CBSE Three Language Rule: SC to Hear Plea Next Week

The Supreme Court will hear the petition challenging the CBSE Policy, making three languages, including two native Indian languages, compulsory for class 9 students. As per the new policy issued, students from class 9 will have to study three languages, two of which will be Indian languages. 

As per reports, Mukul Rohtagi mentioned that the matter is before the bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi. He further added that this is an urgent PIL and the petitioners are students, teachers and parents challenging the new policy of the CBSE by which two more languages have been made compulsory for class 9 students. 

The third language will be exempted from the class 10 board exams and its assessment will be based on internals. The curriculum announced in April adopted a phased approach to implement the three-language formula, making it mandatory only in class 6 this year. As per this, students currently in class 6 will be the first batch to have R3 in class 10 in 2030-31. 

In the circular issued last week, however, the board reversed its earlier decision not to make R3 compulsory in class 9 immediately and stated that the scheme of studies for languages in class 9-10 is being aligned with the NCERT syllabus. 

From July 1, 2026 onwards, class 9 students will study three languages (R1, R2, R3), which will be compulsory with at least two languages being native Indian languages. Students who wish to study a foreign language may do so as the third language only if the other two languages are native Indian languages or as an additional fourth language.