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6d ago

Maharashtra Faces Pushback on Compulsory Hindi in Schools

CM Fadnavis defends the three-language policy, assures Marathi’s primacy, and addresses opposition concerns over linguistic imposition.

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Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis.
The three-language formula under NEP 2020 makes it mandatory for every school student to study at least three languages.

Overview

  • The Maharashtra government announced on April 17 that Hindi would be a mandatory third language in state board schools for Classes 1 to 5 under NEP 2020 starting 2026-27.
  • The state’s Language Consultation Committee formally opposed the move, citing lack of consultation and concerns about burdening students and teachers.
  • Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis clarified that Marathi remains the only compulsory language and denied any imposition of Hindi, emphasizing flexibility in language choices.
  • Opposition parties, including Shiv Sena (UBT) and NCP, criticized the decision as undermining Marathi’s cultural and linguistic importance.
  • The policy has reignited debates on federalism, regional identity, and the balance between central education mandates and state autonomy.