The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a fresh directive for higher education institutions across India to offer at least three languages in their curriculum embracing local language, mother tongue or regional language, and one additional Indian language. 

As per the UGC’s circular, courses in the additional Indian language can be offered as ability-enhancement, credit, or audit courses. These language courses must be available at three progressive levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced giving students the flexibility to join or exit at any level depending on their comfort and commitment. 

The idea behind this push is rooted in the vision of National Education Policy 2020 (NEP 2020), which encourages multilingualism to nurture national unity and cultural diversity through education. UGC hopes that by making Indian languages more accessible and flexible to learn in higher education, students and teachers from different states will develop better cross-regional understanding. 

However, the directive is likely to face opposition in some states especially where the longstanding two-language approach is deeply entrenched. In states like Tamil Nadu which has historically resisted additional language requirements implementation could be challenging. 

Many educators highlight practical hurdles: a shortage of qualified language teachers, limited institutional resources, and scepticism around whether learning an extra Indian language truly adds value for students, especially in technical or professional courses where foreign languages are often considered more beneficial for global job markets. 

Even so, UGC insists that the additional language requirement remain strictly optional it shouldn’t be enforced as mandatory coursework. The emphasis is not just on preserving linguistic heritage, but also on offering students a broader educational and cultural exposure.

Whether all colleges nationwide will effectively adopt this guidance remains uncertain. But the decision marks a clear commitment by education authorities to promote multilingual learning, offering a window of opportunity to students who wish to deepen their connection with India’s diverse linguistic landscape.