UGC Circular on Third Language: Tamil Nadu Opposes
Tamil Nadu has formally opposed the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) circular mandating a third language in higher educational institutions, characterizing it as an “indirect attempt to impose Hindi” and reaffirming the State’s steadfast commitment to its historic two-language policy.
- Tamil Nadu categorically rejected the three-language formula prescribed in the Centre’s National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, viewing the recent UGC circular as an infringement on State policy.
- The NEP 2020 promotes multilingualism by requiring students to learn three languages, with at least two being native Indian languages (including a regional language).
- The third language can be English or another modern Indian/foreign language.
- The State Education Policy of Tamil Nadu continues to uphold the two-language formula (Tamil and English), a policy originally formulated by former Chief Minister C.N. Annadurai in 1968.
- The State government stated that under no circumstances will it accept any alteration to its language policy.
- The issue also highlights Centre–State tensions over education, which falls under the Concurrent List of the Constitution.
- In 2022, the Assembly unanimously urged the Union government not to implement recommendations of the Parliamentary Committee on Official Language, which included proposals to make Hindi the medium of instruction in central institutions
