Context : The Maharashtra government has made it compulsory for officials in government, semi-government, local self-government, and government-aided offices to communicate only in Marathi.
Relevance : GS 2(Governance )
- Marathi Devanagari keyboards are now mandatory alongside Roman alphabet keyboards in all government offices.
- Non-compliance will attract disciplinary action.
- Offices must display boards enforcing the use of Marathi for official communication.
- All original proposals, correspondence, orders, messages, presentations, and websites at the office level must be in Marathi.
- The rule extends to Central government offices and banks in Maharashtra, requiring Marathi name boards, notice boards, and application forms.
- The policy was approved by the Maharashtra Cabinet in 2023, aiming to promote and preserve the Marathi language.
Rationale & Objectives
- Strengthens linguistic identity and cultural preservation.
- Aligns with regional language promotion policies seen in other states.
- Ensures accessibility of government services to Marathi-speaking citizens.
Challenges & Concerns
- Possible administrative hurdles in implementation, especially in Central government offices.
- Impact on non-Marathi-speaking officials and citizens, particularly in urban centers like Mumbai and Pune.
- Potential legal scrutiny over language imposition in a multilingual state.
Broader Implications
- May fuel debates on linguistic nationalism vs. inclusivity.
- Could set a precedent for other states to enforce stricter regional language policies.
- Requires robust capacity-building measures, such as Marathi language training for officials.
