The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified that although the third language (R3) will not be included in the Class 10 board examination from the 2027–28 academic session, students must successfully pass the school-based assessment in the subject to receive their Secondary School Examination Pass Certificate.
According to a circular issued on July 10, schools will be responsible for conducting reassessments for students who do not clear the third-language evaluation before the declaration of final results. The board has also specified that students who fail the R3 assessment in Class 9 will still be promoted to Class 10. However, they will be required to clear the pending assessment during the following academic year.
The latest clarification follows CBSE’s June 29 notification on the implementation of the three-language formula under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. Under the revised framework, students from Class 6 onwards must study three languages, with at least two being Indian languages. Students in Classes 7, 8, and 9 who had already opted for an additional foreign language alongside English will be allowed to continue, but they must also study a third Indian language.
The new policy marks a significant shift, as students previously discontinued the third language at the Class 9 level. The revised guidelines make the study of a third language compulsory from the 2026–27 academic year for Class 9 students and from 2027–28 for Class 10 students. The current Class 10 batch of 2026–27 will not be affected by these changes.
Also Read: India invites New Zealand universities to expand into Indian higher education
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has defended the policy before the Supreme Court in response to a petition challenging the CBSE circulars. The petitioners have sought the restoration of CBSE’s earlier April 9 position, which would have delayed mandatory implementation of the third language requirement at the Class 9 level until the 2029–30 academic session.
In a counter-affidavit submitted on July 13, the Centre argued that education falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, making both the Union and State governments responsible for implementing the objectives of NEP 2020. The government further maintained that the three-language policy supports multilingual learning, strengthens Indian languages, enhances cognitive development among students, and promotes national integration while preserving the country’s cultural diversity.
_______________________________________________________________________
Stay informed with the latest developments shaping the future of education. Follow Elets Digital Learning for regular updates, insights, and policy news.
Also, join the conversation at the Elets World Education Summit 2026 this October in New Delhi, where education leaders, policymakers, and innovators will come together to discuss the future of learning.
