Pune: Maharashtra Scraps Three-Language Policy Resolutions, Forms Panel Amid Hindi Imposition Row
Mumbai, June 29, 2025: The Maharashtra government has revoked two contentious resolutions on the three-language policy for schools following widespread backlash over allegations of “Hindi imposition.” Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of a committee led by educationist Dr. Narendra Jadhav to reevaluate the policy’s implementation.
The decision came after a state Cabinet meeting, where Fadnavis stated, “A committee under Dr. Jadhav will determine from which standard languages should be introduced, how they should be implemented, and what choices students should have. Until the committee submits its report, both Government Resolutions (GRs) issued on April 16 and June 17 stand cancelled.”
The April 16 GR had made Hindi a compulsory third language for Classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools, sparking protests from non-Hindi-speaking communities. The June 17 GR later clarified that Hindi would be “generally” the third language but not mandatory. However, opposition parties, including the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA), accused the government of pushing Hindi at the expense of regional languages.
Listen to CM Fadnavis annoucing scrapping fo GRs w.r.t three language policy in the video below; jump to time stamp 23.45 to specifically listen to this announcement:
#थेटप्रसारण
— MAHARASHTRA DGIPR (@MahaDGIPR) June 29, 2025
विधिमंडळाच्या पावसाळी अधिवेशनाच्या पूर्वसंध्येला मुख्यमंत्री @Dev_Fadnavis यांची पत्रकार परिषद…#LIVE#पावसाळीअधिवेशन२०२५#MonsoonSession2025
https://t.co/GMmFWNkFFy
Fadnavis emphasized the government’s commitment to promoting Marathi while defending the need for Hindi education, citing Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s advocacy for the language. The announcement followed Shiv Sena (UBT)-led protests, where demonstrators burned copies of the June 17 GR.
With Mumbai civic polls approaching, the language debate had briefly united estranged Thackeray brothers Uddhav and Raj, who planned a joint protest on July 5—now cancelled. The Dr. Jadhav-led panel has sought three months to finalize its recommendations.
