Amid growing tensions with the Union government over the implementation of the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Tamil Nadu Minister of School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi reaffirmed that the state’s third language will be coding and artificial intelligence (AI), not Hindi.
Minister’s Stand Against NEP 2020
Speaking at a ‘Rights of State Education’ convention organized by the Students Federation of India, Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi criticized the NEP, labeling it an RSS-driven agenda aimed at imposing Hindi and Sanskrit on non-Hindi speaking states.
“The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 is not a policy for education, but an RSS-driven agenda. Through NEP, the BJP government is keen on thrusting Hindi and Sanskrit on non-Hindi speaking states, which will eventually erode Tamil,” he stated.
The minister argued that Tamil Nadu has a long-standing two-language policy, which includes Tamil and English, and sees no need to introduce Hindi. He reiterated that the state’s third language would focus on programming languages like C, C++, Java, and AI to equip students with future-ready skills.
Pending Central Funds for Tamil Nadu
Anbil highlighted that the Union government has withheld ₹2,152 crore in funds meant for the Tamil Nadu School Education Department under the Samagra Shiksha (SS) scheme.
The state government sought ₹3,533 crore under the scheme for the 2024–25 academic year, with the Centre expected to contribute 60% of the amount. However, the Centre allegedly tied the release of these funds to Tamil Nadu’s acceptance of the PM-SHRI scheme, which aligns with the NEP framework.
“The withholding of rightful funds meant for Tamil Nadu is affecting over 40 lakh students and 32,000 teachers in the state,” Anbil said.
State Government’s Financial Response
Finance Minister Thangam Thennarasu previously confirmed that Tamil Nadu would cover the funding shortfall using state resources. The state government has consistently increased its education budget over the past five years:
| Financial Year | Education Budget Allocation (₹ crore) |
|---|---|
| 2021–22 | 32,599 |
| 2022–23 | 36,895 |
| 2023–24 | 40,299 |
| 2024–25 | 40,042 |
| 2025–26 | 46,767 (highest ever) |
Anbil emphasized that the state would continue to prioritize education despite the lack of central funds.
Push for Coding and AI as Third Language
Tamil Nadu’s decision to promote coding and AI as the third language reflects the state’s focus on future-oriented education. The minister highlighted that equipping students with technical skills would improve their career prospects and prepare them for the evolving job market.
“Instead of imposing Hindi and Sanskrit, which have limited career utility, Tamil Nadu aims to give students practical skills like coding and AI,” Anbil stated.
Conclusion
Tamil Nadu’s rejection of Hindi as the third language under NEP 2020 underscores the state’s commitment to preserving its linguistic identity and prioritizing technical education. By focusing on programming and AI, Tamil Nadu aims to equip students with modern skills while maintaining its long-standing two-language policy.
