Maharashtra Notifies Hindi as Third Language in Schools, With Opt-Out Clause for 20 Students Per Class
Maharashtra Withdraws Three-Language Policy GRs Amid Hindi Row; CM Fadnavis Orders Review Panel
In a move aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Maharashtra government has mandated Hindi as the third language for students from Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. The new notification, issued by the School Education Department on Tuesday, has sparked fresh debate due to its conditional opt-out provision.
Key Highlights of the Notification
As per the order, Hindi will be taught as the third language “generally” across schools. However, if at least 20 students in a single standard opt for an alternative Indian language instead of Hindi, the school will be required to either appoint a teacher or provide online instruction for the chosen language.
The move is part of the State Curriculum Framework for School Education 2024, designed to implement the NEP 2020 more effectively in Maharashtra’s schooling system.
Conditional Language Choice Option
“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,” the order reads.
For schools that follow other mediums of instruction, the three-language formula must include the medium language, Marathi, and English.
Political and Public Backlash
The order has revived criticism over the alleged imposition of Hindi. Activist Deepak Pawar of the Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra termed it a “backdoor” attempt to push Hindi, calling it a betrayal of the legacy of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement.
Earlier this year, following backlash, School Education Minister Deepak Kesarkar Bhuse had stated that Hindi would not be compulsory and hinted at deferring its introduction to Class 3 instead. The latest notification contradicts that stance, leading to renewed opposition.
Experts Express Concern
Educationist Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of the state education board, raised practical concerns:
“It is rare to have 20 students in one class opting for another language. The provision for online teaching further discourages any language preference other than Hindi,” he said.
He also noted that Hindi is not compulsory in states like Gujarat or Assam, and highlighted the difficulty for young students to simultaneously grasp the nuances of both Marathi and Hindi scripts.
