Union Minister for Education, Dharmendra Pradhan on Wednesday released the new curriculum framework (NCF) in line with the New Education Policy (NEP), saying the textbooks for the same will be developed for the 2024 academic session.

According to the new framework, students of Class 11 and 12 need to study two languages, and at least one of them must be Indian.

Currently, students in Class 11 and 12 study one language.

Similarity, students in Classes 9 and 10 will need to learn three languages, of which at least two will be native to India. 

Currently, students in Classes 9 and 10 study two languages.

So far, the students from 9 to 12 had to mandatorily study five subjects with an option of adding one additional subject.

According to the recommendations made in NCF, the number of mandatory subjects will be seven for classes 9-10 and six for classes 11-12.

"Language across stages will help students develop democratic and epistemic values, and dispositions of respect for culture and diversity in society ('cultural literacy')," said the NCF document accessed by PTI.

"Learning more than one language will broaden students' horizons and learning another Indian language will enable a deeper connection with the country and develop a sense of pride and belonging to the country," it added.

The ministry also said that board exams will be conducted twice a year, with students allowed to retain their best score.

"Board exams will be offered at least twice a year to ensure students have enough time and opportunity to perform well. Students can then appear for a board exam in subjects they have completed and feel ready for. They will also be allowed to retain the best score," the ministry said.

As per the updated curriculum framework, students in classes 11 and 12 will not be restricted to streams such as arts, science, and commerce but the curriculum will let students explore a wide range of subjects.

"In due course of time, school boards are to develop capacities to offer 'on demand' exams in due course of time. Besides board exam test developers and evaluators, they will have to go through university-certified courses before taking up this work," it said.

The new framework encourages the current tradition of covering textbooks and also stresses the cost of textbooks should be optimised.