CBSE makes three languages mandatory from class 9 under NEP 2020
CBSE has announced that from July 2026, students in Class 9 will have to study three languages instead of two. At least two of these must be Indian languages. However, there will be no separate Board exam for the third language in Class 10, as schools will assess students internally.
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The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has announced a new language policy for students studying in Class 9 from the academic session starting on July 1, 2026. Under the new rules, students will now have to study three languages as part of their curriculum.
The decision has been taken under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023, which promote multilingual education and the use of Indian languages in schools.
According to the CBSE circular issued on May 15, students will have to choose three languages called R1, R2 and R3. Out of these three, at least two must be Indian languages.
CBSE has clarified that there will not be any separate Board examination for the third language in Class 10. Instead, schools themselves will conduct internal assessments for that subject. The Board said this step has been taken to reduce pressure on students and keep the focus on learning rather than examinations.
Even though there will be no Board exam, the student’s marks or performance in the third language will still be mentioned in the CBSE certificate.
The Board also said that no student will be stopped from appearing in the Class 10 Board examinations because of the third language requirement.
Schools can offer any language from the approved CBSE subject list. Students may also choose a foreign language as the third language, but only if the other two languages selected by them are Indian languages. Foreign languages can also be taken as an optional fourth language.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made the study of three languages compulsory for students from Class IX beginning July 1, 2026, while clarifying that there will be no Board examination for the third language (R3) in Class X.
— ANI (@ANI) May 16, 2026
In a circular issued on May 15,… pic.twitter.com/D1jlOPbqXQ
Since special textbooks for secondary-level third languages are not yet ready, CBSE has directed schools to temporarily use Class 6 textbooks for the chosen third language. Schools have also been advised to use local and regional study material to improve language learning.
The Board admitted that some schools may face difficulties in finding language teachers. To solve this issue, CBSE has allowed schools to share teachers, use online teaching support, hire retired teachers or appoint qualified postgraduate candidates temporarily.
Special relaxation has also been announced for Children with Special Needs (CwSN), foreign students returning to India and schools located outside India. CBSE said such cases will be handled separately according to the needs of the students.