Maharashtra Rolls Back Order Making Hindi Mandatory For Primary Schools

The three-language formula will still be implemented from Class 1, but students are no longer required to study Hindi specifically as the third language.

Representational Image | The Maharashtra School Education Department announced that Hindi will no longer be compulsory as the third language for students in Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools.

Source : IANS

Amid an ongoing debate over language policy, the Maharashtra School Education Department announced on Tuesday that Hindi will no longer be compulsory as the third language for students in Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools affiliated with the State Board.

Although the three-language formula will still be implemented from Class 1, students are no longer required to study Hindi specifically as the third language.

The School Education Minister Dada Bhuse stated that after the revised Government Resolution (GR) is issued, it will remove the word ‘mandatory’. “The three-language formula remains, but schools must accommodate other language choices if a significant number of students in a class request it,” he said, the Indian Express reported.

This policy reversal follows objections raised by the state’s Language Consultation Committee. Committee chairperson Laxmikant Deshmukh criticised the earlier directive, prompting the minister to issue a clarification.

The state government's decision has faced strong resistance from Opposition parties, igniting a broader conversation around regional identity, linguistic diversity, and federal governance.

Opposition Calls It An 'Attack On The Marathi Language'

Political groups, including the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) led by Raj Thackeray, Shiv Sena (UBT) under Uddhav Thackeray, and the Congress, have all opposed what they view as the forced inclusion of Hindi.

While Raj Thackeray has opted for the most confrontational stance, Uddhav has accused the BJP of attempting to divide people based on language. Further, the Congress leader Vijay Waddetiwar labeled the move an “attack on the Marathi language” and an attempt is being put to erode state autonomy.

The BJP, currently in power, finds itself under pressure in a state known for its strong linguistic identity. While Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stressed the importance of preserving Marathi, he has also pledged to the inclusion of Hindi as a common medium of communication.

With sensitivities high, particularly in Mumbai, where linguistic divides between Marathi and non-Marathi communities have long influenced politics, the BJP is cautious about being seen as opposing Marathi interests.

Maharashtra has a deep-rooted history of language-based movements. The Samyukta Maharashtra Movement of the 1950s campaigned successfully for the creation of a Marathi-speaking state with Mumbai as its capital, which was achieved in 1960.

Following that, Bal Thackeray’s Shiv Sena rose to prominence by advocating for the rights of the “Marathi Manoos,” often targeting South Indian and North Indian communities over employment opportunities and cultural dominance.