CBSE reverses language policy shift, offers one-time relaxation

New Delhi: Reversing its mid-session language policy shift decision, the CBSE on Monday said students studying in classes VII, VIII, IX who had already taken two foreign languages would continue with the same with an additional native Indian language.

The board, issuing guidelines on the three-language policy, said it was bringing in a 'special one-time relaxation' regime to ensure that the process of learning and growth remains 'balanced'.

CBSE's mid-session announcement in May directing that all Class 9 students would compulsorily have to take up three languages (R1, R2 and R3), including two Indian languages, from July 1 in the ongoing 2026-27 academic session, had sparked major concern and confusion among the parent and student community and had also landed in the Supreme Court. On Monday, CBSE guidelines allowed for a number of relaxations and exemptions to the same during the 'transitional period'.

Firstly, the board underlined that there will be no change for students in Class X during 2026-27, and they will continue with the old system of two languages. No third language is required to be taken by this batch. Secondly, students in Class IX (2026-27) would study three languages, at least two of which would be Bhartiya Bhashas.

As a special one-time relaxation for students already in Class IX during 2026-27, they may continue with those two non-native languages and need to add one Bhartiya Bhasha as the third language. The latter will be assessed through an internal school-based assessment only and not a board examination, the guidelines say. Thirdly, for classes VII and VIII, while they will continue studying three languages, with two of them being Indian languages, there will be a relaxation for the current batch (2026-27). Students who have already selected and started studying two non-native languages will need to study an additional Indian language and continue the same till class X. This, however, will again stay a school-based assessment and not a Board exam, said CBSE.

The grade appropriate resource material for R3 will be made available in a time-bound manner, the school board has stated.

The new guidelines clarify that for Class VI (2026-27), two of the three languages taken must be Indian. In this case, when the Class VI batches progress to Class X, they must take the Board examination of R3. Children with Special Needs, CBSE schools outside India and foreign students returning to India are also exempted from studying a native Indian language as third language.