CBSE clarifies: Which students will have to study a third language under the NEP, and who will be exempted?

Under CBSE's new three-language policy, rules regarding language education in schools are set to change starting from the 2026-27 academic session. This change is being implemented in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The Board has clarified that no student's studies will be adversely affected by the new system, and special concessions will be granted if necessary. Distinct rules have been established for students across different grade levels to ensure a phased implementation of the changes. The policy aims to connect students with Indian languages, foster multilingual proficiency, and make education more practical and effective.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued detailed guidelines for implementing the three-language policy from the 2026-27 session, in accordance with the NEP 2020. Under this policy, students are required to study three languages, with a mandatory requirement for at least two of them to be Indian languages. The third language may be either Indian or foreign; however, this provision applies only if the other two languages ​​are Indian.

**Relief for Class 10 Students**
The new system will not apply to students studying in Class 10 during the 2026-27 session. They will complete their studies with only two languages, as before, and will not be required to take a third language.

**New Rules for Class 9 Students**
All students enrolling in Class 9 for the 2026-27 session will be required to study three languages. If a student is already studying two Indian languages, they may choose English, French, or any other language as their third language; however, if they are studying only one Indian language and one foreign language, they must select an Indian language as their third language. Students who have already opted for two foreign languages ​​will be permitted to continue with them under a special exemption but will also be required to add an Indian language.

**How ​​will the third language examination be conducted?**
For Class 9 students, the assessment of the third language will be conducted solely at the school level. When these students reach Class 10 in the 2027-28 academic session, there will still be no CBSE board examination for the third language. CBSE and NCERT will provide study materials for learning this language.

How will students in Classes 6 to 8 be affected?
In the 2026-27 session, when students currently in Classes 7 and 8 move up to Classes 9 and 10, they too will be required to study three languages. If a student has chosen two foreign languages, they must also study an additional Indian language. Assessment for this language will be conducted solely by the school; there will be no board examination for it in Class 10.

Meanwhile, for students currently in Class 6 or lower, a board examination for the third language will be introduced in the future (starting from the 2026-27 session). Textbooks in the 22 designated Indian languages ​​will be made available to them.

Which students will be exempted?
CBSE has decided to provide necessary accommodations to Children with Special Needs (CwSN) in accordance with the RPwD Act, 2016. Students in CBSE schools abroad and those returning to India from abroad will be exempted from studying a third Indian language. Additionally, if a student's parents are transferred to another state, the student may continue with their previously chosen language arrangement.

Special arrangements for teachers in schools
To successfully implement the new policy, CBSE has permitted schools to utilize qualified teachers, retired teachers, Post-Graduate Teachers (PGTs), support from 'Sahodaya' clusters, and online or hybrid teaching methods. The Board states that the objective of this policy is not to burden students with extra examinations, but to provide a multilingual and holistic education by connecting them with Indian languages.

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