Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on Monday (May 25, 2026) hailed the decision to include Maithili in the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) curriculum at the secondary level from the next academic session.

In a social media post on X, Mr. Choudhary said that the decision will give a new identity and honour to the Maithili language and serve as a powerful medium to connect future generations with their mother tongue, culture, and roots.

The CBSE has decided to introduce Maithili as a subject at the secondary level from the 2026-27 session.

‘Matter of pride’

“Inclusion of the Maithili language in the CBSE curriculum from Class 1 up to the secondary level is a matter of pride for Mithila’s cultural identity and linguistic glory,” Mr. Choudhary said in the post. He termed the move aimed at preserving Mithila’s rich cultural heritage 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 are continually gaining renewed strength.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and MP from Darbhanga Parliamentary seat, Gopal Ji Thakur, had met Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan and Minister of State for Education Jayant Chaudhary on February 8, 2026, and demanded the inclusion of the Maithili language as a subject in the CBSE curriculum.

Mr. Chaudhary has informed Mr. Thakur through a letter dated May 19. In the letter, he wrote, “I had conducted an inquiry by the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). The NCERT informed me that, in accordance with the recommendations of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, the mother tongue of students will be adopted as the medium of instruction up to Class 5, and wherever feasible, up to Class 8.”

‘Tribute to Mithila’

Sanjay Saraogi, Bihar BJP President, too welcomed the decision by 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 that the decision constitutes a historic step towards securing a strong and dignified position for Mithila’s culture—and the Maithili language—within the educational framework.

“For a long time, there had been persistent demands for the preservation, promotion, and comprehensive inclusion of the Maithili language within 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 emphasised that language serves not merely as a medium of communication, but acts as a vehicle for a society’s culture, history, traditions, core values, and collective consciousness.

Mr. Saraogi further noted that the inclusion of the mother tongue in early education strengthens a child’s intellectual development, comprehension skills, and self-confidence.

Effective learning

“When children receive their education in their mother tongue, the learning process becomes significantly more effective, and they remain deeply connected to their culture and roots. The recognition accorded to Maithili will instill a sense of pride in future generations regarding their language, culture, and identity,” Mr. Saraogi said.

He asserted that the inclusion of Maithili in the CBSE curriculum will not only reinforce the preservation of the language but will also provide a new direction to Maithili literature, research, academic studies, and cultural activities.