New Delhi: The CBSE has revised the implementation of its three-language policy for students in Classes 7, 8, and 9, providing significant relief to those who had already opted for two foreign languages before the new guidelines came into effect. The move follows concerns raised by parents, educators, and schools over the abrupt requirement for students to change their language combinations during the academic session.
In a fresh set of implementation guidelines issued on Monday, the board clarified that students currently studying in Classes 7, 8, and 9 who have already selected two foreign languages will be allowed to continue with those subjects. However, they will also be required to study one additional Bhartiya Bhasha (Indian language) in accordance with the objectives of the NEP 2020.
The decision marks a partial relaxation of the policy announced earlier this year. In a May circular, CBSE had stated that Class 9 students would need to follow the three-language formula, with at least two of the three languages being Indian languages. The announcement led to widespread criticism, particularly from parents whose children were studying foreign languages such as French, German, Japanese, or Spanish and were expected to switch languages midway through the academic year.
Responding to these concerns, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan had earlier indicated that students in Classes 7, 8, and 9 who had already opted for foreign languages would be permitted to continue with their chosen subjects. The latest CBSE guidelines formally implement that assurance.
The board has also clarified that the current batch of Class 10 students will not be affected by the revised language policy. Students studying in Class 10 during the 2026-27 academic session will continue under the existing two-language system and will not be required to study or appear for a third language.
For the current batches of Classes 7, 8, and 9, the newly introduced third language will not become part of the Class 10 CBSE Board examination. Instead, it will be evaluated through an internal school-based assessment when these students progress to secondary classes. This measure has been introduced to reduce examination pressure while allowing schools to gradually transition to the new framework.
The board outlined several scenarios to help schools and students understand the new requirements.
Students who are already studying two Indian languages, such as Hindi and Tamil, may choose either another Indian language or a non-Indian language like English or French as their third language.
Students studying one Indian language and one non-Indian language, such as Tamil and English, must select an additional Indian language as their third subject.
As a special one-time relaxation, students in the current Class 9 batch who are already studying two non-Indian languages, such as English and French, may continue with both languages while adding one Indian language as the third language. This concession is intended to prevent disruption to students’ ongoing academic plans.
The same relaxation has also been extended to students currently studying in Classes 7 and 8 during the 2026-27 academic year. Those who have already begun studying two foreign languages can continue with them while taking one additional Indian language through Class 10. Like the current Class 9 batch, these students will also be assessed internally in the third language rather than through a CBSE Board examination.
However, the policy will be implemented more fully for students currently entering Class 6 and future batches. From this stage onward, students will study three languages, including two Indian languages, and will eventually appear for the third language in the Class 10 Board examination. CBSE noted that dedicated textbooks for the third language in all 22 Scheduled Indian languages are being made available through the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT).
To support schools in implementing the revised language framework, CBSE and NCERT will provide grade-appropriate learning resources. The board has also introduced flexible staffing arrangements, allowing schools to engage existing teachers with functional language proficiency, retired educators, postgraduate scholars, inter-school teacher sharing through Sahodaya clusters, and virtual or hybrid teaching methods where necessary.
The guidelines also provide exemptions for specific categories of students. Children with Special Needs (CwSN) will continue to receive relaxations in accordance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. All CBSE-affiliated schools located outside India are exempt from the requirement of teaching a third Indian language. Foreign students returning to India are also exempted from studying a native Indian language as the third language. Additionally, students whose families relocate to another state may continue with their existing third-language choice, with schools required to provide the necessary academic support.
Emphasising the broader objectives of the policy, CBSE stated that the reforms are intended to encourage joyful and meaningful language learning rather than increase examination burden. The board said no student should be disadvantaged during the transition and reaffirmed its commitment to helping schools implement the National Education Policy through learning resources, teacher training, and capacity-building initiatives.
