New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday exempted the current batch of Class 10 students from its three-language policy and announced a one-time relaxation for students currently studying in Class 9.

Under the relaxation, students in the current Class 9 batch (2026-27) will be required to study three languages but may continue with two foreign languages along with one Indian language.

The move comes more than a month after the CBSE made three-language learning compulsory for students entering Class 9 from July 1, requiring them to study at least two Indian languages in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The decision had prompted legal challenges from several students and parents.

CBSE Director (Academics) Praggya M Singh said the present batch of Class 10 students would not come under the revised language policy.

She also clarified that students currently studying in Classes 7 to 9 would not have to appear for a Board examination in the third language when they reach Class 10.

"As a one-time relaxation, students who are already in Class 9 during 2026-27 may continue with two non-native (foreign) languages and need to add one Indian language as the third language," Singh said.

In April, the board had announced the phased implementation of the three-language formula from Class 6 and the introduction of a two-level system for Mathematics and Science from the 2026-27 academic session.

Under the new framework, Mathematics and Science will have two levels -- mandatory standard and optional advanced. All students will take a common 80-mark examination, while those opting for the advanced level will appear for an additional paper designed to assess higher-order conceptual understanding.

The CBSE had earlier said the first Class 10 Board examination under the two-level system would be held in 2028 for students entering Class 9 in the 2026-27 academic session.

On May 15, the board had clarified that students opting for a foreign language could do so only as a third language after studying two Indian languages or as an additional fourth language.