The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has issued an urgent directive to all affiliated schools to implement the compulsory third language (R3) for Class 6 students starting with the current 2026-27 academic session.
In a circular dated April 9, the Board instructed schools to begin instruction “immediately” using locally available resources and books while waiting for official NCERT textbooks. This move operationalizes the reforms first introduced in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework (NCF-SE) 2023.
Understanding the R1, R2, and R3 Hierarchy
Under the new scheme of studies, CBSE has structured language learning into three distinct levels. Schools must ensure that at least two of the three languages chosen are native to India.
| Level | Designation | Description | Assessment Type |
| R1 | Language 1 | Main or strongest language studied at a high level. | Board Examination |
| R2 | Language 2 | A different language studied at a functional level. | Board Examination |
| R3 | Language 3 | The newly compulsory third language from Class 6–10. | School-based Internal Assessment |
Crucial Rule: A student cannot opt for the same language at more than one level. If English is chosen as R1, it cannot be chosen as R2 or R3.
Timeline for Implementation
The Class 6 students of the current 2026-27 session will be the pioneer cohort for this reform. They will continue studying this third language through Class 10.
2026-27: Mandatory introduction in Class 6.
2030-31: This cohort reaches Class 10.
2031: First year of R3 assessment at the Class 10 level (Internal only).
Instructions for Schools and Regional Offices
CBSE has placed a heavy emphasis on administrative compliance to ensure the rollout is tracked accurately:
Selection & Notification: Schools must finalize their R3 language options and notify their respective Regional Offices immediately.
Digital Updates: Schools must update their language offerings on the OASIS (Online Affiliated School Information System) portal.
Long-term Commitment: A school can only offer R3 options in Classes 9 and 10 that were originally introduced in Class 6.
Resource Management: Until official NCERT textbooks for specific levels are released, schools are encouraged to use local materials and books that align with the curriculum’s learning goals.
Flexibility in Choice
The Board offers a list of 44 languages, including English, Hindi, and various regional Indian languages like Marathi, Punjabi, Bengali, and Tamil, as well as classical languages like Sanskrit. While R1 and R2 remain subject to rigorous Board Exams, R3 will be evaluated using rubrics provided by CBSE for internal school grading, reducing the high-stakes pressure on students for the third language.