Delhi Schools to Make Vocational Education, Third Language Mandatory for Class 9

New Delhi, August 18, 2026: Delhi schools will introduce vocational education and a third language as compulsory components for Class 9 students from the 2026-27 academic session, following a revised examination and promotion framework issued by the Directorate of Education.

Under the new system, Class 9 students will have six main subjects: Language-1, Language-2, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and Vocational Education, or Kaushal Vikas. The vocational education component aims to provide students with early exposure to skill-based learning and employability skills.

A third language, designated R3, will also become mandatory. Students will continue with the three-language combination studied in Class 8, with one language being selected as the third language.

The R3 subject will be assessed at the school level and treated as a qualifying subject. The marksheet will record students as either ‘qualified’ or ‘not qualified’.

Students who do not qualify in the third language in Class 9 may still be promoted to Class 10 if they meet the other promotion requirements. However, they will have to clear the R3 assessment during Class 10 and will not be eligible to appear for the Class 10 Board examination until they qualify.

Two Levels of Mathematics and Science

The revised framework will also provide students with an option to take advanced-level examinations in Mathematics and Science.

All students will appear for the common Mathematics and Science examinations based on the prescribed syllabus. Those seeking additional academic challenges can opt for Mathematics Advanced, Science Advanced or both.

Each advanced examination will carry 25 marks and have a duration of one hour, with questions designed to assess higher-order thinking skills. Marks obtained in these examinations will not be counted towards promotion or the overall aggregate.

Students scoring at least 50 per cent in an advanced examination will have the achievement recorded on their marksheet.

The Directorate has also discontinued the existing Mathematics Basic and Mathematics Standard examination structure for Class 9 from the 2026-27 session. The existing system will continue for Class 10 students during 2026-27.

New Curricular Areas

The revised curriculum also makes ‘Individuals in Society’, Art Education, and Physical Education and Well-Being compulsory curricular areas, with assessments conducted at the school level.

Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence will be introduced as structured modules across schools during 2026-27. The subject is scheduled to become compulsory from the 2027-28 academic session.

Promotion Criteria

Under the revised promotion rules, students must secure at least 33 per cent separately in internal/practical and external assessments in each of the six main subjects.

Students must also obtain at least 25 per cent in the annual examination to be eligible for promotion to Class 10.

The revised framework is aimed at broadening Class 9 education by combining academic subjects with vocational learning, language development, advanced academic options and emerging areas such as artificial intelligence.