**Executive Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian government's efforts to promote multilingualism under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, as discussed in the Lok Sabha on August 4, 2025. It details initiatives undertaken to integrate Indian languages into education at all levels, including providing learning materials, conducting exams, and developing technological tools. A key budget proposal for 2025-26 involves the Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme, aiming to make textbooks and study materials available in 22 Indian languages in digital form.
**Key Points / Main Content:**
* **Promotion of Multilingualism under NEP 2020:**
* Emphasizes the promotion of all Indian languages.
* Recommends mother tongue/local language as the medium of instruction up to Class 5, preferably up to Class 8.
* **2nd Consultative Committee Meeting (Indore):**
* Focused on promoting Indian languages in education, promotion of education in Indian languages, and the promotion, preservation and research on Indian languages.
* Confirmed government efforts towards achieving NEP 2020 mandates.
* **Integration of Multilingualism:**
* Reading materials provided in Indian languages.
* Students enabled to study in their mother tongue/local language.
* **Initiatives in Higher Education and Technical Fields:**
* AICTE provided engineering textbooks in 12 Indian languages.
* MBA, MBBS, and B.Tech courses available in Hindi.
* Bar Council of India introduced bilingual instruction.
* 40 institutes across 10 states offer technical courses in Indian languages.
* Major exams (NET, CTET, NEET, JEE, CUET, SSC) conducted in 12 Indian languages.
* UGC allows students to write exams in local languages.
* **Technological Advancements:**
* AI-based translation tools developed (Anuvadini Foundation AICTE, UDAAN Project Team IIT Bombay and Bhasini).
* Commission for Scientific Technical Terminology made over 20 lakh terminologies in 22 Indian languages publicly available.
* **Other Achievements:**
* Hindi translation of 34 Classical Tamil texts.
* Tirukkural in Sign Language.
* AI-generated Chemmozhi Tamil audiobooks.
* Creation of Bahu Bhasha Shabdakosh for digital dictionaries.
* National Instructional Media Institute published 525 skill-based textbooks in 22 languages.
* Hindi Shabd Sindhu Kosh compiled 4.82 lakh words.
* **Early Literacy and Multilingual Education Initiatives:**
* Development of 117 primers in 22 Scheduled and 99 Non-Scheduled languages (NCERT and CIIL).
* Bhasha Sangam featuring 100 commonly used sentences in 22 languages.
* Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav and Bharatiya Bhasha Summer Camp implemented.
* 16 language and cultural handbooks developed for Classes 6 to 9.
* Jaadui Pitara and eJaadui Pitara introduced play-based early education in 22 Indian languages.
* DIKSHA platform offers multilingual digital content in 36 languages.
* PM eVidya expanded to 200 DTH TV channels.
* **Teacher Education:**
* Introduction of the 4-Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme (ITEP) focusing on multilingual pedagogy.
* **Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Scheme (Budget 2025-26):**
* Textbooks and study materials for schools and higher education to be made available in 22 Indian languages in digital form.
* Note for Expenditure Finance Committee (EFC) prepared with stakeholder inputs.
**Impact Analysis:**
* **Students:**
* *Impact:* Access to education and learning materials in their mother tongue/local language, promoting better understanding and engagement. Increased inclusivity of the education system.
* *Action Required:* Utilize available resources and opportunities to learn and engage with Indian languages.
* **Teachers:**
* *Impact:* Need to adapt teaching methods to incorporate multilingual pedagogy. Opportunities for professional development through programs like ITEP.
* *Action Required:* Participate in training programs and implement inclusive teaching strategies.
* **Educational Institutions (Schools, Colleges, Universities):**
* *Impact:* Need to provide resources and support for multilingual education. May need to offer courses and exams in Indian languages.
* *Action Required:* Implement NEP 2020 guidelines and allocate resources for multilingual education initiatives.
* **Content Developers (NCERT, AICTE, NIMI, etc.):**
* *Impact:* Responsible for creating and translating learning materials into multiple Indian languages.
* *Action Required:* Develop high-quality, accessible content in various Indian languages, aligned with curriculum requirements.
* **Government (Ministry of Education):**
* *Impact:* Oversight and funding of multilingual education initiatives. Monitoring the implementation of NEP 2020.
* *Action Required:* Continue to allocate resources, develop policies, and monitor the progress of multilingual education initiatives.
Key Entities Referenced
National Education Policy NEP, 2020: A national policy document that emphasizes the promotion of multilingualism and the use of Indian languages in education.
Indore, Madhya Pradesh: Location of the 2nd Consultative Committee meeting focused on promoting Indian languages in education.
AICTE: All India Council for Technical Education, which has provided engineering textbooks in 12 Indian languages.
Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Pariyojana: A project aimed at making textbooks and study materials available in 22 Indian languages in digital form.
Bhasha Sangam: An initiative featuring 100 commonly used sentences in 22 languages to promote linguistic awareness.
Jaadui Pitara: An inclusive, play-based early education tool introduced in 22 Indian languages, including support for Indian Sign Language (ISL).
PM eVidya: An initiative that has expanded to 200 DTH TV channels to deliver curriculum-aligned content in various Indian languages and ISL.
4-Year Integrated Teacher Education Programme ITEP: A teacher education program with a focus on multilingual pedagogy.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO-2510
ANSWERED ON - 04/08/2025
Promotion of Multilingualism under NEP 2020
2510. Shri Khagen Murmu:
Dr. Hemang Joshi:
Shri Ravindra Shukla Alias Ravi Kishan:
Will the Minister of EDUCATION be pleased to state:
(a) the key agenda and outcomes of the 2nd Consultative Committee meeting held in Indore;
(b) the steps taken to promote multilingualism under National Education Policy (NEP), 2020;
and
(c) the current status of Bharatiya Bhasha Pustak Pariyojana as per Budget 2025?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION
(DR. SUKANTA MAJUMDAR)
(a) to (c) The National Education Policy (NEP), 2020 emphasizes the promotion of
multilingualism and encourages efforts to keep Indian languages vibrant. It focuses on promotion
of all Indian languages, and recommends, wherever possible, the use of the mother tongue/local
language as the medium of instruction at least up to Class 5, and preferably up to Class 8.
The agenda of the 2nd consultative committee held in Indore was to focus on the efforts
made towards the promotion of Indian languages in education; the promotion of education in
Indian languages; and the promotion, preservation and research on Indian languages.
As an outcome of the 2nd Consultative Committee, it has emerged that the Government of
India has been working towards achieving the mandate envisaged in the NEP 2020. The
Government is integrating multilingualism at both school and higher education levels by providingreading materials in Indian languages, enabling students to study in their mother tongue/ local
language.
Several initiatives have been undertaken to promote Indian languages in higher education
and technical fields. AICTE has provided engineering textbooks in 12 Indian languages, while
MBA, MBBS, and B.Tech courses are also available in Hindi. The Bar Council of India has
introduced bilingual instruction, and 40 institutes across 10 states offer technical courses in Indian
languages. The first Marathi-medium engineering batch from Pimpri Chinchwad College of
Engineering (Pune), graduated successfully. Major exams like NET, CTET, NEET, JEE, CUET,
and SSC are now conducted in 12 Indian languages. Additionally, the UGC allows students to
write exams in local languages, irrespective of the medium of instruction. The Commission for
Scientific Technical Terminology has made over 20 lakh terminologies in 22 Indian languages
publicly available. Technological advancements include AI-based translation tools developed by
the Anuvadini Foundation (AICTE) and the UDAAN Project Team (IIT Bombay) and Bhasini.
Other notable achievements include the Hindi translation of 34 Classical Tamil texts,
Tirukkural in Sign Language, AI-generated Chemmozhi Tamil audiobooks, and the creation of
Bahu Bhasha Shabdakosh for digital dictionaries. Additionally, National Instructional Media
Institute has published 525 skill-based textbooks in 22 languages, and the Hindi Shabd Sindhu
Kosh has compiled 4.82 lakh words.
The Department of School Education and Literacy has implemented several key initiatives
to advance early literacy and multilingual education across India such as development of 117
primers in 22 Scheduled and 99 Non-Scheduled languages, along with 52 additional primers in
local and mother tongues by NCERT and CIIL. Initiatives such as Bhasha Sangam (featuring 100
commonly used sentences in 22 languages), Bhartiya Bhasha Utsav, and the Bharatiya Bhasha
Summer Camp (a 28-hour flexible program focused on language and cultural learning) have
fostered greater linguistic and cultural awareness among students. Additionally, 16 language and
cultural handbooks for Classes 6 to 9, including in Assamese, Bengali, and Santali, have been
developed to reflect regional identities.
Innovative tools like Jaadui Pitara and its AI-enabled digital version, e-Jaadui Pitara,
have introduced inclusive, play-based early education in 22 Indian languages, with support for
Indian Sign Language (ISL). DIKSHA platform now offers multilingual digital content in 36
languages. The PM e-Vidya initiative has expanded to 200 DTH TV channels with vision of “One
Nation, One Digital Platform”, delivering curriculum-aligned content in various Indian languages
and ISL, enhancing reach and inclusivity of rural areas. Teacher education has also seen major
advancements, notably through the introduction of the 4-Year Integrated Teacher Education
Programme (ITEP) with a focus on multilingual pedagogy.As per the budget announcement of 2025-26, Government has proposed to implement a
Bharitya Bhasha Pustak Scheme wherein the textbooks and study materials for the subjects being
offered for schools and higher education shall be made available in 22 Indian languages in digital
form. The Note for EFC for the scheme has been prepared with inputs from various stakeholders
through a series of meetings.
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