# Ministry of Marathi Language
## Office

The Ministry of Marathi Language is a ministry in government of Maharashtra. Ministry is responsible for the promotion of Marathi language in India as well as abroad. Deepak Kesarkar is current Minister for Marathi Language. Language department offers free Marathi classes to non-Marathi speakers living in Maharashtra.

## Departments

Ministry of Marathi Language has one key department - Marathi Bhasha Vibhag (Marathi language department). Separate administrative department was established in 2010.

### Child agencies

* Rajya Marathi Vikas Sanstha (State Institute for Marathi Development)
* Maharashtra Rajy Vishawakosh Nirmiti Mandal
* Maharashtra Rajya Sahitya aani Sankriti Mandal
* Bhasha Sanchanalay (Language Directorate)

## Marathi language

Marathi is an Indo-Aryan language spoken predominantly by around 83 million Marathi people of Maharashtra, India. It is the official language and co-official language in the Maharashtra and Goa states of Western India, respectively and is one of the 22 scheduled languages of India. With 83 million speakers as 2011, Marathi ranks 10th in the list of languages with most native speakers in the world. Marathi has the third largest number of native speakers in India, after Hindi and Bengali. The language has some of the oldest literature of all modern Indian languages, dating from around 600 AD. The major dialects of Marathi are Standard Marathi and the Varhadi dialect. The Koli languages (Kachi Koli, Parkari Koli and Wadiyara Koli), Agri and Malvani Konkani have been heavily influenced by Marathi varieties.

### Achieving classical language status

In 2004, the Government of India declared that languages that met certain requirements could be accorded the status of a "Classical Language" of India. The Marathi ministry has submitted an application to the Government of India to grant classical language status to Marathi. The Government of India is considering the request.

## Initiatives and activities
### Awards

Various awards are given to exceptional people in the field of Marathi language.
* Yashwantrao Chavan Award
* Vi. Da. Karandikar Lifetime Achievement Award : Trophy and cash prize of ₹5,00,000
* P. Bhagawat Award : Trophy and cash prize of ₹3,00,000
* Bhasha Sanvardhan (Language Promotion) : Two cash prize awards of ₹1,00,000

### Marathi language day

Marathi Language Day (मराठी दिन/मराठी दिवस transl. Marathi Dina/Marathi Diwasa) is celebrated on 27 February every year across the Indian states of Maharashtra and Goa. This day is regulated by the Ministry of Marathi language. It is celebrated on the Birthday of eminent Marathi Poet Vi. Va. Shirwadkar, popularly known as Kusumagraj.
Essay competitions and seminars are arranged in schools and colleges, and government officials are asked to conduct various events.

### Use of Marathi in government offices

Ministry made it compulsory to use Marathi language in all Government of Maharashtra offices.

### Marathi in schools

The Maharashtra Compulsory Teaching and Learning of Marathi Language in Schools Bill, 2020 was proposed by the Marathi ministry and passed by the Government of Maharashtra unanimously. Marathi language classes are mandatory in all schools of Maharashtra.

### International collaboration

Internationalization efforts started in 2021 to engage international Marathi diaspora. Department launched various initiatives to popularize Marathi language outside India. US Consul General was felicitated for promoting US based organizations working in Marathi language.

## Cabinet Ministers

| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Constituency) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | Chief Minister |
| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Minister (Constituency) | From | To | Period | Political party | Ministry | Chief Minister |
| Minister of Marathi Language ||||||||||
| 01 | | | Vasantrao Naik (MLA for Pusad Constituency No. 81- Yavatmal District) (Legislative Assembly) | 01 May 1960 | 07 March 1962 | 1 year, 310 days | Indian National Congress | Yashwantrao I | Yashwantrao Chavan |
| 02 | | | Nirmala Raje Bhosale (MLA for Satara Constituency No. 268- Satara District) (Legislative Assembly) | 08 March 1962 | 19 November 1962 | 256 days | Indian National Congress | Yashwantrao II | Yashwantrao Chavan |
| 03 | | | Madhukar Dhanaji Chaudhari (MLA for Raver Constituency No. 11- Jalgaon District) (Legislative Assembly) | 20 November 1962 | 24 November 1963 | 1 year, 4 days | Indian National Congress | Kannamwar l | Marotrao Kannamwar |
| 04 | | | Parashuram Krishnaji Sawant (MLA for Chiplun Constituency No. 265- Ratnagiri District) (Legislative Assembly) (Interim Chief Minister) | 25 November 1962 | 04 December 1963 | 9 days | Indian National Congress | Sawant | Parashuram Krishnaji Sawant |
| 05 | | | Sadashiv Govind Barve (MLA for Shivajinagar Constituency No. 209- Pune District) (Legislative Assembly) | 05 December 1963 | 01 March 1967 | 3 years, 86 days | Indian National Congress | Vasantrao I | Vasantrao Naik |
| 06 | | | Balasaheb Desai (MLA for Patan Constituency No. 261- Satara District) (Legislative Assembly) | 01 March 1967 | 27 October 1969 | 2 years, 240 days | Indian National Congress | Vasantrao II | Vasantrao Naik |
| 07 | | | Pratibha Patil (MLA for Jalgaon City Constituency No. 13- Jalgaon District) (Legislative Assembly) | 27 October 1969 | 13 March 1972 | 2 years, 138 days | Indian National Congress | Vasantrao II | Vasantrao Naik |
| 08 | | | Vasantrao Patil (MLC for Elected by MLAs Constituency No. 20 - Sangli District) (Legislative Council) | 13 March 1972 | 04 April 1973 | 1 year, 32 days | Indian National Congress | Vasantrao III | Vasantrao Naik |
| 09 | | | Narendra Mahipati Tidke (MLA for Savner Constituency No. 49- Nagpur District) (Legislative Assembly) | 04 April 1973 | 17 Match 1974 | 347 days | Indian National Congress | Vasantrao III | Vasantrao Naik |
| 10 | | | Hari Govindrao Vartak (MLA for Bassein-Vasai Constituency No. 180- Palghar District (Legislative Assembly) | 17 Match 1974 | 21 February 1975 | 341 days | Indian National Congress | Vasantrao III | Vasantrao Naik |
| 11 | | | Shankarrao Chavan (MLA for Bhokar Constituency No. 85- Nanded District) (Legislative Assembly) (Chief Minister) | 21 February 1975 | 16 April 1977 | 2 years, 54 days | Indian National Congress | Shankarrao I | Shankarrao Chavan |
| 12 | | | Nashikrao Tirpude (MLA for Bhandara Constituency No. 61- Bhandara District) (Legislative Assembly) | 17 April 1977 | 07 March 1978 | 1 year, 324 days | Indian National Congress | Vasantdada I | Vasantdada Patil |
| 13 | | | Prabha Rau (MLA for Pulgaon Constituency No. 41- Wardha District) (Legislative Assembly) | 07 March 1978 | 18 July 1978 | 133 days | Indian National Congress (Indira) | Vasantdada II | Vasantdada Patil |
| 14 | | | Ganpatrao Deshmukh (MLA for Sangola Constituency No. 235- Solapur District (Legislative Assembly) | 18 July 1978 | 19 November 1979 | 1 year, 124 days | Peasants and Workers Party of India | Pawar I | Sharad Pawar |
| 15 | | | Babasaheb Bhosale (MLA for Nehrunagar Constituency No. 172- Mumbai Suburban District) (Legislative Assembly) | 09 June 1980 | 21 January 1982 | 1 year, 226 days | Indian National Congress | Antulay | Abdul Rahman Antulay |
| 16 | | | Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar (MLA for Nilanga Constituency No. 238- Latur District) (Legislative Assembly) | 21 January 1982 | 02 February 1983 | 1 year, 12 days | Indian National Congress | Bhosale | Babasaheb Bhosale |
| 17 | | | Prataprao Baburao Bhosale (MLA for Wai Constituency No. 256- Satara District) (Legislative Assembly) | 07 February 1983 | 05 March 1985 | 2 years, 26 days | Indian National Congress | Vasantdada III | Vasantdada Patil |
| 18 | | | Sudhakarrao Naik (MLA for Pusad Constituency No. 81- Yavatmal District) (Legislative Assembly) | 12 March 1985 | 03 June 1985 | 83 days | Indian National Congress | Vasantdada IV | Vasantdada Patil |
| 19 | | | Jawaharlal Darda (MLC for Elected by MLAs Constituency No. 19 - Yavatmal District) (Legislative Council) | 03 June 1985 | 12 March 1986 | 282 days | Indian National Congress | Nilangekar | Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar |
| 20 | | | Sushilkumar Shinde (MLA for Solapur City Central Constituency No. 249- Solapur District) (Legislative Assembly) | 12 March 1986 | 26 June 1988 | 2 years, 106 days | Indian National Congress | Shankarrao II | Shankarrao Chavan |
| 21 | | | Narendra Marutrao Kamble (MLC for Elected by Governor Nominated No. 10 - Mumbai City District) (Legislative Council) | 26 June 1988 | 03 March 1990 | 1 year, 250 days | Indian National Congress | Pawar II | Sharad Pawar |
| 22 | | | Surupsingh Hirya Naik (MLA for Navapur Constituency No. 04- Nandurbar District) (Legislative Assembly) | 03 March 1990 | 25 June 1991 | 1 year, 114 days | Indian National Congress | Pawar III | Sharad Pawar |
| 23 | | | Shivajirao Deshmukh (MLC for Elected by MLAs Constituency No. 18 - Sangli District) (Legislative Council) | 25 June 1991 | 22 February 1993 | 1 year, 242 days | Indian National Congress | Sudhakarrao | Sudhakarrao Naik |
| 24 | | | Vilasrao Deshmukh (MLA for Latur City Constituency No. 235- Latur District) (Legislative Assembly) | 06 March 1993 | 18 November 1994 | 1 year, 257 days | Indian National Congress | Pawar IV | Sharad Pawar |
| 25 | | | Babanrao Gholap (MLA for Deolali Constituency No. 126- Pune District) (Legislative Assembly) | 14 March 1995 | 01 February 1999 | 3 years, 324 days | Shiv Sena | Joshi | Manohar Joshi |
| 26 | | | Pramod Navalkar (MLC for Mumbai Graduates Constituency No. 06 - Mumbai City District) (Legislative Council) | 01 February 1999 | 11 May 1999 | 99 days | Shiv Sena | Rane | Narayan Rane |
| 27 | | | Sureshdada Jain (MLA for Jalgaon City Constituency No. 13- Jalgaon District (Legislative Assembly) | 11 May 1999 | 17 October 1999 | 159 days | Shiv Sena | Rane | Narayan Rane |
| 28 | | | Vilasrao Deshmukh (MLA for Latur City Constituency No. 235- Latur District) (Legislative Assembly) (Chief Minister) | 19 October 1999 | 27 October 1999 | 8 days | Indian National Congress | Deshmukh I | Vilasrao Deshmukh |
| 29 | | | Ramkrishna More (MLA for Khed Constituency No. 219- Pune District) (Legislative Assembly) | 27 October 1999 | 16 January 2003 | 3 years, 81 days | Indian National Congress | Deshmukh I | Vilasrao Deshmukh |
| 30 | | | Ashok Chavan (MLA for Mudkhed Constituency No. 85- Nanded District) (Legislative Assembly) | 18 January 2003 | 01 November 2004 | 1 year, 295 days | Indian National Congress | Sushilkumar | Sushilkumar Shinde |
| 31 | | | Vilasrao Deshmukh (MLA for Latur City Constituency No. 235- Latur District) (Legislative Assembly) (Chief Minister) | 01 November 2004 | 09 November 2004 | 8 days | Indian National Congress | Deshmukh II | Vilasrao Deshmukh |
| 32 | | | Ashok Chavan (MLA for Mudkhed Constituency No. 85- Nanded District) (Legislative Assembly) | 09 November 2004 | 01 December 2008 | 4 years, 22 days | Indian National Congress | Deshmukh II | Vilasrao Deshmukh |
| 33 | | | Vijaykumar Krishnarao Gavit (MLA for Nandurbar Constituency No. 03- Nandurbar District) (Legislative Assembly) | 08 December 2008 | 06 November 2009 | 333 days | Nationalist Congress Party | Ashok I | Ashok Chavan |
| 34 | | | Balasaheb Thorat (MLA for Sangamner Constituency No. 217- Ahmednagar District) (Legislative Assembly) | 07 November 2009 | 10 November 2010 | 1 year, 3 days | Indian National Congress | Ashok II | Ashok Chavan |
| 35 | | | Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil (MLA for Shirdi Constituency No. 218- Ahmednagar District) (Legislative Assembly) | 11 November 2010 | 26 September 2014 | 3 years, 319 days | Indian National Congress | Prithviraj | Prithviraj Chavan |
| 36 | | | Vinod Tawde (MLA for Borivali Constituency No. 152- Mumbai Suburban District (Legislative Assembly) | 31 October 2014 | 12 November 2019 | 5 years, 12 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Fadnavis I | Devendra Fadnavis |
| 37 | | | Devendra Fadnavis (MLA for Nagpur South West Constituency No. 52- Nagpur District) (Legislative Assembly) (Chief_Minister) In Charge | 23 November 2019 | 28 November 2019 | 5 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Fadnavis II | Devendra Fadnavis |
| 38 | | | Subhash Desai (MLC for Elected by MLAs Constituency No. 09 - Mumbai Suburban District) (Legislative Council) | 28 November 2019 | 30 December 2019 | 32 days | Shiv Sena | Thackeray | Uddhav Thackeray |
| 39 | | | Subhash Desai (MLC for Elected by MLAs Constituency No. 09 - Mumbai Suburban District) (Legislative Council) | 30 December 2019 | 29 June 2022 | 2 years, 181 days | Shiv Sena | Thackeray | Uddhav Thackeray |
| 40 | | | Eknath Shinde (MLA for Kopri-Pachpakhadi Constituency No. 147- Thane District) (Legislative Assembly) (Chief Minister) In Charge | 30 June 2022 | 14 August 2022 | 45 days | Shiv Sena (Shinde Group) | Eknath | Eknath Shinde |
| 41 | | | Deepak Vasant Kesarkar (MLA for Sawantwadi Constituency No. 270- Sindhudurg District) (Legislative Assembly) | 14 August 2022 | 26 November 2024 | 2 years, 135 days | Shiv Sena (Shinde Group) | Eknath | Eknath Shinde |
| 42 | | | Devendra Fadnavis (MLA for Nagpur South West Constituency No. 52- Nagpur District) (Legislative Assembly) (Chief_Minister) In Charge | 05 December 2024 | 21 December 2024 | 16 days | Bharatiya Janata Party | Fadnavis III | Devendra Fadnavis |
| 43 | | | Uday Samant (MLA for Ratnagiri Constituency No. 266- Ratnagiri District (Legislative Assembly) | 21 December 2024 | Incumbent | 12 days | Shiv Sena (Shinde Group) | Fadnavis III | Devendra Fadnavis |

## Ministers of State

| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Deputy Minister (Constituency) | Term of office | Term of office | Term of office | Political party | Ministry | Minister | Chief Minister |
| No. | Portrait | Portrait | Deputy Minister (Constituency) | From | To | Period | Political party | Ministry | Minister | Chief Minister |
| Deputy Minister of Marathi Language |||||||||||
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | 23 November 2019 | 28 November 2019 | 5 days | NA | Fadnavis II | Devendra Fadnavis | Devendra Fadnavis |
| 01 | | | Vishwajeet Kadam (MLA for Palus-Kadegaon Constituency No. 285- Sangli District) (Legislative Assembly) | 30 December 2019 | 29 June 2022 | 2 years, 181 days | Indian National Congress | Thackeray | Subhash Desai | Uddhav Thackeray |
| Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | Vacant | 30 June 2022 | Incumbent | 2 years, 186 days | NA | Eknath | Eknath Shinde (2022 - 2022) Deepak Vasant Kesarkar (2022 - Present) | Eknath Shinde |