Overview

• The Maharashtra government has mandated Hindi as a compulsory third language for Classes 1–5 in state board schools, alongside Marathi and English, under the National Education Policy 2020.
• Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis reaffirmed that Marathi remains non-negotiable as the state's primary language and must be learned by all students.
• Fadnavis clarified that learning additional languages beyond Marathi and English is optional and based on personal preference.
• Opposition leaders Vijay Wadettiwar (Congress) and Supriya Sule (NCP) criticized the decision, arguing against coercion and calling for parental choice in language selection.
• Sule warned that any policy perceived to undermine Marathi identity or prioritize Hindi would not be tolerated, urging the government to reconsider its approach.