A sharper enforcement approach was signalled by the Maharashtra government in the state assembly, where multiple education-related concerns were addressed and strict consequences were announced for institutions found violating policy. Greater compliance was sought not only from schools but also from colleges and pre-primary institutions, indicating that broader regulation of the education sector is now being pursued.
At the school level, strong emphasis was placed on the compulsory teaching of Marathi from Classes 1 to 10. It was reiterated in the assembly that this rule applies to every school in Maharashtra, regardless of board affiliation or medium of instruction. National boards, international boards, and schools teaching in languages such as Gujarati and Urdu were all said to be covered under the same mandate. A special enforcement drive was announced for the new academic year beginning in June, through which the actual implementation of the law is expected to be reviewed more closely.
The warning issued by school education minister Dada Bhuse was made particularly significant because possible cancellation of recognition was mentioned as a consequence for non-compliance. It was acknowledged that some schools, especially prominent international institutions, were allegedly not following the law. As a result, a stricter monitoring mechanism was said to be necessary. Questions were also raised by legislators regarding whether qualified Marathi teachers had been appointed in schools where the subject is supposed to be taught. Through the government’s response, it was made clear that the rule would no longer remain a matter of formal policy alone but would now be checked through direct institutional review.
At the same time, another serious issue was taken up in the assembly regarding the free professional education policy for women from backward classes. Higher and technical education minister Chandrakant Patil stated that colleges found denying admission under this policy could face cancellation of affiliation. This response was given after complaints were raised that delayed reimbursement of fees by the government had led some colleges to refuse admission or shift the burden onto students.
Although delays in scholarship and fee payments were admitted by the minister, it was stressed that such delays could not be treated as a valid reason for denying educational access. The administration, it was said, had been directed by chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to release pending amounts on priority. It was further explained that reimbursements were now being processed in a more disciplined way, on the lines of salary payments made to government employees. Raids on colleges were also said to have been carried out, during which it was found that smaller institutions had struggled financially because of the delayed flow of funds. However, it was clearly stated that student admissions could not be blocked for this reason.
Support for the policy was also strengthened through data placed before the assembly. Enrollment under the scheme was said to have risen significantly, with the number of women students in professional courses increasing from 85,068 in 2023-24 to 115,000 later on. This was presented as evidence that the scheme had improved participation and widened access to higher education among women from backward categories.
Meanwhile, a fresh regulatory step was also announced for the pre-primary segment. A bill was said to be in preparation for the regulation of private pre-primary institutions. Through this proposed legislation, norms relating to minimum area of operation, staffing, teacher-student ratio, security arrangements, and CCTV installation would be formalised. It was also noted that mandatory registration had already been introduced from April of the previous year, and more than 12,700 institutions had already been brought into the registration system.
Overall, a clear pattern was seen in the government’s position. Across school education, higher education, and early childhood education, stricter accountability was signalled, stronger monitoring was promised, and recognition or affiliation was placed at risk where policy compliance is not ensured. The message delivered in the assembly was that education norms in Maharashtra would now be enforced with greater seriousness and with fewer exceptions.