Key facts
- CBSE relaxes three-language policy for Classes 7, 8, and 9
- Current Class 10 batch exempted from the policy
- Two foreign language options now permitted
- Karnataka state school body had opposed Kannada being treated as third language
CBSE has relaxed its three-language policy for students in Classes 7, 8, and 9, exempting the current Class 10 batch entirely from the requirement and opening up two foreign language options for students — a significant rollback amid resistance from multiple states.
The three-language formula, rooted in the National Education Policy, mandates that students learn three languages, including a regional language. Its implementation by CBSE had triggered sharp opposition from states like Karnataka, where the state school body publicly stated that Kannada could not be treated as a 'third language' — reflecting broader anxieties in southern states about linguistic imposition.
By exempting the current Class 10 batch, CBSE has offered immediate relief to students who were already mid-course and had not planned their language combination around the newer requirements. The addition of two foreign language options broadens the practical utility of the policy for students in urban schools where languages like French, German, or Japanese are offered.
Education policy observers noted that the relaxation reflects a pragmatic acknowledgement that uniform implementation of a complex language policy across India's diverse linguistic landscape requires more groundwork. The debate over the three-language formula is expected to continue as the government proceeds with NEP rollout across state and central boards.