Patna: Maithili has been officially included in the curriculum of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), marking a significant development for the Mithilanchal region and speakers of the language across the country.
The inclusion has been made under the framework of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, which promotes education in mother tongues and regional languages at the foundational and secondary levels.
According to official communication shared with Darbhanga MP Gopaljee Thakur, Union Minister of State for Skill Development and Entrepreneurship Jayant Chaudhary confirmed that Maithili has been recognised as a mother tongue subject from Class 1 to the secondary level in CBSE-affiliated schools.
Samrat Choudhary Welcomes Decision
Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary expressed happiness over the move and described it as a historic step for the cultural heritage and linguistic identity of Mithila.
मिथिला की समृद्ध सांस्कृतिक विरासत और मातृभाषा मैथिली को शिक्षा व्यवस्था में सशक्त स्थान दिलाने की दिशा में लिया गया यह निर्णय ऐतिहासिक एवं अत्यंत स्वागतयोग्य है।
केंद्रीय माध्यमिक शिक्षा बोर्ड (CBSE) के पाठ्यक्रम में कक्षा 1 से माध्यमिक स्तर तक मैथिली भाषा को मातृभाषा विषय के… pic.twitter.com/PCcTnMEXDv
— Samrat Choudhary (@samrat4bjp) May 25, 2026
Sharing the Union Minister’s letter on social media platform X, Choudhary said the inclusion of Maithili in the education system was a matter of pride for the people of Mithila. He added that the Narendra Modi-led government was continuously working towards strengthening Indian languages, traditions and cultural heritage.
He further stated that the decision would help future generations remain connected to their roots, culture and mother tongue.
NCERT Recommends Mother Tongue-Based Education
As per the communication, the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), after review, recommended that Maithili be adopted as the medium of instruction up to Class 5 and, wherever possible, up to Class 8.
NCERT is also translating textbooks into 22 Indian languages, including Maithili, in line with the provisions of NEP 2020.
Officials said the Maithili curriculum has already been prepared and uploaded on the CBSE website.
Long-Standing Demand of Mithilanchal
The decision is being viewed as a major achievement for the people of Mithilanchal, where demands for wider institutional recognition of the Maithili language have persisted for years.
Education experts have long argued that early education in a child’s mother tongue improves comprehension, strengthens learning outcomes and contributes to the preservation of regional languages and cultural identity.
