Hindi as a third language is no longer “mandatory” in Maharashtra School Level 1: Minister of Education

After Maharashtra’s controversy over Hindi and being obliged to be a third language in Level 1 schools, State Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse announced on Tuesday (22 April 2025) that Hindi will no longer be Indian education in grades 1 to 5.

Mr. Bhuse informed the issuance of the Government Resolution (GR) and removed the term “mandatory”. “We will frame the new rules in the study school, the number of students and the number of teachers teaching there and the post-structor structure. However, a three-language formula will be implemented and schools must adapt to other language choices.”

In citing the NEP Language Provisions 2020, Mr. Bhuse said: “The three-language formula will continue to be implemented, while keeping in mind the constitutional provisions, people’s aspirations, regions, alliances and needs to promote multilingual and unity. However, among the three languages, whether three languages, there will be a greater choice among all three to India.”

“In short, the center does not require any language. The three-language formula will still apply, but there is no need to study Hindi,” Mr Bhuse said.

Mr. Bhuse explained that Hindi is online as a third language, which is used for communication around the world.

A week ago, the Ministry of Education of Maharashtra Schools announced that Hindi will be a third-level language mandatory for Marathi and English secondary schools, i.e., Levels 1 to 5. Currently, in grades 1 to 4 of Marathi and English secondary schools, there are only two languages, Marathi and English.

The government’s decision raised criticism from opposition and linguistic experts. State Language Advisory Committee Chairman Laxmikant Deshmukh criticized the move, raising concerns about the cultural impact and asked the school education minister to make clarification.

A credit war followed after the government’s decision. Raj Thackeray claimed the state government’s decision was commendable, adding that the step was only taken by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena.