The Maharashtra government has withdrawn two recent resolutions concerning the implementation of a three-language policy in schools, and Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has announced the formation of an expert panel to chart a new course.

Speaking after a Cabinet meeting, Mr Fadnavis stated that the new committee will be headed by educationist Dr Narendra Jadhav. “The panel will examine key aspects, including the appropriate class level for introducing each language, the method of implementation, and the flexibility that should be given to students. The final decision will be based on the committee’s recommendations,” he said.

Until the committee submits its report, both the April 16 and June 17 government resolutions (GRs) have been revoked.

The April 16 order had made Hindi compulsory as the third language for Classes 1 to 5 in English and Marathi medium schools. However, facing significant backlash, the state later revised the resolution on June 17, making Hindi optional — generally recommended, but not mandatory.

The latest move follows protests led by the Shiv Sena (UBT) across Maharashtra, including in Mumbai, where demonstrators burned copies of the June 17 resolution. Party leader Uddhav Thackeray, while addressing the controversy, clarified that he was not opposed to Hindi as a language but to any attempt to impose it on others. He noted the contradiction of opposing Hindi while embracing English in the curriculum.

Fadnavis, meanwhile, hit out at Thackeray, claiming that during his term as Chief Minister, he had accepted the recommendations of the Dr Raghunath Mashelkar committee, which proposed implementing a three-language system from Class 1 to 12 and forming a panel to execute it.

The now-withdrawn June 17 resolution had allowed students to choose another Indian language if at least 20 of them in a class expressed interest — a clause aimed at giving schools flexibility while still nudging toward Hindi.

The issue has reignited the long-standing debate over “Hindi imposition,” a concern voiced by several non-Hindi-speaking states that fear the sidelining of regional languages in favor of Hindi.

The political dimensions of the language row have intensified ahead of civic elections in Mumbai, with both Uddhav and Raj Thackeray announcing a joint protest scheduled for July 5 — a rare moment of unity between the estranged cousins. That protest has now been called off following the state’s latest announcement.