Daijiworld Media Network – Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 18: In a significant reversal, the Maharashtra government has issued a revised notification clarifying that Hindi will not be mandatory as the third language in schools, following intense backlash from opposition parties and cultural groups. The updated directive comes nearly two months after the state initially made Hindi compulsory from Classes I to V in all Marathi and English-medium schools.
The earlier mandate had triggered a political storm, with the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) vehemently opposing what they termed as an attempt at “Hindi imposition.” The move also reignited a national debate around the central government's three-language formula under the 2020 National Education Policy (NEP).
According to the new notification from the School Education Department, Hindi will now be the default third language taught in primary classes. However, students are allowed to opt for other languages, provided a minimum of 20 students in the class request the alternative.
“If the school is unable to appoint a dedicated teacher, the lessons will be conducted online,” the department stated.
Marathi remains the only compulsory language across all schools in the state, reaffirming the state's commitment to preserving its linguistic heritage.
While the government insists that the revised policy ensures flexibility, critics see it as a “backdoor entry” for Hindi. Former Maharashtra education board chairperson Vasant Kalpande argued that the 20-student threshold is too high and serves to discourage students from opting for other languages.
He also raised concerns about the cognitive burden on young students: “Marathi and Hindi have similar scripts, but learning both in parallel might be overwhelming for primary-level children,” he said.
Marathi advocacy groups and regional political parties have demanded that the option to choose any third language be made more accessible. The opposition termed the initial move a “betrayal of Maharashtra’s linguistic identity”, while critics now question the sincerity of the government’s partial rollback.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, while maintaining that Marathi will always remain central to the state’s education system, have sought to justify the NEP framework as a “national integration” initiative, not imposition.
The three-language policy is a key component of the NEP 2020. However, it has been strongly resisted in Tamil Nadu, where the ruling DMK government continues to defend its long-standing two-language policy (Tamil and English). The state argues the imposition of Hindi undermines regional languages and is unnecessary, especially in a globalised world.
The BJP, on the other hand, has consistently defended the policy, arguing it promotes linguistic inclusivity and mobility within India’s diverse linguistic landscape.
As Maharashtra navigates its position between cultural preservation and national policy compliance, the revised notification has ensured the debate over language in Indian education is far from over.