Language Policy in Education: Implementation Challenges and Judicial Role

The Supreme Court has frequently intervened in the Central Board of Secondary Education's (CBSE) implementation of the three-language policy, aiming to mitigate its disruptive impact on students. The Court has granted relief to students in Classes 6-9 by making their Class 10 language examination an internal assessment, suggested delaying the policy's full implementation to 2027, and questioned the categorization of English as a foreign language, recognizing its de facto status in India. While the National Education Policy 2020 advocates for two Indian languages, the practical outcome of the current policy is often the removal of other foreign languages, with schools defaulting to Hindi and Sanskrit or regional languages. The Court acknowledges the merit in learning more Indian languages for strengthening federalism but also notes the practical utility of English for global employment.