'Hindi as third language' no longer mandatory in Maharashtra schools
Students can now opt for other Indian languages
Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has withdrawn its earlier mandate making Hindi a compulsory third language in primary schools.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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Delhi Police refutes WB CM's assault claim on Bengali-speaking migrants, calls video 'fabricated'
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police called a video shared by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on social media, alleging that a Bengali-speaking woman and her child were assaulted in the national capital for speaking their language, "fabricated" and "politically motivated."
Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Abhishek Dhania on Monday said that the police took immediate cognizance of the video shared on platform 'X' by the West Bengal CM, where she claimed that the woman and her child were brutally assaulted by Delhi Police personnel.
"Upon inquiry, we identified the woman as Sanjanu Parveen. During questioning, she alleged that on the night of July 26, four men in plain clothes posing as police personnel took her and her child to a secluded spot and demanded Rs 25,000, which she claimed to have paid," Dhania said.
However, the DCP said that a detailed investigation, including analysis of CCTV footage and local intelligence, revealed inconsistencies in her story.
"During sustained questioning, the woman admitted that her relative, a political worker from Malda district in West Bengal, had asked her to make the video. The video was then circulated locally in Bengal and later surfaced on social media," the officer said.
Terming the video "baseless and fabricated", Dhania added that the footage was deliberately created to defame the Delhi Police.
"This appears to be a deliberate attempt to malign the image of Delhi Police through a politically motivated narrative. The matter is still under investigation," he said.
