Finance
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has emphasized that, while the third language (R3) will not be included in the Class 10 Board examination for students starting in 2027-28, passing the school-based assessment in the subject would be required.
In a July 10 circular, the Board stated that children “must clear the school-based R3 assessment” in class 10. Those who fail the internal evaluation will have to be reassessed by their schools before the Board releases the final results.
CBSE has stated that students who fail the school-based R3 assessment in Class 9 will not be detained. They will be promoted to Class 10 in the 2027-28 academic year, but they must pass the forthcoming Class 9 R3 evaluation while still in Class 10.
The clarification comes just days after CBSE’s June 29 circular, which implemented the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP). According to the amended program, pupils beginning in Class 6 must study three languages, two of which must be native to India. Students in Classes 7, 8, and 9 who have previously chosen an additional foreign language in addition to English will be able to continue with it, but they will now be required to study a third Indian language.
Until now, students discontinued the third language after Class 8. The circulars of June 29 and July 10 make it mandatory in Class 9 beginning with the academic year 2026-27 and Class 10 beginning with the academic year 2027-28. The revised norms will not apply to the current Class 10 batch in 2026-27.
Meanwhile, in defending the policy before the Supreme Court on Monday, CBSE stated that 47.3% of its 28,848 affiliated schools already offer two or more Indian languages to Class 9 pupils, making them completely compliant with the three-language requirement “without any additional teacher”. It further said that 99.19% of linked schools have at least one Indian-language teacher.
The figures were disclosed in a counter-affidavit filed by CBSE, as well as separate affidavits filed by the Union Education Ministry and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), in response to petitions filed by parents and foreign-language teachers challenging the policy.
“Recognising that schools may require time to build full teaching capacity in different Bhartiya Bhashas, the Board has permitted flexible staffing arrangements as an interim measure,” the Board said.
The petitions, filed by parents from Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Chennai, as well as foreign language teachers, challenge CBSE’s May 15 circular, which mandates the three-language policy in Class 9 beginning July 1, 2026. The case is expected to be heard by the Supreme Court on Tuesday.
Source: IE
