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SC agrees to examine CBSE three-language formula (Img: Internet)
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday agreed to examine the validity of the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) revised three-language formula for Class IX students and sought a detailed response from the Centre, CBSE and NCERT on the issue.
A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M Pancholi, took note of petitions challenging the policy. However, the court declined requests for an immediate stay on the implementation of the revised framework.
The revised policy has triggered concerns among parents, students and school administrators, particularly because it was introduced during the academic session. Critics argue that students who have been studying foreign languages as their second language may face difficulties adjusting to the new requirement.
The Supreme Court has agreed to examine the validity of CBSE’s revised three-language formula for Class IX students and sought responses from the Centre, CBSE and NCERT. The court, however, refused to stay the policy for now.#SupremeCourt #CBSE #NEP2020 #EducationNews… pic.twitter.com/cpQMCXzZgP
— Dynamite News (@DynamiteNews_) May 27, 2026
Under the revised framework, students at the secondary level are required to study three languages, with at least two of them being Indian languages. Languages such as Hindi and Sanskrit are among the available options.
Several petitioners have questioned whether the policy places an additional academic burden on students and whether schools are adequately prepared to implement the changes smoothly.
The CBSE policy is part of the board’s effort to align its academic structure with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.
Transitional Approach: CBSE makes three languages compulsory for Class 9 to10 from July 1
The Centre has consistently maintained that the three-language formula is aimed at promoting multilingual learning and encouraging students to gain proficiency in Indian languages alongside global language exposure.
During the hearing, the Supreme Court asked the Centre, CBSE and NCERT to file comprehensive responses addressing the concerns raised in the petitions. The court indicated that it would examine the broader constitutional and educational aspects linked to the policy.
The matter is expected to spark a wider debate on language education, curriculum flexibility and implementation challenges in schools across the country.
