The Supreme Court has raised concerns over the CBSE’s decision to make a third language compulsory for Class 9 students, saying that introducing a new language at this stage could increase academic pressure on children already preparing for board examinations.
Hearing a case related to the implementation of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in Tamil Nadu, a bench led by Justice B.V. Nagarathna observed that students begin facing board exam stress from Classes 8 and 9. The court said adding a new language during these crucial years could place an unnecessary burden on them.
The bench suggested that if a third language is to be made compulsory, it should be introduced earlier, such as from Class 6, giving students enough time to learn it before reaching secondary school.The court’s observations were made orally during the hearing and do not amount to a formal order. However, they indicate the concerns being examined as the legal challenge progresses.
Meanwhile, CBSE is continuing with the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. From the 2027–28 academic session, students will be required to pass three languages to obtain their Class 10 pass certificate, with at least two being Indian languages.
To ease the transition, CBSE has decided not to conduct an external board examination for the third language for the 2026–27 Class 9 batch. Instead, the subject will be assessed internally by schools. Students who do not clear the subject in Class 9 will have another opportunity to pass it through a school-based assessment in Class 10.
The issue has also highlighted practical challenges, as many students had dropped a third language after Class 8 and may now have to relearn it or study a new Indian language. Schools are also facing shortages of qualified language teachers and learning materials