Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Jul 16: The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed concern over the introduction of a compulsory third language at the Class 9 level under the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum, observing that it would place additional pressure on students preparing for board examinations.
The observations came during the hearing of the Tamil Nadu government's appeal against a Madras High Court order directing the state to facilitate the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas in every district.
During the proceedings, the Tamil Nadu government argued that its objections were linked to the Centre's three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Justice B V Nagarathna questioned the timing of introducing a new language in Class 9, saying students should begin learning it much earlier.
“Ninth standard is stressful. Why do you introduce a new language in Class 9? You introduce it in Class 6,” the judge observed.
Addressing the Centre, the bench urged education authorities to reconsider the policy, noting that students begin facing academic pressure well before their Class 10 board examinations.
“CBSE, ICSE or State Board, Class 10 is a board examination. From the end of Class 8 onwards, the pressure starts,” the court remarked.
Justice Nagarathna recalled her own school experience, stating that students in her school began learning a third language during middle school, giving them sufficient time to prepare before appearing for secondary school examinations.
She said introducing a third language at an earlier stage would better equip students and reduce academic stress.
During the hearing, Justice Nagarathna also clarified that the National Education Policy does not mandate Hindi as the compulsory third language.
“The state language has to be taught, English has to be taught and any third language. It doesn’t say Hindi,” she observed.
Counsel representing the respondent NGO also pointed out that the NEP specifically states that no language should be imposed on any state.
Justice Nagarathna then asked the Tamil Nadu government whether it would have any objection if the third language were Sanskrit instead of Hindi. The state's counsel responded that the concern was not about any particular language but the requirement of introducing a compulsory third language from Class 9.
The court's observations come days after another Supreme Court bench admitted petitions challenging the three-language policy and issued notices to the Centre, the CBSE and the Ministry of Education.
Under the revised CBSE framework aligned with NEP 2020, students entering Class 9 from the 2026-27 academic session will have to study a compulsory third language. Although the subject will not form part of the Class 10 board examination, students must pass a school-based internal assessment in the language from the 2027-28 academic session to receive the Secondary School Examination pass certificate.
The policy requires students to study two Bharatiya Bhashas (Indian languages) and one non-native language. However, students already in Class 10 during the 2026-27 academic session will not be covered under the new norms.