As per the new school curriculum, Hindi is now compulsory in Maharashtra as the third language after English and Marathi for students in classes 1 to 5. The language will be required in all Marathi and English-medium schools in the state, instead of the current dual-language approach. As part of the new curriculum implementation, Maharashtra's three-language formula for these classes was established by the National Education Policy (NEP). The new curricular framework, which was created following NEP 2020 regulations, will be implemented in phases, the education department announced on April 16. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the central government wants one language of communication in India.
He said, “Look, we are already implementing the new education policy. This is not a new notification. In education policy, we are trying to ensure that everyone knows Marathi, and at the same time, they should also know the language of their country. So, I think that through this medium, the central government has thought that there should be one language of communication in our country. We have already decided that Marathi should be compulsory in Maharashtra. Everyone in Maharashtra will have to learn Marathi, but at the same time, they will be able to learn English, Hindi, and if they want to learn any other language, they will be able to learn that too.”
According to the Government Resolution (GR), English and Marathi are mandatory to teach in the state, hence, these languages are already taught in other medium schools. The language used as their medium of instruction is also taught at these schools. In contrast, just two languages were taught in schools that were Marathi and English-medium.
According to the GR, the implementation of the NEP 2020-recommended 5+3+3+4 school education system has begun. Regardless of the method of instruction, all three languages—Hindi, English, and Marathi—will now be studied by students in Classes 1 through 5. In order to guarantee the inclusion of both Marathi and English, Hindi will be taught as a third language in both Marathi and English-medium schools. Other mediums will follow a similar pattern.
Following national policy directions, language education shall follow the State Curriculum Framework starting in class 6. Beginning with Class 1 in the academic year 2025–2026, the school education department has announced the phased implementation plan for the new structure. Beginning with Class 1 in the next academic year, the three-language formula will also be applied in accordance with the phases that have been specified.
The National Council of Educational Research and Training's (NCERT) curriculum will now serve as the foundation for the Maharashtra State Board's textbooks, with adjustments made to reflect the local context of Maharashtra, particularly in areas like languages and social science. Thus, the state textbook bureau, Balbharati, is publishing Class 1 textbooks.