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 violating 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 all affiliated schools and made it clear that non-compliance would not be tolerated.
Inspection unit to monitor compliance
To ensure that the policy is uniformly implemented, the state government will launch a special inspection drive in Maharashtra. Inspections will verify whether schools are teaching Marathi as directed.Bhuse said any violation detected during the inspections would invite strict action against the concerned schools 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.
Problem raised in the Assembly due to poor application
The matter arose after BJP MP Atul Bhatkhalkar questioned the government over reports that several schools had not implemented the mandatory requirement of teaching Marathi.During the discussion, lawmakers expressed concern that penalties imposed on non-compliant 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.In response to these concerns, Bhuse reiterated that the government would take a stricter approach through inspections and enforcement measures.
More attention Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in textbooks
On the language policy side, Bhuse said the government has significantly expanded the coverage of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in school textbooks.According to the minister, the textbooks of some education boards had earlier devoted only around one and a half columns to the Maratha ruler. He said the revised content now spans 22 pages after receiving approval from the central government, enabling students to study Shivaji Maharaj’s life, achievements and contributions in greater detail.The minister said the initiative reflects the state’s commitment to ensure that students receive a comprehensive understanding of the history and cultural heritage of Maharashtra.
The government reiterates its commitment
Bhuse said the Maharashtra government remains committed to promoting Marathi and preserving the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. He stressed that all schools must strictly comply with the prescribed regulations and warned that negligence or violations would invite action.The minister’s announcement signals a tougher enforcement approach, with the government focusing on both language education and curricular changes aimed at strengthening students’ connection to Maharashtra’s linguistic and historical heritage.
It comes after the announcement of CBSE’s tri-language formula
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.According to 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 sit a third language exam when they reach grade 10.The board has also declared that students who had already opted for two foreign languages in classes 7 to 9 can continue with those subjects while studying an additional Indian language (Bhartiya Bhasha). CBSE has further said that grade-appropriate learning resources for the revised language policy will be available on a time-limited basis.