The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has implemented a new three-language policy for the current academic year. This policy requires students to study at least two native Indian languages. A non-native language can be chosen as the third language, provided the other two are Indian languages.
The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommends this three-language approach. The goal is to equip students with multiple Indian languages and promote language learning. The board aims for a balanced learning process.
New Policy Impacts Rare Languages
The new policy raises concerns about the future of rare languages. Languages like Sanskrit, Malayalam, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, and Bengali, along with Arabic and Persian, may see reduced student enrollment. These languages are categorized as non-native if not spoken by the student as a mother tongue.
Under this policy, English is considered a foreign language. Hindi is expected to be the most popular choice for students among Indian languages. This shift could diminish the prominence of regional languages.
Understanding the Language Options
The CBSE categorizes languages into two groups: Indian Languages (Bhartiya Bhashas) and Non-Native Languages.
- Indian Languages: Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Odia, Assamese.
- Non-Native Languages: English, French, German, Arabic, Persian, Spanish.
Policy Implementation for Different Batches
The policy's impact varies depending on the student's current grade and the languages they already study.
For Students in Class IX (starting 2026-27)
- Scenario 1: Studying two Indian languages (e.g., Hindi + Tamil). Students can choose another Indian language or a non-native language like English or French as their third language (R3).
- Scenario 2: Studying one Indian and one non-native language (e.g., Tamil + English). Students must choose an Indian language as their third language (R3).
- Special Relaxation (Class IX, 2026-27): Students already studying two non-native languages can continue with them. They must add one Indian language as their third language (R3).
For Students in Classes VII & VIII (starting 2026-27)
When these students reach Class IX and X, they must study three languages, with two being Indian languages.
Students currently in Class VII or VIII who study two non-native languages must add one Indian language. They will continue this until Class X.
For Students in Class VI (starting 2026-27)
For this batch and future Class VI cohorts, two of the three languages must be Indian languages.
When these students reach Class X, they will take board examinations for their third language (R3).
Potential Consequences for Language Diversity
Languages like Sanskrit, Tamil, and Malayalam may face challenges. Schools and students might prioritize globally significant languages like English and Hindi.
English is already the primary medium of instruction in many CBSE schools. Hindi or other regional languages will serve as the second Indian language option. This leaves only one slot for an additional language choice.
Parents may opt for globally important foreign languages for future career prospects. This preference could further reduce the demand for rare Indian languages.
The dominance of major Indian languages and global languages may diminish the importance of less common languages.
