Supreme Court Asks CBSE to Consider Exempting Class 6 Students From Three-Language Policy for 2026-27, Defers Hearing to September 17

The Supreme Court on September 10 asked the Central Board of Secondary Education to consider exempting the current Class 6 batch from its three-language policy for the ongoing 2026-27 academic session, even as it deferred the main hearing on a batch of petitions challenging the policy to September 17. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana, told Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to examine whether Class 6 students could be given some accommodation during the ongoing academic year. The court had previously expressed concern about the manner of implementation and whether schools have sufficient infrastructure and teachers to offer the required language choices.

Under CBSE's policy, three languages are now required at the secondary level, identified as R1, R2 and R3, with at least two being Indian languages. The Board introduced the third language requirement for Class 6 students starting the 2026-27 academic session and separately mandated it for Class 9 students from July 1, 2026. The Board has clarified that Hindi is not mandatory at any particular level. The petitions before the Supreme Court focus not on challenging multilingual education as a concept but on concerns about how the policy is being implemented and whether adequate infrastructure exists. The policy is based on the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. The court's request for the Board to explore exemptions for the Class 6 cohort suggests recognition that the abrupt introduction during the current academic year may place undue pressure on students, parents and schools still working to put the necessary resources in place.

Sources

Sources: Deccan Herald, Free Press Journal, EduAdvice.in, Plutus IAS, IMTS News, Careers360, Manabadi. The Supreme Court directive came during hearings September 10, 2026, with the next hearing scheduled for September 17. The CBSE policy applies to Class 6 from the start of the 2026-27 academic session and to Class 9 from July 1, 2026, as confirmed by multiple CBSE circulars and education news sources.