Maharashtra Government Revokes Hindi Mandate in Three-Language Policy Amid Political Outcry

In a significant policy reversal, the Maharashtra government, led by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has decided to revoke two controversial Government Resolutions (GRs) that introduced Hindi as the third language in primary education. The move comes ahead of the state legislature's monsoon session and follows a storm of protests, public agitation, and dissent within political allies of the ruling coalition. The government has also announced the formation of a new committee, headed by Dr. Narendra Jadhav, to re-examine the state’s three-language formula.
 

The Controversial Resolutions
 

The first GR, dated April 16, 2025, mandated the inclusion of Hindi as the third language for students from Classes 1 to 5. The second GR, issued on June 17, attempted to ease the mandate by making Hindi optional. However, both resolutions faced widespread backlash from opposition parties, cultural organizations, and sections of civil society, who accused the government of imposing Hindi on non-Hindi-speaking students in the state.

Protests erupted across Maharashtra, with leaders of Shiv Sena (UBT), Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), and other regional parties accusing the BJP-led government of undermining Marathi pride and regional identity. Copies of the controversial GRs were publicly burned by activists, symbolizing the deep unrest that the policy had sparked.

Fadnavis Responds to Political Backlash
 

Addressing the media after a crucial cabinet meeting at the Sahyadri Guest House, CM Fadnavis announced the withdrawal of the GRs and reassured citizens that the state government prioritizes consensus and inclusivity in education. "We discussed the three-language policy at length in the cabinet and decided to cancel the GRs issued on April 16 and June 17. A committee will be formed under Dr. Narendra Jadhav to examine how the policy should be implemented, from which class it should start, and what language choices students should have," he stated.

Flanked by Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, Fadnavis emphasized that Marathi remains the state’s top linguistic priority. "Our government had always given the highest priority to Marathi, making it mandatory. As far as Hindi is concerned, we had made it the third language, which was optional," he said, underscoring that the policy was not intended as an imposition but rather an effort to enhance linguistic competence among students.

Political Ramifications
 

The revocation of the GRs is being seen as a major climbdown by the government, particularly in the face of upcoming protests announced by political heavyweights like Raj Thackeray and Uddhav Thackeray. The agitation, scheduled for July 5, aimed to mobilize public opinion against what was perceived as cultural encroachment.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar and Eknath Shinde are reported to have had reservations about the Hindi inclusion, fearing it would alienate core voter bases and reignite the Marathi Asmita (regional pride) narrative, which the opposition has leveraged to great effect.

Reacting to the announcement, MNS chief Raj Thackeray remarked, "We believe both controversial GRs on three-language policy have been cancelled for good. It better be, or else, we will not allow the Narendra Jadhav committee to work."

The Policy Under Scrutiny
 

The original April 16 GR sparked immediate criticism, with many viewing it as a unilateral decision that disregarded linguistic diversity. Critics argued that making Hindi a default third language in a non-Hindi speaking state undermines the spirit of linguistic federalism.

Following initial backlash, Education Minister Dada Bhuse had on April 22 declared that Hindi would not be mandatory and promised a revised GR to clarify the policy. However, the June 17 revision still triggered concern by suggesting that Hindi would "generally" be the third language, with the provision to opt for another Indian language only if at least 20 students per class made such a request.

This clause, critics said, effectively positioned Hindi as the default option, making it difficult for students to access alternatives. The Opposition charged that such language imposition could marginalize regional languages and cultures.

Clarifications and Committee Formation
 

Following mounting pressure, Fadnavis held a high-level meeting on June 23 and announced that no final decision would be taken without consulting key stakeholders—including educators, language experts, and community leaders.

On June 26, Education Minister Bhuse attempted to pacify critics by announcing that students in Classes 1 and 2 would only be taught the third language in spoken form, while reading and writing would begin from Class 3. He also stated that schools could choose any of the 22 officially recognized Indian languages as the third language. The 20-student clause, he clarified, only applied when government support for teacher recruitment was necessary. For smaller groups, online learning platforms would be used.

Despite these clarifications, pressure continued to mount, forcing the government to revoke both GRs completely.

Allegations Against the Opposition
 

In a pointed rebuttal to critics, Fadnavis accused the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government, led by Uddhav Thackeray, of having laid the groundwork for the current policy. He presented documents indicating that the MVA had accepted the recommendations of a committee led by Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar, which proposed making both English and Hindi compulsory. Fadnavis claimed that Thackeray’s regime had accepted the 150-page report without opposition and had even constituted a sub-committee to draft implementation rules.

"Apart from learned experts and academics, deputy Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Vijay Kadam was also part of the committee, which recommended English and Hindi as compulsory languages," said Fadnavis. He suggested that the current outrage was politically motivated and inconsistent with the Opposition’s past actions.
 

The Way Forward
 

The newly formed committee under Dr. Narendra Jadhav is expected to consult a wide range of stakeholders before submitting its recommendations. The state government aims to develop a balanced, inclusive language policy that respects regional identity while preparing students for national and global challenges.

Fadnavis concluded his remarks by reiterating the government's intention to build consensus and keep politics out of education. "We don’t want to bring politics in education. The three-language policy was to help Marathi medium students score extra credits," he said.

Conclusion
 

The Maharashtra government’s withdrawal of the controversial GRs marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing debate over language and identity in Indian education. It reflects the delicate balancing act governments must perform between promoting national integration and preserving regional diversity. With a new expert committee set to deliberate the future of the state’s language policy, stakeholders across the spectrum hope for a more consultative, inclusive approach going forward.