The Supreme Court on September 10 asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider exempting the current batch of Class 6 students from its three-language policy for this academic year. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, along with Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana, suggested this while hearing a batch of petitions challenging CBSE’s mandate on studying three languages, including at least two Indian languages. The board has been asked to explore an accommodation for these students, with the matter now listed for September 17.
Key Highlights
- The Supreme Court asked CBSE to consider giving the current Class 6 batch a reprieve from the three-language policy for the 2026-27 session.
- CJI Surya Kant said, “If you have chosen Class 6 as the starting point, you may consider giving a reprieve to Class 6 students of this year.”
- Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre and CBSE, said officials would consult and revert to the court.
- The court has not issued a final order; it has only asked CBSE to examine the suggestion and report back.
- The next hearing in the case is scheduled for September 17.
- Petitioners argue CBSE lacks the authority to frame curricula for Classes 6 to 8, a domain they say belongs to NCERT.
- The policy stems from CBSE Circular Acad-17/2026 (April 9, 2026), which introduced the R3 language in Class 6 under the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCFSE) 2023.
- A separate circular, Acad-33/2026 (May 15, 2026), extended the three-language requirement to Class 9 from July 1, 2026.
What the Supreme Court said
Hearing the matter on September 10, the bench suggested that CBSE reconsider the timeline for the current Class 6 batch rather than apply the three-language requirement to students already midway through the session. The CJI told the Solicitor General that the board could treat this year’s Class 6 students as a transition batch and begin strict implementation from the next academic session instead.
This builds on an earlier hearing on August 20, when the bench had first floated the idea of a reprieve for existing Class 6 students. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that he would consult officials and place CBSE’s response before the bench at the next hearing. The court has not passed a formal order granting exemption; it has asked CBSE to consider the suggestion and respond on September 17.
Why the policy is being challenged
CBSE introduced the three-language requirement for Class 6 through Circular Acad-17/2026, dated April 9, 2026, directing schools to implement the R1-R2-R3 language model recommended under NCFSE 2023 within seven days of the circular. The rule requires students to study three languages, of which at least two must be Indian languages, with schools required to notify their chosen third language to CBSE’s regional offices through the OASIS portal.
A second circular, Acad-33/2026, issued on May 15, 2026, extended a similar three-language requirement to Class 9 students from July 1, 2026. Petitioners have pointed out that this reversed an earlier CBSE communication that had deferred the Class 9 requirement to the 2029-30 session.
Multiple petitions have since been filed in the Supreme Court against the policy. One plea, filed by Yashica Bhandari Jain and 18 other parents and teachers from Delhi, Gurugram, Noida and Chennai, challenges the Class 9 mandate. A separate petition from parents of Class 6 students in Delhi-NCR contests the Class 6 circular. Petitioners have argued that CBSE does not have the authority to prescribe curriculum for Classes 6 to 8, since this falls under NCERT’s mandate, and that schools discontinued foreign-language options mid-session without adequate notice or ready textbooks. The Centre and CBSE have defended the policy in court as consistent with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and have sought dismissal of the pleas, while also telling the bench they are open to considering accommodations for the current Class 6 batch.
The court has so far declined to stay the policy’s implementation and has instead pushed for a workable solution, repeatedly asking CBSE and the Centre to ensure that implementation does not put unnecessary pressure on children.
Important Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| April 9, 2026 | CBSE issues Circular Acad-17/2026 introducing R3 language in Class 6 |
| May 15, 2026 | CBSE issues Circular Acad-33/2026 extending the three-language rule to Class 9 from July 1, 2026 |
| May 27, 2026 | Supreme Court issues notice on the Class 9 petition; no interim relief granted |
| July 15, 2026 | Supreme Court issues notice on the Class 6 petition from Delhi-NCR parents |
| August 20, 2026 | Bench first suggests a possible reprieve for the current Class 6 batch |
| September 10, 2026 | Supreme Court asks CBSE to consider exempting the current Class 6 batch |
| September 17, 2026 | Next hearing; CBSE expected to respond on the suggested accommodation |
