The Maharashtra government has made it mandatory for all affiliated schools in the state to teach Marathi from classes 1 to 10, Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced on Monday. The minister said institutions that do not comply with the directive will face strict action as the government moves to strengthen the implementation of the State’s language policy.The announcement was made while Bhuse was addressing the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly during the Monsoon Session. He said the government has already issued instructions to ensure compulsory teaching of Marathi in every affiliated school and made it clear that non-compliance would not be tolerated.
Inspection units to monitor compliance
To ensure that the policy is implemented uniformly, the state government will launch a special inspection campaign across Maharashtra. Inspections will check whether schools are teaching Marathi as mandated.Bhuse said any violations detected during the inspections will invite strict action against the schools concerned, as well as the officials responsible for enforcing the rules.“The Maharashtra government is fully committed to the preservation, promotion and propagation of the Marathi language,” the minister said while assuring the Assembly that the administration would closely monitor the implementation.
Question raised in the Assembly on a bad execution
The matter came after BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar questioned the government over reports that many schools have not implemented the mandatory requirement of teaching Marathi.During the discussion, lawmakers expressed concern that the penalties imposed on defaulting schools were insufficient and that existing regulations were not being effectively enforced. They urged the government to strengthen implementation and ensure that schools follow the prescribed norms.Responding to these concerns, Bhuse countered that the government would adopt a stricter approach through inspections and enforcement measures.
Greater focus on Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in textbooks
Alongside the language policy, Bhuse said the government has significantly expanded the coverage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in school books.According to the minister, the textbooks of some education boards had previously dedicated only about one and a half columns to the Maratha kingdom. He said that the revised content is now 22 pages after receiving approval from the Central Government, which enables students to study the life, achievements and contributions of Shivaji Maharaj in more detail.The minister said the initiative reflects the state’s commitment to ensure that students get a comprehensive understanding of Maharashtra’s history and cultural heritage.
The government reiterates the commitment
Bhuse said the Maharashtra government remains committed to promoting Marathi and preserving the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He emphasized that all schools must strictly comply with the prescribed regulations and warned that negligence or violations invite action.The minister’s announcement signals a tougher enforcement approach, with the government focusing on language education and curricular changes aimed at strengthening students’ connection with Maharashtra’s linguistic and historical heritage.
It comes after CBSE’s tri-language formula announcement
The announcement comes a day after the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) outlined its phased implementation of the three-language formula in schools across the country.Under the CBSE plan, students currently studying in Class 10 will not be affected by the revised policy. Similarly, students currently in Grades 7, 8 and 9 will not be required to take a third language exam when they reach Grade 10.The board also said that students who had already opted for two foreign languages ​​in Classes 7 to 9 could continue with those subjects while studying an additional Indian language (Bhartiya Bhasha). CBSE also said that grade-appropriate learning resources for the revised language policy will be made available in a time-bound manner.
