Maharashtra committee on three-language policy to submit final report on December 20

The committee to decide on the implementation of three-language policy in Maharashtra schools as per the National Education Policy 2020, will submit its final report to the State government on December 20.

The committee held its last and eighth public consultation in Mumbai on Friday (November 28, 2025) amid dissenting voices. Students, experts and political activists expressed their opinions during the consultation, which also saw some heated arguments.

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Dr. Narendra Jadhav, chairperson of the committee, said the report will not be made public and he will not disclose the recommendations of the committee.

Most of those who attended the public consultation expressed the opinion that while Marathi and English should be compulsory, Hindi should be introduced only later.

“We are trying to understand people’s opinions. That does not mean the report will be based on public consultations alone. Experts’ opinions will also be taken into consideration. We will hold a meeting with the experts before submitting the report,” Dr. Jadhav said.

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He did not answer The Hindu’s question on the weightage which will be given to public opinion while drafting the report. He also did not give details about the expert meetings, if any, were held till date.

He said that there were hardly any negative public opinions about the implementation of Hindi. “Nobody said we do not want Hindi. There was no vehement opposition to the language itself,” he said. None of the other committee members spoke with the media.

Deepak Pawar, head of Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Samiti, questioned the logic behind the exercise after several social and expert groups had opposed the implementation of Hindi in primary education. “We appeal to you to not become the bearers of the ‘Hindi, Hindu, Hindustan’ ideology of Reshimbaug, and don’t do injustice on Maharashtra,” he said.

One principal asked Mr. Jadhav to first provide teachers for the existing subjects, before putting forth new requirements. “The situation is such that there are no teachers for Maths, science. The government should first provide teachers to us,” Nanasaheb Punde, headmaster of Saraswati Vidyalay, Kanjur, told the committee.

Several students demanded that Sanskrit be introduced as the third language and should be given as an optional subject.