Maharashtra govt stays order to make Hindi mandatory for Classes 1 to 5

Mumbai: Amid mounting pressure and criticism, the Devendra Fadnavis-headed Maha Yuti-NDA dispensation took a U-turn and decided not to make Hindi mandatory as a third language  for Class 1-5 of Marathi and English medium but optional.

The implementation of the New Education Policy 2020 has triggered a major controversy in Maharashtra with the government facing a major backlash because of the three-language formula.

“Hindi is not compulsory, but optional under the three-language formula under NEP,” state School Education Minister Dada Bhuse said. 

“You can opt for any third language as per choice depending on the number of students,” state Industries Minister Uday Samant said. 

Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) President Raj Thackeray and Shiv Sena (UBT) head Uddhav Thackeray saying that they would not allow compulsory Hindi language to be implemented in schools. 

Clarifying the government’s stand on promoting the Hindi language, Bhuse said  that nothing Marathi and Hindi is written in  the Devanagari script.

“From Class 5, the Hindi language is already part of the curriculum. Hence, Hindi was introduced from Class 1, as it would be easy and convenient for students. Marathi and English are compulsory. So, if any students are asking for or opting for a third language other than Hindi, we will see how many students are requesting it and whether there is availability of teachers to teach the same,” he said.

It may be mentioned, Language Consultation Committee's Chairperson Laxmikant Deshmukh  had written to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, urging him to reverse the decision. The opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi had slammed the MahaYuti for implementing the New Education Policy  and making Hindi as a the third language from Class 1 from 2025-26 - through a government resolution on 17 April. 

The GR said the policy would be implemented in 2026-27 for Class 2, 3, 4 and 6. While for Classes 5, 9 and 11, the policy would be implemented from 2027-28, and for Classes 8, 10 and 12 it would apply from 2028-29.