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Delhi Rewrites Class IX Rules, Making Vocational Study and Third Language Mandatory

Designed to move promotion away from single-track exams toward competency-based learning, the change also adds optional advanced Math and Science tests and phases in computational thinking and AI modules.

Overview

  • The Delhi Directorate of Education issued a circular this week that changes the Class IX assessment and promotion framework for the 2026-27 academic session.
  • Six main subjects—Language‑1, Language‑2, Mathematics, Science, Social Science and Vocational Education (Kaushal Vikas)—will determine promotion to Class X with separate minimums for internal and external assessments.
  • A third language (R3) is now a compulsory, school‑level qualifying subject; students who do not qualify in Class IX may be promoted if they meet other criteria but cannot sit the Class X board exam until they clear R3.
  • Optional one‑hour, 25‑mark advanced papers in Mathematics and Science will record higher‑order achievement on marksheets for scores of 50% or more but will not count toward promotion or aggregate totals.
  • Computational Thinking and Artificial Intelligence will be introduced as modules in 2026-27 and become compulsory in 2027-28, a rollout that will require teacher training, new vocational resources and clearer school assessment capacity.