Supreme Court extends CBSE three-language policy exemption to Class 6 students

The Supreme Court has directed the CBSE to extend transitional exemptions under its three-language policy to students currently studying in Class 6, bringing them under the same protection already available to older batches.

The direction came during a hearing on petitions challenging aspects of the CBSE’s newly introduced three-language scheme.

The bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana considered concerns over changing students’ language arrangements midway through their schooling.

Under the court’s direction, Class 6 students will study the newly mandated third language but will not have to appear for a CBSE Board examination in that language when they reach Class 10.

The subject will instead be assessed internally at the school level and will not determine whether a student passes or fails Class 10.

The court has also extended flexibility to Class 6 students who are already studying two non-native languages. They can continue with their existing combination and take one additional Bharatiya Bhasha as their third language.

This means students will not have to discontinue either of their existing languages to accommodate the requirements under the revised three-language scheme.

The Centre had opposed extending the transitional exemption to the current Class 6 batch. It told the court that extensive preparations had already been made and that students had selected their languages under the new arrangement.

The Supreme Court had earlier asked the Centre and CBSE to consider a "soft launch" of the revised language arrangement from 2027 to avoid forcing students to make sudden changes during their schooling.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the court that students in Classes 7 and 8 had already been granted transitional exemptions. When those students reach Class 10, they will not be required to take a CBSE Board examination in the third language.

Chief Justice Surya Kant indicated that students would not be marked as having passed or failed on the basis of the third language. The assessment would remain at the school level under the transitional arrangement.

99% of CBSE schools have arrangements

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the government had held detailed discussions on the issue following the court’s earlier observations. He said that around 99% of the 28,819 CBSE schools had the necessary arrangements, while about 1.2% still required facilities.

The Centre also informed the court that textbooks and study materials were available and that students had selected their languages under the policy.

The Supreme Court directed CBSE to appoint an officer to contact schools where the required facilities are not yet available and identify the difficulties they are facing.

Justice Bagchi also said the court would intervene if a school detained a student on the basis of an internal assessment.

The CBSE has been directed to file its response within four weeks. The petitioners will then be allowed to file their rejoinder, after which the matter will be listed for further hearing.