Telangana Implements Telugu as Mandatory School Subject Amid Education Reform

Telangana mandates Telugu in CBSE, ICSE, IB schools, aligning with NEP 2020. Compulsory from 2025 for Class IX, 2026 for Class X. CBSE introduces two-phase exams to reduce pressure. Union Minister rebuts Tamil Nadu's concerns over NEP's language policy, underlining its educational benefits.

The Telangana Government has mandated the inclusion of Telugu as a compulsory language subject in CBSE, ICSE, IB, and other board-affiliated schools within the state, effective from the academic year 2025-26 for Class IX and 2026-27 for Class X. This decision replaces the standard Telugu curriculum with 'VENNELA' (Simple Telugu) as per CBSE's language code listing.

Simultaneously, CBSE is implementing a significant reform in its examination system by introducing two board exams for Class X from the 2025-26 session. The reform aligns with NEP 2020, aiming to alleviate exam stress by allowing students a second chance to enhance their grades. Feedback on the proposal, already available on the CBSE website, is invited until March 9, 2025.

Contrarily, Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan criticized Tamil Nadu's opposition to NEP 2020, emphasizing its intention to maintain educational standards while respecting regional languages. He noted that Tamil Nadu is losing substantial financial benefits by not embracing PM Shri schools, underscoring the NEP's focus on mother tongue education up to Class VIII.