The Central Board of Secondary Education will require students in classes nine and 10 to study three languages starting July 1, 2026 [1], [2].
This policy shift aims to strengthen multilingual education across India. By mandating a broader linguistic curriculum, the board seeks to align school standards with the goals of the National Education Policy [1], [3].
Under the new regulations, students must study three languages, designated as R1, R2, and R3 [3]. The board said that at least two of these must be native Indian languages [3]. This requirement applies to all schools affiliated with the CBSE across the country [1].
While the study of the third language is now compulsory for these grade levels, the board has introduced a measure to manage student workloads. There will be no board exam for the third language, R3 [3]. Students will focus on the first two languages for their primary board examinations while maintaining the study of the third language as part of their curriculum [3].
The transition to this three-language formula is designed to promote linguistic diversity among students during their secondary education. By integrating more native languages into the mandatory coursework, the board intends to foster a deeper connection to regional cultures and languages, a core tenet of the broader educational reforms currently being implemented in India [1], [2].
“The Central Board of Secondary Education will require students in classes 9 and 10 to study three languages.”
This move represents a practical application of the National Education Policy's goal to prioritize indigenous languages. By removing the board exam requirement for the third language, the CBSE is attempting to balance the push for multilingualism with the academic pressure faced by students in classes 9 and 10, ensuring the policy encourages learning without adding high-stakes testing burdens.
