Supreme Court defers CBSE three-language policy hearing by a week as Centre seeks time
The Centre on Thursday, September 3, 2026, told the Supreme Court that it is working on suggestions for implementation of the CBSE’s three-language policy for Class 9 students. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati made the submission before a Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, also comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana. She said the CBSE is in the process of working out various modalities and sought time. The court took note of the submission and deferred the matter by a week.
The policy, made effective from July 1, 2026, makes it compulsory for Class 9 students to study three languages — R1, R2, and R3 — with at least two of them being native Indian languages. The move aligns the CBSE’s scheme of studies with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. According to the CBSE circular issued on May 15, students opting for a foreign language may do so only as the third language after studying two native Indian languages, or as an additional fourth language.
India’s education policies have recommended a three-language formula since 1968. The NEP 2020 also proposes that students learn three languages, with a choice of languages left to the states. The CBSE’s circular, however, specifies that at least two of the three must be native Indian languages, with an optional fourth language permitted for a foreign language.
The top court had, on August 20, observed that children should not be put under pressure due to the policy’s implementation. It stressed the need to find a solution to issues arising from the new requirement. The court said that while there is nothing wrong with the policy itself, the petitioners’ concern is about the manner of its introduction. “You may revisit some of these problems. There is no doubt that sooner or later, it has to be introduced; there is nothing wrong with that. But how it is to be streamlined so that whatever impediments or blockades are coming up, you may find a solution to those,” the Bench had said.
The court also underlined that the authorities need to consider how to build adequate human resource infrastructure for the language options available. This includes ensuring the availability of teachers and teaching material in schools, it had said.
The Supreme Court first agreed to examine the policy challenge on May 27, when it issued notices to the Centre, the CBSE, and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). On Thursday, the court was informed that the CBSE is working on the implementation details.
The circular has clarified that till dedicated R3 textbooks are available, Class 9 students shall use the Class 6 R3 textbooks (2026-27 edition) of the chosen language. The Board also said that no board examination shall be conducted for R3 at the Class 10 level, in order to keep the focus on learning and reduce undue pressure on students.
Schools have been asked to update their R3 language offerings for Classes 6 to 9 on the OASIS portal by June 30. The matter will now be heard next week.
