Lok Sabha Question No. 151 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2025-07-21
Subject: Three-Language Policy
Ministry: EDUCATION
Asked by: Shri Manickam Tagore B

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

## DEPARTMENT OF SCHOOL EDUCATION & LITERACY

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 151 ANSWERED ON 21.07.2025

## Three-Language Policy

## 151. Shri Manickam Tagore B:

Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government's  reconsideration  of  it  stance  on  the  three-language  policy, particularly on making Hindi optional, indicate a lack of clear vision and decisive leadership in education policy;

(b)  whether  the  Government consider consulting  with linguistic  and  educational  experts  to develop  a  comprehensive  language  policy  that  balances  regional  identity  with  national integration;

(c)  the  manner  in  which  the  Government  respond  to  allegations  of  political  expediency  in withdrawing the Government resolutions on Hindi, and doesn't this decision undermine the National Education Policy's objective of promoting multilingualism; and

(d) the details of measures taken by the Government to prevent similar policy flip-flops in the future  and  ensure  that  decisions  are  made  in  the  best  interest  of  students  and  the  State's linguistic heritage?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION (SHRI JAYANT CHAUDHARY)

(a) to (d) The  Parliamentary  Resolution  (1968)  (also  known  as  National  Policy  on Education 1968) adopted the three language formula for implementation in national and state level school systems.

The  National  Education  Policy  (NEP),  2020,  in  para  4.13,  provides  that  the 'three-language  formula  will  continue  to  be  implemented  while  keeping  in  mind  the

Constitutional provisions, aspirations of the people, regions, and the Union, and the need to promote multilingualism as well as promote national unity. However, there will be a greater flexibility in the three-language formula, and no language will be imposed on any State. The three languages learned by children will be the choices of States, regions, and of course the students themselves, so long as at least two of the three languages are native to India.' As a follow-up of NEP 2020, the National Curriculum Framework for School Education (NCF-SE), 2023 has been developed which provides a roadmap for implementation of NEP 2020  on  Languages  Education  in  India.  The  NCF  aims  to  make  a  student  an  independent speaker, reader and writer in at least three languages denoted as R1, R2 and R3. R1 is the first language in which students learn literacy, ideally their mother tongue or, if not feasible, the state language, which would be a familiar language, with proficiency expected by age 8, R2 is the second language distinct from R1, with proficiency to be achieved by age 11 and R3 is the third language different from R1 and R2, with proficiency targeted by age 14. Government of India regularly consults experts, linguists and state and national level policy  makers,  curriculum  developers  and  implementers,  practising  teachers  and  students, parents, teachers, teacher educators, parents, NGOs and (also students) working in the field for policy  formulations  and  curriculum  development.  Prior  to  the  formulation  of  the  National Education Policy 2020 and National Curriculum Framework for School Education 2023 large number of stake holders were consulted in person and also  through digital  means.  All  the regions / states were consulted and the opinions and practices of the various school systems were also taken into consideration for making of the policy.

Further, since Education is a subject under the Concurrent List of the Constitution, it is for the respective State and Union Territory (UT) Governments to decide on the modalities of implementing the Three Language Policy, in accordance with the spirit and recommendations of the NEP, 2020. The Policy emphasizes the promotion of multilingualism and encourages States/UTs to adopt the Three Language Formula in a flexible manner, keeping in view local needs, linguistic diversity, and implementation feasibility.

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