Maharashtra Makes Hindi ‘General’ Third Language in Schools
The Maharashtra government has issued a revised directive stating that Hindi will be “generally” taught as a third language from Classes 1 to 5 in all Marathi and English medium schools, as part of the implementation of the State Curriculum Framework for School Education 2024, in line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. While the policy allows opting for other Indian languages, this option is conditional, leading to criticism from language activists and opposition leaders who have accused the government of reintroducing Hindi through the backdoor after earlier public resistance.
The new government order has reignited debates over language imposition and regional identity in Maharashtra. The move follows earlier protests against the compulsory introduction of Hindi from Class 1, which was subsequently put “on hold.” The updated policy now makes Hindi the default third language, unless at least 20 students per grade opt for another Indian language, raising questions over inclusivity, feasibility, and state autonomy in education.
NEP 2020 advocates a three-language formula, typically including,
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