‘Hindi’: Maharashtra’s Third Language Plan in Limbo Amid Political and Public Backlash

Mumbai, 9th May 2025: The Maharashtra State Government has not yet released a revised notification after rolling back its decision to make Hindi a compulsory third language from Class 1, leaving schools and parents uncertain as the new academic year approaches. Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse clarified that the department is currently studying the feasibility of offering other Indian languages and the necessary facilities to support them, following widespread opposition from political and educational circles.

Initially, under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the state had planned to mandate Hindi as a third language in Marathi and English medium schools for Classes 1 to 5, starting from the 2025-26 academic year. However, this move faced strong backlash, prompting the minister to announce a suspension of the “mandatory” provision and a promise to issue a revised decision. Despite this, no updated government resolution has been published, and it remains unclear whether the third language policy will proceed, whether alternatives to Hindi will be offered, or if the decision will be deferred altogether.

Education experts have called for transparency and timely communication from the department. Senior educationist Dr. Vasant Kalpande emphasized the need to provide all Indian language options simultaneously if a third language is to be implemented, and to maintain the current system until then. Dr. Deepak Pawar from the Marathi Studies Centre argued that there is no need for any compulsory third language from Class 1, urging the government to officially defer the decision.

Minister Dada Bhuse assured, “There will be no compulsion of Hindi for first-grade students in the new academic year. We are studying the provision of other Indian languages and the required facilities.”