CBSE Introduces New Third Language Assessment Rules for Classes 9 and 10
CBSE has announced revised third language assessment guidelines for Classes 9 and 10, introducing internal evaluation and updated language requirements for students joining from the 2026 27 academic year.
The Central Board of Secondary Education has announced significant changes to its language assessment framework for secondary school students. The revised policy introduces a new evaluation system for the third language while also outlining fresh academic requirements for students entering Class 9 from the 2026 27 academic session.
Under the updated guidelines, students in Classes 9 and 10 will no longer appear for a written board examination in the third language. Instead, schools will assess the subject entirely through internal evaluation, making classroom performance and continuous assessment the basis for grading.
The board has also made it mandatory for students joining Class 9 in the 2026 27 academic year to study three languages, with at least two of them being Indian languages. Students will also have the option to choose a foreign language as their third language, depending on the subjects offered by their schools.
To ensure that students successfully complete the internal assessment, CBSE has directed schools to conduct a reassessment before the final results are declared if a student does not qualify in the initial evaluation. This measure is intended to provide students with another opportunity to meet the required standards.
The board further clarified that the three languages studied in Class 8 will normally continue into Class 9, ensuring continuity in language learning as students move into secondary education.
CBSE has stated that the revised third language policy will not apply to students who are currently studying in Class 10. Those students will continue under the existing rules without any change to their assessment pattern.
The new regulations will come into effect for students who enter Class 9 in the 2026 27 academic year, and the first batch to be covered under the revised framework will appear for the Class 10 assessment in 2027 28. To support the implementation of the policy, CBSE has also made the R3 learning material available through the NCERT platform for schools and students.
