Rohan Umak
CBSE three language rule: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced on Friday that students enrolled in the schools affiliated to it will be required to study three languages from Class 6, with at least two being Indian languages. As per the board, the initiative comes under a new framework set to be implemented completely by 2031.
According to officials, the move aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates multilingual proficiency by the end of secondary schooling for students. At present, students typically study only two languages.
3rd language to become core subject by 2031
CBSE Chairman Rahul Singh said that third-language (R3) textbooks will be introduced for Class 6 students from the academic year 2026-27. He added that these students will take the Class 10 board exams in 2031, when the revised triple-language formula will be fully enforced.
As outlined in the new structure, students will not be able to opt for both English and another foreign language as their second and third language. English has now been categorised as a foreign language, and now only one such language will be permitted, ensuring that at least two Indian languages are studied.
CBSE three language rule: Skill-based learning mandated too
Beyond languages, the new curriculum has introduced a significant expansion in subjects and skill-based learning. Now, vocational training, art education and physical education will be mandatory for Class 9 and 10 students. While art and physical education will initially be assessed through internal evaluations, vocational education will become a compulsory subject, and its exams will be held by the academic year 2027-28. Additionally, the board has also rolled out computational thinking and Artificial Intelligence as core areas of study. These subjects, notably, are already being taught in Classes 3 to 8, and will become mandatory board exam subjects for Class 10 students by 2029.
Board introduces these Indian languages for Class 9
The board has reiterated its directive that schools must offer at least one Indian language as a medium of instruction from early education through to Class 12. Apart from this, CBSE will also introduce Dongri, Maithili, Konkani and Santhali as language options in Class 9 this academic year, thereby covering all 22 scheduled Indian languages. However, the schools located abroad and affiliated by CBSE have been given some flexibility, requiring only one Indian language instead of two.
