The Supreme Court has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to provide current Class 6 students the same relaxation from the three-language policy that has been granted to students in higher middle-school classes. The direction came during the hearing of petitions challenging the implementation of the mandatory language framework.
The court’s direction means the current Class 6 batch will receive relief during the ongoing academic year. The mandatory implementation for these students has been scheduled from April 1, 2027, according to reports on the court’s order.
The case involved concerns from parents and schools over the sudden introduction of the language requirement. Lawyers representing parents also raised issues relating to language changes and the availability of textbooks. Some students had reportedly already been studying a particular language before being asked to make changes under the revised framework.
The Centre had informed the court that around 99% of CBSE schools had adopted the third-language policy and had the required facilities. However, the Supreme Court said Class 6 students should receive the same relief already available to other students covered by the exemption.
The broader legal questions surrounding the three-language policy will continue to be considered by the Supreme Court. The matter has been listed for further hearing after six weeks.
The three-language framework is linked to the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. Under the revised CBSE framework, students are required to study three languages, with at least two classified as Indian languages.
The Supreme Court has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to extend the transitional exemption under its three-language policy to students currently studying in Class 6. The relief brings the present Class 6 batch in line with the relaxation already provided to students in Classes 7, 8 and 9.
For the current Class 6 batch, the Supreme Court’s direction therefore provides transitional relief while the larger questions surrounding implementation of the three-language policy remain before the court.
