The Central Board of Secondary Education has directed all affiliated schools to finalise and notify their regional offices of the third language (R3) choice for Class 9 before June 15, 2026. This is a firm deadline ahead of the July 1, 2026, implementation of the compulsory three-language formula under the National Education Policy 2020.
Until dedicated R3 textbooks are available, schools have been instructed to use Class 6 third-language textbooks from the 2026-27 edition. CBSE will supply textbooks in 19 scheduled languages before July 1. For other languages, schools may use SCERT materials supplemented by locally relevant literary content. Schools facing teacher shortages have been permitted to use Sahodaya cluster resource sharing, hybrid teaching, and retired teacher arrangements during the transition.
CBSE has clarified that R3 assessments will be entirely internal and school-based. Students will not face any barrier to Class 10 Board Examinations because of R3 performance. Sample question papers and assessment rubrics are to be shared by the board in coming weeks. Schools must update their language choices on the OASIS portal under the oversight of their respective regional offices.
- Implementation date: July 1, 2026
- School R3 deadline: June 15, 2026
- Assessment: Fully internal and school-based
