The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has released detailed guidelines for implementing the three-language policy as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The guidelines cover assessment patterns, exemptions, and transition measures for students across various classes. For students in Class 9 during the 2026-27 academic session, the third language (R3) assessment will be conducted internally by schools without a CBSE Board examination in Class 10.
CBSE, in collaboration with NCERT, will offer grade-appropriate learning resources to assist students in learning the third language. This update follows CBSE’s recent mandate making the study of three languages, including two Indian languages, compulsory for Class 9 students starting July 1. Students in Classes 7 and 8 during the 2026-27 session will also continue studying three languages, with two being Bhartiya Bhashas.
As a relaxation measure, students already studying two non-native languages will only need to add one Bhartiya Bhasha and continue it until Class 10. Similar to the Class 9 batch, the assessment for the third language (R3) for these students will be through internal school-based evaluation without a CBSE Board exam in Class 10. For students entering Class 6 in the 2026-27 session and onwards, two of the three languages must be Bhartiya Bhashas, with a mandatory CBSE Board examination for the third language (R3) in Class 10.
The CBSE is ensuring the availability of dedicated R3 textbooks for Class 6 in all 22 scheduled Bhartiya Bhashas through NCERT. Exemptions under the policy include provisions for Children with Special Needs (CwSN) and CBSE schools outside India, which are exempt from offering a native Indian language as the third language. Additionally, foreign students returning to India are also exempted from studying a native Indian language as R3.
Students whose parents or guardians relocate to another state can continue with their chosen language combination for R3 during Class 9. CBSE has instructed schools to provide necessary support for such students. In April, CBSE had announced the phased implementation of the three-language formula from Class 6 and the introduction of a two-level system for mathematics and science for Class 9 starting the 2026-27 academic session.
