The Central Board of Secondary Education will introduce a third language option for students in Class 6 in accordance with the National Education Policy 2020, which calls for multilingual learning from the early years of schooling. The change will apply to schools affiliated with the board across the country.
Under the revised structure, students in Class 6 will study three languages. At least two must be Indian languages. Where English is offered, it will be treated as a foreign language. In such cases, students will be required to select two Indian languages alongside English.
If a student opts for another foreign language such as French, Spanish or German, the requirement will remain unchanged. Two Indian languages must be included in the three-language combination.
Three-language approach is an integral part of NEP 2020, which is applicable to both government and private schools. Although it has provided a general framework, it has given scope for states and regions to choose which language to teach, as per their needs and demands. There is a scope for students to exercise their choice, as long as they opt for at least two languages that are originally from India.
The policy also recommends that the mother tongue, home language or regional language be used as the medium of instruction at least until Class 5, and preferably till Class 8 and beyond.
According to the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, students should continue learning all three languages until Class 10 to ensure continuity. Reports indicate that if this is strictly followed, students who write their Class 10 Board examinations in 2031 would have to write a paper in their third language. At present, students usually sit two language papers in the Board examinations.
The three-language formula was first introduced in the National Education Policy 1968 and reaffirmed in the National Education Policy 1986 and NEP 2020. The Centre has clarified that the framework serves as a guiding principle and is not legally binding. It has also stated that no language will be imposed on any state or individual.
To adjust to this new framework, new textbooks and other learning materials are expected to be developed. According to reports, new study materials for nine languages are being developed for the 2026-27 session. These languages include Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Gujarati, and Bangla, among others.
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