Story perspectives

SC Orders CBSE to Extend Three-Language Exemption to Class 6

By Drooid · Sep 28, 2026, 4:32 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

Supreme Court of India ordered CBSE to extend the three-language exemption to Class 6.
Court said Class 6 should get the same comfort as Classes 7-8 to avoid disruption.
Centre told court 99 % of CBSE schools are ready, about 1.2 % lack facilities.
Exemption lets Class 6 study a third language, assessed internally, with only a Class 10 attendance certificate.
Bench ordered CBSE to appoint an officer to contact and investigate schools lacking facilities.

History

Historical Context

The 1968 National Policy on Education, announced by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, instituted the three-language formula for secondary schools across India. Education Minister V.K.R.V. Rao reported that 15 state governments pledged to implement the scheme in 1,200 schools within two years. Today, the Supreme Court of India orders CBSE to extend the same exemption to Class 6, echoing the policy’s aim to broaden language access. This linkage reinforces the longstanding effort to balance regional language preservation with national cohesion, prompting ministries to allocate additional resources for compliance.

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Story summary

Supreme Court of India ordered CBSE to extend the three-language exemption to Class 6.
Court said Class 6 should get the same comfort as Classes 7-8 to avoid disruption.
Centre told court 99 % of CBSE schools are ready, about 1.2 % lack facilities.
Exemption lets Class 6 study a third language, assessed internally, with only a Class 10 attendance certificate.
Bench ordered CBSE to appoint an officer to contact and investigate schools lacking facilities.

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