Maharashtra makes Hindi ‘general' third language in schools
The Maharashtra government has issued a fresh order stating that Hindi will be taught as a third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools in the State from Classes 1 to 5.
An amended government order issued on Tuesday (June 17, 2025) said Hindi will "generally" be the third language, instead of being mandatory, but gave an option to opt out if 20 students per grade in a school express the desire to study any Indian language other than Hindi.
While some Marathi language advocates accused the government of reintroducing the policy through the "backdoor" after initially backtracking, the opposition Congress accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of "stabbing" the Marathi people in the chest.
The Maharashtra School Education Department issued the government resolution (GR) on Tuesday as part of the implementation of the 'State Curriculum Framework for School Education 2024', aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.
How move to include Hindi from Class 1 has injected language politics into Maharashtra | EXPLAINED
According to the GR, Hindi will "generally" be the third language for students from Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools.
"Those who wish to learn any other language as an option to Hindi, should meet the expectation of 20 students from each standard in a school. In such a situation, a teacher for that particular language will be made available or the language will be taught online," the order stated.
Marathi will be a compulsory language in all medium schools, the GR said.
Contradictory move, say critics
Critics claimed the government's latest move contradicts earlier statements of School Education Minister Dada Bhuse that Hindi would not be mandatory for the primary classes.
Though the government order provides a conditional option for students to opt for another Indian language instead of Hindi, it stipulates that a minimum of 20 students per school must opt for the alternative.
If a such demand arises, either a teacher will be appointed or the language will be taught online, the order added.
The directive also mandates that in schools following other mediums of instruction, the three-language formula must include the medium language, Marathi and English.
Three-language policy 'on hold'
Earlier this year, the State government faced widespread backlash for its proposal to introduce Hindi from Class 1.
On April 22, Mr. Bhuse said Hindi would no longer be compulsory in Classes 1 to 5.
Last month, the Minister at an event in Pune said, "The decision to introduce Hindi from Class 1 as a third language was taken earlier. However, many parents have suggested it be introduced from Class 3 instead. We will consider these suggestions before taking any further decision."
He also said at the time that the three-language formula was "on hold" and schools would continue with the existing two-language system for now.
Fresh opposition
But the latest order appears to contradict that assurance, prompting a fresh wave of opposition.
"This is nothing but the backdoor imposition of Hindi," claimed Deepak Pawar of the Mumbai-based Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra, working to preserve the Marathi language.
"The government has betrayed the Marathi people. If we remain silent now, it will pave the way for dismantling the federal structure and the legacy of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement," he charged in a social media post, urging people to protest.
Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, said it is unlikely to find 20 students in a class opting for a non-Hindi language.
"The provision to make teacher available online is also an attempt to discourage opting for any other language than Hindi. Although, Marathi and Hindi have similar scripts, it will be too much for students of such young age to learn the nuances and differences between the scripts," he claimed.
Hindi as a third language is not mandatory in (BJP-ruled) Gujarat and Assam, Mr. Kalpande pointed out.
'Imposing' Hindi: Congress
Maharashtra Congress president Harshwardhan Sapkal said the fresh government order on the three-language formula was a planned plot to impose Hindi, and accused Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis of "stabbing" Marathi people in the chest.
The public was "deceived" by saying that the compulsion of Hindi as a third language has been abolished. But what does the GR say, he mentioned in a post on X.
EDITORIAL | Opposing imposition: On teaching Hindi in Maharashtra
"Hindi will be the compulsory third language. If any other language is to be learned, the requirement is for at least 20 students. It's a show of giving an alternative and the planned plot to impose Hindi. This is BJP's anti-Maharashtra agenda and a conspiracy to eliminate the Marathi language, Marathi identity and Marathi people," Mr. Sapkal alleged.
This makes it clear that the loyalty of Fadnavis and Deputy CMs Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar is not with Maharashtra or the Marathi people, but with the people of Delhi, he charged.
The Shinde (Shiv Sena) group, which repeatedly mentions (party founder) Balasaheb Thackeray's name, holds the education ministry and has taken the initiative to "kill Marathi in the same way that they stabbed Shiv Sena in the back," the Congress leader alleged.
"Ajit Pawar is so desperate for power that he has nothing to do with Maharashtra, Marathi language, or whether Marathi people live or die. Ajit Pawar's policy is only to get the finance portfolio," he claimed.
"We will not rest till the agenda of 'One Nation, One Language, One Culture' of the RSS and BJP is rejected," Mr. Sapkal added.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
36 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump administration blocked from cutting local health funding for four municipalities
A federal court has temporarily blocked the Trump administration from clawing back millions in public health funding from four Democrat-led municipalities in GOP-governed states. It's the second such federal ruling to reinstate public health funding for several states. US District Judge Christopher Cooper in Washington, DC, issued a preliminary injunction Tuesday sought by district attorneys in Harris County , Texas, home to Houston, and three cities: Columbus, Ohio, Nashville, Tennessee, and Kansas City, Missouri. The decision means the federal government must reinstate funding to the four municipalities until the case is fully litigated. "The federal government cannot simply ignore Congress and pull the plug on essential services that communities rely on," Harris County Attorney Christian Menefee said. "Today's decision ensures we can keep doing the work that protects our residents - from tracking disease outbreaks to providing vaccinations and supporting vulnerable families." Their lawsuit, filed in late April, alleged $11 billion in cuts to US centres for disease control and prevention programs had already been approved by Congress and are being unconstitutionally withheld. They also argued that the administration's actions violate department of health and human services regulations. The cities and counties argued the cuts were "a massive blow to US public health at a time where state and local public health departments need to address burgeoning infectious diseases and chronic illnesses, like the measles, bird flu, and mpox." The cuts would lead to thousands of state and local public health employees being fired, the lawsuit argued. The local governments, alongside the American federation of state, county and municipal employees union, wanted the court to reinstate the grants nationwide. But Cooper said in his preliminary injunction that the funds can only be blocked to the four municipalities and in a May 21 hearing expressed skepticism about whether it could apply more widely. The funding in question was granted during the Covid-19 pandemic but aimed at building up public health infrastructure overall, Menefee said in a statement in April. The four local governments were owed about $32.7 million in future grant payments, Cooper's opinion notes. The federal government's lawyers said the grants were legally cut because, "Now that the pandemic is over, the grants and cooperative agreements are no longer necessary as their limited purpose has run out." They used the same argument in the case brought by 23 states and the District of Columbia over the HHS funding clawback. Menefee said the cuts defunded programs in Harris County for wastewater disease surveillance, community health workers and clinics and call centres that helped people get vaccinated. Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said the cuts forced the city to fire 11 of its 22 infectious disease staffers. Nashville used some of its grant money to support programs, including a "strike team" that after the pandemic addressed gaps in health services that kept kids from being able to enrol in school, according to the lawsuit. Kansas City used one of its grants to build out capabilities to test locally for Covid-19, influenza and measles rather than waiting for results from the county lab. The suit details that after four years of work to certify facilities and train staff, the city "was at the final step" of buying lab equipment when the grant was canceled. Representatives for HHS, the CDC and the cities did not immediately respond to requests for comment Tuesday.
Time of India
38 minutes ago
- Time of India
Croatia Backs India's Operation Sindoor, Anti-Terror Stance Ahead of PM Modi's Visit After G7 Summit
Prime Minister Narendra Modi concluded his impactful visit to Canada for the G7 Summit and has now arrived in Croatia. During the G7 Summit, PM Modi reiterated India's commitment to global peace, prosperity, and security. As he departed, he thanked Canada for hosting a successful summit. In Croatia, Indian Ambassador Arun Goel praised the country's unwavering support to India in the aftermath of the Pahalgam terror attack. Referring to India's decisive yet restrained response through Operation Sindoor, Goel shared how Croatians—having themselves faced terrorism—deeply resonated with India's pain and actions. He also highlighted Croatia's potential contribution to India's Indo-Pacific strategy through its EU and NATO ties. From counter-terrorism cooperation to strategic diplomacy, Modi's visit to Croatia marks a significant step in India's growing global alignment.#pmmodi #modiinCroatia #OperationSindoor #G7Summit2025 #IndiaCroatiaTies #IndoPacific #ModiAbroad #GlobalTerror #NarendraModi #CroatiaSupportsIndia #IndiaEUrelations #toi #toibharat #bharat #breakingnews #indianews
New Indian Express
39 minutes ago
- New Indian Express
Sounds of explosions are too close for them to feel safe, says Indian students in Tehran amid Israel-Iran conflict
HYDERABAD: While 110 Indian students at Urmia University of Medical Sciences in Iran have been relocated to neighbouring Armenia, there seems to be no immediate end to the anxiety of those studying at the Tehran University of Medical Sciences (TUMS). Through a video message, the Indian students at TUMS said that they have been shifted to relatively safer locations within Tehran following the attack by Israel. However, the sounds of explosions are too close for them to feel safe. The students said that the hostels they are residing in have been damaged. 'We have been living in constant fear for the past five days. We are hearing explosions and are unable to sleep,' said one of the students. Meanwhile, the students of Urmia thanked the Indian Embassy for relocating them safely to Armenia. Muskan Shabir, a 4th-year MBBS student, said, 'Exactly 110 students of Urmia University have been accommodated in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. Three days ago, we were in a terrible situation, but now we are safe.'
