Avoiding a major flashpoint over the three-language issue, Maharashtra government has announced the cancellation of a Hindi exam for its employees. The government was forced to cancel the exam for its gazetted officers and non-gazetted employees, after public outrage over the issue. Maharashtra Minister Uday Samant announced this decision. The exam was slated to be held on June 28 in four centres across Maharashtra.

He also said that the government will review a rule made in the year 1976 regarding the conduct of such exams in Hindi under the three-language policy.

Marathi language groups have hailed the government’s decision, but have demanded that the rule and the exam should be scrapped altogether. “What is the need for government employees in Maharashtra to give exams in Hindi, when the government proceedings take place in Marathi? Is such a rule applicable in other States? We will not leave this issue till the government takes the decision to completely do away with this rule,” Deepak Pawar said.

Uday Samant told The Hindu that the government will take a decision after the review process is completed.

Regional political parties and linguistic groups were up in arms against the government’s decision after a notification announcing the exam came out in public domain on Wednesday (May 6, 2026). Maharashtra Navnirman Sena had threatened to not let the exam take place.

The government had earlier said that the rule in question was a part of the three-language policy accepted by the state over 50 years ago. It said the exams were being held as per a rule made in 1976. It is held twice every year, and is mandatory for all the government employees who have not studied Hindi till Grade 10. Over 2000-2500 employees and officers appear for the exam every year.