Marathi Now Mandatory in All State and Central Government Offices in Maharashtra, Including Banks; Non-Compliance to Attract Disciplinary Action
Mumbai, February 3, 2025: The Maharashtra government has officially implemented its Marathi Language Policy, making it mandatory for all government employees to communicate in Marathi. A government order issued on Monday ratifies the policy announced in March last year and outlines strict enforcement measures, including disciplinary action for non-compliance.
Marathi Now Compulsory in Government Communication
As per the new directive, all government, semi-government, local self-government bodies, government corporations, and government-aided offices must use Marathi as the primary language for all communication and interactions. Employees in these establishments are required to speak in Marathi while addressing visitors, except in cases involving foreigners or non-Marathi-speaking individuals from outside the state.
To ensure strict implementation, citizens can now file complaints against government officials who do not converse in Marathi. If a department head fails to take action, the issue can be escalated to the Marathi Language Committee of the State Legislature.
Mandates for Signage, Advertisements, and Government Websites
The new policy also mandates that all signboards, advertisements, and notices issued by the Maharashtra government be exclusively in Marathi. Additionally, all government-sanctioned advertisements—whether from state-approved companies, boards, corporations, or semi-government organizations—must be published only in Marathi newspapers.
The policy extends to websites, presentations, and online content, ensuring that all official digital communication is conducted in Marathi. Even computer keyboards in government offices must feature Marathi Devanagari script, in addition to Roman alphabets.
Implementation in Central Government and Banking Sectors
Interestingly, the state government has instructed that Marathi be used in Central Government offices operating in Maharashtra, including banks. Under the trilingual formula of the Central Government, all notice boards, officer nameplates, and application forms in these institutions must include Marathi alongside Hindi and English. The new guidelines are in accordance with a central government policy that makes it mandatory for all government establishments, including banks, to have a three-language policy—English, Hindi and the concerned regional language.
Marathi as a Language of Knowledge and Employment
The Maharashtra government has positioned this initiative as a long-term policy to strengthen Marathi as a language of knowledge and employment over the next 25 years. The policy aims to integrate Marathi into fields such as school education, technical education, law, justice, finance, industry, media, and administration.
Furthermore, new institutions and enterprises will have only Marathi names, which will be transcribed into Roman script instead of being translated into English.
Check the GR Issued by Government of Maharashtra in this regard:
Strict Enforcement and Budget Allocation
To ensure adherence, all government departments have been instructed to allocate funds for the successful implementation of the Marathi Language Policy. Violations will be monitored, and errant officials will face disciplinary action for failing to comply with the guidelines.
This policy marks a significant step in the Maharashtra government’s efforts to preserve, promote, and expand the use of the Marathi language in public affairs.
