CBSE clarifies third language rule

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified that while the third language (R3) will not be included in the Class 10 Board exam, students entering Class 10 in the 2027-28 academic session must clear the school-based assessment in the subject to receive their pass certificate.

In a circular issued on July 10, 2026, the Board stated that students must successfully complete the internal assessment in the third language during Class 10. Those who fail the assessment will be given an opportunity to undergo reassessment by their schools before the declaration of the final Board results.

CBSE also clarified that students who do not clear the school-based R3 assessment in Class 9 will not be detained. They will be promoted to Class 10 but must pass the pending Class 9 assessment while studying in the next grade.

The clarification follows the Board’s June 29, 2026, circular implementing the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Under the revised framework, students from Class 6 onwards are required to study three languages, with at least two of them being Indian languages.

Students, at present, studying in Classes 7, 8 and 9 who have opted for a foreign language in addition to English will be allowed to continue with it, but they will also be required to study a third language native to India.

Under the earlier system, students generally discontinued the third language after Class 8. The revised policy makes the third language compulsory in Class 9 from the 2026-27 academic session and in Class 10 from 2027-28. The changes will not affect students appearing for the Class 10 Board exams in 2026-27.

Meanwhile, CBSE has defended the policy before the Supreme Court, stating that 47.3% of its 28,848 affiliated schools already offer two or more Indian languages in Class 9, while 99.19% have at least one teacher qualified to teach an Indian language.

The Board also said schools have been allowed flexible staffing arrangements as an interim measure to help build teaching capacity in Indian languages.