Nagpur: Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday eased its three-language policy under National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, exempting the current Class 10 batch and sparing Classes 7, 8, and 9 from board examination in the third language — as a one-time relaxation. The move formalised the assurance Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan gave in an interview to TOI last week.A June 29 circular stated that students in Class 10 during 2026-27 will continue with the existing two-language system and Class 9 students must study three languages in 2026-27 with at least two being ‘Bhartiya Bhashas’.The circular said the third language will be assessed only through internal school-based examination, with no CBSE board examination for this batch when it reaches Class 10 in 2027-28.In a one-off relief, students currently in Class 7, 8 and 9 and who have already opted for two foreign languages will be allowed to continue and must add one Indian language as the third. Assessment of the third language for these batches will remain school-based, with no board examination.The full three-language mandate with board examination kicks in from Class 6 (2026-27) onwards. When this batch reaches Class 10, it will sit for the board exam in the third language as well.The relaxation comes after CBSE issued a circular in May mandating three-language policy for Class 9 from July 1. A public interest litigation (PIL) was subsequently filed in Supreme Court challenging the circular. The apex court issued notices to the central govt, CBSE, and NCERT, and is scheduled to hear the matter in July.TOI reported last week that Union education minister Dharmendra Pradhan said the policy would apply progressively from Class 6, and those already studying two foreign languages would be allowed to continue till they passed Class 10. Pradhan said, “CBSE could not give a clear order,” signalling the revised circular that followed on Monday.However, the circular exempted children with special needs under Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, CBSE schools outside India, and foreign students returning to India from the Indian language requirement. Students whose parents migrate to another state may continue with their existing language combination from Class 9 onwards.On teachers, the circular directed that schools may engage existing staff, retired teachers, postgraduates, or use inter-school clusters and virtual teaching arrangements. The circular, however, did not specify a deadline for schools to communicate the language options to parents.
