Hindi language exam for Maharashtra government employees suspended
Mumbai | May 6 | Rayat Samachar
The agitation led by Marathi Abhyas Kendra against the mandatory Hindi language examination for Maharashtra’s government officers and employees has achieved a major victory, as Marathi Language Department Minister Uday Samant announced the suspension of the said examination. He further clarified that if necessary, the exam may also be considered for permanent cancellation.
Following this decision, Marathi Abhyas Kendra’s president Dr. Deepak Pawar thanked all those who participated in the agitation. He stated that full congratulations to the minister would only be in order once the exam is permanently cancelled, and made it clear that the fight against Hindi imposition will continue.
A day or two earlier, Dr. Deepak Pawar had taken to social media to voice his opposition to the mandatory Hindi examination for gazetted and non-gazetted state government employees. The media subsequently took note of the issue. Marathi Abhyas Kendra had also issued a warning to burn the circular in protest. Against this backdrop, MNS too took an aggressive stance. Dr. Pawar expressed gratitude for the support of MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande.
The state government’s Directorate of Languages had scheduled Hindi language Lower and Higher Grade examinations on June 28, 2026, in Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. However, serious questions were raised about the justification for making Hindi examinations compulsory when Marathi is the official state language.
Dr. Deepak Pawar questioned: Since Marathi and Hindi share similarities, there is no practical difficulty in communication. Hindi is not Maharashtra’s official language so what is the need to test employees’ Hindi knowledge through an exam? He also asked why Hindi is being imposed only in Maharashtra, when no such examinations are conducted in non-Hindi states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat, or West Bengal. It was further alleged that instead of focusing on non-Marathi employees’ knowledge of Marathi, the government is wasting time and money on Hindi examinations.
Dr. Pawar added that there is a need to remain constantly vigilant to counter the domestic colonialism of Hindi. The next battle, he said, will be to end the existence of the ‘Hindi Rashtrabhasha Prachar Samiti’ in Maharashtra, urging people to participate in direct action.
Meanwhile, while Marathi-speaking organizations have expressed satisfaction over the suspension of the Hindi examination, it is widely anticipated that pressure for its permanent cancellation will intensify in the days ahead.
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