In 30 Seconds
What changed: The Supreme Court exempted CBSE Class 6 from the third-language Board exam.
The date: The order was passed on September 28, 2026.
Who it affects: Students in Class 6 in the 2026-27 session, who reach Class 10 in 2031.
What to do: Nothing. The third language is still taught in school. Only the Board exam is dropped.
Still unknown: The list of R3 language textbooks is still being prepared by CBSE.
The Supreme Court on September 28, 2026 exempted Class 6 students of the CBSE from a Board examination in the third language. A bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana passed the order. The relaxation already covers Classes 7, 8 and 9. It now covers Class 6 too.
The court did not remove the third language from the classroom. Class 6 students will still study it every year. They will not sit a CBSE Board exam in it when they reach Class 10. Their promotion will not be stopped because of this subject.
“There will be no pass/failure. There will only be an appearance certificate,” the Supreme Court said. The Centre had opposed extending the relaxation to Class 6.
What did the Supreme Court order on September 28?
The bench directed CBSE to give Class 6 students the same relaxation as Classes 7, 8 and 9. CBSE is the Central Board of Secondary Education. It is the body that runs these schools and exams.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati explained the transitional arrangement to the court. Under it, students study the third language but do not take a Board exam in it. The bench applied the same rule to Class 6.
The court gave a firm warning to schools. If any school holds back a student on the internal third-language mark, the court said it would step in. CBSE must also appoint an officer to handle grievances on this subject.
Does Class 6 still have to study a third language?
Yes. This is the point most parents miss. The third language stays in the timetable from Class 6.
The exemption is only from the Board exam. A Class 6 student today reaches Class 10 in 2031. That 2031 Board exam will not include the third language as a pass-or-fail paper.
The student still gets an appearance certificate for the subject. The subject is taught. The exam pressure is not there.
When will CBSE apply the Class 6 language policy?
The court directed that the policy be implemented for Class 6 from April 1, 2027. That is the start of the 2027-28 academic year.
Turn Your Achievements Into Stories That Students Actually Read
Feature admissions, placements, rankings, events, research initiatives, achievements, and institutional milestones before a highly engaged education-focused audience.
The order came while the court heard petitions against a CBSE circular dated May 15, 2026. That circular aligned CBSE with the National Education Policy 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023.
The circular required three languages in Classes 6 to 9. At least two of the three had to be Indian languages.
Why did the Centre oppose the Class 6 exemption?
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the court that textbooks and logistics for the policy were ready. The government said nearly 99% of CBSE schools were prepared to run it.
The Centre first argued that Class 6 should start the policy this year. Its reason was that these students face the Board exam only after four years. The bench did not accept this.
The court noted that Class 7 students also face the Board exam three years later. It said Class 6 should get the same comfort as Class 7.
What are the key dates for the CBSE language rule?
| What | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CBSE circular aligning with NEP 2020 | May 15, 2026 | Issued |
| Supreme Court order on Class 6 | September 28, 2026 | Passed |
| Class 6 policy implementation | April 1, 2027 | Awaited |
| Class 10 Board exam for this batch | 2031 | No third-language paper |
The date that matters for parents is April 1, 2027. That is when the Class 6 rule starts under the court’s order.
My child is in Class 6 in a CBSE school in a small town. What do I do now?
Nothing changes for you today. Your child keeps studying the third language in school. There is no Board exam in it for this batch. If the school warns that your child can fail on the third-language mark, that is against the court’s order. The court said it will step in on exactly this.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the third language removed for Class 6 students?
No. The third language is still taught to Class 6 students in school every year. The Supreme Court only exempted them from the Board exam in it. A Class 6 student will get an appearance certificate for the subject, not a pass or fail mark.
From when does the CBSE three-language policy apply to Class 6?
The Supreme Court directed CBSE to implement the policy for Class 6 from April 1, 2027. That is the start of the 2027-28 academic year. The order was passed on September 28, 2026 by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant.
Can a CBSE school fail my child on the third-language mark?
No. The Supreme Court said promotion cannot be stopped because of the third language. The bench warned that it would step in if any school holds a student back on the internal assessment in this subject. CBSE must also appoint an officer to handle such grievances.
Which classes already had this exemption before Class 6?
Classes 7, 8 and 9 already had the exemption. They study the third language but do not take a CBSE Board exam in it. On September 28, 2026 the Supreme Court extended the same relaxation to Class 6 students.
Did the government support the Class 6 exemption?
No. The Centre opposed it. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said nearly 99% of CBSE schools were ready to run the policy. The Supreme Court still granted the exemption, saying Class 6 should get the same comfort as Class 7.
Last verified: September 29, 2026
Disclaimer: Dates, fees, cutoffs and eligibility can change without notice. Check with CBSE before you act.
