The Supreme Court has ordered CBSE to exempt Class VI students from the three-language policy for the current academic year, directing implementation from the next academic year instead, citing concerns over digital access and compliance gaps despite claims of 98.8% school readiness.
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The CBSE had planned to implement a three-language policy for Class VI students requiring them to study two Indian languages alongside English, but faced legal challenge over accessibility and implementation readiness.
Supreme Court delays CBSE three-language rule for Class VI students
New Delhi: Supreme Court on Monday ordered CBSE to exempt Class VI students from the three-language policy, under which they have to choose two Indian languages. A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, which had requested CBSE to reconsider its decision to implement the policy from this year, ordered that the policy would now be implemented for Class VI students from the next academic year. For CBSE, solicitor general Tushar Mehta said textbooks and logistics for implementation of the policy have been taken care of and that out of 28,819 schools, 98.8% have already complied with the new policy. The bench said the figure of 1.2% of schools not implementing it meant around 300 of them, which is a large number.
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Didn't students study online during Covid?
When one counsel said the study material is available only through digital textbooks and online mode, causing students difficulties, Justice Mohana asked, "Did the students not study during Covid pandemic when learning was through online mode? Every child, even from a house help's house, had a phone. Have a better reason." Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati said there will be no pass or fail under the three-language policy. On two issues - validity of the policy and whether English should be treated as foreign language - the bench said these would be decided after six weeks.
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AI outlook — possibilities, not facts
The Supreme Court will decide on the validity of the three-language policy and whether English should be treated as a foreign language after six weeks.
Very likely · Within weeks

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The Supreme Court criticized CBSE for enforcing the three-language policy on Class VI students without preparation and directed it to implement the policy from the 2027-28 academic year instead, while allowing current Class VI students to continue under the old policy and urging CBSE to make the policy optional with incentives for willing students.