The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has defended its three-language policy before the Supreme Court, arguing that a significant number of its affiliated schools are already equipped to implement the new framework. The Board has maintained that nearly half of its schools already teach two or more Indian languages in Class 9, while almost all have at least one Indian-language teacher, making the transition practical and feasible, according to media reports.The submissions come as the Supreme Court is set to hear a petition challenging the implementation of the revised language policy for Class 9 students.
CBSE highlights readiness of schools
In a detailed counter affidavit filed before the apex court, CBSE stated that 47.3% of its 28,848 affiliated schools already offer two or more Indian languages to students of Class 9. According to the Board, these schools comply with the three-language requirement without the need to recruit additional teachers.The Board further informed the court that 99.19% of affiliated schools have at least one teacher capable of teaching an Indian language, indicating that the education system already has a strong foundation for implementing the policy, according to media reports.Acknowledging that some schools may need time to expand their language offerings, CBSE said it has permitted flexible staffing arrangements during the transition period to ease implementation.
Petition challenges sudden policy shift
The legal challenge has been filed by a group of parents from Delhi, Gurugram, Noida, and Chennai, along with foreign-language teachers.The petition contests CBSE’s May 15 circular, which made the study of three languages compulsory for Class 9 students from July 1, 2026. The petitioners have argued that the move is arbitrary and unconstitutional, alleging violations of Articles 14, 19, 21, and 21A of the Constitution.According to the petition, CBSE had issued another notification only 36 days earlier, stating that the requirement of a third language at the Class 9 level would not be applicable until the 2029-30 academic session. The sudden reversal, they claim, has created confusion among schools, teachers, and students.
Concerns over teachers, textbooks, and assessments
The petitioners have also questioned the preparedness of schools to implement the revised framework. They argued that many institutions do not have adequate language teachers, updated textbooks, or a clear board assessment mechanism. The plea alleges that students may have to rely on textbooks meant for lower classes and that schools have been allowed to assign teachers from other subjects who possess only basic proficiency in the language to conduct classes.The petition contends that such an arrangement could affect the quality of language education and place an additional burden on students.
CBSE says later guidelines addressed grievances
Rejecting the concerns raised in the petition, CBSE informed the Supreme Court that subsequent policy clarifications have resolved many of the issues highlighted by the petitioners.The Board referred to its implementation guidelines issued on June 29 and a clarification circular released on July 10, stating that these documents addressed operational concerns regarding the rollout of the policy.CBSE argued that, in view of these developments, several of the reliefs sought in the petition have become unnecessary.
Foreign languages not being removed, says board
One of the major concerns raised by the petitioners is that the new policy sidelines foreign languages such as French, German, and Spanish.CBSE rejected this claim, asserting that there is no restriction on studying foreign languages. The Board clarified that students can continue to study a foreign language either as one of the three prescribed languages or as an additional fourth language.According to CBSE, the petition incorrectly portrays the revised framework as eliminating foreign languages, whereas the policy merely prioritises the inclusion of Indian languages in line with the National Education Policy.
New framework allows one-time relaxation
Under the revised language policy, students in Class 9 are required to study three languages, with at least two being Indian languages.However, CBSE has introduced a one-time relaxation for students who are already pursuing two non-Indian languages, such as English and French. These students will be allowed to choose any Indian language to fulfil the revised requirement during the transition phase.The relaxation has been introduced to ensure that students are not adversely affected while schools adapt to the new system.
NCERT assures textbook preparation
Supporting the government’s position, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) informed the Supreme Court that it has already prepared, reviewed, and disseminated textbooks in 22 Scheduled Languages to facilitate implementation of the language policy.NCERT also stated that the Ministry of Education has constituted a High-Powered Task Force working in coordination with CBSE, the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) and academic experts to accelerate the development of Class 9 textbooks required during the transition period.
Supreme Court to hear matter
The Supreme Court is expected to hear the matter as the debate over the implementation of the three-language policy continues.The case is likely to determine not only the immediate future of the revised Class 9 language framework but also provide judicial clarity on the balance between educational reforms, administrative preparedness, and students’ right to a smooth academic transition.
