Maharashtra Scraps Hindi Language Mandate in Schools Following Backlash

In response to growing protests regarding the imposition of Hindi in Maharashtra schools, the state government has revoked two key resolutions related to its language policy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis confirmed the decision during a press briefing in Mumbai. A committee under the leadership of educationist Narendra Jadhav will now be responsible for recommending the future course of action for the policy’s implementation. Fadnavis highlighted that the earlier government resolutions, issued in April and June, had designated Hindi as a mandatory third language for students in classes 1 to 5 within English and Marathi medium schools. The government later amended the policy to make Hindi an optional subject due to public and political opposition. Furthermore, Fadnavis asserted that the previous Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray, had previously agreed with the recommendations of the Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar committee regarding the three-language policy’s implementation.