The Central Board of Secondary education (CBSE) has issued a fresh directive asking all affiliated schools to finalize the mandatory third language (R3) for Class 6 students by May 31, 2026 .
This is part of the new three-language policy under NEP 2020, which will be implemented from the 2026-27 academic year.
What is the May 31 Deadline?
All CBSE schools must upload and confirm the Class 6 third language (R3)
️ Submission must be done through the official CBSE/OASIS portal
⚠️ Schools must also correct any incorrect or non-compliant language selections
⛔ This is a final deadline for compliance
CBSE has warned that failure to comply may lead to strict monitoring and action from regional offices.
What is the Third language Rule?
From Class 6 onwards:
Students must study 3 languages (R1, R2, R3)
At least 2 languages must be indian languages
The third language becomes mandatory from 2026-27 batch
Which Languages Can Schools Choose?
Most schools are selecting from:
Hindi
Sanskrit
Tamil
Bengali
Marathi
Punjabi
Many schools are reducing or removing foreign languages like French and German for R3 due to new guidelines.
Why CBSE Set This Deadline
CBSE is pushing schools to:
Ensure uniform implementation across India
Align with National Curriculum Framework (NCF 2023)
Promote Indian languages and multilingual learning
Avoid delays in rollout for the 2026-27 academic session
What Happens Next?
Selected third language will continue till higher classes
Students will study all 3 languages through Class 10
Schools must prepare textbooks and teacher allocation accordingly
⚠️ Why This Matters for parents & Students
Language choice in Class 6 is now long-term (not changeable easily later)
It will affect future board exam preparation
Schools are finalizing options quickly, so students may not have many choices later
✨ Conclusion
The CBSE's May 31 deadline is a key step in rolling out the new mandatory three-language system in Class 6. Schools must finalize their language mapping on time to ensure a smooth transition for the 2026-27 academic year.
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Source: India Herald - Kokila Chokkanathan