Mumbai: The Maharashtra government has made the Marathi language a strictly mandatory subject for students from Class 1 to Class 10 across all schools in the state. This sweeping directive applies to every educational institution, entirely irrespective of their medium of instruction or affiliated education board. Any failure to follow this statutory rule will invite severe action, starting with heavy financial penalties and escalating to the permanent cancellation of the school’s official recognition.
School Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced these stringent enforcement measures during the Question Hour of the legislative assembly Monsoon Session on Monday. He informed the house that the phased implementation of the Maharashtra Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Marathi Language in Schools Act, originally passed in the year 2020, is now fully complete. He reiterated that the state administration remains deeply committed to the preservation, promotion, and propagation of the regional language.
Detailing the disciplinary framework, the minister explained that the education department will investigate any public complaints against defiant institutions. If violations are proven, authorities will first issue a formal notice and impose a penalty of up to one lakh rupees. Should a school continue to ignore the mandate, the government is fully empowered to completely withdraw its operational recognition under a new administrative resolution issued in April 2026.
To ensure absolute compliance, the state plans to launch a dedicated statewide inspection campaign. Education officials will conduct routine visits to evaluate the quality of Marathi education on the ground. Furthermore, schools are now legally bound to appoint properly qualified Marathi teachers to maintain high academic standards.
The issue sparked a lively debate when legislators raised concerns about certain private schools treating Marathi merely as a namesake optional subject. Addressing these specific worries, the minister firmly clarified that Marathi will not be sidelined or treated like an optional extracurricular activity such as arts and crafts. He assured the assembly that formal written examinations for the Marathi subject will definitively be conducted for every single class.
To guarantee effective grassroots enforcement, the education minister appealed to all local MLAs to proactively visit schools within their respective constituencies and personally monitor the teaching arrangements. He also reminded school managements that they are officially expected to ensure the respectful singing of the official state song, Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha, on par with the National Anthem.