Joshi Reviews CBSE Amid SC Scrutiny of Three-Language Policy

Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi convened a meeting with senior officials of the Department of School Education and Literacy to review CBSE's academic, examination and administrative functioning, emphasizing efficiency, transparency and support for students and teachers.

The meeting comes as the Supreme Court hears petitions challenging CBSE's *three-language policy* for Class 9 students under the *National Education Policy 2020*. A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant questioned the availability of textbooks and qualified teachers, particularly for languages like Sanskrit, and the potential burden on students.

Petitioners argued that some schools lacked learning material for the additional Indian languages mandated under the policy. The Centre, represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, clarified that Class 9 students would not be held back for failing internal assessments in the new languages, and that 99.19 per cent of schools were already compliant.

The court also assured that students studying foreign languages such as French would not need to discontinue them, reiterating the need to respect all languages while examining the policy's constitutional and practical dimensions.