Under the new education policy, the government has adopted a three-language formula for language learning. This formula requires that you acquire knowledge of your local language. Under the guise of a foreign language, learn English and also acquire a third language. Clearly, this third language should be Hindi, which we declared not as the national language but as a link language or a strong language. Now, it is not even that, but is considered a convenient language for the entire country for work. However, there was considerable opposition to the adoption of Hindi in the political sphere of South Indian states. This was also termed as the dominance of North India over South India.
Strong protests against the adoption of Hindi were also raised in Tamil Nadu. When the new education policy fully came into effect, the CBSE announced on May 15, 2026, that starting July 1, three languages would be compulsory from the ninth grade, and at least two of these would be Indian languages. The third foreign language is English. This has had a significant impact on students enrolling in the ninth grade in 2026–27, as this decision was announced mid-semester, after they had already finalized their subjects and books. The rule changed mid-semester, and a shortage of teachers and books for Indian languages became apparent.
Students refused to bear this additional burden of study. They were told that their exams would not be considered passed until they passed the third language exam. As protests escalated, on June 6, 2026, the CBSE granted a one-time reprieve to the current batch: pass the exams in only two languages, skipping the English and local third language exams. Subsequently, they could take the 10th-grade board exams in 2030–31.
But while hearing a petition in this regard, the Supreme Court orally stated that a third language should not be made compulsory from the ninth grade, as it would be an additional burden on students. The Supreme Court stated that this language learning should begin in the sixth grade instead of the ninth grade, so that students do not face any difficulties in passing their exams after the ninth grade. It also stated that it is not mandatory to study Hindi; you can also study Sanskrit. We believe that sooner or later, everyone will have to acquire knowledge of Hindi, which binds all of India. Good luck, sooner or later.