New Delhi, October 11, 2026: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made the three-language formula mandatory for all affiliated schools from the 2027-28 academic session, reinforcing the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020’s multilingual push. Students must now study three languages, including at least two native to India, with no language imposed as compulsory.
CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh announced the directive at a national education conference, clarifying that schools can offer regional languages, Sanskrit, Hindi, English, or other Indian languages as per student choice and state context. “The goal is linguistic diversity, not uniformity,” Singh stated, emphasising flexibility for border states and minority communities.
Under the revised framework, students in Classes 6-8 will study three languages, with at least two being Indian. For Classes 9-12, the board retains the existing two-language structure but encourages a third as an elective. The move affects 29,000 CBSE schools and over 2.5 crore students nationwide.
The decision follows months of deliberation amid resistance from Tamil Nadu and other states wary of perceived Hindi imposition. CBSE clarified that no specific language is mandated, allowing schools to tailor offerings to local needs. “This is about choice and cultural richness, not compulsion,” Singh added.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan hailed it as a “historic step toward linguistic unity in diversity,” noting that 22 scheduled languages and 100+ mother tongues will be supported through digital resources and teacher training. NCERT will roll out multilingual textbooks and e-content by mid-2027.
Critics, including DMK leaders, flagged concerns over implementation costs and teacher shortages in non-Hindi states. “Capacity building must precede mandates,” warned Tamil Nadu’s education secretary. CBSE responded with a Rs 200 crore fund for language labs and teacher upskilling.
Parents’ associations welcomed the choice-based model but sought clarity on board exam weightage. “Will the third language count for Class 10 marks?” asked a Delhi parent forum. CBSE assured that assessment details will be finalized by December 2026.
The three-language rule, a long-debated NEP pillar, now moves from policy to practice, reshaping India’s classroom linguistic landscape.