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Supreme Court Mandates Three-Language Policy for CBSE from 2027-28 Academic Year

The Supreme Court has ruled that the CBSE's three-language policy will be implemented from the 2027-28 academic year, providing significant relief to Class 6 students by exempting them from the mandatory third language requirement. This decision aligns their assessment with that of Class 7 students and ensures that evaluations will occur at the school level. The policy will require students to learn two Indian languages and one foreign language, with English classified as the foreign language. Additionally, students who do not pass the internal assessment for the third language in Class 9 will still be promoted to Class 10, with another opportunity to clear the assessment. This ruling marks a significant shift in language education within the CBSE framework.
By Ambika Singh Sep 28, 2026, 21:36 IST

Implementation of the Three-Language Policy



The Supreme Court has announced that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will implement its three-language policy starting from the academic year 2027-28, providing significant relief to students. This directive will take effect on April 1, 2027.


In a recent ruling, the Supreme Court has alleviated concerns for Class 6 students regarding the 'three-language formula.' The Court has decided to exempt these students from the mandatory requirement of a third language, aligning their status with that of Class 7 students. This ruling ensures that assessments for Class 6 will be conducted at the school level.


Details of the Three-Language Formula

The Supreme Court has mandated that the three-language policy be enforced from the new academic session beginning in 2027-28. The Court emphasized that the CBSE's three-language policy will officially commence on April 1, 2027.


Implementation Timeline


During earlier discussions, the Supreme Court had encouraged the government to consider an earlier implementation. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta informed the Court that nearly 99% of schools were prepared to teach a third language. However, the Court has postponed the policy's implementation for the current academic session, confirming that it will begin on April 1, 2027.


Language Requirements for Students

Language Composition


According to the Court's ruling, students entering Class 6 next year will be required to learn two Indian languages and one foreign language, with English classified as the foreign language. The CBSE has clarified that students in Classes 7 and 8 who are already studying two non-Indian languages (like English and French) can continue with those while selecting an Indian language as their third option (R3). Notably, there will be no board examination for R3 for students in Classes 7 to 10; assessments will be conducted at the school level. This arrangement has now been extended to Class 6 students as well.


Opportunities for Students


The CBSE has also stated in its affidavit that students who do not pass the internal assessment for R3 in Class 9 will still be promoted to Class 10. These students will have another chance to clear the R3 internal assessment. A pass certificate for R3 issued by the school will be necessary for students to qualify for the Class 10 board examination.


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