ArdorComm Media News Network
May 18, 2026
In a significant policy shift aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced that the three-language formula will become compulsory for Class 9 students starting July 1, 2026. Under the revised framework, students must study three languages, with at least two being native Indian languages.
The move comes just a month after CBSE introduced its updated school curriculum for the 2026-27 academic session, where the third language requirement had initially been made mandatory only for students entering Class 6. However, the Board has now accelerated the implementation process by extending the rule to the secondary level immediately.
According to the latest CBSE circular, students opting for a foreign language can choose it only if their other two languages are Indian languages. Alternatively, foreign languages may be studied as a fourth optional language. In schools where English is the medium of instruction, English will count as the non-Indian language, effectively limiting the possibility of another foreign language within the mandatory three-language structure.
CBSE stated that the decision was taken to align its curriculum with the newly released NCERT syllabus for Class 9. As part of a transitional arrangement, students entering Class 9 in 2026 will study third-language textbooks designed for the Class 6 level, while Class 10 students in 2027 will use Class 7-level material for the same subject.
To reduce academic pressure, the Board clarified that the third language (R3) will not be included in the Class 10 board examinations. Instead, assessments will remain entirely internal and school-based, though students’ performance in the subject will still appear on their CBSE certificates.
The Board also assured parents and schools that no student will be prevented from appearing for the Class 10 board exams due to the third language requirement.
Addressing concerns over teacher availability, CBSE has permitted schools to utilize teachers from other subjects who possess adequate language proficiency. Schools may also adopt inter-school collaborations, virtual teaching methods, or hire retired educators to support implementation.
Institutions have been instructed to update their language offerings on the OASIS portal by June 30. Additionally, special relaxations have been provided for children with special needs, foreign nationals, and CBSE-affiliated schools located abroad, allowing greater flexibility in adopting the policy.
The National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023, developed in line with NEP 2020, recommends that students study a third language from Classes 6 to 10 to encourage multilingual learning and strengthen Indian languages.
Source: Indian Express