Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) issued detailed implementation guidelines for the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, outlining assessment patterns, exemptions, and transition measures for students across different classes.
For students studying in Class 9 during the 2026-27 academic session, the Board clarified that the third language (R3) will be assessed only through an internal school-based assessment. There will be no CBSE Board examination for this third language when the batch reaches Class 10 in the 2027-28 academic session.
CBSE, along with NCERT, will provide grade-appropriate learning resources to support students in learning the third language.
The developments come more than a month after the CBSE announced that studying three languages, including at least two native Indian languages, has been made compulsory for Class 9 students beginning July 1.
The Board also issued guidelines for students currently studying in Classes 7 and 8 during the 2026-27 session. When these students move to Classes 9 and 10, they will continue studying three languages, two of which must be Bhartiya Bhashas.
As a relaxation measure, students who have already opted for and started studying two non-native languages will only be required to study one additional Bhartiya Bhasha and continue it until Class 10.













