The Maharashtra government has issued a directive making Marathi the mandatory language for all official communication in government, semi-government, and local self-governing bodies across the state.
The notification, released by the state planning department on 3 February, warns that officials failing to comply will face disciplinary action.
All government offices must use Marathi for internal and external communication, including correspondence, proposals, orders, and messages. Websites, presentations, and documentation at the office level must also be in Marathi. Officials are required to speak in Marathi when interacting with visitors, except for those from outside India or non-Marathi-speaking states.
The directive extends to signage and written communication, making it compulsory for name boards, application forms, and notices in government and central government offices within Maharashtra to be in Marathi, as per the trilingual policy. Offices are also required to display boards reinforcing Marathi as the official language.
Government and semi-government institutions, corporations, and boards must use their Marathi names without English translations. New businesses must register their names in Marathi, and establishments with bilingual names will now function only under their Marathi identity.
All government advertisements, tenders, and notices published in Marathi newspapers must be in Marathi. Budget allocations will be made to ensure the policy’s effective implementation. Additionally, computer keypads and printers in government offices must include the Marathi Devanagari script alongside Roman alphabets.
The move is part of the Marathi Language Policy approved by the Maharashtra Cabinet in 2024, which aims to strengthen Marathi’s presence in administration, education, media, law, and industry. The government envisions Marathi as a dominant language in public affairs, knowledge, and employment over the next 25 years.
