Digvijaya Singh writes to PM Modi, seeks hold on CBSE's 3-Language Policy

Digvijaya Singh has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to halt CBSE's mid-session three-language rollout for Class IX. He said the move could disrupt schools and students without teachers, textbooks or transition time.

In Short

• Digvijaya Singh urges PM Modi to halt mid-session CBSE three-language policy for Class IX.
• Singh highlights lack of teachers, textbooks, and transition time causing disruption.
• Concerns raised over language choice and Sanskrit teacher shortage in some regions.

Senior Congress leader Digvijaya Singh has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising concerns over the mandatory implementation of the CBSE's three-language policy for Class IX students in the middle of the academic session and urging the Centre to put the move on hold.

Singh, who also serves as the chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Education, Women, Children, Youth and Sports, said the sudden rollout of the policy without adequate teachers, textbooks, or sufficient transition time could cause significant disruption. He warned that the situation could be "not unlike the chaos witnessed during the hasty implementation of CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system".

"I am forwarding herewith a representation received from a group of concerned parents of CBSE Class IX students, opposing the mandatory implementation of the three-language policy in the current mid-session."

PARENTS RAISE CONCERNS OVER MID-SESSION ROLLOUT

In the letter, the senior Congress member wrote, “."Having gone through the representation, I find the concerns raised to be genuine and deserving of immediate attention. The sudden enforcement of this policy mid-session -- without adequate teachers, textbooks, or transition time is likely to create serious disruption, not unlike the chaos witnessed during the hasty implementation of CBSE's On-Screen Marking (OSM) system, which adversely impacted lakhs of students across the country.”

CBSE ACCUSED OF OVERRIDING ITS OWN DECISION

Further, Singh said it had been brought to his attention that the CBSE's Governing Body, at its meeting in December 2025, had ratified the Curriculum Committee's recommendation that 'schools continue with the existing Scheme of Studies, especially with regard to languages, until the release of graded language textbooks by NCERT.

Despite its own Governing Body's decision, the CBSE issued a circular on May 15, 2026, directing schools to implement third-language instruction for Grade IX students from July 1, 2026, the Rajya Sabha MP said.

The NCERT has not yet released graded language textbooks and, therefore, the CBSE has recommended the use of NCERT's Grade 6 textbooks, he added.

"It is not clear how and why the CBSE has so evidently overturned its Governing Body's decision, and done so in a manner that threatens the academic planning of thousands of schools across the country," Singh said.

CONCERNS OVER LANGUAGE CHOICE AND TEACHER SHORTAGE

The senior Congress leader argued that the situation is particularly untenable for students in the southern and northeastern states, where Hindi is not widely spoken, and local tribal languages may not feature in the CBSE's recognised language list.

Sanskrit has emerged as a popular third-language choice for many schools. However, there is a severe shortage of qualified Sanskrit teachers and appropriate textbooks, a situation that would defeat the very purpose of promoting the language, he said.

"Rising above all other considerations, my respectful recommendation is that the implementation of this policy for current Class IX students be put on hold immediately," Singh said in his letter dated June 5.

"I understand that the matter is sub-judice but that the verdict of the honourable Court is only due on 15th July, 2026. This is after the date on which schools are meant to be implementing the instruction of the third language (i.e., 1st July 2026), he said."Therefore, I earnestly hope that the matter will receive your urgent and sympathetic consideration in the interest of the millions of students whose academic futures depend on sound and well-prepared policy decisions," the Congress leader said.

SINGH ALSO RAISED NEET-UG PAPER LEAK ISSUE

Singh had also written to Prime Minister Modi a few days earlier regarding the NEET-UG paper leak issue, urging the government to issue a white paper documenting instances of paper leaks or irregularities in NTA-conducted examinations over the past eight years and the action taken in each case.

Singh had said that at a time when lakhs of students are under immense pressure, it is critical to reinforce their faith in the examination system.

The NEET (UG) 2026 examination, conducted by the NTA on May 3, was cancelled on May 12 following allegations of a paper leak, which are currently being investigated by the CBI. A re-examination has been scheduled for June 21.

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