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Fadnavis’ remarks came after Maharashtra government made the teaching of Hindi compulsory as a third language from Class 1 in all state board schools.
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis. (PTI)
Maharashtra language row: Amid the ongoing row over mandating Hindi as a third language in Maharashtra schools as part on New Education Policy (NEP), Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Sunday clarified that Hindi has not been made mandatory in place of Marathi and asserted that Marathi is non-negotiable and must be taught to students from class one.
He further said that learning additional languages remains a personal choice.
While speaking to the reporters in Pune, Fadnavis said, “The first thing to understand is that Hindi has not been made mandatory in place of Marathi; Marathi remains compulsory.”
The Chief Minister further said it is not correct to say that Hindi is being imposed on Marathi people.
Pune | On Hindi being included as a third language in Maharashtra’s schools, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, “The first thing to understand is that Hindi has not been made mandatory in place of Marathi; Marathi remains compulsory. However, the New Education Policy (NEP)… pic.twitter.com/p3CnnuwRNJ— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2025
“The New Education Policy (NEP) offers an opportunity to learn three languages, and learning three languages is mandatory. According to the policy, two of these three languages must be Indian languages…To say that Hindi is being imposed is incorrect. Marathi will remain mandatory in Maharashtra,” he added.
Fadnavis further expressed surprise at the opposition to Hindi and the growing preference for English, saying that he finds it curious on why Indian languages feel distant while English feels closer.
“I am often surprised that while we oppose an Indian language like Hindi, we praise and carry English on our shoulders. I find it curious why Indian languages feel distant to us while English feels closer. This is something that we need to think about,” he added.
Earlier on Saturday, Fadnavis said, “Marathi language is compulsory in Maharashtra; everyone should learn it. Additionally, if you wish to learn other languages, you can do so. Opposition to Hindi and promotion of English is surprising. If someone opposes Marathi, then it will not be tolerated.”
Fadnavis’ remarks came after Maharashtra government made the teaching of Hindi compulsory as a third language from Class 1 in all state board schools, alongside Marathi and English under the NEP.
A Government Resolution (GR) issued on April 17 mentioned Hindi as a third language will be compulsory from Class 1 to 5 from the next academic year and the new syllabus as per the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, will be implemented for Class 1 in 2025-26.
The GR said the policy would be implemented in 2026-27 for Class 2, 3, 4 and 6. While for Classes 5, 9 and 11, the policy would be implemented from 2027-28, and for Classes 8, 10 and 12 it would apply from 2028-29.
Maharashtra Language Panel Urges To Revoke Decision
Earlier today, a language consultation panel of the Maharashtra government opposed the decision. The panel’s chief Laxmikant Deshmukh has written to CM Fadnavis requesting him to revoke the decision which made teaching Hindi compulsory as a third language from Class 1 to 5 in all state board schools, alongside Marathi and English, a HT report said.
Opposition Slams Move
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray on Saturday asserted that his party will not allow making Hindi compulsory in Maharashtra. Addressing an event of the Bharatiya Kamgar Sena, Thackeray said his party has no aversion to the Hindi language but asked why it is being forced.
Nationalist Congress Party (SCP) MP Supriya Sule called the decision a “consipracy” to finish the SSC board.
Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) chief Raj Thackeray took strong objection to the decision saying that “the party will not allow the Centre’s current efforts to ‘Hindi-fy’ everything to succeed in Maharashtra”.
He had also announced that the MNS would not tolerate this compulsion while appealing to the state government to immediately withdraw this decision.
(With inputs from agencies)
