The Supreme Court has issued notices to the Centre, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), and the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) regarding a petition that challenges the mandatory three-language policy for Class 9 students. This notice was announced on Tuesday, with a three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant instructing these authorities to respond within a deadline of ten days. The Bench includes Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V.S. Mohan.

Previously, the Supreme Court declined to provide an immediate stay on the policy’s implementation. It noted that any such order could only be entertained following a comprehensive hearing. The court’s approach indicates that it will thoroughly assess the implications of the policy before making further decisions.

Details of the Petitioner’s Challenges

The petitioners have clarified that their objection is not against the three-language policy itself but rather its current implementation. They argue that many schools are ill-equipped to support the demands of the policy. Specifically, they highlighted the challenges posed by expecting students to learn a local language when they are already over 14 years old, adding unnecessary academic stress amid inadequate implementation measures.

This legal challenge focuses on the CBSE’s directive that mandates three languages for Class 9 students, with at least two being Indian languages. Initially announced in a CBSE circular on May 15, 2026, the compulsory nature of studying three languages is set to commence on July 1, 2026, with a subsequent amendment moving the start date to July 10, 2026.

Petitioners further argue that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 planned for the full implementation of the three-language formula by the academic year 2029–30. They claim that the CBSE has preemptively advanced this timeline, pushing it to the 2026–27 academic session. Concerns over the availability of trained teachers and suitable textbooks were also raised, amplifying the pressure on students undertaking this new educational requirement.

CBSE’s Response and Court Observations

In response to the court, CBSE reported that approximately 47 per cent of its affiliated schools are already adhering to the three-language policy. The Ministry of Education and CBSE have emphasised that this policy aims to foster multilingualism, particularly encouraging students to learn Indian languages as part of their curriculum.

While the Supreme Court declined to grant interim relief regarding the policy’s implementation, it acknowledged the merit of learning any language as a valuable pursuit. The court also expressed its concerns over the rollout of the policy without ensuring the provision of sufficient resources, such as textbooks and trained educators.

Under the current framework, students in Class 9 are required to study three languages, two of which must be Indian. However, Class 10 will not feature a Board examination for the third language, with assessment being conducted through internal evaluations by the schools themselves. This decision aims to alleviate some of the pressure on students while maintaining the policy’s core objectives.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540 

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share