New Delhi: Students in Class 9 will have to compulsorily take up three languages (R1, R2 and R3) including two Indian languages from the ongoing 2026-27 academic session, the Central Board of Secondary Education announced on Saturday citing the National Education Policy 2020.The CBSE has, however, clarified that R3 or the third language will not be a Board exam format in Class X but be tested internally at school level to'keep the focus on learning' and reduce and 'undue pressure' on students. The R3 performance, however, will be reflected in the Class X Board certificate, the CBSE said in its mid-session announcement.Also Read: CBSE topper Bhavya Ranjan, who got perfect 100 in four subjects, shares her unique success formula: 'Instead of overthinking...'The Board has further underlined that ' no student will be barred from appearing in the Class X Board examinations due to R3'.The CBSE said that students who wish to study a foreign language may do so as the third language but 'only if the other two languages are native Indian languages' or as an additional 'fourth language'.The shift to the three-language formula with two Indian languages will come into effect from July 1, 2026, the CBSE said in a May 15 circular to heads of all CBSE affiliated schools.The Board said that given that the academic session has begun in April, a 'transitional approach' is being adopted to align its Scheme of Studies with the NCERT syllabus.Detailed guidelines on academic material for R3 will be made available by June 15 while textbooks for the same- for 19 Scheduled Languages- will come in by July 1, the CBSE has said also exhorting schools to consider NCERT material and local literary material in the interim. Schools have also been allowed some flexibility in organising teaching capacities for the same, given the mid-session announcement.