CBSE Makes Three-Language Internal Assessment Mandatory in Classes 9-10
The board also directed schools to conduct reassessments for students who fail to qualify in the internal assessment before the declaration of the final Class 10 results
New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has made the third language a mandatory qualifying subject for students in Classes 9 and 10 as part of the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
Under the revised norms, which will come into effect from the 2027-28 academic year, students entering Class 10 will not have to appear for the third language in the Class 10 board examination. However, they will be required to pass a school-based internal assessment in the subject to be eligible for the Secondary School Examination Pass Certificate.
In a circular issued on July 10, the CBSE clarified that although the third language, referred to as R3, will not be included in the board examination, students "must clear the school-based R3 assessment" in Class 10 to receive the Class 10 pass certificate.
The board also directed schools to conduct reassessments for students who fail to qualify in the internal assessment before the declaration of the final Class 10 results, ensuring they have another opportunity to meet the qualifying requirement.
Earlier, the CBSE had made the study of three languages compulsory for students from Class IX beginning July 1, while clarifying that there will be no Board examination for the third language (R3) in Class X.
In a circular issued on May 15, the CBSE said that at least two of the three languages must be native Indian languages, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023."With effect from July 1, 2026, for Class IX, the study of three languages (R1, R2, R3) shall be compulsory, with at least two languages being native Indian languages," the circular stated.
