CBSE to reconsider Class 6 three-language policy

The Centre has agreed to reconsider the three-language policy for Class 6 students. The policy introduced by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will be reconsidered after the Supreme Court suggested it to be enforced from next year rather than from the current academic session.

The Apex Court said it was making the suggestion in the interest of the students rather than as a comment on a government policy decision. The Bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant also included Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana, who will now hear the case next week.

Both Justice Bagchi and Mohana appreciated the three-language policy of the government but asked it to be implemented from the next academic year. 

What is the three-language policy?

The Central Board’s three-language policy requires Class 9 students to study three languages. In these, at least two should be native Indian languages (Bhartiya Bhashas). The Bhartiya Bhashas include Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and others, while non-native options include English, French, and German.

Indian students wanting to study a foreign language can do so as their third language only if the other two are Indian languages, or as an additional fourth language.

Transitional relaxations allow students in classes like Class 9 who previously chose two foreign languages to keep them while adding a native Indian language. The third language is assessed internally and has no separate board exam at the Class 10 level.

The framework roots back to the 1968 Three-Language Formula by the Ministry of Education and was updated under the National Education Policy 2020.