After CBSE announced a 3-language policy for students, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has clarified to Times of India a key provision — the requirement of studying two Indian languages. Pradhan said that this requirement will not be retrospectively applied to students already in Grades 7, 8 and 9 in CBSE schools. Instead, this will be applied prospectively from Grade 6, sources told ANI. Students currently in these grades will be allowed to continue with the same language combination, even if they have opted for foreign languages, till Grade 10, Indian media reported. In May, CBSE issued a circular making the study of three languages compulsory for students from Grade 9 starting July 1, 2026. Students and parents expressed surprise, with many.