Overview
- A CBSE circular dated May 15 ordered all Class IX students to study three languages from July 1, 2026, with at least two being Indian languages and the third (R3) to be assessed internally rather than through the Class X board exam.
- The May directive reverses a December 2025 governing‑body decision that had said implementation should wait until NCERT released graded secondary‑level language textbooks, a contradiction critics say shows poor board coordination.
- Because NCERT has not issued secondary R3 textbooks, CBSE told schools to use Class VI R3 books as interim material, a move principals say has caused timetable, staffing and resource shortages for millions of students.
- The policy is now the subject of legal challenge after the Supreme Court agreed on May 27 to examine petitions, and political leaders have demanded ministerial accountability while CBSE officials have been transferred.
- Separately, the Education Ministry has opened inquiries into CBSE’s On‑Screen Marking procurement after reports of cost increases, vendor changes and isolated scanning mismatches, raising fresh questions about the board’s governance and rollout capacity.