From the 2026–27 academic session, CBSE schools will introduce a major change in Class 6. Under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and National Curriculum Framework, students will now study three languages - and English could be treated as a “foreign” language.

The rule is clear: at least two of the three languages must be Indian. If a school teaches English in Class 6, it will count as the one foreign language, alongside two Indian languages. If students opt for French or German, they must still study two Indian languages.

This shift won’t stop in middle school. By 2031, Class 10 Board exams may require students to appear for the third language as well — unlike the current two-language system.

CBSE is preparing new learning materials, with nine Indian languages already in focus. The aim? Build multilingual skills, strengthen cultural roots, and promote unity in diversity.

A classroom change today could reshape how India learns tomorrow.