NCERT Class 8 Civics Textbook Expands Focus to Include Judicial System Challenges
In a significant update to civic education, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has revised its Class 8 social science textbook to explicitly address critical challenges facing India's judicial system. The new chapter, titled 'The Role of the Judiciary in Our Society,' moves beyond traditional discussions of court structure and judicial independence to confront real-world issues including corruption, massive case pendency, and systemic shortcomings.
Direct Acknowledgment of Judicial Corruption
The textbook makes a bold departure from previous editions by directly stating that "people do experience corruption at various levels of the judiciary." This frank acknowledgment represents a notable shift in educational materials, which traditionally avoided such direct criticism of institutional weaknesses.
More importantly, the text highlights how corruption disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, noting that "for the poor and the disadvantaged, this can worsen the issue of access to justice." This connection between corruption and social inequality provides students with a more nuanced understanding of how systemic issues impact different segments of society differently.
Staggering Statistics on Case Pendency
The revised chapter presents students with concrete data illustrating the scale of judicial backlog:
- Approximately 81,000 pending cases in the Supreme Court
- 62.4 lakh pending cases in high courts
- 4.7 crore pending cases in district and subordinate courts
The textbook attributes this massive backlog to multiple interconnected factors, including:
- Inadequate number of judges relative to population and caseload
- Complicated legal procedures that delay resolution
- Weak infrastructure that hampers efficient court functioning
Mechanisms for Accountability and Transparency
A separate section explains the existing frameworks for judicial accountability, detailing how judges are bound by a code of conduct governing their behavior both inside and outside courtrooms. The textbook references internal accountability mechanisms and specifically mentions the Centralised Public Grievance Redress and Monitoring System (CPGRAMS) as an established procedure for receiving complaints.
Significantly, the text provides context by noting that more than 1,600 complaints were received through CPGRAMS between 2017 and 2021, giving students a sense of the scale at which citizens engage with judicial oversight mechanisms.
Quoting Judicial Leadership on Rebuilding Trust
The chapter includes a powerful quote from former Chief Justice of India B R Gavai, who in July 2025 stated that instances of corruption and misconduct within the judiciary "inevitably have a negative impact on public confidence."
Justice Gavai's message continues with a forward-looking perspective: "However, the path to rebuilding this trust lies in the swift, decisive and transparent action taken to address and resolve these issues... Transparency and accountability are democratic virtues." This inclusion provides students with authoritative perspective on both the problem and potential solutions.
Emphasis on Reform Efforts
The textbook doesn't merely highlight problems but also discusses ongoing reform initiatives. It notes that efforts are being made at both State and Union levels to "build faith and increase transparency in the judicial system, including through the use of technology, and to take swift and decisive action against instances of corruption wherever they may arise."
This balanced approach ensures that while students learn about systemic challenges, they also understand that these issues are recognized and being addressed through various governmental and institutional initiatives.
The revised NCERT chapter represents a significant evolution in how India's education system approaches civic education, moving from theoretical discussions of judicial structure to practical examinations of how the system functions—and sometimes fails—in reality. By introducing these complex issues at the Class 8 level, the curriculum aims to create more informed citizens who understand both the ideals and the practical challenges of India's judicial system.
