The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued detailed guidelines explaining how to implement the third language policy for students in different classes as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The board said the focus remains on learning the language in a meaningful way and no student will be disadvantaged by the new system.For students studying Class IX during the 2026-27 academic session, the third language (R3) will be assessed through internal assessment within the school only. When these students reach Class X in 2027-28, there will no longer be CBSE board examinations in the third language. CBSE and NCERT will also provide grade-appropriate learning resources to help students learn the language.The board also explained the rules to current seventh- and eighth-grade students. When these students move to Classes IX and X, they will continue to study three languages, two of which are Bhartiya Bhashas.As a relaxation, students of Class VII and VIII who have currently chosen and started studying two non-native languages can just add one Bhartiya Bhasha and continue studying to Class X. Like the current Class IX, the third language will be assessed through in-school assessment and there will be no CBSE board examination.For Class VI students of the academic year 2026-27 and students of subsequent batches, two of the three languages must be Bhartiya Bhashas. Unlike the old batch, these students will appear for the board examination in the third language (R3) when they reach Class X. CBSE said that NCERT is providing dedicated Class VI textbooks for all 22 scheduled Bhartiya Bhashas.The board also announced exemptions under the three-language policy. Children with special needs (CwSN) will continue to enjoy relaxations and exemptions under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWD) Act, 2016. CBSE schools located outside India are fully exempted from using Indian mother tongue as a third language. Foreign students returning to India are also exempted from learning Indian mother tongue as a third language.CBSE has also addressed the situation of families moving to another state. If parents or guardians immigrate, students can continue studying the third language of their choice in the intermediate stage even after reaching Class IX. Schools are required to provide the necessary resources to support these students.To help schools implement the policy, CBSE allows flexible staffing arrangements. Schools can utilize existing functionally skilled teachers, retired teachers, postgraduate teachers, Sahdaya school clusters for teacher sharing, and virtual or hybrid teaching methods.The board said the guidelines were issued to align school education with the NEP 2020 while protecting the interests of students. It emphasizes that the focus is on joyful and meaningful language learning rather than exams. CBSE said it will continue to support schools with learning resources and capacity-building programs and asked schools to actively communicate these provisions to students, parents and teachers, while emphasizing the long-term benefits of multilingual learning and cultural rooting.
