Reassessing India's Language Policy: The Need to Elevate English for Socio-Economic Mobility

Many Indian parents aspire for their children to speak English, recognizing its importance for socio-economic opportunities. Despite this, national education policies, including the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, have consistently undervalued English, influenced by political ideologies aiming to limit its spread. This neglect has deepened educational inequalities, especially affecting marginalized children in government schools, while those from affluent families benefit from English proficiency.

The NEP 2020's three-language formula, while promoting linguistic diversity, is seen as an attempt to reduce English's role, favoring Hindi instead. This approach contradicts the constitutional safeguard of English as a neutral language and risks disrupting the balance between English and regional languages. Despite the global shift towards English, India’s policies have failed to address its critical role in economic and international contexts.

Historically, there has been resistance to English, rooted in the post-independence push to establish Hindi as a primary language. The NEP 2020, despite its flexibility in language choice, still shows bias towards Hindi, limiting the practical implementation of a multilingual policy.

To address these issues, India needs a pragmatic language policy that includes both a regional language and English, supporting cultural diversity while facilitating global engagement. Promoting English effectively can ensure broader participation in economic, educational, and legal spheres, aligning with democratic principles and citizens' aspirations.