Maharashtra government cancels Hindi language exam for officials following strong political and public opposition

The Maharashtra government has decided to cancel the proposed Hindi language examination for government officers and employees, which was scheduled to be held on 28 June. The decision was announced after significant opposition from political parties and language advocacy groups across the state.

Nashik | 07 May 2026: State Minister for Marathi Language, Uday Samant, confirmed the development during his visit to Nashik, stating that the examination had been withdrawn in response to widespread criticism. The exam was originally intended for gazetted officers and staff and was being conducted under provisions linked to the 1976 language rules followed by the state administration.

The proposal to hold the examination had triggered strong reactions from political organisations, including the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena and the Shiv Sena faction led by Uddhav Thackeray, along with Marathi language study groups. Critics argued that the move was unnecessary and raised concerns that it could indirectly enforce Hindi language requirements on state government employees.

MNS leader Sandeep Deshpande alleged that the exam was being introduced to appease external political influence and demanded that the government clearly explain the need for Hindi proficiency tests for officials in Maharashtra. He also warned that protests could take place at examination centres if the policy was enforced.

Following the backlash, the state government decided to withdraw the exam and announced that it would review the relevance of the existing 1976 language rules. Officials indicated that the government would reassess whether such examinations are necessary in the current administrative framework or whether the rules require updating.

Minister Uday Samant said that the objective of the review would be to examine the applicability of older language provisions and determine whether they align with present-day governance needs. He added that the decision was not a permanent policy change but a step toward evaluating administrative requirements more broadly. The cancellation has added to ongoing discussions in Maharashtra regarding language policy in government administration, with the issue continuing to draw political attention and public debate.

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