Delhi government withdraws Class 9 third language exam rule

The Delhi government has withdrawn a provision in its revised Class 9 examination and promotion policy that previously linked third language (R3) proficiency to Class 10 board exam eligibility. Under the initial revised framework, students who failed to qualify in their third language during Class 9 were prohibited from appearing for Class 10 board examinations until the subject was cleared.

The withdrawal follows confusion regarding the interpretation of the order. The government will now adhere to CBSE guidelines, which state that while R3 marks appear on the final certificate, the score has no bearing on a student’s eligibility to sit for the Class 10 board exams. Under CBSE rules, the third language is assessed through school-based internal evaluation.

Despite the withdrawal of the eligibility restriction, the broader revised framework remains in place. This includes making vocational education and a third language compulsory for Class 9 students. The new system also introduces optional advanced-level assessments in Mathematics and Science to provide more academic depth.