Hindi Now Mandatory as Third Language in Classes 1–5 in Maharashtra

In line with the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the Maharashtra school education department will implement a phase-wise curriculum reform starting 2025–26, making Hindi mandatory as a third language for Classes 1 to 5 in Marathi and English-medium schools.
This move aligns with the three-language formula, already followed by other medium schools, and aims to promote multilingual proficiency and national integration.
The rollout is aligned with NEP’s 5+3+3+4 structure, beginning from Class 1 in the Foundational Stage.

Mandatory Hindi (3rd Language)

• Hindi will now be compulsory as a third language for students in Classes 1 to 5.
• Applies to Marathi and English-medium schools in Maharashtra.

Three-Language Formula

• Already in place in other medium schools (e.g., Urdu, Gujarati), which include English, Marathi, and their medium language.
• Marathi and English-medium schools previously only taught two languages.

Curriculum Implementation Timeline

• Implementation will begin phase-wise from Class 1 in the academic year 2025–26.
• Aligned with NEP 2020’s recommended 5+3+3+4 education structure.

New Education Structure (NEP 2020)

• Foundational Stage: Pre-primary (3 years) + Classes 1–2
• Preparatory Stage: Classes 3–5
• Middle Stage: Classes 6–8
• Secondary Stage: Classes 9–12