At an event marking the 126th Foundation Day of Hindu College at Delhi University, Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan reiterated the Centre’s stance on the three-language policy under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, emphasizing its role in employment and national integration.
“The three-language policy should be adopted in the country,” Pradhan said. “Considering the current social and economic conditions, the country requires a system where anyone from any region can find employment. This necessity, keeping in mind the social, cultural and economic needs, has been emphasized by experts and they suggest that the trilingual formula for education is a useful system.”
This comes after a political row that escalated after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin accused Pradhan of linking federal education funds to the state’s acceptance of the three-language formula.
According to Stalin, Pradhan suggested that TN would not get funding under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) unless it complied with the NEP’s language provisions, requiring students to learn at least two Indian languages alongside English.
“They have to come to the terms of the Indian Constitution,” Stalin Sunday posted on X. “Can the Education Minister say which section of the Indian Constitution makes the trilingual policy mandatory?”
He also said education falls under the Concurrent List, allowing states to make independent decisions. Tamil Nadu, following a two-language system — Tamil and English — has resisted the three-language formula, fearing the imposition of Hindi.
“The Union of India is made up of states! Education is in the Consolidation List! The Union Government is not the monopoly of that!” Stalin wrote. “Tamils will not tolerate the boldness of their blackmails saying, ‘There will be no funds for Tamil Nadu until we accept the trilingual policy’!”