If your child studies in a CBSE school, you have probably heard some version of this in the school WhatsApp group: "Now everyone has to take three languages, and one of them will have a board exam." Parts of that are true, but the rule is different for each class, and many parents are worried for no reason.
CBSE explained the rule in a press release dated 29 June 2026. It applies to CBSE-affiliated schools from the 2026-27 academic session, and it follows the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which recommends that students learn three languages, at least two of them native to India. CBSE calls these Indian languages "Bhartiya Bhashas".
This guide goes through what the rule means for each class, what is assessed by the school and what goes to the board, and who is exempt.
The basic rule in one line
A student studies three languages, and at least two of them must be Indian languages. The third language, which CBSE calls R3, can be a foreign language such as French or German, but only if the other two are Indian languages.
So a student studying Hindi and Tamil can pick French as the third. A student studying Hindi and English must pick another Indian language, such as Sanskrit, Punjabi or Bengali, as the third, because English is not counted as a native Indian language.
Quick summary: what changes for each class in 2026-27
| Class in 2026-27 | Third language needed? | Board exam for the third language? |
|---|---|---|
| Class 10 | No. Continues with two languages | No |
| Class 9 | Yes | No. School assessment only |
| Classes 7 and 8 | Yes, continued up to Class 10 | No. School assessment only |
| Class 6 and later batches | Yes | Yes, in Class 10 |
Source: CBSE press release, 29 June 2026.
Class 10 in 2026-27: nothing changes
If your child is in Class 10 this year, relax. CBSE says this batch continues with the old two-language system and does not take a third language. Their board exam subjects stay as planned.
Class 9 in 2026-27: three languages, but no board exam for the third
This is the batch most parents are asking about. Class 9 students in 2026-27 study three languages, with at least two Indian languages. What they need to add depends on what they already study:
- Already studying two Indian languages (for example Hindi and Tamil): the third can be another Indian language or a foreign language.
- Studying one Indian and one non-Indian language (for example Tamil and English): the third must be an Indian language.
- Studying two non-Indian languages (for example English and French): as a one-time relaxation, they can keep both and add one Indian language as the third.
The important part for this batch: the third language is assessed by the school through internal assessment only. In CBSE’s words, "There will be no CBSE Board examination for this third language" for this batch. So when these students take their Class 10 boards in 2027-28, the third language will not be a board paper.
Classes 7 and 8 in 2026-27
Students in Classes 7 and 8 continue with three languages, two of them Indian, all the way to Class 10. Those who had started with two non-Indian languages must add one Indian language and keep it until Class 10.
Like the Class 9 batch, these students will not have a board exam for the third language. The school will assess it.
Class 6 in 2026-27 and later batches
From the Class 6 batch of 2026-27 onwards, two of the three languages must be Indian languages, and the third language will be part of the Class 10 board exam.
This is the long-term change. Children now in Class 6 have four years to build the third language before it counts in the boards, so steady learning from now on matters more than any last-minute coaching.
Who is exempt
CBSE lists a few groups who get relaxation:
- Children with Special Needs (CwSN): relaxations and exemptions from the compulsory third language under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
- CBSE schools outside India: fully exempt from taking a native Indian language as the third language.
- Students returning from abroad: exempt from studying a native Indian language as the third language.
- Students whose parents move to another state: can keep their existing third-language combination in Class 9, and the school must support that choice.
If your family has just moved, say from Chennai to Lucknow, talk to the new school early so your child is not forced to restart a language mid-year.
Books and teachers
CBSE says NCERT has textbooks for the third language for Class 6 in 22 scheduled Indian languages, available on the NCERT website. Material for other classes "would be made available in a time bound manner", but no dates are given yet.
Schools are allowed to manage teachers flexibly: existing teachers who know the language, retired teachers, sharing teachers across schools in a Sahodaya cluster, or online and hybrid classes. So do not be surprised if your child’s third-language class is taught online or by a teacher from a nearby school.
CBSE also says, "No student shall be disadvantaged due to this alignment."
How parents can help
- Find out which batch your child is in. The rule for a Class 9 child and a Class 6 child is very different. Check the table above.
- Choose the third language with your child. Pick one the child hears around them, such as a grandparent’s language or the state language. It is far easier to learn a language you can practise at home.
- Ask the school what it offers. Not every school can teach every language. Ask which options are available before deciding.
- Do not over-pressure Class 9 students. Their third language is school-assessed, not a board paper. Keep the focus on main subjects too.
- Start early for Class 6. A little reading and speaking every week for four years is better than tuition in Class 10.
A note on the two board exams for Class 10
Parents sometimes mix up the language rule with CBSE’s other big change: two board exams for Class 10. They are separate. In 2026, the main Class 10 exam ran from 17 February to 11 March, and the second exam ran from 15 to 21 May, according to CBSE’s press release of 18 July 2026. For regular students, the better of the two performances counts.
The second exam helped many students. Of the candidates who sat it to improve their scores, 59.95% did better than in the main exam, and the overall pass percentage after combining both exams was 96.78%.
If board exam pressure is affecting your child’s sleep or mood, our guide to handling board exam stress has practical tips for students and parents.
FAQs
Does my Class 10 child need to take a third language in 2026-27?
No. CBSE says the Class 10 batch of 2026-27 continues with the two-language system and does not take a third language.
Will the third language have a board exam for Class 9 students?
No. For the batch in Class 9 in 2026-27, the third language is assessed only by the school. CBSE says there will be no board exam for it for this batch.
Can my child take French or German as the third language?
Yes, but only if the other two languages are both Indian languages, for example Hindi and Marathi. A child studying Hindi and English must take an Indian language as the third.
Is English counted as an Indian language under this rule?
No. CBSE’s examples treat English as a non-native language. For instance, a student studying Tamil and English must add an Indian language as the third.
From which batch will the third language be part of Class 10 board exams?
From the batch that is in Class 6 in 2026-27, and every batch after it.
Are children with special needs exempt?
They get relaxations and exemptions from the compulsory third language under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016. Speak to the school about your child’s case.