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Supreme Court grants Class 6 students relief from CBSE three-language policy
The Supreme Court of India has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to extend transitional relaxations regarding its three-language policy to current Class 6 students. This decision grants Class 6 students the same protections previously provided to students in Classes 7, 8, and 9.
Under this arrangement, while students will still study a third language, they will not be required to sit for a CBSE Board examination in that subject when they reach Class 10. Instead, the third language will be evaluated through internal, school-based assessments, and performance will not result in a pass-or-fail consequence for their Board results. The court noted that students will receive an appearance certificate rather than a formal grade for this subject.
The court emphasized the need for student “comfort, not difficulty,” expressing concern over the logistical challenges and academic disruption caused by requiring students to change language combinations mid-schooling. The new policy framework is set to be fully implemented for the Class 6 batch starting April 1, 2027.
During the proceedings, the Union government argued against the extension, stating that approximately 99 percent of CBSE schools had already adopted the policy and were prepared with necessary materials. However, the bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, opted for a “soft launch” approach to allow schools and students more time to adjust to the requirements of the National Education Policy.
Entities
Central Board of Secondary Education · India · Supreme Court of India · Surya Kant · Tushar Mehta
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Approximately 98.8% of the 28,819 schools are compliant with the three-language formula requirements. www.livelaw.in
- [○ 1 SOURCE] CBSE confirmed no changes to question paper design, assessment patterns, or passing criteria for the 2026-27 academic session.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Class 10 board examinations will continue to be held twice per year.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The Supreme Court directed CBSE to grant Class 6 students the same relaxation as Class 7 students regarding the three-language formula evaluation. www.livelaw.in
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Class 7, 8, and 9 students receive transitional relaxation where the third language is assessed via internal school evaluation rather than a Board examination. www.livelaw.in