June 27, 2025 — In a significant move aimed at reducing the academic burden on young learners and enhancing multilingual proficiency, the Maharashtra government has revised its three-language formula for early grades. Under the updated policy, Hindi will be taught orally in Classes 1 and 2 without the use of textbooks or formal examinations.
The revised plan, issued by the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT), will be implemented in all government and aided schools across Maharashtra from the 2024–25 academic session. The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which advocates for flexible, foundational, and inclusive language learning in the early years of schooling.
As per the revised structure, students from Classes 1 to 8 will continue to study three languages:
- Marathi as the first language,
- English as the second language, and
- Hindi as the third language.
However, in Classes 1 and 2, the teaching of Hindi will be limited to oral skills only. The SCERT has clarified that there will be no Hindi textbooks or written assessments during this period. Instead, students will be exposed to the language through listening and speaking activities, stories, rhymes, and interactive sessions.
According to officials, this decision is rooted in the belief that introducing reading and writing in three languages simultaneously may overwhelm young learners. “Children will be gradually introduced to Hindi in a natural manner through oral exposure. Formal teaching, including reading and writing, will begin from Class 3,” an SCERT official stated.
From Class 3 onwards, Hindi will be taught using textbooks and will include writing, reading, and formal assessments as per the standard academic framework.
The policy revision is being welcomed by education experts and child development specialists, who believe it will ease pressure on early-grade students while encouraging effective language acquisition. “This approach is developmentally appropriate. Young children need time to build oral vocabulary before engaging in literacy tasks in multiple languages,” said Dr. Anjali Deshmukh, an early education specialist.
The SCERT has also planned capacity-building workshops for teachers to help them adopt the new methodology and integrate oral language teaching strategies into their daily classroom routines. Learning materials and audio resources in Hindi are being developed to support this transition.
Meanwhile, private unaided schools will have the flexibility to choose the third language, although they are encouraged to align with the state’s vision for balanced multilingual development.
The revised language policy reflects Maharashtra’s broader efforts to implement NEP 2020 in a phased and student-centric manner. With its emphasis on foundational literacy, multilingualism, and reduced academic stress in the formative years, the new approach is expected to reshape the language-learning landscape in the state’s primary education system.
