New Delhi, April 3 The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has launched its new curriculum, implementing a phased approach to the three-language formula from Class 6 and a two-level system for mathematics and science for Class 9, starting in the 2026-27 academic session, officials said on Friday.
The three-language formula, mandated under the new National Education Policy (NEP), will be implemented from 2026 for Class 6. The introduction of the two-level system of mandatory standard courses and optional advanced courses in mathematics and science will be done for Class 9.
"Languages will be organized through a structured three-language framework across the stages: R1, R2, and R3. According to the recommendations of the new National Curriculum Framework (NCF), two of these three languages must be native to India. In line with the board's phased implementation of multilingual education, a third language will become mandatory from Class 6, effective from the 2026-27 academic session, ensuring that every student studies at least two Indian languages," a senior board official said.
"While it is desirable that the same scheme of languages is adopted, in exceptional circumstances for students returning from foreign schools where the third language studied until Class 8 or 9 is not available in domestic schools, such students may be exempted according to approved norms. However, such students will be required to study all the subjects as stipulated in the scheme of studies," the official added.
Mathematics and science will see a major structural shift with the introduction of a two-level system starting in the 2026-27 academic session.
"All students will study the standard curriculum and appear for a common 80-mark examination of three hours; those opting for higher proficiency can choose an additional 'advanced' level in either or both subjects. This advanced component will consist of a separate 25-mark, one-hour paper designed to test higher-order thinking skills and deeper conceptual understanding.
"Students must take the standard exam, while the advanced paper remains optional. Importantly, performance in the advanced paper will not be added to the overall aggregate; instead, students scoring 50 per cent or above will have the advanced-level qualification reflected separately in their mark sheet," the official said.
The two-level system (standard and advanced) in mathematics and science will begin in the 2026-27 academic session for Class 9 students, and the first board exams for Class 10 students with this structure will be held in 2028 for that cohort.
