President nod to Hindi medium teaching

President Pranab Mukherjee has accepted the recommendation of a parliamentary committee for giving students option to take their examinations or interviews in Hindi at the higher educational institutions located in non-Hindi speaking states.

He also accepted the panel’s suggestion that the Human Resource Development Ministry should work out an action plan for implementing ‘Hindi teaching scheme’ at all higher educational institutions to help Hindi medium students study in their language.

In its ninth report to Parliament in 2011, the Committee of Parliament on Official Language noted that English was the only medium of instruction in some universities and higher educational institutes which were set up under laws passed by Parliament or respective Legislative Assembly of states.

It suggested bringing in ‘a uniform policy’ to implement ‘Hindi teaching scheme’ at all such higher educational institutions so that Hindi medium students can study in their own language.

The HRD ministry should initiate the process for implementing the scheme under ‘a common law,’ the panel also recommended.