Tamil Nadu Stands Firm on Two-Language Policy, Won't Give Land for Navodaya Schools

Tamil Nadu will not deviate from its two-language policy in schools and will maintain its refusal to allot land for Navodaya Vidyalayas, School Education Minister Rajmohan said on Friday, September 18, 2026, at a press conference held at the Secretariat in Chennai.

The Minister was responding to a question about the Supreme Court's decision a day earlier to grant the State three months to comply with its December 15, 2025, direction to identify the required land in every district for setting up Navodaya schools, which follow the CBSE syllabus.

During a nearly hour-long hearing on the State's adoption of the Navodaya Vidyalaya Scheme, the apex court observed that Tamil Nadu needed to change its "mindset" that Hindi cannot be taught on its soil, and cautioned that individual States cannot function like separate countries. The remarks were made orally by Justice B.V. Nagarathna.

"As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, we follow the two-language policy, and we will continue to do so. There will be no change in our stand," Mr. Rajmohan said. He noted that the judge had expressed an opinion and that this did not amount to a verdict, with judicial proceedings still under way. The Minister added that the State was not opposed to Hindi or any other language, and pointed to its model schools, whose students have gone on to excel in higher education.

The State's stance sets the stage for further proceedings in the matter, with the three-month window now running for the identification of land for the schools.