The Supreme Court of India has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to explore the possibility of exempting Class 6 students from its revised three-language policy for the current academic year. The directive came during a hearing on petitions challenging the policy, which requires students to study three languages from Class 9 onwards, with at least two being Indian languages.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana asked CBSE to consider accommodating Class 6 students and granting them relief from the policy for 2026-27. The court has scheduled the next hearing for September 17, 2026.
The revised language framework, effective from the academic year 2026-27, mandates that students in Class 9 study three languages. This policy has raised significant concerns among parents and educators regarding the availability of textbooks, trained teachers, and the potential increase in academic burden on students.
During the proceedings, the court also questioned CBSE's decision to classify English as a "non-native language" and sought detailed information on the availability of teachers and textbooks for the Indian languages offered under the policy. The bench noted that a practical and student-friendly approach was necessary to ensure smooth implementation.
The Education Ministry earlier informed the court that 99.19% of CBSE-affiliated schools have already implemented the two-Indian-language requirement. However, approximately 235 schools remain non-compliant, highlighting the challenges in rolling out the policy across the board.
The court's intervention comes as thousands of students and parents prepare for the new academic cycle. Stakeholders have expressed concerns about the shortage of qualified language teachers and the lack of suitable textbooks in several regional languages. The possible exemption for Class 6 students is being seen as a pragmatic step to ease the transition.
The next hearing on September 17 is expected to provide further clarity on the policy's implementation and whether CBSE will adopt the court's suggestion to grant relief to younger students. Until then, schools and families await guidance on how the policy will affect their children's academic schedules.
