Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has withdrawn its earlier mandate making Hindi a compulsory third language in primary schools. In a revised Government Resolution (GR) issued on Tuesday, students in Classes 1 to 5 studying in Marathi and English-medium schools will now have the option to choose another Indian language instead of Hindi, provided certain conditions are met.
According to the new guidelines from the state school education department, if at least 20 students in a class opt for a language other than Hindi, the school will appoint a dedicated teacher for that subject. If the number falls below 20, the alternative language will be offered through online instruction.
The corrigendum, referring to the State Curriculum Framework – School Education 2024, specifies: “Hindi will generally be the third language from Class 1 to 5. However, students who wish to study a different Indian language shall be permitted to do so.” This move is being seen as a shift towards linguistic inclusivity while retaining the core curriculum structure.
For schools with mediums of instruction other than Marathi or English, the three-language formula will include the medium language, Marathi (which remains mandatory), and English.
The revised policy follows widespread protests and political opposition that emerged after the initial order was issued earlier this year. Parties such as the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) had criticized the move as an imposition of Hindi, leading to street-level agitations and demands for withdrawal.
The matter was taken up by the state’s language consultation committee, which recommended revoking the mandatory Hindi clause. Education Minister Dada Bhuse had subsequently announced a temporary hold on the decision and promised a review.
The new resolution formalises that review and offers schools and students flexibility while keeping Marathi compulsory across all formats. For students in Classes 6 to 10, the language structure will remain as per the existing curriculum framework.
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Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Science and Technology Minister N S Boseraju on Tuesday said the state is set to witness a historic moment in India’s scientific journey as the state government is all set to host Nobel laureates Duncan Haldane and David Gross for an exclusive dialogue on July 30.
The interaction precedes the nation’s first-ever Quantum India Bengaluru Summit, scheduled on July 31 and August 1, officials said.
“Under the visionary leadership of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar, our government is laying the groundwork to position Karnataka as India’s Quantum Capital. This dialogue with Nobel Laureates marks the beginning of a long-term roadmap to integrate quantum innovation into Karnataka’s development blueprint,” the Minister said in a statement.
With Bengaluru already recognised as the nation’s innovation nucleus, Karnataka is accelerating efforts to harness quantum technologies for economic and social transformation.
From IT and aerospace to cutting-edge quantum frontiers, the state aims to strengthen its position on the global innovation map, he added.
According to him, the dialogue will facilitate high-level discussions between the Nobel Laureates and Karnataka’s top officials, including the Principal Secretaries of Industries, IT and BT, and Higher Education. The exchange is expected to pave the way for advancing quantum research, infrastructure, and collaborations with global experts.
"The presence of Nobel Laureates at the Quantum India Bengaluru Summit underscores the international significance of the event, which will bring together global and national leaders in quantum science, placing Karnataka at the epicenter of India’s quantum revolution," he added.