Supreme Court Asks Centre to Consider CBSE 3-Language Policy Exemption for Class 6

The Supreme Court on Thursday again asked the Central government to consider giving class 6 students an option to opt out of the CBSE’s three-language policy for the current academic year.The Court said that the suggestion is being made in the interest of the comfort of students and families, rather than it being a comment on the policy’s validity. A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymlaya Bagchi and V Mohana was hearing petitions challenging the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) three-language policy. CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Justice V MohanaThis policy, introduced from the ongoing 2026-2027 academic year, requires students to study 3 languages from class 6 to class 9, with at least 2 being Indian languages.The Court today suggested that relaxations that are already being considered for students of the current batch of classes 7 to 10 could be extended to the present class 6 batch as well. This suggestion was made in an earlier hearing of the matter as well.“So far as the logistics of a child and a family are concerned, when the notification comes, it already exists, right? So it’s just bringing that surprise on that whole batch of students. You can start from January 2027…Please reconsider. (This) is not on a point of law… (but) on a point of comfort … If you can make it optional now, from January (2027), whoever comes into Class 6, it will be mandatory,” Justice Bagchi said today. Justice Bagchi cla