The Supreme Court on Thursday urged the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider implementing the mandatory third-language requirement for Class 6 students from January 1, 2027, instead of applying it immediately.
A bench comprising CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana made the suggestion while hearing petitions challenging aspects of CBSE’s revised three-language policy. Justice Bagchi urged Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati to rethink the launch date, noting that pushing it to January 1, 2027, was a difference of just four months.
CJI Surya Kant also asked CBSE to enforce the policy while considering incentives to encourage students to opt for the additional language. The Court had earlier asked CBSE to consider a one-time exemption for students currently in Class 6, so they do not face a mandatory Board examination in the third language in Class 10. It had also sought details on schools’ preparedness, availability of qualified teachers and learning material.
The bench further asked CBSE to reconsider whether the third language should begin from Class 6 or an earlier stage such as Class 3 or 4, and sought a roadmap for providing adequate teachers and infrastructure.
CBSE’s revised framework, aligned with the NEP 2020, requires students to study three languages, at least two of which must be Indian languages. While transitional guidelines protected students already in Classes 7-9 from having to alter existing language combinations, students entering Class 6 in 2026-27 were to be covered by the policy in full.
The policy has been challenged on constitutional grounds, with petitioners alleging violations of Articles 14, 19, 21 and 21A, and raising concerns over the availability of textbooks and trained teachers.
The Supreme Court previously declined to grant an interim stay on the policy, observing that the acquisition of a language is never without value.
The post Supreme Court urges CBSE to consider third-language requirement from January 2027 for class 6 students appeared first on India Legal.