The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced new guidelines for the implementation of the three-language scheme beginning with the 2026-27 academic year. Under this policy, students in Classes 9 and 10 must study three languages, with a requirement that at least two of these languages be Indian languages. This move aims to strengthen multilingual proficiency among students and promote Indian languages.
Understanding the Three-Language Scheme
The three-language formula is a language education policy designed to encourage students to learn multiple languages, including their native language, Hindi, and English or other foreign languages. This approach is rooted in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the importance of learning multiple languages to foster cultural understanding and communication skills.
For the first time, CBSE is making it compulsory for students in Classes 9 and 10 to study three languages, extending the language learning that begins in earlier classes. The policy requires that two of the three languages be "Bhartiya Bhashas," which include Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese, and others. The third language can be a non-native language such as English, French, German, Arabic, or Spanish.
Key Details of the New Language Policy
- From the 2026-27 academic year, Class 9 students must study three languages, with at least two being Indian languages.
- The assessment of the third language (referred to as R3) will be conducted through school-level internal examinations only; there will be no separate CBSE board exam for R3 this year.
- Class 9 students who do not pass the R3 exam will still be promoted to Class 10 but must pass the R3 exam in Class 10 to qualify for the Secondary Pass Certificate.
- Class 10 students must pass the R3 exam to receive their CBSE Secondary Pass Certificate. Students failing the R3 exam in Class 10 will have the opportunity for re-evaluation before results are finalized.
- Students currently in Class 10 during the 2026-27 academic year will continue under the existing two-language system and are not required to take the third language.
- NCERT has begun developing learning materials for Class 9 R3 languages, which will be accessible on its official website. For languages outside the 22 scheduled languages, state-level educational resources will be used.
- Students who have already started studying two non-native languages in Classes 7 and 8 will need to add one Indian language and continue it through Class 10.
Why This Change Matters for Students and Schools
This policy reflects a broader push to preserve and promote India's linguistic diversity while equipping students with skills to thrive in a multilingual society. By requiring at least two Indian languages, CBSE aims to deepen students' connection with their cultural heritage and improve communication across different regions.
The internal assessment approach for the third language reduces the pressure of an additional board exam, allowing schools to tailor evaluations to their students' needs. However, the mandate to pass the third language in Class 10 to receive certification underscores the importance CBSE places on multilingual competence.
Schools will need to prepare for this shift by ensuring qualified teachers are available for a wider range of Indian languages and by integrating new learning materials from NCERT. For students, this change means greater exposure to diverse languages, which can enhance cognitive abilities and open up future academic and career opportunities.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: When will the three-language scheme become mandatory for Classes 9 and 10?
A: The scheme will be mandatory starting from the 2026-27 academic year for students entering Class 9.
Q: What happens if a student fails the third language exam in Class 9?
A: Students who fail the third language in Class 9 will still be promoted to Class 10 but must pass the exam in Class 10 to obtain their Secondary Pass Certificate.
Q: Will there be a board exam for the third language?
A: No, the assessment for the third language will be conducted through school-level internal examinations, with no separate CBSE board exam for this subject.
