New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to consider implementing its three-language policy for Class 6 students from the next academic session beginning in 2027.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana made the suggestion during a hearing on a plea challenging the policy.

Justice Bagchi said the CBSE should consider deferring implementation of the three-language policy to next academic year "just to comfort the children". Students currently in Class 6 who wish to study three languages from this year could also be allowed to do so, he said.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for the CBSE, said the board would consider the suggestions and return to the court on Wednesday after discussions with officials.

The CBSE had earlier told the court that extending the existing relaxation for students currently in Class 6 could create learning gaps and delay implementation of the policy.

The board has also constituted a committee to facilitate and monitor implementation of the three-language framework in Classes 6 to 10. The committee, formed on September 16, is chaired by Bhagwati Prasad Kalal, Director, Department of School Education and Literacy, Ministry of Education.

The committee will review language options offered by schools, availability of qualified teachers, textbooks and other learning resources, and suggest measures to address implementation challenges.

The policy requires Class 6 students to study two Indian languages, with certain relaxations for students in higher classes who were already studying two non-Indian languages.

The move is part of CBSE's alignment with the National Education Policy-2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education-2023.

The Supreme Court had agreed in May to examine a plea challenging the policy and sought responses from the Centre, CBSE and NCERT.