Overview

• Since April, Maharashtra’s policy mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language in Classes I–V was reversed to optional status under a pending stakeholder review
• The state government formed a review committee to gather input from parents, teachers and community groups on the three-language formula
• Central government initiatives have expanded Hindi requirements in official communications, rebranded national schemes with Hindi titles and discouraged English usage under NEP 2020
• Non-Hindi states such as Tamil Nadu and Karnataka continue to oppose perceived imposition of Hindi, warning of renewed “language wars” and enforcing regional language protections
• Earlier unrest included assaults on individuals for speaking Marathi, Hindi or English, highlighting deep tensions over linguistic identity and federal-state authority