Supreme Court Reviews CBSE's Three-Language Policy for Class 9 Students
Supreme Court seeks Centre, NCERT's responses on plea against CBSE's three-language rule for Class 9 students
The Hindu
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The Supreme Court of India is set to examine a challenge against the CBSE's mandate for Class 9 students to study three languages, including two native Indian languages, starting July 1, 2026. The court has requested responses from the Centre, CBSE, and NCERT within two weeks.
- 01The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre, CBSE, and NCERT regarding the three-language policy.
- 02The policy requires Class 9 students to study three languages, including at least two native Indian languages.
- 03Concerns raised include constitutional issues of federalism and the imposition of language choice.
- 04No board examination will be conducted for the third language (R3) at the Class 10 level.
- 05The CBSE aims to align its curriculum with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework 2023.
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On May 27, 2026, the Supreme Court of India agreed to review a petition challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) new policy requiring Class 9 students to study three languages, including at least two native Indian languages, starting July 1. The court, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, has sought comprehensive responses from the Centre, CBSE, and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) within two weeks. Senior advocates representing the petitioners argued that the imposition of language studies raises constitutional questions regarding federalism and personal choice. The CBSE's recent circular outlines that the third language (R3) will not have a board examination at the Class 10 level, focusing instead on internal assessments. This policy is part of a broader effort to align educational standards with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. The CBSE has also indicated that schools must update their language offerings by June 30 and will provide necessary resources for implementation.
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The implementation of the three-language policy will affect students across India, particularly in their language studies and curriculum choices.
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