Maharashtra Scraps Controversial Three-Language Policy Resolution, Forms Panel For Review

Amid political uproar and public protests, the Maharashtra government has withdrawn two resolutions related to its contentious three-language policy for schools. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced on Saturday that a new committee, headed by educationist and economist Dr. Narendra Jadhav, will now review the policy and suggest the way forward.

Addressing the media after a state Cabinet meeting, Fadnavis said, “A committee will be formed under the leadership of Dr. Narendra Jadhav to decide from which standard the three-language formula should be introduced, how it should be implemented, and what choices students should be given. Until the panel submits its report, both Government Resolutions (GRs) dated April 16 and June 17 are cancelled.”

The announcement came just hours after Shiv Sena (UBT) led by Uddhav Thackeray staged protests across Maharashtra, burning copies of the June 17 resolution. The now-withdrawn GR had clarified that Hindi would “generally” be the third language, though not mandatory, for Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English medium schools. It also said that schools would be required to provide instruction in other Indian languages if at least 20 students in a class opted for one.

The protests sparked a renewed debate over the alleged imposition of Hindi in non-Hindi-speaking states. While Fadnavis reiterated the government’s commitment to promoting Marathi, he also took a swipe at Uddhav Thackeray, accusing him of double standards. “When he was Chief Minister, Uddhav Thackeray accepted the Mashelkar Committee’s recommendations to implement the three-language policy from Classes 1 to 12 and even set up an implementation panel. Now, he protests against Hindi while embracing English,” said Fadnavis.

The controversy initially began with the April 16 GR, which made Hindi a compulsory third language for students from Classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools. Following widespread criticism, the government softened its stance with the June 17 amendment, making Hindi optional — but that too was met with resistance from regional parties and civil society groups.

The row had also led to a rare political alignment between estranged cousins Uddhav and Raj Thackeray, who jointly announced a protest scheduled for July 5. With the government now rolling back both resolutions, the planned demonstration has been called off.

The language debate has taken center stage in Maharashtra just as civic elections in Mumbai approach, with parties leveraging linguistic identity and education policy to mobilize voters. The Fadnavis government now awaits the Jadhav Committee's recommendations, which are expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future of language education in the state.