CBSE's 3-Language Formula: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will make a third language compulsory from Class 6 starting the 2026-27 academic session, with the subject set to be included in Class 10 board examinations by 2031 under a phased rollout of the three-language formula.
The new secondary school curriculum, released on Thursday, lays out a roadmap up to 2031 and aligns with the National Education Policy, which recommends that students learn three languages up to Class 10 instead of the current two.
Three-Language Formula To Roll Out In Phases
Under the new scheme, the third language (R3) will be introduced from Class 6 in 2026-27 and extended progressively to Class 10 by 2030-31. Students appearing for Class 10 board exams in 2031 will be the first cohort to be assessed under the full three-language system.
CBSE Chairperson Rahul Singh said the third language will not be mandatory for Class 9 students immediately. "R3 level textbooks will be introduced in Class 6 this year. They will write their board exams in 2031, and that's when the entire scheme will change, and the three-language formula will be entirely implemented," he said.
Language subjects will be organised into three levels, R1, R2 and R3, with R1 as the student's primary language, R2 as a second language, and R3 as the third language. The curriculum specifies that the same language cannot be studied at multiple levels simultaneously, and even where textbooks overlap, syllabi and assessments will differ across levels.
"As per the recommendations of NCF-SE-2023, two out of these three languages must be languages native to India," the curriculum states. The Board has listed 44 language options, covering all languages in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
English As Foreign Language, Limits On Choices
A key shift in the curriculum is the classification of English as a foreign language, with the Board allowing only one foreign language within the three-language framework. This could restrict students from choosing both English and another foreign language as their second and third languages in Class 10 board exams.
The exam pattern will also change in phases. "The 2027 board exams will be the last as per the current language textbooks. In 2028, exams will be held for two days-one each for R1 and R2. From 2031 onwards, exams will be held over three days for R1, R2 and R3," Singh said during a webinar.
Learning material for the third language is expected to be made available online this month, NDTV has learnt.
At the same time, the curriculum mandates that at least two of the three languages studied must be native to India, as per the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023.
Two-Level System For Maths And Science
The Board has also introduced a two-level system for Mathematics and Science from the 2026-27 academic session for Class 9 students, replacing the current basic and standard mathematics model.
All students will appear for a common three-hour, 80-mark examination. Those opting for higher proficiency can take an additional one-hour, 25-mark "advanced" paper aimed at testing higher-order thinking skills and conceptual understanding.
Performance in the advanced paper will not be added to the overall aggregate but will be reflected separately in the marksheet for students scoring 50% or above. "For those who have cleared the advanced level, there will be a section in the marksheet with a description of the rubrics... Those who don't clear it... there will be no mention," Mr Singh said.
The first Class 10 board exams under this structure will be held in 2028.
New Subjects, Assessments And Curriculum Changes
The curriculum introduces several new compulsory areas at the secondary stage, including Computational Thinking (CT) and Artificial Intelligence (AI), vocational education, art education, and physical education.
CT and AI will be introduced in a phased manner, as internally assessed modules initially, and as a compulsory externally evaluated board subject from 2029. "CT and AI will be compulsorily assessed in board examinations... and will be externally evaluated," Singh said.
Vocational education will become a compulsory subject with a board or annual exam from the 2027-28 academic session, while art and physical education will continue to be assessed internally through school-based evaluations. CBSE said it will prepare rubrics for these assessments.
Social Science And Holistic Learning Focus
Social Science will see updated textbooks and a stronger focus on competency-based learning, including case studies, map work, and data analysis, though the assessment pattern-80 marks for board exams and 20 for internal assessment-will remain unchanged.
Alongside core subjects, the Board will also introduce interdisciplinary studies focusing on civic understanding, sustainability and real-world applications.
Expanded Language Options, Global Flexibility
The Board will offer Dogri, Maithili, Konkani and Santhali as language subjects in Class 9 from the current academic session, completing the full set of 22 scheduled Indian languages on offer.
According to Praggya Singh, Director (Academics), CBSE, the curriculum provides a long-term roadmap, with third-language textbooks to be developed in collaboration with the National Council of Educational Research and Training.
The language requirement has been relaxed for CBSE schools abroad, which may offer one Indian language instead of the mandatory two required for schools in India.
The changes are based on recommendations of the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023 and will significantly reshape the secondary school curriculum and board examination pattern for students over the next five years.
