English OK, why not Indian languages? Dharmendra Pradhan on NEP 3-language row

22-Sep-2025

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Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on September 20 robustly defended the language framework of the National Education Policy (NEP), dismissing accusations that it imposes any particular language on students.

“People of Tamil Nadu are very linguistic. You are ready to accept English. What is wrong in accepting any other Indian language?” he said.

Speaking at IIT Madras, Pradhan clarified the language learning structure under the NEP. He explained that students in Classes 1 and 2 will study two languages, their mother tongue and one additional language. From Classes 6 to 10, students will be required to learn three languages, including their mother tongue and two others.

Rejecting recent criticism from the DMK, the Minister accused the party of creating “psychosis” around the language issue. “Students in Uttar Pradesh will study in Hindi, and as an additional language, they may take English, Marathi, Tamil, or any other,” Pradhan said, emphasising the policy’s flexibility.

He also highlighted linguistic diversity in India, pointing out that “only 10% of the country speaks English. The rest speak in their local languages.”