The Supreme Court has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to extend the existing exemption under its three-language policy to students currently studying in Class 6. The relief was already available to students in Classes 7, 8 and 9.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana asked the Centre and CBSE to provide Class 6 students the same accommodation for the current academic year. The matter concerns the implementation of the CBSE’s revised language framework aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE), 2023.
What Is the CBSE Three-Language Policy?
Under the revised CBSE framework, students are required to study three languages, with at least two being Indian languages. The policy was introduced as part of the board’s alignment with NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023.
The CBSE had introduced the three-language requirement for Class 9 from the 2026-27 academic session. The framework provides multiple language options, while students choosing a foreign language can do so only as the third language after studying two Indian languages, or as an additional fourth language.
The policy has faced petitions concerning its implementation, including questions about teacher availability, infrastructure and the timing of its introduction.
Supreme Court Seeks Relief for Current Class 6 Batch
The Supreme Court had earlier asked the CBSE to consider whether students already studying in Class 6 could be given a reprieve, allowing implementation to begin from the following academic year. The court had raised concerns about introducing the requirement midway for students already enrolled in the class.
On September 28, the court directed that the current Class 6 batch should receive the same exemption that applies to the relevant existing batches in Classes 7, 8 and 9. The move provides transitional relief while the three-language framework continues to be implemented.
Centre Says Most CBSE Schools Are Ready
During the proceedings, the Centre maintained that the implementation of the policy was already in place across nearly 99% of CBSE-affiliated schools. It said only around 1.2% of schools were facing implementation-related difficulties.
The government had also maintained that schools had been provided the facilities needed to implement the third-language requirement. However, the court’s proceedings focused on the difficulties faced by students already enrolled in Class 6 and the timing of the policy’s rollout.
The Supreme Court’s latest direction follows several hearings on the policy, during which the bench also examined concerns about language teachers, available infrastructure and the academic burden on students.
Disclaimer: This article is based on court proceedings and publicly available information regarding the CBSE’s three-language policy. The implementation of the policy may be subject to further directions or changes. Students, parents and schools should refer to the latest CBSE notifications and Supreme Court orders for official updates.