Maharashtra rolls back order making Hindi compulsory third language in schools

While the three-language policy would still take effect, students would not be required to study Hindi as their third language, according to a report.

The three-language formula refers to teaching students English, Hindi and the native language of a state. It was introduced in the first National Education Policy in 1968 and was retained in the new policy introduced in 2020.

On April 16, the state government announced a plan to implement the 2020 National Education Policy from the academic year 2025-’26.

The plan made it compulsory for students in Class 1 to Class 5 in Marathi and English medium schools to learn Hindi as the third language. The policy’s three-language formula would have replaced the two-language structure in these schools.

The phased implementation of the plan was to begin with Class 1 in 2025-’26 and cover all classes by 2028-’29.