The Maharashtra government has tightened its enforcement of language education rules, announcing that schools failing to teach Marathi will now face a penalty of up to ₹1 lakh. The move is aimed at ensuring strict compliance with the state’s mandate on Marathi language education across all schools.
Authorities have clarified that Marathi is a compulsory subject in all schools in Maharashtra, including those affiliated with CBSE, ICSE, IB, and other education boards. Schools are required to teach Marathi as either a second or third language, and any attempt to exclude or dilute its teaching will be treated as a violation of state policy.
Education officials said compliance will now be monitored more closely through regular inspections and enforcement drives. Schools found violating the directive will first be given a chance to rectify the issue, but continued non-compliance will lead to strict financial penalties and further action.
In more serious cases, the government has warned that repeated violations could even result in the withdrawal of school recognition, signalling a tougher stance on enforcement of language norms.
The directive is part of the Maharashtra Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Marathi Language Act, which mandates the inclusion of Marathi in school curricula across the state. Officials said the law is intended to ensure that students develop proficiency in the state language regardless of the board or medium of instruction.
The latest order reflects the government’s renewed push to strengthen regional language education and ensure uniform implementation of Marathi across all academic institutions in Maharashtra.
