In a significant move to promote national integration and cultural unity, all higher education institutions (HEIs) across India have been directed to implement the 'Learn One More Bharatiya Bhasha' initiative. This mandate is a direct implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020's emphasis on multilingualism for inclusive development.
Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti's Blueprint for Implementation
The directive follows a formal recommendation from the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti (BBS), which has also prepared comprehensive guidelines for the program's rollout. The initiative is designed to encourage not just students, but also faculty, administrative staff, and the local community to learn an additional Indian language. The BBS strongly recommends choosing a language from a different state or region to maximize cross-cultural understanding.
The committee believes this effort will serve a dual purpose: strengthening national cohesion and enhancing the employability of graduates in a dynamic job market. This aligns with the broader national vision of Viksit Bharat@2047, which aims to cultivate a skilled youth population that remains deeply connected to India's cultural roots.
Structure, Credits, and Incentives for Language Learning
The detailed guidelines from the BBS cover all aspects of the program's execution. They specify the structure of the language courses, identify target groups, list available learning resources, and recommend qualified trainers. A key instruction is for HEIs to introduce these language courses as credit-bearing components, especially within professional education programs. This ensures that future graduates formally acquire multilingual competence.
To boost participation, the guidelines suggest that institutions offer various incentives. The BBS notes that learning another Indian language can be a relatively smooth process due to the shared vocabulary, sound patterns, and grammatical roots among many Indian languages. The initiative is framed not as a burdensome requirement but as a joyful and enriching experience that will foster pride and a stronger cultural connection among learners.
Building an Indian Language-Centric Education System
All higher education institutions have been instructed to adopt these guidelines "in letter and spirit." The ultimate goal is to contribute to building an Indian language-centric education ecosystem, a core vision of the NEP 2020. This nationwide push for multilingualism marks a concrete step towards realizing that policy's objectives, aiming to weave linguistic diversity into the fabric of higher learning and national progress.
