Amid the controversy over Hindi being made mandatory from Std I to V in all schools in the state, Education Minister Dada Bhuse on Tuesday stated that under the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, the Union government has not made Hindi or any language compulsory for school students.

Putting an end to controversy that had erupted following the issuance of a government resolution (GR) making Hindi a compulsory language for Std I to Std V students across the state, Bhuse told mediapersons at Mantralaya on Tuesday, “In Maharashtra, too, Hindi is not compulsory, but an optional language.”