Maharashtra Government Sets Up 7-member Panel For A Roadmap To Publish MBBS Books In Marathi

Following the Madhya Pradesh government's recent move to release MBBS textbooks in Hindi, the Maharashtra government now forms a panel to develop a roadmap for publishing MBBS textbooks in Marathi.

Maharashtra Government Sets Up 7-member Panel For A Roadmap To Publish MBBS Books In Marathi (Representational Image) ( Image Source :Getty )

The Maharashtra Government has set up a 7-member panel to draft a roadmap for publishing MBBS books in Marathi, an official from the state medical education and research department said on Thursday. 

The move comes in line with the Madhya Pradesh government’s recent launching of MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) books in Hindi. The newly formed 7-member panel in Maharashtra is headed by the medical education and research department’s joint director Ajay Chandanwale, the official added. 

"We spoke with officials in Madhya Pradesh which published the MBBS course books in Hindi. The next step is to hold the first meeting of the committee members in Maharashtra and discuss the road map for the course publication in Marathi. The meeting is likely to be held in Mumbai next week,” a senior official from the medical education and research department said.

In recent times, there has been a growing demand for publishing MBBS books in regional languages in India. The Madhya Pradesh government was swift to act in this regard with Union home minister Amit Shah releasing Hindi textbooks of three MBBS subjects in October, as part of the Madhya Pradesh government’s ambitious bid to impart medical education in Hindi in the state. 

It was the NEP (National Education Policy) 2020 which laid a strong emphasis and paved the way for mother tongue as a medium of instruction in higher education. “Through the new National Education Policy, PM Modi has given more emphasis to the mother language of students. This is a historic decision: Home Minister Amit Shah at the launch of Hindi MBBS course books in Bhopal,” said Shah, at the book launch in Bhopal. 

Considering the growing demand, other states have been mulling to release medical text books in various regional languages as well. The next strong proponent in line is the Uttar Pradesh government which is set to introduce Hindi language textbooks in state medical colleges.