The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) said Monday that current Class 9 and 10 students will not face a third-language board exam.
This decision prevents a sudden academic burden on students already enrolled in the system while the board transitions to a new language structure. The move ensures that students who have studied under the existing curriculum are not penalized by late-stage policy shifts.
According to the board, current Class 10 students will continue under the existing two-language system [1]. Similarly, students currently in Class 9 will not be required to sit for a third-language board exam when they progress to Class 10 [2]. These exemptions apply to students in classes seven through nine as well [3].
The updated guidelines are designed to align the school language structure with the National Education Policy 2020 [4]. By phasing in the requirements, the CBSE said it aims to integrate the Bhartiya Bhashas scheme without disrupting the current academic cycle [5].
The board issued the clarification on June 29, 2024 [6]. However, the new three-language policy will not be implemented immediately for all. The guidelines are scheduled to take full effect starting from the 2026-27 academic session [7].
Future batches will be required to adhere to the three-language framework as part of the broader educational reform. The CBSE headquarters in New Delhi managed the rollout of these guidelines to schools across the country [8].
“Current Class 10 students will continue under the existing two-language system.”
The CBSE is balancing the mandate of the National Education Policy 2020 with the practical realities of student enrollment. By delaying the implementation of the third-language board exam until the 2026-27 session, the board avoids legal and administrative challenges that would arise from changing exam requirements mid-stream for current students.
