The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday announced a one-time relaxation for the current batch of Class 9 students in implementing the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, allowing them to retain their existing language combinations while adding an Indian language.
The revised guidelines come weeks after the board's May 15 circular made three languages compulsory for Class 9 students from July 1, requiring that at least two be Indian languages. The move had drawn objections from schools over logistical and academic challenges.
Under the transitional arrangement, students currently studying two non-native languages, such as English and French, may continue with both while adding one Indian language as the third language (R3). The CBSE clarified that the additional language will be assessed only through internal school-based evaluation and will not be part of the Class 10 board examination when this batch appears in 2027-28.
The board said the relaxation was intended to ensure that "no student shall be disadvantaged due to this alignment".
Alsor read: Reshuffle in PM Modi's cabinet likely before monsoon session
The same exemption has also been extended to students currently in Classes 7 and 8 who are studying two non-native languages. They too will be required to add an Indian language, which will be assessed internally and excluded from the Class 10 board examination.
For the current Class 10 batch of 2026-27, the CBSE said there would be no change, and students would continue under the existing two-language system.
However, the policy will be implemented in full for students entering Class 6 in the 2026-27 academic session and subsequent batches. These students will study three languages, including at least two Indian languages, and will take the Class 10 board examination in the third language. The board said dedicated Class 6 textbooks in 22 scheduled Indian languages are being made available by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
To facilitate implementation, schools have been permitted to use flexible staffing arrangements, including teachers with functional proficiency, retired teachers, Sahodaya school clusters, and virtual or hybrid teaching.
The guidelines also provide exemptions for Children with Special Needs under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, while all CBSE-affiliated schools outside India and foreign students returning to India have been exempted from the requirement of studying an Indian language as the third language.
Meanwhile, the policy remains under challenge in the Supreme Court, which is expected to hear petitions against the implementation in the second week of July.
Follow us
