The Centre informed the Supreme Court on Thursday (September 3, 2026) that it was working on its suggestions on implementation of the CBSE’s policy mandating the study of three languages, including two native Indian languages, for Class 9 students.
It observed that while there was nothing wrong in introducing the policy, the only concern of the petitioners was the manner in which it was being introduced. There is no doubt that sooner or later, it has to be introduced; there is nothing wrong with that. “You may revisit some of these problems.
Observing that children should not come under pressure, the top court on August 20 stressed the need to find a solution to issues arising out of the CBSE’s three-language policy for Class 9 students. On May 27, the top court agreed to examine a plea challenging the policy and issued notices to the Centre, the CBSE and the NCERT seeking their responses. The study of three languages, including at least two native Indian languages, has been made compulsory for Class 9 students beginning July 1, according to a circular issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The move is part of the CBSE’s alignment of its scheme of studies with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023. Students opting for a foreign language may do so only as the third language after studying two native Indian languages, or as an additional fourth language, according to the circular issued on May 15.
But how it is to be streamlined so that whatever impediments or blockades are coming up, you may find a solution to those,” the Bench had said.
One aspect to be considered was how to build adequate human resource infrastructure for the language options available, it had said.
