Inclusion of Maithili in CBSE curriculum will connect future generation with their roots: Bihar CM
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday (May 25, 2026) welcomed the decision to include Maithili in the curriculum of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) at the secondary level from the next academic session.
In a social media post on X, Mr. Choudhary said the decision will give a new identity and honor to the Maithili language and serve as a powerful medium to connect future generations with their mother tongue, culture and roots.
CBSE has decided to introduce Maithili as a subject at the secondary level from the session 2026-27.
“A Matter of Pride”
“The inclusion of Maithili in the CBSE curriculum from Class 1 to secondary level is a matter of pride for the cultural identity and linguistic glory of Mithila,” Mr. Choudhary said in the post. He termed the move to preserve the rich cultural heritage of Mithila through the education system as “historic” and “highly commendable”.
He added that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the preservation and promotion of Indian languages, culture and traditions is gaining momentum.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President and Darbhanga Member of Parliament Gopal Ji Thakur met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Education Minister Jayant Chaudhary on 8 February 2026 and demanded the inclusion of Maithili as a subject in the CBSE curriculum.
Mr. Chaudhary informed Mr. Thakur through a letter dated May 19. In the letter, he wrote, “I have conducted an inquiry by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). I have been informed by the NCERT that as per the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the mother tongue of the students will be adopted as the medium of instruction, if possible, up to class 5.”
“Tribute to Mithila”
Sanjay Saraogi, Bihar BJP president, also welcomed the decision, describing the move as a tribute to Mithila’s rich cultural heritage, linguistic pride and the sentiments of millions of Maithili speakers.
Mr Saraogi said the decision was a historic step to ensure a strong and dignified position for Mithila culture – and the Maithili language – in the educational framework.
“For long, there have been persistent demands for the preservation, promotion and comprehensive integration of Maithili in the education system. In this context, the inclusion of Maithili as a mother tongue subject in the CBSE curriculum is a matter of immense pride and honor for the entire Mithilanchal region and the state of Bihar,” he said.
He emphasized that language does not only serve as a means of communication, but acts as a means of culture, history, traditions, basic values and the collective consciousness of society.
Mr. Saraogi further noted that the inclusion of the mother tongue in early education enhances a child’s intellectual development, comprehension and self-confidence.
Effective learning
“When children are educated in their mother tongue, the learning process becomes much more efficient and they remain deeply connected to their culture and roots. The recognition given to Maithili will instill a sense of pride in their language, culture and identity in future generations,” Saraogi said.
He argued that the inclusion of Maithili in the CBSE curriculum will not only strengthen the preservation of the language but also give a new direction to Maithili literature, research, academic studies and cultural activities.
Published – 25 May 2026 15:08 IST