Why in the News?
Parents and students approached the Supreme Court of India challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) policy making three languages compulsory for Class 9 students from July 1, 2026.
Key Highlights
- Petitioners sought urgent hearing against the new CBSE language policy.
- Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi argued that students cannot suddenly begin learning a new language before Class 10 Board examinations.
What Does the CBSE Circular Say?
According to the May 15 circular:
- Class 9 students must study: Three languages
- At least: Two must be Indian languages
Foreign Languages
- Allowed only as:
- Third language
- Optional fourth language
Link with NEP 2020
The policy is based on:
- National Education Policy 2020
- National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023
CBSE Clarification
- No Board examination for the third language in Class 10.
- Assessment will be:
- School-based
- Internal evaluation
Concerns Raised
Petitioners argued:
- Increased academic burden
- Student stress and peer pressure
- Difficulty in adapting to a new language at Class 9 stage
Court Response
- Chief Justice Surya Kant stated that the matter would be listed before the appropriate Bench next week.
About the Three-Language Formula
- Encourages multilingual learning in schools.
- Originally recommended in earlier national education policies.
- Aims to promote:
- Indian languages
- National integration
- Linguistic diversity
[2012] Which of the following provisions of the Constitution of India have a bearing on Education?
1. Directive Principles of State Policy
2. Rural and Urban Local Bodies
3. Fifth Schedule
4. Sixth Schedule
5. Seventh Schedule
Select the correct answer using the codes given below:
[A] 1 and 2 only
[B] 3, 4 and 5 only
[C] 1, 2 and 5 only
[D] 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5
