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Events / Political / Maharashtra Hindi Language Policy Backlash
Domestic policy change

Maharashtra Hindi Language Policy Backlash

Analysis based on 9 articles · First reported Jun 18, 2025 · Last updated Jun 19, 2025

Sentiment
-20
Attention
2
Articles
9
Market Impact
General
Live prominence charts, article sentiment distribution, and event development timeline available on the Ergen Dashboard
Market Impact

The India — Maharashtra government's decision to make Hindi the default third language in schools has sparked significant political backlash and public criticism. This could lead to social unrest and protests, potentially affecting the stability of the India — Maharashtra government and creating uncertainty for investors in the region's education sector.

Education Government
Event Summary

The India — Maharashtra government issued an order making Hindi the default third language for students in Marathi and English medium schools from classes 1 to 5. This move, aligning with the National Education Policy 2020, allows schools to opt out if at least 20 students per grade wish to study another language. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from opposition parties like the India — Indian National Congress and India — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, as well as Marathi language advocates such as Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra. Critics, including Harshwardhan Sapkal and Raj Thackeray, accuse the Devendra Fadnavis-led government of a 'backdoor imposition of Hindi' and a betrayal of the Marathi people, contradicting earlier assurances from School Education Minister Dada Bhuse. The controversy is expected to become a major political issue, especially with local body polls approaching.

Key Actions
100 India — Maharashtra issued order
70 India — Indian National Congress accused Devendra Fadnavis
70 Harshwardhan Sapkal slammed Devendra Fadnavis
60 Dada Bhuse said
60 Devendra Fadnavis defended decision
50 Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra called action India — Maharashtra
50 Raj Thackeray appealed
40 India — Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar objected India — Maharashtra
Entities Involved
loc
India — Maharashtra
India — Maharashtra government issued an order making Hindi the default third language in its schools, sparking political backlash and accusations of Hindi imposition.
Importance 100.0 Sentiment -20.0
per
Devendra Fadnavis
Devendra Fadnavis, the Chief Minister of India — Maharashtra, is accused by opposition parties of betraying the Marathi people by implementing the Hindi language policy.
Importance 80.0 Sentiment -30.0
per
Dada Bhuse
Dada Bhuse, India — Maharashtra's School Education Minister, previously stated that Hindi would not be compulsory, but the new order contradicts his earlier assurances, leading to criticism.
Importance 70.0 Sentiment -20.0
polparty
India — Bharatiya Janata Party
The India — Bharatiya Janata Party-led Mahayuti government is facing renewed criticism for its Hindi language policy, which opposition leaders view as a 'backdoor entry' of compulsory Hindi.
Importance 70.0 Sentiment -20.0
per
Harshwardhan Sapkal
Harshwardhan Sapkal, India — Maharashtra Congress president, slammed Devendra Fadnavis and the Mahayuti government, calling the Hindi policy a 'deliberate conspiracy to impose Hindi' and an 'anti-India — Maharashtra agenda'.
Importance 60.0 Sentiment 10.0
polparty
India — Indian National Congress
India — Indian National Congress, an opposition party in India — Maharashtra, strongly criticized the government's decision, accusing Devendra Fadnavis of 'stabbing' the Marathi people.
Importance 60.0 Sentiment 10.0
polparty
India — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
India — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray appealed to schools not to implement the order, threatening action against those who enforce Hindi, viewing it as an 'anti-India — Maharashtra activity'.
Importance 50.0 Sentiment 10.0
per
Raj Thackeray
Raj Thackeray, chief of India — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena, accused north Indian IAS officers of being behind the Hindi imposition and questioned why it's not enforced in Gujarat.
Importance 50.0 Sentiment 10.0
oth
Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra
Marathi Bhasha Abhyas Kendra, represented by Deepak Pawar, criticized the government's move as a 'backdoor imposition of Hindi' and a betrayal of the Marathi people.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment 10.0
per
Ajit Pawar
Ajit Pawar is criticized for prioritizing power and the finance department over the interests of India — Maharashtra and the Marathi language.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment -20.0
per
Eknath Shinde
Eknath Shinde, whose faction controls the education department, is accused by opposition leaders of betraying Shiv Sena and Marathi people by supporting the Hindi policy.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment -20.0
polparty
India — Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar
The India — Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar objected to the new order, with MP Supriya Sule stating that things should not be imposed forcibly and parents should decide on language learning.
Importance 40.0 Sentiment 10.0
per
Vasant Kalpande
Vasant Kalpande, former chairman of the India — Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education, expressed concerns about the difficulty for young students to learn Hindi and the impracticality of the opt-out clause.
Importance 30.0 Sentiment 10.0
per
Supriya Sule
Supriya Sule, an MP from India — Nationalist Congress Party – Sharadchandra Pawar, expressed her opinion that language policies should not be forcibly imposed on states.
Importance 30.0 Sentiment 10.0
per
Amit Shah
Amit Shah, Home Minister of India, is referenced by Raj Thackeray who questioned why Hindi is not enforced in Shah's home state of Gujarat if it is so important.
Importance 20.0 Sentiment 0.0
+ 2 more entities View on Dashboard
Relationships
Devendra Fadnavis related ↔ India — Bharatiya Janata Party
Devendra Fadnavis related ↔ India — Indian National Congress
Devendra Fadnavis related ↔ India — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
Devendra Fadnavis political rival ↔ Raj Thackeray Devendra Fadnavis, as Chief Minister of Maharashtra, navigates a complex political rivalry with Raj Thackeray, publicly
Devendra Fadnavis related ↔ Ajit Pawar
India — Bharatiya Janata Party related ↔ Harshwardhan Sapkal
India — Bharatiya Janata Party related ↔ India — Indian National Congress
India — Bharatiya Janata Party related ↔ India — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
India — Bharatiya Janata Party related ↔ Raj Thackeray
India — Bharatiya Janata Party related ↔ Ajit Pawar
Harshwardhan Sapkal related ↔ India — Indian National Congress
India — Indian National Congress related ↔ India — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena
India — Indian National Congress related ↔ Raj Thackeray
India — Maharashtra Navnirman Sena related ↔ Raj Thackeray
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