Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has issued an official directive mandating Hindi as a third language for students in Marathi and English medium schools from classes 1 to 5. The decision is part of the implementation of the State Curriculum Framework for School Education 2024, aligned with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020.

The government order, issued by the Maharashtra School Education Department on Tuesday, states that students must generally study Hindi as the third language. However, it provides a conditional option: if 20 students from a single standard in a school opt for another language, a teacher will be appointed or the language will be taught online.

Contradiction to previous assurance

The latest directive has sparked criticism, particularly because it appears to contradict earlier assurances by School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. On April 22, Bhuse had said that Hindi would not be compulsory in classes 1 to 5. Last month in Pune, he added, “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 the three-language formula was “on hold” and schools would continue with the existing two-language system for the time being.

Marathi language advocates raise concerns

Language rights activists have accused the government of bringing back the policy through indirect means. Deepak Pawar of the Mumbai-based Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra said, “This is nothing but the backdoor imposition of Hindi.”

He alleged that the move betrays the Marathi-speaking community and warned that remaining silent would threaten the legacy of the Samyukta Maharashtra movement and India’s federal structure.

Practical challenges flagged by experts

Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of the Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, expressed doubts about the practicality of the opt-out provision. “The provision to make teacher available online is also an attempt to discourage opting for any other language than Hindi,” he said.

He added, “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.”

Kalpande also pointed out that Hindi is not mandatory as a third language in Gujarat or Assam.

Three-language rule for other mediums

For schools with other mediums of instruction, the government order mandates that the three-language formula must include the medium of instruction, Marathi, and English