CBSE's Three-Language Policy Boosts Indian Languages in Higher Education

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has initiated the implementation of its three-language policy as part of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, specifically targeting students in Class 9. This new policy mandates that students learn three languages: R1 (the first language), R2 (the second language), and R3 (the third language), with the stipulation that at least two of these languages must be native Indian languages. English is classified as a foreign language within this framework, and it can only be chosen as R3 or as an additional fourth language. The flexibility of language selection allows students to make choices that reflect their regional backgrounds. As the CBSE rolls out this policy, the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) 2023-24 provides valuable insights into the language preferences of students engaged in higher education across the nation.

The AISHE 2023-24 report reveals a significant trend: Indian languages are favored over foreign languages among students pursuing higher education. At the undergraduate level, a total of 429,662 students have enrolled in programs focusing on Indian languages, which is nearly double the 224,924 students enrolled in foreign language programs. This preference continues at the postgraduate level, where 449,953 students are studying Indian languages compared to 266,039 who are opting for foreign languages. The trend is also evident at the PhD level, with 17,395 students pursuing Indian languages, while 9,797 are engaged in foreign language studies. Hindi stands out as the most popular Indian language among postgraduate students, boasting 220,305 enrollments, followed by Bengali, Sanskrit, and Urdu. In contrast, English leads the foreign language category with 257,375 enrollments, followed by French, German, and Spanish.