The Supreme Court has directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to give the current Class 6 students the same relaxation that already applies to students in Classes 7, 8 and 9 under the revised three-language framework.
The interim direction provides relief to the present Class 6 batch amid concerns about the implementation of the new language requirement. The Court said Class 6 students should receive the same “comfort” available to the higher classes.
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What the Supreme Court’s Direction Means for Class 6 Students
No Class 10 Board Examination in the Third Language
The current Class 6 students will continue to study the third language under the framework. However, they will not face a mandatory CBSE Class 10 Board examination in that third language under the transitional arrangement.
The third language will not create a Board-level pass-or-fail consequence for these students. The Court indicated that there would be no pass/fail requirement and that students would receive an appearance certificate.
Relaxation Applies to the Current Class 6 Batch
The Court’s direction concerns students who are currently studying in Class 6. It does not establish a permanent exemption for every future Class 6 batch.
Reports on the order state that the three-language framework will apply to the current Class 6 batch from April 1, 2027, giving the students transitional relief for the present academic situation.
Students Can Get Flexibility in Language Choices
The Times of India reported that students who already study two non-native languages can continue with their existing combination and add one Bharatiya Bhasha as the third language. This would prevent such students from having to replace an existing language to meet the revised requirements.
Centre Had Opposed Extending the Relaxation
During the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the Court that the government had discussed the issue and did not want to exempt the current Class 6 batch from the policy for the present academic year.
The Centre told the Court that most CBSE schools had already adopted the framework and had the required facilities.
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Nearly 99% of CBSE Schools Were Reported as Ready
The government told the Court that 28,819 CBSE schools were part of the implementation exercise and that around 1.2% of schools had not yet put the required facilities in place.
The government also said that textbooks and other learning materials were available and that most students had already opted for the scheme. These figures were submissions made before the Court by the government.
Supreme Court Asked CBSE to Help Schools Facing Difficulties
The Court also directed CBSE to appoint an officer or appropriate mechanism to reach out to schools that still face difficulties in implementing the language framework.
The purpose is to understand the problems faced by these schools and assess the available infrastructure and resources.
Court Will Consider the Wider Three-Language Issue
The Supreme Court is still hearing petitions that challenge aspects of CBSE’s revised three-language framework.
Petitioners have raised concerns about issues such as the availability of teachers, textbooks and other learning materials and the timing of implementation. The Court’s latest direction provides transitional relief to the current Class 6 batch but does not finally decide the broader challenge to the policy.
What About Classes 7, 8 and 9?
The existing transitional arrangement allows students in Classes 7, 8 and 9 to study the third language without facing a mandatory CBSE Class 10 Board examination in that language.
The Supreme Court has now extended the same relaxation to the current Class 6 batch.
The Bigger Picture
CBSE’s revised framework requires students to study three languages, including Indian languages as specified under the new framework. The policy has faced legal challenges over its implementation and its impact on students and schools.
The Supreme Court’s latest order addresses the immediate concerns of the current Class 6 batch while the larger legal challenge continues.
