Chennai, September 22: Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Sunday asserted that the Centre was not imposing any language on States, dismissing allegations regarding the three-language policy as “politically motivated.”
Speaking at the Think India Dakshinapatha Summit 2025 at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Madras, Pradhan clarified that in Classes 1 and 2, the two-language formula applies, with one language being the mother tongue. “Here in Tamil Nadu, that means Tamil. The Government of India’s condition is that primary school instruction must include Tamil, while the second language is the State’s choice,” he explained.
For Classes 6 to 10, Pradhan said, the three-language formula comes into play. “One language will be the mother tongue, and the other two will be left to the students’ and State’s choice. No language will be imposed by the Government of India,” he reiterated.
Responding to queries about implementation in States like Uttar Pradesh, he noted that students there primarily learn Hindi but can also opt for other languages, including Tamil or Marathi, if facilities are provided. “Many States, even beyond BJP-ruled ones, have been implementing the three-language policy well before the National Education Policy,” he added.
Highlighting the importance of multilingualism, Pradhan cited Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s vision of encouraging Telugu-speaking students to learn multiple languages to remain globally competitive. “Language is always a facilitator. Those with politically narrow ideas are creating this problem,” he remarked.
Emphasizing his pride in his own Odia roots, Pradhan also lauded India’s linguistic diversity. “I am very proud of my Odia language, but I am equally proud of other Indian languages. Those trying to create division through language have failed, as society has already moved beyond them,” he said.
