No Imposition of Hindi": MoS Education Clarifies NEP 2020 Stance Amid Tamil Nadu Dispute
PTI
NEW DELHI — Addressing widespread regional concerns regarding linguistic policies, Union Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary stated categorically in the Lok Sabha on Monday that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 does not impose any single language, including Hindi, on any state across the country. Instead, the framework explicitly promotes a diverse multilingual educational approach.
The clarification arrives against the backdrop of an ongoing political dispute between the Central government and Tamil Nadu. The southern state has consistently accused the Centre of withholding critical educational funds under the Samagra Shiksha Scheme. Tamil Nadu's primary objection stems from the NEP's three-language formula, which state officials fear could act as a backdoor for Hindi imposition, prompting them to stick strictly to their historical two-language framework.
Responding to supplementary questions during the crucial Question Hour, Minister Chaudhary emphasized the flexible nature of the policy. "The three languages, as proposed in the NEP, align with the two-language formula... There is complete flexibility. There is no imposition of any language, including Hindi," he informed the Parliament.
He further cited paragraph 4.13 of the NEP, which highlights the cognitive and academic benefits of early exposure to multiple languages. The policy mandates that states develop the capacity to teach three languages, ensuring that students achieve proficiency in at least two native Indian languages by the age of 15. Crucially, the choice of the third language is entirely dependent on local demand and preference.
Addressing Tamil Nadu's specific financial grievances, the minister confirmed that the central government has already disbursed ₹538 crore to the state under Samagra Shiksha, a flagship school education programme. "It is up to the state to follow established procedure and protocol in terms of expenditure, in terms of provision of Utilization Certificates for further release," Chaudhary stated, shifting the administrative responsibility back to the state government. He noted that Tamil Nadu had "diluted the NEP to a two-language formula," which forms the core of their ongoing objection.
The ideological standoff extends beyond language to the PM-SHRI scheme—an initiative designed to upgrade over 14,000 schools nationwide. Chaudhary revealed that while Tamil Nadu initially indicated a willingness to sign the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for PM-SHRI, the agreement remains conspicuously unsigned. The minister warned that this political friction has a direct cost, stating, "Many, many lakhs of students of Tamil Nadu are feeling left out" of access to these exemplary, leadership-focused institutions.
The ongoing debate underscores the delicate balance the Central government must maintain between national policy frameworks and state-level autonomy in education. Ultimately, as Chaudhary reiterated, "It is up to the states to really implement it in toto," highlighting that the success of the NEP relies heavily on cooperative federalism rather than centralized mandates.
Our Final Thoughts
The language debate remains one of India's most sensitive political fault lines. The Centre's firm reassurance that NEP 2020 offers 'complete flexibility' is a vital step toward alleviating fears of Hindi imposition in non-Hindi speaking states. However, resolving the parallel funding dispute regarding the Samagra Shiksha and PM-SHRI schemes will require constructive dialogue. Both the Centre and Tamil Nadu must prioritize student welfare over political posturing to ensure that the region's youth are not deprived of crucial educational infrastructure.