The Shift Towards Multilingualism
This summarises CBSE's announced direction under NEP 2020 as of this writing — specific rollout years, exact subject codes, and examination mechanics are set by CBSE circulars and can be revised, so confirm the current requirements for your child's class with your school before finalising subject choices. CBSE has been phasing in changes to the language curriculum for Class 6 and Class 9 students, rooted in the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's push to promote native Indian languages and cognitive development through multilingualism.
Understanding R1, R2, and R3
The framework is built around three language slots, commonly referred to as R1, R2, and R3, with the general rule that at least two of these should be native Indian languages. R1 is typically the student's primary language, while R2 and R3 are studied at progressively different levels of proficiency — but exact definitions and requirements can vary by region and school affiliation, so treat this as a general guide rather than the definitive rule for every case.
Reported Direction
Guidance suggests that for Class 10 board exams, R1 and R2 are intended to be externally examined, with the third language (R3) assessed internally by the school — but this examination split is exactly the kind of detail that can change between the time this is written and your child's actual exam year, so verify it directly against the current CBSE circular.
Impact on Foreign Languages
Parents of students currently studying foreign languages like German, French, or Spanish should check with their school on whether these still qualify as one of the three compulsory language slots under the current rules, since guidance here has shifted; where they don't qualify, they may still be available as an optional additional subject alongside the required Indian-language slots.