Hindi could be compulsory till Class 10 in all CBSE schools

Accepting a parliamentary panel’s suggestions, President Pranab Mukherjee has asked Centre to talk to states before formulating the Hindi-must policy

Students of Kendriya Vidyalayas and schools affiliated to the CBSE may have to read Hindi till Class 10 after President Pranab Mukherjee gave “in- principle approval” to a suggestion of a parliamentary panel.

Hindi in schools across India can be an emotive subject as most states are drawn along linguistics lines. (File photo)

The Centre, however, should draw up the policy to make Hindi a compulsory subject in consultation with states, said the presidential order, a copy of which is available on the website of the department of official languages.

Hindi in schools can be an emotive subject as most states in India are drawn along linguistics lines. States such as Tamil Nadu have witnessed violent protests against Hindi, the official language of the Indian government.

The choice of languages to be taught in schools varies from state to state.

The Central Board of Secondary Education, the country’s biggest school board, last year recommended a three-language formula – English and any two Indian languages – to be expanded to classes 9 and 10.

The President turned down a recommendation that wanted a minimum knowledge of Hindi to be one of the preconditions for a government job.

The committee of parliament on official languages made 117 suggestions to encourage use of Hindi, most of these have been accepted by the President.

One of them calls for fixing the duration of broadcast of Hindi programmes on all Doordarshan centres and All India Radio stations.

We may soon see presidents and union ministers deliver speeches in Hindi. The panel said all dignitaries should be requested to deliver their speeches in Hindi if they can read and speak the language.

Mukherjee has also accepted the recommendation that said the government, wherever possible, should give all advertisements in Hindi and regional languages.