Maharashtra's Deputy Chief Minister, Ajit Pawar, has voiced his opposition to the proposal of introducing Hindi as a third language from Class 1 in state schools. Instead, he advocates for its commencement from Class 5, according to a reported news agency PTI.

Speaking to reporters in Mumbai on Tuesday, Pawar emphasised the importance of students mastering Marathi from Class 1, enabling them to read and write it proficiently.

The state government's recent amended order, which stipulated that Hindi would generally be taught as the third language to students in Marathi and English medium schools from Classes 1 to 5, has ignited considerable debate within the state. While the government has asserted that Hindi would not be compulsory, the order mandates the consent of at least 20 students per grade in a school for the study of any Indian language other than Hindi.