Maharashtra Govt Withdraws Controversial Hindi Language Orders Ahead of Assembly Session
Mumbai, 29th June 2025: Amid growing political pressure and public protests, the Maharashtra government on Sunday revoked its April orders that had made Hindi compulsory as the third language for students from Classes 1 to 5. The move, which had triggered a fierce backlash from opposition parties and language rights activists, was officially rolled back a day before the start of the Monsoon Session of the State Legislature.
At a joint press conference, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, along with Deputy Chief Ministers Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde, announced the cancellation of the April 16 and 17 Government Resolutions (GRs) and confirmed the formation of a new expert committee headed by noted educationist Dr. Narendra Jadhav. The committee will re-evaluate the state’s three-language policy and make fresh recommendations.
Fadnavis Blames Uddhav, Calls for Fresh Review
Speaking at the press meet, CM Fadnavis accused former CM Uddhav Thackeray of initiating the current three-language policy.
“The earlier government had accepted the Raghunath Mashelkar Committee’s recommendations to introduce a three-language model from Class 1 to 12. We are only continuing that policy framework,” Fadnavis said.
He further clarified that a final decision on Hindi’s role would only be taken after the newly appointed committee submits its report.
Political Reactions Pour In
Raj Thackeray (MNS Chief):
“The decision to impose Hindi has now been scrapped permanently. But the question remains—why was there such pressure to push Hindi in the first place? Whatever the committee says in the future, Maharashtra will not tolerate such impositions again,” said Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) president Raj Thackeray, who had earlier announced a protest rally scheduled for July 5, which now stands cancelled.
Uddhav Thackeray (Shiv Sena UBT Chief):
Former CM Uddhav Thackeray welcomed the rollback but reiterated his stand.
“We’re not against Hindi as a language, but imposing it is wrong. This isn’t about language—this is about safeguarding Maharashtra’s identity,” he said, describing the earlier policy as a form of “language emergency.”
Sanjay Raut (Shiv Sena UBT MP):
“The cancellation of the order is a wise move by CM Fadnavis. This is a victory for Marathi unity. The government feared the growing strength of the Thackeray-led front,” said Sanjay Raut, calling off the joint rally planned with the MNS.
Sharad Pawar: Don’t Burden Young Children
NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) chief Sharad Pawar also weighed in, stating,
“There is no harm in introducing Hindi, but not before Class 5. It’s unfair to burden young students with additional languages. Language learning should be gradual and age-appropriate.”
Timeline of the Language Row
- April 16, 2025 – Maharashtra government issues an order making Hindi a mandatory third language for Classes 1 to 5 in all Marathi and English medium schools.
- Following backlash, on June 17, the state modified the order to make Hindi optional, allowing students to select other Indian languages as the third language.
- However, this revision included a clause that a minimum of 20 students per class must opt for an alternative language for schools to be required to appoint a language teacher. Fewer than 20 would result in online instruction.
- June 30, 2025 – The April GRs are officially withdrawn, and the policy will be reviewed afresh.
Looking Ahead
The newly formed committee under Dr. Narendra Jadhav is expected to submit its report in the coming months. Meanwhile, educationists, linguists, and school bodies have called for broader consultations before any future decision is finalized.
This controversy has reignited the long-standing debate over linguistic identity, federalism, and cultural autonomy in Maharashtra. While Hindi remains a widely spoken language across India, the political messaging from opposition parties was clear: Marathi must retain its primacy in Maharashtra’s education system.
As the Monsoon Session begins on Monday, the language issue may remain a focal point of discussion, with parties expected to demand a more transparent and inclusive policy-making process in the future.
