Shillong, May 23: Khasi and Garo have officially been included in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) with the introduction of a third language (R3) in the 2026–27 academic session.
For Meghalaya, this initiative is expected to strengthen mother-tongue education and provide greater academic recognition to Khasi and Garo within India’s national school system.
CBSE said the rollout will follow a phased implementation model and a structured R1, R2 and R3 framework that allows affiliated schools the flexibility to choose languages from the approved list. The initiative is aimed at strengthening multilingual education and ensuring that every learner studies at least two native Indian languages, supporting the broader goal of promoting India’s linguistic diversity.
Chief Minister Conrad Sangma said the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the CBSE’s three-language framework is a significant decision that represents a major milestone for inclusive education in Meghalaya and the preservation of its rich cultural heritage.
Expressing gratitude to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, Sangma said the Centre’s decision would benefit students, reduce challenges faced by schools and support language teachers across Meghalaya.
“On behalf of the people of Meghalaya, I express heartfelt gratitude to Hon’ble Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan Ji for his swift intervention in enabling the inclusion of Khasi and Garo languages in the CBSE R3 framework,” the chief minister said on social media.
“This important step will benefit students, ease challenges for schools, support language teachers, and strengthen the preservation of Meghalaya’s rich linguistic heritage,” he said.
Sangma said the decision reflected a collective commitment towards building an inclusive education system that respects and promotes linguistic diversity.
“More than a milestone, this reflects our shared commitment to an inclusive education system that respects every linguistic identity,” he said.
