New Delhi, May 16 -- The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Friday issued a circular mandating that students from Class IX onwards must study three languages from July 1.

However, it clarified that the third language (R3) will not be included as a Board examination subject in Class X. The board stated that at least two of the three languages must be Indian languages, in accordance with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023, according to ANI.

"With effect from July 1, 2026, for Class IX, the study of three languages (R1, R2, R3) shall be compulsory, with at least two languages being native Indian languages," the circular read.

However, the CBSE said that stud...