The Supreme Court on September 28, directed the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to extend to Class 6 students the same relaxation already available to students of Classes 7 to 9 under the three-language policy.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana passed the direction while hearing challenges to CBSE’s revised language requirements in Yashica Bhandari Jain & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
The petitions challenge CBSE’s decision to implement a three-language framework from the 2026–27 academic year, requiring students to study three languages, including two languages native to India.
The petitioners had raised concerns about the timing of the implementation, availability of trained teachers and textbooks, and the difficulties faced by students who had already selected their language combinations in earlier classes.
The Union government informed the Court that about 99% of CBSE schools had adequate infrastructure for implementation, while around 1.2% remained to be covered.
During the hearing, the Court considered the transitional arrangement already applicable to Classes 7 to 9, under which students would not face a CBSE Board examination in the third language and their Board result would not be affected by that subject.
The Chief Justice indicated,
“There will be no pass/failure. There will only be appearance certificate.”
The Court also directed CBSE to appoint an officer to contact schools that were yet to establish the required facilities and ascertain their difficulties.
Taking note of the submissions regarding the existing relaxation for Class 7 students, the bench directed CBSE to extend the same exemption to Class 6 students.
The Court further directed CBSE to file its counter-affidavit within four weeks, after which the petitioners may file their rejoinder.
The connected matters will continue to be heard by the Supreme Court.
Case Details:
Case Title: Yashica Bhandari Jain & Ors. v. Union of India & Ors.
Case Number: W.P.(C) No. 694/2026 and connected matters
Judge: Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohana
Decision Date: September 28, 2026
