CBSE issues guidelines on three-language, exempts current Class 10 and eases transition for Classes 7 to 9
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued guidelines on implementation of three-language policy from the academic session 2026-27. The new guidelines, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 provides transitional relief to students currently studying in Classes 7 to 10. It require students to study three languages, with at least two being Indian languages. The Board through its latest notification has clarified that students currently in Class 10 will continue with the existing two-language system and will not be required to study a third language.
In other words, students entering Class 9 in the 2026-27 academic session will study three languages, but the third language will be assessed only through an internal school examination. They will not have to appear for a CBSE Class 10 board examination in the third language when they get promoted to Class 10 next year.
CBSE notice reads, "The National Education Policy 2020 recommends learning three languages, with at least two of the three languages being native to India."
Guidelines for Classes 7, 8
Similarly, students currently studying in Classes 7 and 8 will also follow the three-language system when only when they reach Class 9. Students who are already studying two foreign languages can continue, however, they must add one Indian language. Like the current Class 9 batch, they won't have to take Class 10 board examination in the third language.
Official notice reads, "For the current batches of class VII, VIII, IX who had already taken 2 foreign languages would continue with the same with one additional native Indian Language (Bhartiya Bhasha) including Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese, etc.
The guidelines state that students joining Class 6 from the 2026-27 academic session onwards, will be the first batch required to study three languages throughout middle and secondary school. Unlike the transition batches, it will be compulsory for these students to appear for CBSE Class 10 board examination in third language. Under the revised policy, students must study at least two Indian languages, while the third language can be a foreign language if the first two are Indian languages. CBSE and NCERT will provide textbooks and other learning resources to support language learning.
CBSE notice reads, "The dedicated R3 textbooks for class VI in 22 scheduled Bhartiya Bhashas are being made available on ncert.nic.in The grade appropriate resource material would be made available in a time bound manner and that language learning will be meaningful, engaging and enriching to contribute holistic development."
While CBSE aims to equip learners with competence in multiple Bhartiya Bhashas (native Indian languages) and promote the vibrancy of language learning, it is equally committed to ensuring that the process of learning and growth remains balanced. CBSE says that the objective is to make language learning a meaningful, engaging, and enriching experience that contributes to the holistic development of every learner.
Exemption for CwSN
The board has also announced exemptions for children with special needs, CBSE schools located outside India and foreign students returning to India. It added that students whose parents migrate to another state may continue with the third language they had already chosen.
CBSE says, "Foreign students returning to India are also exempted from studying a native Indian language as third language (R3). In the case of parents/guardians migrating to another state, the student may continue with the existing combination of languages they opted for as R3 in Middle Stage in Class IX also. In such cases, schools must necessarily provision adequate resources to support the student’s choices."
The board ensured no student will be disadvantaged due to this alignment as the focus remains on joyful, meaningful language learning, not on examination. "CBSE will endeavor to hand-hold schools, in the best possible manner, through additional learning resources (as required) and capacity building in the implementation of NEP 2020," the notice reads. CBSE concluded that the guidelines are aimed at implementing NEP 2020 without placing additional examination pressure on students.
Flexible staffing provisions
CBSE has told affiliated schools to engage existing teachers (with functional proficiency), retired teachers, postgraduates, or use Sahodaya clusters (inter-school sharing) and virtual/hybrid teaching. The board gas requested schools to communicate these provisions positively to teachers, students, and parents, emphasizing the long-term benefits of multilingual proficiency and cultural rootedness.