Supreme Court extends deadline for Centre on three-language policy exemption

The Supreme Court extended its deadline for the Centre to file a response on a significant proposal concerning India's three-language formula in schools. Chief Justice Kant indicated the government would benefit from the additional time to develop substantive policy measures rather than provide a hasty reply.

The proposal under consideration would exempt students currently enrolled in Class 6 from the mandatory requirement to study three languages, marking a potential shift in the longstanding education policy framework. Such an exemption would represent a substantial modification to the existing three-language approach that has governed Indian school curricula for decades.

Chief Justice Kant suggested the Centre leverage the extended timeline to formulate incentive-based mechanisms that would encourage students to voluntarily pursue third-language studies rather than impose mandatory requirements. This approach would seek to balance educational policy with student choice and institutional flexibility.

The three-language formula, which typically encompasses Hindi, English, and a regional or classical language, has been a cornerstone of India's educational structure. Any modifications to this framework require careful consideration of implications for language preservation, educational equity, and regional interests across the country.

The case remains under Supreme Court consideration as the government prepares its response to the proposal during the extended timeframe granted by the Chief Justice.