Mumbai: Under pressure from political leaders, educationists, and civil society groups, the Maharashtra government on Thursday clarified that Hindi will not be mandatory as a third language in state board schools. The move comes in response to strong backlash over a revised government resolution (GR) issued on June 17, which stated that Hindi will “in general” be the third language taught from Classes 1 to 5.
Speaking at a press conference at Mantralaya, School Education Minister Dada Bhuse stated,
“There is no compulsion to learn Hindi as a third language. Students can choose any of the 22 Indian languages.”
Bhuse further assured that in Classes 1 and 2, the emphasis would be only on listening and speaking skills, with written assessments starting from Class 3 onwards. He emphasized that schools will have autonomy in selecting the third language, based on student interest.
The clarification follows sharp criticism from MNS chief Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Uddhav Thackeray, both of whom voiced concerns about the perceived imposition of Hindi on Marathi-medium students.
Language Choice and Accessibility
Bhuse clarified the controversial clause in the GR requiring a minimum of 20 students to opt for an alternative language:
“This number is only for administrative purposes, especially to justify appointing a dedicated teacher. If fewer than 20 students wish to learn a non-Hindi language, schools can offer online teaching alternatives.”
An internal survey by the education department reportedly revealed demand for at least 15 Indian languages. The department currently has prepared material for 10 of them and plans to expand resources gradually for others.
Policy Alignment with NEP and Neuroscience
The revised language policy aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) and global child development research.
“Neuroscience and child psychology suggest that children between ages 2 and 8 are most capable of acquiring languages. Teaching a third language from Class 1 is supported by this science,” Bhuse said.
He added that students will also benefit from the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) system, earning points for language skills that will support their academic journey.
Stakeholder Consultation Underway
After intense opposition, the government has decided to proceed only after thorough stakeholder consultation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis chaired a high-level meeting earlier this week, directing that inputs be taken from language experts, educators, and political leaders before final implementation.
“We will conduct these consultations within the next eight days,” Bhuse confirmed.
Political Fallout and Public Reassurance
On Thursday, Bhuse met Raj Thackeray, who had vocally opposed making Hindi the default third language. When asked whether he would also meet Uddhav Thackeray, Bhuse said,
“Through the media, I am trying to directly reach the people of Maharashtra.”
At present, Hindi is introduced in Class 5 in most state board schools. The government also clarified that no new textbooks have been printed for Hindi beyond the current curriculum, allaying fears of a hurried rollout.