Parent version of a news story
JUN 29
Three languages, one giant fight. CBSE just picked its side.
6 min read Pawanchander Komuravelli
This is the version written for parents. There is also a version written for students , covering the same policy.
On 29 June 2026, CBSE released the language guidelines everyone in education politics had been bracing for. According to the board’s own circular CBSE circular , every CBSE student will study three languages, labelled R1, R2 and R3, and at least two of the three have to be Indian languages. Here’s what that actually sets in motion.
For parents
What changed
From the 2026-27 session, CBSE schools bring in a compulsory third language at Class 6 and widen it grade by grade until everyone up to Class 10 is covered by 2030-31. At least two of the three languages have to be Indian languages. The current Class 10 batch isn’t affected CBSE circular .
What to do
Ask the school two questions, in writing if you can. Which languages will actually run as R3, and do they have the teachers for it or a hiring plan. Schools may offer any of the 22 scheduled languages, but most will run only a handful. If your child already studies three languages, very little changes for you.
What to ignore
Panic forwards claiming some single language is being made compulsory. The guidelines require two Indian languages out of three. They don’t name which two. The choice sits with schools and families, boxed in by who the school can hire.
What to watch
How your state reacts. If your child is in a state-board school, this circular doesn’t bind them at all. It binds CBSE schools only, and the noise from the states is really about who gets to make this call next.
Sources
- CBSE circular (Acad-33/2026) CBSE Academic Unit circular on the three-language scheme for Classes IX and X. States three languages are compulsory, at least two of them Indian.
- India TV News Coverage of the 29 June 2026 press release: R1/R2/R3 structure, Class 6 as the first full cohort, current Class 10 excluded.
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