The Supreme Court on July 14 questioned the Central Board of Secondary Education for labeling English a non-native language under the three-language scheme for Class 9 students.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi, part of a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, asked whether English, spoken in India for over 300 years and used officially in at least five states, could be considered an indigenous Indian language. The court noted that the term native carries colonial connotations and is absent from the Constitution and statutes, which instead refer to mother tongue or Indian languages.
The three-language scheme, advanced from a planned 2030 start to the 2026-2027 academic year, requires students to study at least two native Indian languages. Senior advocates appearing for parents and students highlighted shortages of textbooks and teachers, with materials available for only a few of the 22 Scheduled languages.
The CBSE, in a July 13 affidavit, acknowledged potential resource issues but proposed using retired teachers and qualified postgraduates as an interim solution. The National Council of Educational Research and Training stated that learning materials for remaining languages would be available by the end of July 2026. The court issued notice and scheduled the next hearing for July 22.
