The National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has revised its Class 8 Social Science textbook, Exploring Society: India and Beyond, adding “economic background” to the list of grounds for discrimination alongside caste, religion, ethnicity, race, gender, disability, sexuality and physical appearance.

The updated chapter, Citizenship: Rights and Duties, states that discrimination includes mistreating individuals or groups because of their economic background and notes that children from economically disadvantaged families may face prejudice and unequal treatment.

The revision comes amid discussions on the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions Regulations, 2026, which define discrimination on the grounds of religion, race, caste, gender, place of birth and disability, but do not explicitly include economic background.

The revised textbook also removes sections on alleged corruption in the judiciary, references to judicial backlog and two court verdicts that had prompted controversy earlier this year. In their place, NCERT has introduced content on Public Interest Litigation (PIL), tribunals and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

The earlier edition was withdrawn following Supreme Court directions after the court objected to content relating to the judiciary. NCERT subsequently issued an apology. The revised edition states that it has been published following the review process undertaken in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directions in Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 1 of 2026.

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