Fresh plea in SC challenges CBSE's three-language policy for Class 9

A new petition has been moved in the Supreme Court challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) decision to make the study of three languages compulsory for Class 9 students from July 1, with at least two of them being native Indian languages.

The plea, filed by educationist and former Maharashtra minister Dr Fauzia Khan, argues that the CBSE's May 15 circular is arbitrary and unreasonable. Khan has sought intervention in an ongoing case in which the apex court is already examining the policy.

“The impugned circular acknowledges this teacher shortage in its text, yet proceeds to mandate compliance. The result is that the only practical purpose served by the impugned circular, in the southern states, is the compulsory introduction of Hindi, and in the northern states, the compulsory introduction of Sanskrit, without any stated educational rationale,” the plea said.

Khan, a leader of the NCP-SCP, contended that compelling non-Hindi-speaking states to introduce Hindi or Sanskrit runs contrary to the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The Supreme Court had on May 27 issued notice on a separate petition challenging the same CBSE policy.

Under the revised scheme announced by the CBSE, students in Class 9 will be required to study three languages beginning July 1, with at least two being Indian languages.

The change is part of the board's effort to align its curriculum framework with the NEP 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.

The board has also directed schools to supplement prescribed language textbooks with suitable local or state literary works.

“In order to adequately address the competencies envisaged at the secondary stage, these textbooks will be supplemented with one appropriate local or state literary material, selected by schools, such as short stories, poems, or nonfiction works,” the board said.

It added that detailed guidelines on the selection and classroom use of supplementary literary material would be released by June 15.

As per the May 15 circular, students wishing to study a foreign language can do so only as the third language after taking two Indian languages or as an additional fourth language.

“With effect from July 1, 2026, for Class IX, the study of three languages (R1, R2, R3) shall be compulsory, with at least two languages being native Indian languages,” the circular said.

The CBSE further stated that until dedicated R3 textbooks become available, Class 9 students may use the 2026-27 edition of Class 6 R3 textbooks for their chosen language.

To minimize academic pressure, the board said there would be no Class 10 board examination for the third language.

“All assessments for R3 shall be entirely school-based and internal. The performance of students in R3 will be duly reflected in the CBSE certificate. It is clarified that no student will be barred from appearing in the Class X Board Examinations due to R3. Sample question papers and rubrics for internal assessment will be shared by the board shortly,” it said.

The CBSE has also instructed schools to update details of their R3 language offerings for Classes 6 to 9 on the OASIS portal by June 30.