Patna, May 25 (IANS) Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has welcomed the decision of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to include the Maithili language in the curriculum from the academic session 2026-27.

In a social media post shared on Monday, the Bihar Chief Minister described the move as historic, stating that it would provide greater recognition to Mithila’s cultural heritage and mother tongue within the educational system.

Choudhary said the inclusion of Maithili as a mother-tongue subject from Class 1 to the secondary level was a matter of pride for the cultural and linguistic identity of the Mithila region.

He also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for promoting Indian languages, culture, and traditions through educational reforms and policy initiatives.

According to the Chief Minister, the decision would not only strengthen the identity and dignity of the Maithili language but also help future generations remain connected to their linguistic and cultural roots.

The development follows a letter issued on May 19 from the office of Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary to Darbhanga MP Gopal Ji Thakur regarding the inclusion of Maithili in the CBSE curriculum.

Gopal Ji Thakur had earlier written to the Union Education Ministry requesting the inclusion of Maithili as a subject in CBSE schools.

In response, Jayant Chaudhary stated that the matter had been examined in consultation with the National Council of Educational Research and Training.

He noted that the decision aligns with the recommendations of the National Education Policy 2020, which advocates the use of students’ mother tongues as the medium of instruction up to Class 5, and wherever possible, up to Class 8.

The minister further pointed out that Maithili is among the 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

He added that NCERT has prepared primers in 121 Indian languages, including Maithili, and is translating textbooks into all 22 scheduled languages.

According to the communication, CBSE has formally incorporated Maithili into the secondary-level curriculum beginning with the 2026-27 academic session, and the syllabus has already been made available on the CBSE academic portal.

–IANS

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