New Delhi. The petitions challenging the three-language policy of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) were heard again in the Supreme Court today. The bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana questioned CBSE as to why the existing students of class 6th cannot be given relief from the three language policy while children of class 7th to 10th have been given exemption. The Supreme Court has asked CBSE to consider this. The court said that this policy should not be brought suddenly in the middle of the academic year.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi said, it can be implemented for the children of class six from next year. So that everyone can understand it, children should be mentally prepared for this and they also get some time. However, the court also said that CBSE can encourage students to voluntarily opt for the 3-language policy in the current academic session also. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Central Government, argued that the students of class 6 have to appear for the board exams in class 10th after 4 years, hence they will have to prepare for three languages from now on.
It is noteworthy that CBSE has decided to implement the three language formula from Class 6 from July 1, 2026. Under this, one foreign and two Indian languages have been made mandatory in CBSE from class 6 from this year. Apart from English, students will have to study two other Indian languages. English has been placed as a foreign language. Along with this, when the students of the current batch studying in 7th, 8th and 9th class go to class 10th, they will not need to appear for the board exam in the third language. They will be evaluated at the school level.