CBSE Makes Third Language Mandatory For Class 6; What It Means For Students

The board has asked schools to begin teaching the third language right away, even if textbooks are not yet ready.

News18

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made it compulsory for all affiliated schools to introduce a third language (R3) in Class 6 from the 2026–27 academic year. A circular issued on April 9 by the CBSE called the move urgent and asked schools to follow the order within seven days.

CBSE said some schools have already started the process, while the rest must act quickly. “It has been learnt that many schools have already initiated the implementation of R3… All remaining schools are hereby directed to ensure compliance within 7 days from the date of issuance of this circular,” the notice stated.

What This Means For Students

The new rule by the Central Board of Secondary Education will directly change how students study languages from Class 6 onwards.

First, students will now have to study three languages instead of two. These will be divided as R1, R2 and R3. Usually, this means:

One regional or mother tongue

One common language like Hindi or English

One additional language (Indian or foreign)

Students will also need to continue studying all three languages till Class 10 and may have to pass all of them in board exams later.

While it will improve communication skills and help students understand different cultures and languages, it will also add some pressure on students.

Schools Told To Start Immediately

The board has asked schools to begin teaching the third language right away, even if textbooks are not yet ready. Schools can use any available local books or materials for now.

“The textbooks for R3… will be made available shortly. However, schools are directed to start teaching R3 from Class 6 immediately, using locally available books/materials,” the circular said.

Schools must also inform CBSE about the language they choose and update the details on the OASIS portal. The rollout will be checked by regional CBSE offices.

Limited Options Later

CBSE has made it clear that students will only be able to continue with the language introduced in Class 6 in later classes. This means schools must choose carefully now. The decision is aimed at promoting multilingual learning, and schools are expected to follow the order without delay.

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