The Karnataka governor's office has initiated a review of the newly implemented grading system for third language subjects in the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations. This decision follows concerns from the Association for Preservation of Local Languages, which highlighted potential academic and systemic repercussions. The governor's office has forwarded these concerns to Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh, emphasizing the need for a comprehensive examination of the policy's academic and administrative implications.

The revised grading system, which reduces the total marks from 625 to 525 and excludes third language subjects from pass or fail criteria, has been met with criticism. Critics argue that this change could diminish the status of third-language learning and negatively impact student motivation. In the previous year, a staggering 146,000 out of 164,000 students who failed the SSLC exam did so in the third language paper, prompting the government to justify the shift as a protective measure for students.

The change affects various languages, including Hindi, Kannada, English, Arabic, Urdu, Sanskrit, Konkani, Tulu, and Marathi, with a significant majority of students opting for Hindi. The policy has sparked a broader debate over language policy in Karnataka, with some groups advocating for a two-language system. Opposition leaders have criticized the policy, labeling it as 'anti-Hindi' and vowing to restore the previous system if they return to power.