Maharashtra govt withdraws Hindi GRs amid protests, forms new committee to review language policy

Maharashtra Govt Withdraws Hindi GRs

Amid growing criticism and planned protests, the Maharashtra government on Sunday withdrew two controversial government resolutions (GRs) mandating the compulsory teaching of Hindi and enforcing the three-language formula in schools. The announcement comes just ahead of the monsoon session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.

Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, addressing a press conference after a cabinet meeting, confirmed the cancellation of the GRs issued on April 16 and June 17. He said that a new expert committee headed by Dr Narendra Jadhav will be constituted to re-evaluate the issue in detail before any fresh decision is made.

Reassuring students and parents, Fadnavis emphasised that the state's education policy will remain student-friendly and that the interests of Marathi-speaking students will be prioritised. “There is no intention to politicise this sensitive matter,” he stated.

The upcoming committee will closely examine the recommendations of the earlier Mashelkar Committee, particularly in the context of the Academic Bank of Credit (ABC) framework. Fadnavis warned that improper implementation of the language policy could disadvantage Maharashtra students in credit transfers compared to those in other states.

Highlighting the political context, the Chief Minister pointed out that the Mashelkar report—suggesting Hindi and English be taught as second languages from Grade 1—had been accepted during Uddhav Thackeray’s tenure as CM. He presented documents bearing Thackeray’s signature to counter allegations that the policy was introduced by the current government.

Deputy CM Ajit Pawar urged protest groups to call off their July 5 march in light of the government’s reversal. The CM added that the new committee will consult all stakeholders before finalising a revised policy, ensuring that students’ academic interests remain unaffected.

Meanwhile, political tensions remained high. Leaders from Shiv Sena (UBT) and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), including Uddhav Thackeray, Aaditya Thackeray, and Raj Thackeray, had planned mass protests against the GRs. On Sunday, Uddhav and his supporters symbolically burned copies of the resolutions. Following the withdrawal, Uddhav announced a celebration event on July 5 instead of the planned agitation, crediting public unity for the government’s retreat.

Raj Thackeray also welcomed the decision but issued a stern warning against future attempts to impose Hindi in the state. “Maharashtrians have made it clear—this kind of imposition will never be accepted again,” he said.

By reversing the GRs and promising a fresh review, the Maharashtra government aims to ease tensions and create consensus around its school language policy—one that aligns with academic goals while respecting regional identity.