CBSE Includes Khasi And Garo In Language Framework After Meghalaya CM’s Intervention

The Central Board of Secondary Education has officially added Khasi and Garo to its three-language framework, allowing students in CBSE-affiliated schools to study the indigenous languages as recognised subjects from Class 9 onward. The decision has been welcomed across Meghalaya as a major step toward preserving regional languages and strengthening cultural representation within the national education system.

The inclusion came after Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad Sangma appealed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan following concerns over the omission of Khasi and Garo from the board’s earlier language list.

According to state officials, the exclusion had triggered apprehension among educators, parents, and students who feared that the absence of the two languages from the CBSE framework could affect their academic continuity and weaken efforts to preserve indigenous linguistic heritage.

After discussions with the Union Education Ministry, CBSE revised its language framework and formally recognised both Khasi and Garo under the three-language policy. The move will now enable students in Meghalaya to continue studying their mother tongues within the formal school curriculum.

Education experts say the decision carries significance beyond academics. Khasi and Garo are not only widely spoken in Meghalaya but are also closely tied to the state’s cultural identity, oral traditions, and indigenous knowledge systems. Their inclusion in the national school framework is expected to provide greater institutional recognition to local languages that have historically remained underrepresented in mainstream education.

The development is also likely to benefit teachers and schools across the state by creating opportunities for language instruction, curriculum development, and educational resources in Khasi and Garo.

Officials noted that the decision aligns with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which emphasises multilingual learning and encourages the promotion of regional and mother tongues in school education.

For many in Meghalaya, the inclusion of Khasi and Garo in the CBSE framework is being seen as both an educational and cultural milestone, ensuring that students can remain connected to their linguistic roots while pursuing national-level education.