CBSE Foreign Language Rule: Students Get 'A' for Continuity

Students currently in Classes VII, VIII, and IX under the CBSE board will be permitted to continue their chosen foreign language combinations until Class X. This clarification was issued by the Ministry of Education, addressing concerns stemming from a recent CBSE circular. The circular had indicated that from July 1, 2026, students entering Class IX would need to study at least two Indian languages as part of the three-language policy, aligning with the National Curriculum Framework.

The Ministry clarified that the new requirement of studying at least two Indian languages will be implemented prospectively, affecting only students entering Class VI in the future. This change will not be applied retrospectively to students already enrolled in the aforementioned classes. Officials emphasized that this is a clarification to ensure explicit understanding of the policy, not a reversal.

This decision comes after some student and parent protests and petitions filed in the Supreme Court challenging the policy's implementation for Class IX students from the 2026-27 academic session. The Supreme Court had previously declined to grant interim relief on these petitions. Approximately 98.5 percent of CBSE students already adhere to the three-language formula, with this exception targeting a small group, predominantly in urban areas, who had opted for two foreign languages.