In a move that has stirred political and cultural debate, the Maharashtra government has made Hindi a compulsory third language in all non-Hindi medium schools across the state from academic year 2025-26. The directive has triggered a strong backlash from several Marathi language and cultural organizations, which have termed the decision a “backdoor imposition” of Hindi and a threat to the regional linguistic identity.
According to the state’s education department, the new rule will apply to students from Classes 6 to 8. The decision aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes a three-language formula for holistic language development. Under this model, Hindi will now be taught alongside English and Marathi in most schools, except those with Hindi as their primary medium.
While state officials argue that this policy aims to enhance national integration and linguistic fluency, critics see it as an attempt to undermine the prominence of Marathi. Several pro-Marathi groups, including the Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad and Shiv Sena (UBT), have openly opposed the move. They allege that this decision was made without consulting key stakeholders in the education sector and represents an attempt to “push Hindi through the backdoor.”
An official from the education department clarified that the move was based on central guidelines and not intended to diminish any regional language. “We are simply following the NEP’s vision to create multilingual citizens,” the official said.
However, leaders of various Marathi organizations maintain that the decision could marginalize regional languages in the long term. “Why is there a need to make Hindi compulsory when Marathi and English are already part of the curriculum? This is not about education, it’s about political motives,” said Dr. Sunil Deshpande, a language activist.
Opposition parties in the state have demanded a rollback of the decision, warning that it could lead to protests. The Congress party called the move “an insult to the state’s linguistic pride,” while NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) stated it would raise the issue in the next legislative session.
The policy has also created confusion among school administrators, who are concerned about the logistics of hiring qualified Hindi teachers, modifying syllabi, and ensuring a smooth implementation. Private schools in particular have requested more time and resources to accommodate the new directive.
Amid growing opposition, the government has said it is open to dialogue and will consider feedback from all stakeholders before finalizing implementation guidelines.
