India
Supreme Court asks CBSE to ease third-language rule for Class 6 students
The Supreme Court has asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to give current Class 6 students a one-time reprieve from a mandatory third-language Board exam, and to consider easing the policy into the curriculum from earlier classes.
The Supreme Court on Thursday (August 20, 2026) asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to grant current Class 6 students a one-time reprieve from a mandatory third-language Board exam. The court urged the board to return to the drawing board and consider easing the policy into the curriculum from earlier classes, giving students, families, and schools “some elbow space.”
“Why don’t you give the Class 6 students reprieve from writing the third language exam in Class 10 exam,” Justice Joymalya Bagchi asked Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati.
According to the report, under CBSE guidelines, students in Classes 7 to 9 were exempted, while the present Class 6 batch was slated to face full implementation, including a mandatory Class 10 Board exam in the third language by 2031. The court's remarks suggest it wants the board to reconsider the policy's rollout to avoid burdening the current batch.
- CBSE three language policy
- Supreme Court
- CBSE three language rule
- national education policy
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