three language policy

India's three-language policy is back at the centre of national debate, and the argument is the same one it has always been. The CBSE's 2026 mandate to make three languages compulsory up to Class 10 is framed as a step towards multilingualism and national integration. In Tamil Nadu and much of the South, it is being read as something else entirely. The question is not really about languages. It never was.

Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has publicly opposed the Centre's three-language policy, urging the CBSE to retract its recent notification. He argues the May 15 directive contradicts earlier announcements, which slated the compulsory third language for Class IX students from the 2029-30 academic year. Annamalai contends the abrupt implementation will unduly burden students and negatively impact their learning.

Odisha's CBSE schools are largely unaffected by the new three-language policy due to low demand for foreign languages. Most students already follow a combination of English, Odia, and Hindi or Sanskrit, minimizing academic disruption. While some adjustments are needed for students studying foreign languages, CBSE offers support for the transition.

A petition challenging CBSE’s decision to make a third language compulsory for Classes 9 and 10 from 2026-27 has reached the Supreme Court. Parents and teachers have alleged the sudden policy shift will disrupt students’ education, create confusion in schools, and burden children with abrupt language changes without adequate teachers or preparation.

CBSE’s new three-language mandate for Class 9, introduced under NEP 2020, has sparked widespread backlash from parents, students, educators, and school bodies across India. The policy requires students to study three languages, including at least two Indian languages, from July 2026, though no board exam will be held for the third language in Class 10. Critics call the move rushed and burdensome, citing academic overload, disrupted foreign language learning, and poor implementation planning.

CBSE's new three-language policy, mandating two Indian languages from Class IX, is causing widespread concern among parents and educators. Students' existing foreign language learning and future career plans, particularly in fields like automobile engineering, are at risk. The abrupt implementation is seen as disruptive, placing undue pressure on students and raising questions about career relevance.

Parries Request For Stay, Seeks Comprehensive Board Affidavit

In Chandigarh, parents are voicing their worries about the CBSE's recent decision to introduce a mandatory third language for students in Classes 9 and 10 starting in 2026-27. Their primary concerns revolve around the potential increase in academic stress and possible hindrances to ongoing foreign language programs.

Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai publicly opposed the CBSE's revised three-language mandate, urging its withdrawal due to abrupt implementation. This move signals a calibrated political strategy to assert regional concerns and navigate the sensitive language issue in Tamil Nadu, potentially influencing the party's future leadership.

Those Who’ve Been Studying A Foreign Language Must Pick Up An Additional Indian One Just As Academic Pressure Builds Towards Boards