The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday issued a fresh circular easing the transition to its upcoming language structure under the National Education Policy (NEP). The board has announced critical one-time exemptions for students currently enrolled in intermediate classes to shield them from sudden academic disruption.

Meanwhile, in a major regional policy move, the Maharashtra state government has declared that learning Marathi will now be strictly mandatory for all students from Classes 1 to 10 across all educational boards operating within the state.

One-Time Relief Roadmap for Current CBSE Batches

The latest guidelines clarify the application of the upcoming three-language policy, which mandates studying at least two native Indian languages. Following pushback and legal petitions from parents and student groups, CBSE Director (Academics) Praggya M Singh announced transitional safeguards:

CBSE Implementation Adjustments:

├── Current Class 10 Batch : Fully Exempted from the revised 3-language rule.

├── Current Class 9 Batch  : Allowed to continue with 2 foreign languages + 1 Indian language.

└── Classes 7 to 9 Batches : No mandatory 3rd-language Board Examination when reaching Class 10.

The relaxation aims to provide a buffer for students who have already planned their academic modules under the previous framework. This comes on the heels of the board's earlier notification stating that the revised structure would become mandatory for Class 9 students starting July 1.

Core Structure: Dual-Level Math and Science from 2026-27

The board re-emphasized that the broader phased implementation of the NEP policy begins from Class 6, along with a newly designed dual-level assessment matrix for core subjects starting this academic cycle ($2026-27$).

The first Class 10 board examinations under this dual-tiered evaluation method will take place in 2028 for the batch entering Class 9 this year. Additionally, CBSE clarified that foreign languages can only be picked either as a third language (after fulfilling the two native Indian languages condition) or as an extra fourth elective.

Maharashtra Enforcement: Marathi Mandatory Across All Boards

In a concurrent development, Maharashtra Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced that Marathi will be enforced as a compulsory subject from Classes 1 to 10 across every school in the state, irrespective of its central or international board affiliation.

"The state government is fully committed to the preservation, promotion, and propagation of the Marathi language and the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Minister Bhuse stated during the announcement ahead of the state assembly's Monsoon Session.

The state education department is launching an inspection campaign to audit classrooms. School administrations found violating the directive or failing to include Marathi in their regular curriculum will face strict legal and institutional penalties.