'Put It On Hold': Digvijaya Singh Writes to PM Narendra Modi Seeking Halt to CBSE's Mandatory 3-Language Policy for Class 9 Students

Senior Congress leader and Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Digvijaya Singh, has written a formal letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging an immediate halt to the mandatory implementation of the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) new three-language policy for Class IX students. The policy, which requires secondary school students to study three languages-including at least two native Indian languages-was slated to take effect from July 1, 2026. Singh’s intervention follows growing anxiety among students, parents, and educators over the timing and logistical hurdles of the rollout.

In his letter, the veteran lawmaker flagged significant concerns regarding the "mid-session" enforcement of the rule. He emphasized that forcing a structural curriculum change after the academic year has already commenced places an unfair psychological and academic burden on students. The policy stems from the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 and the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE) 2023. While the guidelines aim to promote national integration and multilingualism, critics argue that the implementation strategy lacks adequate transition planning. NEET-UG Re-Exam Will Succeed as PM Narendra Modi Is Monitoring It: Digvijaya Singh.

A primary operational challenge highlighted by educators is the acute shortage of qualified language teachers required to support the mandate. The CBSE had previously suggested interim measures, such as sharing teaching resources between schools, deploying virtual learning tools, or hiring retired teachers to fill the gap. Furthermore, due to a lack of immediate resource materials, the board directed that Class IX students temporarily use Class VI textbooks for their third language. Educational experts argue that these makeshift arrangements compromise the quality of learning.

The policy has also faced pushback regarding students who have invested years into studying foreign languages. Under the new guidelines, a foreign language can only be chosen as a third language if the first two are native Indian languages, or as an optional fourth subject, disrupting established academic tracks. The matter has reached the highest legal channels. The Supreme Court of India recently agreed to examine the validity of the three-language mandate, seeking a comprehensive response from the Central Government, CBSE, and NCERT, though it declined to issue an immediate stay on the policy. CBSE OSM System Row: Class 12 Student Sarthak Sidhant Appears Before Parliamentary Panel, Flags Alleged Tender Irregularities (Watch Video).

Digvijaya Singh Urges PM Modi to Pause CBSE’s Three-Language Policy

The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, under Digvijaya Singh, has concurrently been reviewing the policy's structural impact alongside senior officials from the Ministry of Education and the CBSE to safeguard student welfare.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jun 07, 2026 09:52 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).