– Ronita Torcato 

In Maharashtra’s schools, the cadence of the classroom is about to change. The Marathi language is no longer just a curricular choice. It is the law of the land.

School education minister Dadaji Bhuse made the state’s stance clear on the floor of the Legislative Assembly during the recent monsoon session: Under the strict enforcement of the Maharashtra Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Marathi Language in Schools Act, 2020, every single school operating within Maharashtra, spanning classes 1 through 10, must integrate the local tongue into its academic curriculum.

The new rules come alongside the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) phased implementation of the national three-language formula butMaharastra is backing the new mandate with stringent measures.

Schools found bypassing the new regulations face an immediate fine of up to one lakh rupees (1,00,000 INR). For institutions that disregard the order, the penalty is cancellation of official school recognition.

“It has also been made mandatory for schools to appoint teachers with the necessary educational qualifications to teach Marathi subjects,” Bhuse emphasised.

Future school inspections will no longer just be about infrastructure or math scores; inspectors will verify classroom teaching schedules and audit Marathi examination papers for every single grade.

The linguistic shakeup is only the beginning of a broader overhaul.

The new syllabus will heavily feature educational and social icons like Mahatma Jyotirao Phule and Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule.

Furthermore, the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is scaling up. Bhuse announced that the Maratha warrior-king’s history has been integrated into the national curriculum framework to give his reign broader national prominence.

The government has also issued instructions to all institutions regarding the morning assembly. Immediately after the national anthem Jana Gana Mana, students will stand to sing the state anthem, ‘Jai Jai Maharashtra Majha’.

The announcement sparked a lively debate on the assembly floor. Triggered initially by a question from BJP MLA Atul Bhatkhalkar, the session saw interventions from members from across the political spectrum including Varun Sardesai, Sunil Prabhu, Dr. Nitin Raut, and Ratnakar Gutte.

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