No Third Language for Class 10 in 2026-27; Class 7, 8, 9 Students Get Transitional Relief
- Jun 29
- 3 min read
CBSE eases the three-language rollout, exempting Class 10 students while granting transitional relief to Classes 7, 8 and 9.
By Pranjal Gupta
New Delhi, June 29: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has revised the implementation of the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 by granting transitional relaxations to students currently studying in secondary classes. The move comes after the proposed implementation created confusion among students and parents.
Under the revised guidelines, students studying in Class 10 during the 2026–27 academic
session will continue with the existing two-language system and will not be required to study a third language.
Students currently studying in Classes 7, 8 and 9 will study a third language. However, when they reach Class 10, they will not have to appear for a CBSE Board examination in that language. Instead, it will be assessed internally by their schools.
The policy encourages students to learn three languages, with at least two of them being Bhartiya Bhashas (Indian languages). CBSE said the aim is to make language learning meaningful and enjoyable without increasing students' examination burden.
Class 9 Students
Students entering Class 9 in the 2026–27 academic session must study three languages, with at least two being Bhartiya Bhashas.
Students who already study two Bhartiya Bhashas may choose either another Bhartiya
Bhasha or a foreign language, such as English, French, German, Arabic or Spanish, as their third language.
Those studying one Bhartiya Bhasha and one foreign language must choose another Bhartiya Bhasha as the third language.
As a one-time relaxation, students already studying two foreign languages may continue with
them but must add one Bhartiya Bhasha. The third language will be assessed only through an internal school assessment, and this batch will not have to appear for a CBSE Board examination in it when they reach Class 10.
CBSE and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) will provide grade-appropriate learning resources to support students.
Classes 7 and 8
Students currently in Classes 7 and 8 will also follow the three-language system when they move to secondary school.
Those who have already opted for two foreign languages may continue with them but must add one Bhartiya Bhasha. Like the current Class 9 batch, the third language will be assessed internally, with no Board examination in Class 10.
Class 6 Onwards
Students studying in Class 6 during the 2026–27 academic session will be the first batch to fully implement the policy.
They must study three languages, with at least two being Bhartiya Bhashas. Unlike the current transition batches, they will appear for a CBSE Board examination in the third language when they reach Class 10. NCERT has started making textbooks available in all 22 scheduled Indian languages to support schools and students.
Exemptions and School Support
Children with Special Needs (CwSN) will receive relaxations under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016.
Students in CBSE-affiliated schools outside India and foreign students returning to India are exempt from the compulsory Bhartiya Bhasha requirement.
Students whose parents migrate to another state may continue with their existing language combination, and schools have been directed to provide the necessary support.
To help schools implement the policy, CBSE has allowed flexible staffing arrangements, including the use of existing teachers, retired teachers, postgraduates, inter-school teacher sharing through Sahodaya clusters, and virtual or hybrid teaching wherever required.
CBSE said the revised guidelines are intended to align with NEP 2020 while protecting students' interests. It emphasised that no student would be disadvantaged during the transition and that the focus would remain on joyful, meaningful language learning rather than examinations.
