Modi for his vision and support in championing the state's future.
Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan said that April 6 will be etched in history as the day Amaravati was officially recognised as the capital of Andhra Pradesh.
"On this historic occasion, following the passage of the Bill in Parliament and the issuance of the Gazette Notification by the Government of India, and with the assent of the Hon'ble President of Bharat, this long-awaited aspiration of the people of Andhra Pradesh has finally been fulfilled," Kalyan said in a post on X.
He thanked Murmu, Modi, and Naidu for making this historic moment possible.
