The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will require students in classes nine and 10 to study three languages starting July 1, 2026 [2].
This shift aims to implement the three-language formula from the National Education Policy 2020 to promote multilingual proficiency among students across India. By prioritizing native tongues, the board seeks to align secondary education with national linguistic goals.
Under the new mandate, students must study three languages [1]. At least two of these must be Indian languages [3]. This requirement applies to all schools affiliated with the CBSE throughout the country.
While the study of three languages is compulsory, the third language will not be part of the class 10 board examination [4]. Instead, the board said that the third language will be assessed by the individual schools [4]. This structure allows students to gain linguistic breadth without adding the pressure of a third national standardized test.
There is some discrepancy regarding when the policy was officially announced. One report cited a circular dated May 5, 2026, while another source pointed to a circular dated May 15, 2026. Regardless of the announcement date, the implementation remains set for July 1 [2].
The move is part of a broader effort to ensure that secondary-school students maintain a connection to Indian languages while potentially learning a foreign language as their third option. The board's approach shifts the burden of the third language's evaluation from the central board to the school level to balance academic rigor with the goals of the National Education Policy 2020.
“The third language will not be part of the Class 10 board examination.”
This policy marks a transition from optional to mandatory multilingualism in India's secondary education system. By decoupling the third language from the high-stakes board exams, the CBSE is attempting to encourage language acquisition without increasing student burnout. This creates a hybrid assessment model where the state maintains the curriculum standard but delegates the grading to local institutions.
