September 02, 2026

It has been reported that the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is proposing a significant revamp of the academic structure for secondary and higher secondary education. Under the new guidelines, students will be mandated to study three languages until Class X, out of which at least two must be native Indian languages, while at the higher secondary level, they will have to study two languages instead of one, with at least one being a native Indian language.

As for subjects, secondary-level students will need to clear 10 subjects instead of five now. Similarly, in high school they will have to clear six subjects instead of five. This shift aligns with the objectives outlined in the National Education Policy (NEP) of 2020, which seeks to eliminate the rigid divide between academic and extracurricular streams. A credit bank system is being introduced to acknowledge and reward skills acquired outside the conventional classroom setting. While this approach by the CBSE will allow students to integrate academic training with vocational education and thereby put a value on hands-on training (which has been largely ignored till now leading to skill-deficit among high school graduates), the examination authority must ensure this does not put additional pressure on already overburdened students.

Numerous studies have emphasized that proficiency in multiple languages enhances learning outcomes and aids in skill acquisition. However, the adoption of the three-language formula remains a contentious issue, particularly in South India, marked by a history of language-based sub-nationalism. Notably, the Tamil Nadu government has expressed opposition to the NEP, despite the policy not mandating non-Hindi-speaking states to include the language in school curricula. While the three language formula could be a game changer in binding the nation (if students learn English, the local language and one other native Indian language – not necessarily Hindi, at secondary level), care must be taken to ensure that old fault lines are not reopened and all states must be brought on board to avoid confrontations.