In a significant advancement for multilingual education, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced the inclusion of Maithili in the Class 9 curriculum, effective from the 2026-27 academic session. This decision is part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which aims to promote regional languages in school education. The introduction of Maithili follows the implementation of the three-language policy for Classes 9 and 10, requiring students to learn three languages, including at least two Indian languages. Bihar's Chief Minister, Samrat Chaudhary, welcomed this initiative, stating it is a historic step towards empowering regional languages and preserving cultural heritage. He emphasized that this move would help students connect with their roots while fostering the learning of Maithili. Furthermore, CBSE clarified that while the third language will be compulsory from Class 9, students will not need to take a separate board exam for it in Class 10. The inclusion of Maithili reflects a broader commitment to linguistic diversity in education.