New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) announced changes to its curriculum starting the 2026–27 academic session, affecting millions of students across India. The reforms will impact how students learn languages, mathematics, and science, making education more flexible and skill-focused.

Three-language formula: Mandatory from Class 6

From Class 6, students will be required to study three languages under a structured R1, R2, R3 framework. According to the board, at least two of these languages must be native Indian languages, aligning with recommendations from the National Education Policy (NEP).

The third language will now be mandatory from Class 6, ensuring that every student learns at least two Indian languages.

Students returning from foreign schools, where the previously studied third language is unavailable, may be exempted, but they must continue to meet the overall subject requirements.

This change emphasises multilingual learning, aiming to strengthen cultural knowledge while building language skills from an early age.

Two-level system for Mathematics and Science

From Class 9, CBSE will introduce a two-level structure in mathematics and science:

Standard Level: All students will take the standard curriculum and sit for an 80-mark, 3-hour exam.

Advanced Level (Optional): Students seeking higher proficiency can opt for an additional 25-mark, 1-hour paper to test advanced conceptual understanding and higher-order thinking skills.

Performance in the advanced paper will not be added to the overall aggregate, but students scoring 50% or above will have the advanced qualification reflected separately in their mark sheet.

This system provides students with the flexibility to challenge themselves academically without impacting their overall results.

Key points for students

Students will now handle more languages and flexible subject levels, requiring careful planning of study schedules.

The optional advanced papers allow motivated students to demonstrate deeper understanding in maths and science.

The first board exams under this two-level system will be for Class 10 in 2028.

With PTI inputs