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New Delhi : The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued a detailed clarification on the implementation of the third language (R3) framework, confirming that while the subject will be compulsory for eligible students, it will not be part of the Class 10 board examination
According to the Board, students entering Class 9 in the 2026–27 academic session will be required to study three languages in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. However, the third language (R3) will be assessed only through an internal, school-based evaluation. Successfully completing this assessment will be necessary for students to receive their Class 10 Secondary School Examination Pass Certificate.
CBSE has further stated that students who do not clear the internal assessment in the third language will be provided an opportunity to appear for a re-assessment before the declaration of the Class 10 board examination results. The Board also clarified that students moving from Class 8 to Class 9 will continue with the same three-language combination they had previously studied, with one of those languages designated as R3.
As part of the revised framework, students in Class 9 must study three languages, with at least two being Bharatiya Bhashas, subject to the exemptions and relaxations prescribed by CBSE. Bharatiya Bhashas include languages such as Hindi, Sanskrit, Odia, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati and Assamese, while English and other foreign languages like French, German, Arabic and Spanish may also form part of the language combination.
The Board has made it clear that the revised policy will not affect students currently studying in Class 10 during the 2026–27 academic session. These students will continue under the existing two-language system and will not be required to study or undergo assessment in the third language.
CBSE has reiterated that even when the current Class 9 batch reaches Class 10 in the 2027–28 academic session, the third language will continue to be evaluated only through school-based internal assessment, with no separate CBSE board examination for the subject.
To facilitate the implementation of the new language framework, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has made R3 language learning resources available on its official website for schools, teachers and students. The Board said the clarification is intended to ensure a smooth and uniform implementation of the three-language policy while reducing examination pressure through continuous school-based evaluation.
