Supreme Court Exempts Class VI from CBSE Three-Language Policy This Year – 29 September 2026

What happened

The Supreme Court on 28 September 2026 directed CBSE to exempt Class VI students from the three-language policy for the current academic year. A bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana ordered that the policy for Class VI would be implemented from the next academic year.

For CBSE, the Solicitor General submitted that textbooks and logistics were ready and that about 98.8% of 28,819 schools had already complied. The Court noted that the remaining ~1.2% still meant hundreds of schools. Issues on the policy’s validity and whether English is a ‘foreign’ language were deferred for hearing after six weeks.

Background

The three-language formula has roots in national education policy debates (NEP 2020 emphasises multilingualism). Immediate implementation for Class VI raised concerns over textbook access (including digital-only material) and readiness of some schools.

Why it matters for exams

• NEP 2020 and three-language formula are staple education-polity topics
• Role of CBSE vs States in school curriculum
• Supreme Court’s interim directions vs final constitutional questions

Key facts for exams

• Relief: Class VI exempted for this academic year
• Implementation: From next academic year for Class VI
• CBSE figure cited: 98.8% of 28,819 schools already compliant

Practice MCQs

1. The Supreme Court’s September 2026 order on CBSE’s three-language policy exempted which class for the current year?

   (A) Class I
   (B) Class VI
   (C) Class X
   (D) Class XII

   Answer: (B) – Class VI.

2. CBSE stands for:

   (A) Central Board of Secondary Education
   (B) Council of Basic School Education
   (C) Central Bureau of School Evaluation
   (D) Combined Board of Science Education

   Answer: (A) – Central Board of Secondary Education.

3. NEP 2020’s language approach is best associated with:

   (A) Ban on all Indian languages
   (B) Multilingualism / three-language formula debates
   (C) English-only instruction nationwide by law
   (D) Abolition of school boards

   Answer: (B) – Multilingual education emphasis.

Source: Times of India, 29 September 2026.