NEP 2020 Will Not Impose Hindi, Assures Education Minister Amid Tamil Nadu's Opposition

Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has reaffirmed that the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 does not mandate Hindi and that Tamil Nadu’s concerns about language imposition stem from political motivations. Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Pradhan clarified that the policy emphasizes education in the mother tongue, ensuring Tamil remains the primary medium in Tamil Nadu.

"We have never said that only Hindi will be taught. NEP 2020 promotes regional languages, including Tamil, Odia, Punjabi, and Hindi, giving them equal importance," Pradhan stated.

His comments come in response to the Tamil Nadu government's continued resistance to the three-language policy proposed under NEP. Chief Minister M K Stalin had earlier criticized the Centre for insisting on introducing additional languages in schools, arguing that in the era of Artificial Intelligence, translation tools make learning multiple languages unnecessary.

"Students should not be burdened with extra languages when technology already removes linguistic barriers," Stalin remarked on X (formerly Twitter). The DMK leader also alleged that the BJP promotes Hindi dominance across northern India, where people need it even for basic activities like buying tea or using public amenities.

Tamil Nadu has long opposed Hindi imposition, citing linguistic diversity and cultural identity. Successive state governments have upheld the two-language policy of Tamil and English in schools, rejecting the inclusion of Hindi as a third language.

With Tamil Nadu's strong resistance, the debate over language policy remains a politically sensitive issue, underscoring the broader discussion on linguistic inclusivity in India's education system.