Overview

• The Maharashtra government has mandated Hindi as a compulsory third language alongside Marathi and English for Classes 1 to 5 under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
• The state-appointed Language Consultation Committee, led by Laxmikant Deshmukh, has formally urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to revoke the decision, citing inadequate consultation and educational concerns.
• Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT), MNS, Congress, and NCP, have condemned the move, alleging it undermines Marathi's cultural primacy and imposes Hindi unnecessarily.
• Chief Minister Fadnavis has reaffirmed that Marathi remains compulsory and emphasized that the policy aligns with NEP guidelines requiring two Indian languages, denying claims of Hindi imposition.
• Critics argue the policy increases the burden on students and teachers, with concerns about its impact on mother-tongue instruction quality and regional linguistic identity.