Supreme Court Declines Interim Stay on CBSE Three-Language Policy

The Supreme Court of India has declined to grant an interim stay on the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) revised three-language policy, which is set to be implemented for the 2026-27 academic year. The policy, which mandates that students from Class 6 onwards must study at least two Indian languages, has faced legal challenges from various petitioners. The primary grounds for these challenges include concerns over academic choice, the potential burden on students, and questions regarding the constitutional validity of such a mandate in a diverse federal structure. During the proceedings, the bench directed the Union government to file a detailed response within two weeks. The petitioners argue that the policy may infringe upon the autonomy of educational institutions and the freedom of choice for students and parents. Conversely, proponents of the policy suggest that it aligns with the broader objectives of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasizes the promotion of Indian languages to foster cultural integration and linguistic diversity among the youth.