CBSE Class 10: Third-Language Test Mandatory for Pass Certificate
According to a CBSE circular issued on July 10, the new rule will come into effect from the next academic session.
The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has introduced a significant new rule for Class 10 students. Under the revised policy, students will be required to pass the school-level R3 (Third Language) assessment to receive their Class 10 Pass Certificate.
According to a CBSE circular issued on July 10, the new rule will come into effect from the next academic session. However, for students who enter Class 10 in the 2027–28 academic year, the third language will not be a part of the CBSE board examination. Instead, it will be assessed through a school-based internal evaluation.
Second Chance for Students Who Fail:
Students who fail the R3 (Third Language) assessment will be given another opportunity to clear it through a school-level re-assessment before the declaration of the CBSE Class 10 board examination results.
The same three-language combination studied in Class 8 will continue in Class 9, and one of these languages will be designated as the R3 language. To support students and schools, NCERT has already made R3 language learning resources available on its official website.
New Language Rules for Upcoming Batches:
For Class 9 Students (Academic Year 2026–27)
Every student must study three languages.
Except in cases where exemptions apply, at least two of the three languages must be Indian languages (Bhartiya Bhashas).
Examples of Indian languages include Kannada, Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Bengali, and others. Languages such as English, French, and German are treated as non-Indian languages for this purpose.
For Current Class 10 Students (Academic Year 2026–27):
There will be no change for students who are currently in Class 10. They will continue under the existing system of studying two languages, and no third language requirement will apply to them.
School-Level Internal Assessment Only:
CBSE has clarified that the third language (R3) will be evaluated only through a school-level internal assessment. This rule will apply to students studying in Class 9 during the 2026–27 academic year, who will move to Class 10 in 2027–28.
Importantly, there will be no separate CBSE board examination for the third language. Students will receive their Class 10 Pass Certificate only after successfully clearing the school-level R3 assessment.
