SC voices concern over CBSEs third language policy from Class 9 onwards

new delhi: the supreme court on thursday voiced concern over the introduction of a third language from class 9 under the cbse curriculum, observing that it could increase students' stress and suggesting it be introduced in class 5 or class 6 instead.a bench of justices b v nagarathna and r mahadevan orally asked the centre not to introduce a third language from class 9."please don't have a third language from class 9 level. it would unnecessarily increase the stress level of students. if you want to introduce a new language, then please do it at class 5 or class 6 level, but not at class 9 level," justice nagarathna observed, asking the centre's counsel to convey the court's views to the government.the remarks came during the hearing of the tamil nadu government's plea challenging a madras high court order directing the establishment of jawahar navodaya vidyalayas (jnvs) in every district of the state.tamil nadu has opposed the setting up of jnvs, citing concerns over the three-language policy followed in these schools.the bench clarified that it was not directly examining the cbse's new language policy but was commenting on the stage at which a third language should be introduced.another supreme court bench headed by chief justice surya kant is already hearing petitions challenging the cbse policy and has recently declined to stay the notification.during the hearing, the tamil nadu government said its objection related to the three-language policy. justice nagarathna observed that the policy did not mandate hindi as the third language."the state language has to be taught, english has to be taught and any third language. it doesn't say hindi," she remarked.when the state said the third language becomes compulsory only from class 9, justice nagarathna reiterated that introducing a new language at that stage was inappropriate and suggested it should begin in middle school.recalling her school days, she said students had the option of learning kannada, hindi or sanskrit as a third language from middle school, adding that "the earlier, the better."the judge also advised the tamil nadu government not to reject central schemes solely because they originate from the union government.the bench noted that discussions between the centre and the state on establishing navodaya schools were continuing and said it would examine the merits only if the talks failed.the matter has been posted for further hearing on august 11.the tamil nadu government has challenged a 2017 madras high court order directing the establishment of a jawahar navodaya vidyalaya in every district of the state. the supreme court had stayed the order in 2017 and, in december 2025, directed the state to identify suitable land while asking the centre and the state to hold discussions on the issue.