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Triple talaq, sedition, Section 377: CBSE to update legal studies curriculum with landmark law changes

CBSE legal studies update: The Board will revamp Class XI–XII textbooks to reflect sweeping legal reforms, new criminal laws, and landmark judgments from recent years.

CBSE law syllabus: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) is set to bring the repeal of triple talaq, the enactment of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), sedition and the removal of section 377 which criminalises homosexuality, into the Legal Studies curriculum for Classes XI and XII, The Indian Express has learnt.

The decision, approved by the CBSE’s Curriculum Committee and ratified by the Governing Body in June — will see senior secondary students study new laws that have replaced colonial-era statutes, along with landmark judgments and doctrines that have reshaped India’s legal framework.

“CBSE proposes to revise and update the Legal Studies textbooks to reflect: Key provisions of BNS, BNSS, and BSA; Landmark legal judgments and recent legal doctrines; Repealed or outdated laws (e.g., sedition, Section 377, triple talaq); A modern, engaging pedagogy aligned with NEP 2020,” the official records state.

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The update comes in the wake of sweeping legal reforms enacted in 2023–24, when the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Bhartiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), and Bhartiya Sakshya Adhiniyam (BSA) replaced the Indian Penal Code, Criminal Procedure Code, and Indian Evidence Act.

These measures also struck down outdated provisions such as sedition, criminalised triple talaq and the removal of section 377 of the IPC which states: “ Whoever voluntarily has carnal intercourse against the order of nature with any man, woman or animal, shall be punished with imprisonment for life or with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine”

This archaic British law dates back to 1861 and criminalises sexual activities against the order of nature.

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CBSE officials noted that the Legal Studies textbooks “were introduced over five years ago to build foundational legal literacy among senior secondary students” but have since fallen behind the pace of reform. The Board will form “an expert committee” and may engage a “content development agency” to ensure the updated textbooks are ready for the 2026–27 academic session.

First offered by CBSE in Class XI in 2013 and Class XII in 2014, Legal Studies has evolved from a niche elective to a significant offering for students eyeing careers in law, public policy, or governance. In April 2024, the Directorate of Education approved its rollout in 29 additional schools, urging principals to “complete all formalities asked by the CBSE.”

The last major update came in 2022–23, when the syllabus added socially relevant topics such as the POSH Act 2013, the Right to Information Act, the Consumer Protection Act, Intellectual Property Rights, and legal entities.

Vidheesha Kuntamalla

Vidheesha Kuntamalla is a Senior Correspondent at The Indian Express, based in New Delhi. She is known for her investigative reporting on higher education policy, international student immigration, and academic freedom on university campuses. Her work consistently connects policy decisions with lived realities, foregrounding how administrative actions, political pressure, and global shifts affect students, faculty, and institutions. Professional Profile Core Beat: Vidheesha covers education in Delhi and nationally, reporting on major public institutions including the University of Delhi (DU), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Jamia Millia Islamia, the IITs, and the IIMs. She also reports extensively on private and government schools in the National Capital Region. Prior to joining The Indian Express, she worked as a freelance journalist in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh for over a year, covering politics, rural issues, women-centric issues, and social justice. Specialisation: She has developed a strong niche in reporting on the Indian student diaspora, particularly the challenges faced by Indian students and H-1B holders in the United States. Her work examines how geopolitical shifts, immigration policy changes, and campus politics impact global education mobility. She has also reported widely on: * Mental health crises and student suicides at IITs * Policy responses to campus mental health * Academic freedom and institutional clampdowns at JNU, South Asian University (SAU), and Delhi University * Curriculum and syllabus changes under the National Education Policy Her recent reporting has included deeply reported human stories on policy changes during the Trump administration and their consequences for Indian students and researchers in the US. Reporting Style Vidheesha is recognised for a human-centric approach to policy reporting, combining investigative depth with intimate storytelling. Her work often highlights the anxieties of students and faculty navigating bureaucratic uncertainty, legal precarity, and institutional pressure. She regularly works with court records, internal documents, official data, and disciplinary frameworks to expose structural challenges to academic freedom. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2024 & 2025) 1. Express Investigation Series JNU’s fault lines move from campus to court: University fights students and faculty (November 2025) An Indian Express investigation found that since 2011, JNU has appeared in over 600 cases before the Delhi High Court, filed by the administration, faculty, staff, students, and contractual workers across the tenures of three Vice-Chancellors. JNU’s legal wars with students and faculty pile up under 3 V-Cs | Rs 30-lakh fines chill campus dissent (November 2025) The report traced how steep monetary penalties — now codified in the Chief Proctor’s Office Manual — are reshaping dissent and disciplinary action on campus. 2. International Education & Immigration ‘Free for a day. Then came ICE’: Acquitted after 43 years, Indian-origin man faces deportation — to a country he has never known (October 2025) H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear? (September 2025) Khammam to Dallas, Jhansi to Seattle — audacious journeys in pursuit of the American dream after H-1B visa fee hike (September 2025) What a proposed 15% cap on foreign admissions in the US could mean for Indian students (October 2025) Anxiety on campus after Trump says visas of pro-Palestinian protesters will be cancelled (January 2025) ‘I couldn’t believe it’: F-1 status of some Indian students restored after US reverses abrupt visa terminations (April 2025) 3. Academic Freedom & Policy Exclusive: South Asian University fires professor for ‘inciting students’ during stipend protests (September 2025) Exclusive: Ministry seeks explanation from JNU V-C for skipping Centre’s meet, views absence ‘seriously’ (July 2025) SAU rows after Noam Chomsky mentions PM Modi, Lankan scholar resigns, PhD student exits SAU A series of five stories examining shrinking academic freedom at South Asian University after global scholar Noam Chomsky referenced Prime Minister Narendra Modi during an academic interaction, triggering administrative unease and renewed debate over political speech, surveillance, and institutional autonomy on Indian campuses. 4. Mental Health on Campuses In post-pandemic years, counselling rooms at IITs are busier than ever; IIT-wise data shows why (August 2025) Campus suicides: IIT-Delhi panel flags toxic competition, caste bias, burnout (April 2025) 5. Delhi Schools These Delhi government school grads are now success stories. Here’s what worked — and what didn’t (February 2025) ‘Ma’am… may I share something?’ Growing up online and alone, why Delhi’s teens are reaching out (December 2025) ... Read More