Maharashtra's Three-Language Policy Report Faces Another Delay with Committee Extension
Maharashtra's much-anticipated three-language policy for school education has encountered another setback, as the state committee tasked with formulating recommendations has been granted an additional month to submit its report. The committee, chaired by Dr Narendra Jadhav, a former planning commission member, will now have until February 4, 2026, to finalize its findings, marking a second extension in the process.
Background and Initial Delays
The policy has been pending since June 2025, when Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the formation of the committee in response to widespread criticism over the state's move to mandate Hindi as a third language in Marathi and English medium schools under the Maharashtra State Board. Despite the announcement in June, the eight-member expert committee was only finalized in September and was initially given a three-month tenure to submit recommendations.
The committee embarked on a comprehensive public consultation process, launching a dedicated website for individuals to submit opinions and touring various parts of Maharashtra to gather feedback from stakeholders, including teachers, parents, academic institutions, language activists, and political leaders.
Extension Details and Government Response
School Education Minister Dada Bhuse confirmed the latest extension during a press conference on Thursday, where he was discussing Republic Day plans for schools. "The committee is given an extension of one more month," he stated, addressing media inquiries about the policy's status.
A Government Resolution (GR) issued subsequently explained that the extension was granted following a request from the committee, which cited the need for more time to deliberate and analyze the extensive public feedback received. The GR highlighted that the committee had garnered a significant response through both online platforms and in-person sessions held across the state.
This marks the second extension for the committee. The original deadline was December 4, 2025, but it was extended by a month via a GR issued on December 15, 2025, due to the scope of work involving collation of public opinion, which required members to travel extensively. Under that extension, the report was expected by January 4, 2026. However, on January 2, 2026, the committee wrote to the government requesting another month's extension, leading to the current deadline of February 4, 2026.
Additional Announcements by Minister Bhuse
During the same press conference, Minister Bhuse also announced new initiatives for Maharashtra government schools. He revealed that girl students will receive self-defense training, with a phased approach set to begin in February. "We will begin with self-defense training to select girls and teachers. They will be trained by experts with an aim to become trainers at their individual school level. This first phase of training will begin in February. And from next academic year, they will begin self-defense training for all girl students," Bhuse explained.
Furthermore, he mentioned plans to introduce military training in schools with the assistance of associations of former soldiers, aiming to inculcate discipline among students. These announcements underscore the state's broader efforts to enhance educational and safety measures in schools, even as the three-language policy remains under deliberation.
The continued delays in the three-language policy report highlight the complexities involved in balancing linguistic diversity and educational requirements in Maharashtra, with stakeholders eagerly awaiting the committee's final recommendations to shape the future of language education in the state.
