‘Cannot change the system’: Opposition attacks Centre’s CBSE three-language mandate for class 9 and 10
The CBSE has mandated that students in classes 9 and 10 must study three languages, with at least two being Indian languages, sparking opposition from political leaders and educators. Critics, especially in Tamil Nadu, argue the policy undermines regional linguistic identity and was introduced without adequate consultation. While the third language will be internally assessed and not affect board exam eligibility, some schools have already dropped foreign languages like French due to the new rules.
- ▪The CBSE's new framework requires students in classes 9 and 10 to study three languages, with at least two being Indian languages.
- ▪Opposition leaders in Tamil Nadu, including DMK's TKS Elangovan, have rejected the three-language formula, citing the state's long-standing two-language policy of Tamil and English.
- ▪Congress leader Surendra Rajput criticized the Centre for implementing the change without public or parliamentary consultation.
- ▪CBSE schools in Puducherry have discontinued French due to the policy limiting foreign language options to one slot.
- ▪The policy aligns with NEP 2020 and NCF-SE 2023 goals to promote Indian languages, but ensures students won't be barred from class 10 board exams based on third language performance.
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‘Cannot change the system’: Opposition attacks Centre’s CBSE three-language mandate for class 9 and 10The new framework makes it mandatory for students to study three languages with at least two of them required to be Indian.Updated on: May 17, 2026 2:03 PM ISTBy Anita GoswamiShare viaCopy link A new Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) mandate requiring Class 9 and 10 students to study three languages has drawn criticism from Opposition leaders.The third language will be internally assessed by schools and not through the class 10 board examination. (Representative image)The new framework makes it mandatory for students to study three languages, R1, R2 and R3, with at least two of them required to be national.
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