Maharashtra Retracts Mandatory Hindi Policy in Schools
Facing public backlash, the Maharashtra government has decided to withdraw its resolution that made Hindi mandatory in all schools starting from Class 1. On Wednesday, State School Education Minister Dada Bhuse confirmed that the controversial resolution will be rescinded, and a new order will be issued shortly.
“The new government resolution will omit the term ‘mandatory’ in reference to Hindi,” Bhuse said.
Clarification on NEP 2020 Language Policy
According to Minister Bhuse, the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 advocates a three-language formula, but it does not impose any particular language. Instead, the policy emphasizes that two out of three languages taught should be Indian languages, allowing flexibility for states and schools.
He clarified that during a recent steering committee meeting, Hindi was only proposed as the third language. However, the government resolution wrongly stated it as “mandatory”, leading to widespread misunderstanding and criticism.
Marathi to Remain a Compulsory Subject
While the government has eased its stance on Hindi, Marathi will continue to be a compulsory subject across all schools in Maharashtra. This applies even to schools that follow other mediums of instruction.
Additionally, the education department has reinforced that teachers assigned to teach Marathi must hold appropriate academic qualifications in the subject, ensuring quality instruction in the state’s official language.
Moving Forward with Clarity and Flexibility
This decision reflects the state government’s attempt to align more accurately with the spirit of NEP 2020, which promotes linguistic diversity without enforcing any single language. The revised resolution is expected to bring greater clarity, avoid further confusion, and respect regional and cultural preferences in education.
