The Supreme Court refused to suspend the implementation of the CBSE's decision to introduce a mandatory trilingual scheme for sixth grade starting this academic year. The Court noted that the CBSE's plan, in its opinion, contributes to achieving the constitutional goal of promoting Hindi and regional languages.
Although the CBSE had previously revoked the requirement for mandatory implementation of the trilingual scheme for ninth grade, a group of senior lawyers challenged this scheme. The bench, comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and judges Joymal Bagchi and Vi Mohana, requested responses from the Central Government and the CBSE.
The Court expressed unwillingness to consider the petition for suspension of the scheme without conducting a detailed hearing. The bench stated: 'The notification promotes the constitutional goal of studying Hindi and other regional languages. The nomenclature of native languages and what constitutes a native language may require review,' and scheduled the next hearing for July 22.
Lawyers representing the new petitioners argued that although children were given a choice of 22 languages, schools could not hire that many teachers or create the necessary infrastructure. They also pointed out that only three books out of 22 languages were available on the NCERT website, contrary to the promise to upload all materials by July 1.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati reported that the government and CBSE would submit their responses within ten days. In response to previous petitions, the Centre stated that the National Education Policy provides for an education system based on Indian ethos, which directly contributes to the sustainable transformation of India, or Bharat, into a just and dynamic knowledge society.
The Centre also emphasized that according to the NEP, the trilingual formula will continue to be applied taking into account constitutional provisions, the aspirations of the people, regions, and the Union, as well as the need to promote multilingualism and national unity. Furthermore, the government added that 'there will be more flexibility in the trilingual formula, and no language will be imposed on any state.'
The Supreme Court refused to suspend the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) three-language policy for the 2026-27 academic year. The court noted that 'learning a language is never in vain,' but agreed to examine the petitions challenging this policy in more detail next week.
The bench, comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V Mohana, issued notices on the new petitions and scheduled a hearing for Wednesday next week. Nevertheless, the court declined to grant any interim stay on the CBSE circulars at this stage.
The petitions question the CBSE's decision to implement the revised three-language policy from the current academic year. Petitioners argue that 9th-grade students are now required to study two Indian languages, forcing many to drop languages they had been studying since 5th grade. Furthermore, they expressed concern that English is being treated as a non-native language under this policy, and pointed to a shortage of teachers and textbooks for several Indian languages.
Senior Advocate Anand Grover, representing one of the petitioners, stated that CBSE does not have the legal authority to issue such circulars. He emphasized: 'The circulars have no legal basis. Only NCERT has the authority, not CBSE. They are imposing languages without providing options. If I want to study Punjabi instead of Sanskrit, there are neither teachers nor books. As a child, I should have the opportunity to learn a language that will provide me with employment.'
Senior Advocate Gopal Sankaranarayanan, arguing in another set of petitions, contended that the policy treats English as a 'non-native' language while simultaneously making Indian languages mandatory. He remarked: 'They took a 300-year-old language and treat English as a non-native language.'
Senior Advocate Shyam Diwan argued that despite CBSE softening some provisions in the June 29 circular, the core issues persist. He pointed out that although the National Education Policy (NEP) provided for implementation by 2030, CBSE has accelerated this process to the current academic year.
Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi highlighted the practical difficulties for students already studying foreign languages. He questioned: 'How can a 9th-grade student who is still studying French be told to take a third language and take an exam in April if they have not passed the internal assessment? Which school in Delhi can provide a teacher who can teach, for example, Tamil?'
Sankaranarayanan, seeking interim relief, stated that schools are unprepared for the policy's implementation. He reported that only three books are available on the NCERT website, not 22. Children are being instructed to give up English and other foreign languages in favor of native ones. He added that it was initially promised that textbooks would be ready by July, and teachers should be ready for 22 languages, which violates the existing situation. He also expressed concern that foreign language teachers might lose their jobs if schools are forced to change the language offering.
Responding to the arguments, Chief Justice Surya Kant uttered the phrase: 'Learning a language is never in vain.' When Sankaranarayanan raised the issue of potential teacher layoffs due to the policy, the CJI replied: 'If they are laid off, we can reinstate them.'
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, representing the Union Government, requested two weeks to file a response, and the bench directed the Centre to submit its reply within 10 days. The court also heard submissions from intervener Fauzia Khan, represented by advocates Rahul Shyam Bhandali and G Priyadarshini, who claimed that the policy negatively affected children's mental health, especially those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
These hearings take place against the backdrop of ongoing litigation regarding the revised CBSE three-language policy introduced under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The board defends its policy by informing the Supreme Court that nearly half of the more than 28,800 affiliated schools already teach two or more Indian languages in 9th grade, and almost all have at least one Indian language teacher. It was also stated that schools were given flexibility in staffing during the transition period.
CBSE clarified that students can continue to study foreign languages such as French, German, or Spanish, either as one of the prescribed languages or as an additional fourth language. One-time concessions were introduced for students already studying two non-Indian languages, and it was announced that NCERT is preparing textbooks for all 22 languages included in the Schedule to support the implementation.
Hindi has been introduced for the first time in the history of the Assam Legislative Assembly. This initiative was implemented under the leadership of the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly, Ranjit Kumar Das.
Starting from July 6, the first day of the XVI Assam Legislative Assembly's budget session, Hindi will be used in addition to Assamese, English, and Bodo in the assembly. Das informed ANI that the decision to include Hindi was made at a meeting of the General Committee of the Assam Legislative Assembly, which took place on Saturday under his chairmanship.
During this meeting, the Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Piduj Hazariaka, Minister Keshab Mahanta, opposition leader Vazed Ali Choudhury, assembly members Kamalakhya Dei Purkayasta, Sabaram Basumatari, Chakradhar Gogoi, and Joy Prakash Das were present. Das emphasized that since Hindi is a Rashtra Bhasha, the decision was made to introduce it, supplementing the previously existing three languages.
Furthermore, he noted that the ALA (Assam Legislative Assembly) channel will be renamed Assam Vidhan Sabha TV starting Monday. The Speaker of the Assam Assembly added that they will try to make Assam Vidhan Sabha TV similar to the Lok Sabha TV and Rajya Sabha TV channels soon.
The Assam Legislative Assembly's budget session will begin on July 6 and last for 21 working days, concluding on July 31. The state budget will be presented on July 10. Currently, 10 new bills have been presented in the session.
Discussing the recent visit of the Prime Minister of Japan to India, the Speaker of the Assam Legislative Assembly stated that Assam will definitely benefit from the Japanese Prime Minister's visit to India. He also mentioned the increase in GST collection in Assam, noting that alongside the efforts of the state government, the credit belongs to the taxpayers of Assam.
