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Three-Language Study Mandatory for Classes 9-10

  • 18 May 2026

On 16th May 2026, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) mandated three-language (R1, R2, R3) study for Classes 9-10 students from 1st July 2026 under the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020) to promote multilingual learning and strengthen native Indian languages.

Key Points

  • Indian Languages Requirement: At least two of the three languages must be native Indian languages.
  • Foreign Language Rule: Foreign languages can only be chosen as the third language or as an additional fourth language.
  • No Board Exam for R3: The third language (R3) will not have a Class X board examination. Assessment will remain school-based and internal.
  • NEP Alignment: The reform aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.
  • Teacher Shortage Measures: Schools may use virtual classes, inter-school sharing, and retired teachers where language teachers are unavailable.