Digital India, under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), is scheduled to organise a special workshop on the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, 2023, for officers of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) on September 3, 2026.

The workshop, listed on the official Digital India events calendar as “DPDP Act Workshop for NCERT Officers,” is part of ongoing efforts to build awareness around India's digital personal data protection framework among government institutions. 

Focus on Digital Personal Data Protection

The workshop will focus on the provisions and implications of the DPDP Act, 2023, which establishes a legal framework for the processing of digital personal data. The legislation seeks to recognise individuals' rights over their personal data while allowing lawful processing of data for legitimate purposes.

For public institutions handling information related to students, teachers, employees and other stakeholders, awareness of data protection requirements has become increasingly important as administrative and educational services continue to move to digital platforms.

NCERT Officers to Attend

The programme is specifically listed for NCERT officers, indicating a focus on strengthening institutional understanding of data protection obligations within the education sector.

NCERT, as a national institution involved in school education, curriculum development, academic research and educational resources, operates in an environment where digital information and technology-based services play an important role.

Awareness and Capacity Building

Workshops on the DPDP Act are part of a wider awareness and capacity-building effort around India's data protection framework. Digital India has also listed similar programmes for officials of other government institutions.

An earlier Digital India update, for example, reported an awareness session on the DPDP Act for a batch of NCERT participants, conducted by the National e-Governance Division (NeGD) under MeitY. 

DPDP Rules and Implementation

The Digital Personal Data Protection Act was enacted in August 2023. MeitY subsequently notified the Digital Personal Data Protection Rules, 2025 on November 14, 2025, along with an enforcement timeline and other related measures. 

The rules provide the operational framework for implementing the provisions of the Act and are intended to support responsible handling of personal data while strengthening individuals' rights and trust in India's digital ecosystem.

Workshop Scheduled for September 3

According to the Digital India events calendar, the DPDP Act Workshop for NCERT Officers will take place on September 3, 2026. The programme is listed alongside other Digital India events scheduled during the month. 

The workshop is expected to provide participating NCERT officials with greater awareness of the data protection framework and its relevance to institutional handling of digital personal information.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified that students who fail the school-based Third Language (R3) assessment in Class 9 will still be promoted to Class 10. However, they must clear the internal Third Language assessment in Class 10 to become eligible for the Secondary School Examination Pass Certificate under the new three-language policy.

The clarification was issued through a circular dated July 10 as part of the phased implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. The revised framework will apply to students currently studying in Class 9 during the 2026–27 academic session, who will appear for their Class 10 examinations in 2027–28.

Internal Assessment Mandatory

According to the CBSE, the Third Language (R3) will not be included in the Class 10 board examination. Instead, it will be evaluated through an internal, school-based assessment.

Students who fail the R3 assessment in Class 9 will not be held back and can move to Class 10. However, they must successfully pass the internal assessment during Class 10 to receive the CBSE Secondary School Examination Pass Certificate.

To provide additional support, the board has also introduced a one-time re-assessment opportunity for students who do not clear the internal assessment before the declaration of Class 10 results.

Three-Language Formula Continues

CBSE said the existing three-language structure will remain applicable for students enrolled in Class 9 in the 2026–27 academic session. Students will study three languages, with at least two of them being Bharatiya Bhashas, subject to prescribed exemptions and relaxations.

The board also clarified that students will continue with the same combination of three languages they studied in Class 8, ensuring continuity in language learning without requiring a fresh selection at the secondary level.

Examples of Bharatiya Bhashas include Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Odia and Assamese, while English, French, German, Arabic and Spanish remain available as non-Indian language options.

No Change for Current Class 10 Batch

CBSE has clarified that students currently studying in Class 10 during the 2026–27 academic session will not be affected by the revised policy. They will continue under the existing two-language system and will not be required to study or appear for a third language.

The revised assessment framework will come into effect only when the present Class 9 batch reaches Class 10 in the 2027–28 academic session.

Learning Resources Released

To facilitate implementation, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has uploaded learning resources for the Third Language (R3) on its official platform. These materials are intended to help schools, teachers and students prepare for the new school-based assessment system.

CBSE reiterated that the Third Language assessment will remain entirely school-based and will not form part of the external board examination, while making it mandatory for students to qualify in order to receive the final Class 10 pass certificate.

 The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has clarified that students who fail the Third Language (R3) in Class 9 will still be promoted to Class 10, but they must clear the school-based assessment in Class 10 to receive the Secondary School Examination Pass Certificate.

The clarification comes through a CBSE circular issued on July 10, outlining the implementation of the revised three-language policy for students entering Class 9 in the 2026–27 academic session.

Under the new framework, the third language will not form part of the Class 10 board examination when this batch appears for the board exams in 2027–28. However, passing the internal assessment will remain mandatory for certification.

One Re-Assessment Opportunity

CBSE stated that students who do not clear the school-based Third Language (R3) assessment in Class 10 will be provided one additional re-assessment opportunity before the declaration of board examination results.

Students promoted from Class 9 despite failing the third language will also have to successfully complete the internal assessment in Class 10 to become eligible for the final pass certificate.

Three-Language Formula Continues

The board has confirmed that students enrolling in Class 9 during the 2026–27 academic year will continue to study three languages, with at least two being Bharatiya Bhashas, subject to the exemptions and relaxations already notified.

CBSE has also clarified that the same three-language combination studied in Class 8 will continue in Class 9, ensuring continuity in language learning.

Among the recognised Bharatiya Bhashas are Hindi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Bengali, Punjabi, Gujarati, Odia and Assamese. Non-Indian language options include English, French, German, Arabic and Spanish.

Internal Assessment Only

The board reiterated that the Third Language (R3) will be assessed only through school-based internal evaluation and will not be included in the Class 10 CBSE board examination for the current Class 9 batch appearing in 2027–28.

To facilitate implementation, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT) has uploaded learning resources for R3 languages on its official platform for schools and students.

No Change For Current Class 10 Batch

CBSE clarified that students currently studying in Class 10 during the 2026–27 academic session will continue under the existing two-language system.

This batch will neither be required to study nor appear for a third language, as the revised policy will apply only to students entering Class 9 from the 2026–27 session onward.

Implementation Framework

The board said the assessment structure notified for Class 9 (2026–27) and Class 10 (2027–28) will govern the implementation of the revised language policy for the affected batches.

The clarification aims to ensure uniform implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP)-aligned language framework while providing flexibility through school-based evaluation rather than introducing an additional board examination.

The revised textbook, titled Exploring Society: India and Beyond, had already drawn public attention in recent weeks following controversy over a chapter that referred to corruption in the judiciary. That section was subsequently withdrawn after objections were raised, and NCERT recalled both digital and printed copies before issuing the updated edition.

Among the most discussed changes in the new version is the revised description of the Indian National Congress's position on Partition in 1947. The chapter India’s Long Road to Independence now states that Partition was widely opposed by the Congress and that whether accepting Partition was the only available option remains a matter of historical debate.

The revised text no longer includes an earlier passage that suggested Congress leaders were compelled to accept Partition amid widespread communal violence in the subcontinent.

In the previous edition, the textbook had stated that although Mahatma Gandhi and most Congress leaders opposed Partition, they ultimately accepted it as the only viable solution. The updated version presents the issue with greater emphasis on ongoing historical discussions surrounding the circumstances that led to the decision.

Another notable addition is the inclusion of a reference to Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, commonly known as Veer Savarkar. The revised text mentions that Savarkar had advocated the idea of Swaraj in 1925, expanding the discussion on demands for complete independence during the freedom struggle.

The change comes as debates over the representation of historical personalities in school textbooks continue to attract attention from academics, political groups and education experts.

The revised edition has also altered content related to World War II and the activities of Subhas Chandra Bose. References to Adolf Hitler and Nazi ideology that appeared in the earlier version have been removed.

Previously, the textbook had explained that Bose sought support from Hitler while forming military efforts against British rule and described the German leader’s racist Nazi ideology and expansionist ambitions that contributed to World War II.

In the updated version, the discussion has been shortened. It now states that Bose sought support from forces opposed to British rule, without specifically mentioning Hitler or Nazi ideology.

The revisions come after NCERT faced scrutiny over content included in the earlier edition. Following concerns raised before the Supreme Court regarding the chapter on judicial corruption, the council apologised and withdrew copies of the textbook pending review and correction.

The newly released edition contains additional editorial changes as part of that review process.

There have also been modifications to the list of contributors associated with the textbook. While the earlier version carried the names of 51 contributors, the revised edition lists 48. Reports indicate that the names of Michel Danino, Suparna Diwakar and Alok Prasanna Kumar are no longer included among the contributors to the updated textbook.

The changes have reignited discussions about how Indian history is presented in school curricula, particularly on subjects such as Partition, the freedom movement and the role of historical figures. Education experts say textbook revisions often generate debate because they shape how future generations understand major national events.

NCERT has not indicated whether further revisions are planned, but the latest update reflects the continuing effort to align school textbooks with the framework being implemented under the National Education Policy.