According to the National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005, the sequence of…

Concept

The National Curriculum Framework (NCF) 2005, in its Position Paper on the Teaching of Mathematics, holds that language is the medium through which every school subject -- including mathematics -- is taught, reasoned about, and communicated. It treats an adequately developed language proficiency as the base on which meaningful mathematical learning is built, rather than treating mathematics as a subject that begins independently of language development.

Application

Applying this principle to curriculum sequencing, NCF 2005 places the teaching of mathematics after language in the primary-stage sequence -- mathematics is introduced once children already have a working command of language, since mathematical concepts, word problems, and reasoning are all expressed through language.

Cross-check

This is independently confirmed by the UPTET 2016 Paper-2 (Upper Primary) official answer key (Set Y, Question 135), which keys this exact PYQ item to 'After language', matching the position paper's own guidance.

Contrast with distractors

• 'Before language' reverses this sequencing guidance -- NCF 2005 does not support introducing mathematics ahead of language proficiency.

• 'After Science' and 'After Social Science' refer to NCF 2005's separate discussion of subject integration in the primary curriculum, not to the specific language-mathematics ordering asked about here.