Schools in Maharashtra Face Rs 1 Lakh Fine, Recognition Cancellation for Violating Marathi Teaching Rule
Pune, 7th July 2026: The Maharashtra School Education Department has decided to carry out a statewide inspection of schools to ensure that Marathi is being taught as a compulsory subject from Classes I to X. The verification drive will cover institutions affiliated with all education boards, including the State Board, CBSE, ICSE and international boards.
According to officials, inspection teams will visit schools to verify whether Marathi classes are being conducted regularly, whether students are being assessed in the subject, and whether qualified Marathi teachers have been appointed in accordance with government norms.
The department has warned that schools failing to comply with the mandatory Marathi teaching requirement could face financial penalties of up to Rs 1 lakh. Continued non-compliance, even after the imposition of the fine, may result in action to withdraw the institution’s recognition.
Education department officials said the inspections will involve both document verification and physical checks. Inspecting teams will examine classroom instruction, student examination records and teacher appointments to determine whether schools are following the prescribed rules.
Officials reiterated that every school operating in Maharashtra, irrespective of its medium of instruction or board affiliation, is legally required to teach Marathi from Class I through Class X. Following the inspection drive, reports will be submitted by the concerned education authorities for further action wherever violations are found.
The department also emphasized that schools must appoint teachers who possess the prescribed qualifications to teach Marathi, and compliance will be assessed during the inspection process.
The enforcement drive follows concerns that some institutions, particularly those affiliated with national and international education boards, may not be fully implementing the state’s mandatory Marathi language policy.
