SC to hear plea against CBSE’s new three-language policy for Class 9

The Supreme Court will hear next week a plea challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education’s new language policy that makes the study of three languages compulsory for Class 9 students from the 2026-27 academic session.

The matter was mentioned before a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant after petitioners raised concerns over the sudden implementation of additional language requirements for students nearing board examinations.

Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the petitioners, argued that the move could create academic pressure and confusion for students, parents, and schools.

“This is an urgent PIL. The petitioners are students, teachers, and parents. They are challenging the new policy of the CBSE, by which in the 9th standard, two more languages have been made compulsory,” Rohatgi told the court.

Questioning the practicality of the decision, he added, “I don’t know how a student of Class 9 can suddenly take two more languages and give exam in 10th.”

Urging the court to take up the matter quickly, Rohatgi warned, “It will create a chaos."

The Chief Justice responded that the matter would be listed next week.

The challenge relates to a CBSE circular issued on May 15 announcing changes to the language framework for secondary classes in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.

According to the revised policy, students entering Class 9 from July 1, 2026, will have to study three languages, with at least two of them being native Indian languages.

“With effect from 1st July 2026, for Class IX, the study of three languages (R1, R2, R3) shall be compulsory, with at least two languages being native Indian languages,” the circular stated.

CBSE clarified that students may study a foreign language only if the remaining two languages are Indian languages. Foreign languages can also be taken as an optional fourth language.

The board further said the third language, referred to as R3, will not be part of the Class 10 board examination. Instead, evaluation will remain entirely school-based and internal.

“All assessments for R3 shall be entirely school-based and internal. The performance of students in R3 will be duly reflected in the CBSE certificate. It is clarified that no student will be barred from appearing in the Class X Board Examinations due to R3,” CBSE said.

The board said that the policy aims to strengthen multilingual education and promote India’s linguistic diversity.

In a separate clarification posted on X, CBSE said the implementation would begin with Class 9 in 2026-27, expand to both Classes 9 and 10 in 2027-28, and become fully compulsory for both grades from 2028-29 onward.

During the transition phase, Class 9 students will study Class 6-level R3 textbooks. CBSE said textbooks in 19 scheduled languages would be made available before July 1, while schools may use SCERT or state board materials for other Indian languages.

The board also acknowledged concerns over teacher availability and allowed schools to adopt temporary arrangements where qualified language teachers are unavailable.

“Collaborative and flexible mechanisms such as inter-school resource sharing through Sahodaya clusters, virtual or hybrid teaching support, engagement of retired language teachers, and utilization of suitably qualified postgraduates may be adopted,” the board said.

CBSE added that relaxations would be available for Children With Special Needs under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

Foreign students returning to India may also receive exemptions on a case-by-case basis. Schools located outside India have been exempted from the requirement of offering two native Indian languages.

The policy has triggered debate among educators and parents over implementation challenges, including timetable adjustments, teacher shortages, and the academic burden on students already preparing for board examinations.

The board had earlier announced a phased rollout of the three-language formula beginning from Class 6.

However, the latest circular accelerated the implementation for secondary classes, making the third language compulsory for Class 9 students from 2026 itself.

Apart from language reforms, CBSE has also proposed a two-level system for mathematics and science from the 2026-27 session.

Under the proposal, students will choose between standard and advanced levels, with the first Class 10 board examinations under the revised structure scheduled for 2028.