The Maharashtra government’s language consultation committee has strongly objected to the decision mandating Hindi as a compulsory third language from Class 1 in all state board schools.
In a unanimous resolution passed on Sunday, the committee, led by Laxmikant Deshmukh, urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to revoke the directive issued by the School Education Department on April 16.
The controversial move aligns with the National Education Policy (NEP), requiring Hindi, Marathi, and English to be taught from the first standard.
The panel argues that such a decision could undermine linguistic diversity and put additional pressure on young students, especially in non-Hindi-speaking regions.
However, Rahul Ashok Rekhawar, Director of SCERT, defended the decision, stating:
“It has been made in view of appointments and overall development. Students will benefit in the long run.”
The decision has sparked political debate and public backlash, with many educational and cultural groups demanding greater consultation before implementing language mandates.
