Supreme Court Observes: Third Language Should Be Introduced in Class 6, Not Class 9

The Supreme Court of India, while hearing petitions challenging the three-language policy, has made significant observations regarding the timing of language instruction. Justice BV Nagarathna emphasized that introducing a third language as late as Class 9 creates undue pressure on students preparing for board exams.

### Key Observations:
* **Timing of Language Introduction:** Justice Nagarathna stated that if a third language is required, the curriculum should commence at the Class 6 level. Delaying it until Class 9 imposes unnecessary stress during a critical academic phase.
* **Tamil Nadu's Stance:** The observation was made during the hearing of an appeal by the Tamil Nadu government, which has historically opposed the establishment of Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalayas (JNVs) in the state, citing concerns over the three-language policy.
* **Clarification on Policy:** During the proceedings, the court noted that the policy does not mandate Hindi as the only third language. Justice Nagarathna suggested that the curriculum should include the state's regional language, English, and a third language of choice.
* **Addressing Language Imposition:** Referring to the National Education Policy (NEP), counsel for the petitioners reiterated that no language should be imposed upon any state. The court further questioned the state's objection, asking if the concern would persist if the third language were Sanskrit.

### Context of the Hearing:
The hearing was specifically focused on the Madras High Court’s directive to facilitate the establishment of JNVs across every district in Tamil Nadu. While the validity of the CBSE language policy was not the direct subject of the petition, the court's comments provide a significant perspective on the pedagogical approach to language learning in the national curriculum.