Memorandum to CBSE Chairman: Denial of Examinations in Urdu is a Clear Violation of Students’ Constitutional and Legal Rights; Mushawarat Calls for Intervention from the Union Minister of Education
Statement by Mushawarat President Feroze Ahmed: Running CBSE on Commercial Lines is an Attack on the Spirit of Democracy and the National Educational Policy of Multilingualism
New Delhi: The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat, the only federation of prominent Muslim organizations and personalities of eminence in the country, has submitted a memorandum to Mr. Rahul Singh (IAS), Chairman of the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), regarding the board’s hostile approach toward Urdu in its examination policies. The memorandum states that denying Urdu medium school students the right to take exams in Urdu is a clear violation of the constitutional and legal rights of Urdu-speaking children. Recently, Mushawarat had also passed a detailed resolution during its annual joint meeting to strongly protest this decision by the board.
Background and Concerns
The memorandum outlines that in 2010, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) established three model schools for Urdu-speaking children in Hyderabad, Nuh (Haryana), and Darbhanga (Bihar). CBSE had recognized to these schools with Urdu as the primary medium of instruction. Until 2020, the board provided examination question papers for these institutions in English, Hindi, and Urdu. However, since 2021, CBSE removed Urdu as an option for question papers without prior consultation, impacting students at MANUU’s schools and other Urdu medium institutions. Since then, these students have faced academic challenges as they are forced to answer questions provided only in Hindi and English. Additionally, in June 2024, CBSE introduced a policy requiring prior permission to evaluate answer sheets written in languages other than Hindi or English, except in the National Capital Territory of Delhi. This has further increased the difficulties faced by Urdu medium students across the country.
The Severity of Impact
Mushawarat’s resolution and memorandum further state that this policy has not only affected institutions affiliated with MANUU but has also jeopardized the access and sustainability of Urdu medium education nationwide, even impacting central university like MANUU. By preventing students from writing exams in their mother tongue, CBSE undermines the principles of multilingualism and inclusivity adopted in the New Education Policy 2024, which emphasizes promoting education in regional languages.
The AIMMM emphasized that Urdu is always one of the scheduled national languages of the country, the mother tongue of over sixty million Indian citizens, and an official language in several states. The restriction on providing question papers and conducting exams in Urdu is a clear violation of the rights granted by the constitution and law.
Mushawarat’s Demands
In light of the facts above mentioned, the All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat demands the immediate restoration of the previous policy, allowing students to receive question papers in Urdu and write their answers in Urdu. Mushawarat President Feroze Ahmed, Advocate, said “running CBSE on commercial lines is against the spirit of democracy. He urged the Union Minister of Education to intervene, as promoting multilingualism is a responsibility of the government. Mushawarat calls for an urgent review of the policy restricting the use of Urdu in examinations, so that the affected are not forced to resort to protests or legal battles.