The Supreme Court on Thursday, September 17, 2026, reiterated that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) should consider granting a one-time relaxation to Class 6 students from a newly introduced third-language requirement, observing according to the court that the policy ought not to be introduced as a surprise to children and their families during the academic year. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana made the observations while hearing petitions challenging the CBSE policy, registered under the case Yashica Bhandari Jain and others v. Union of India and others (W.P.(C) No. 694/2026 and connected cases).
Supreme Court Recommends January 2027 Rollout for Class 6
The Supreme Court indicated during Thursday’s hearing that a relaxation could be considered for the current Class 6 batch, while the revised arrangement could be made mandatory for students entering Class 6 from January 1, 2027. According to the bench, such a measure would apply without prejudice to the petitioners’ legal contentions regarding the validity of the policy. Senior Advocate Anand Grover, representing the petitioners, informed the court at the outset that the CBSE had decided against extending relaxation to Class 6 students at par with students in classes 7 through 9 following a previous hearing.
In response, the bench impressed upon Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the CBSE, to reconsider its stance. According to the court, the recommendation keeps in view the comfort of the students and logistical issues tied to introducing a new policy mid-term. As reported by The Hindu, Justice Joymalya Bagchi reasoned that the policy was initially envisaged in 2020 and that pushing implementation to 2027 would give everyone time to come to terms with the scheme. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati agreed to convey the court’s suggestions to the government and return with instructions on the following Wednesday.
Context of the Three-Language Policy and Exemptions
Under current CBSE guidelines, students in Classes 7, 8, and 9 have been exempted from the three-language policy, which requires at least two languages to be native Indian languages. These students can continue studying two foreign languages and one Indian language, with the third language assessed at the school level rather than through a Board exam. Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati initially submitted that the policy should start with Class 6 this year because those students would face the Board exam only after four years. However, the bench maintained its perspective, noting that students in Class 7 would face the Board exam after three years as well, and urged authorities to provide breathing space rather than springing a surprise on families with only four months left in the year.
Potential Adjustments and Next Steps for the CBSE
Looking ahead, the Supreme Court suggested that the Board could consider providing an incentive for students to voluntarily opt for the three-language policy for the current term, or make the requirement optional for the present batch while implementing it on a mandatory basis from January 1, 2027. Justice V. Mohana indicated that new languages should be taught in a lively, engaging manner so that children learn them organically. Following the main proceedings, a counsel mentioned a separate plea seeking relief for Class 9 students regarding advanced Science and Mathematics books and syllabus weights. While Justice Mohana asked the counsel to await the response of the CBSE, Chief Justice Surya Kant commented on the broader academic environment, noting that Class 9 represents a mature class. The Additional Solicitor General is expected to report back to the bench next Wednesday with formal instructions from the CBSE regarding the suggested Class 6 timeline adjustments.
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