This is why mother-tongue-based multilingual education (MTB-MLE) is critical. This year, which is the seventh edition (2025), Bhasha Matters: Mother Tongue and Multilingual Education, brought together global research, new national evidence and practical lessons to explore the state of Mother Tongue and Multilingual Education in India. In Odisha, a long-standing multilingual education programme spans 21 tribal languages across 17 districts, supporting nearly 90,000 children. When young people’s voices are heard, multilingual education becomes more than a policy aspiration. India’s multilingual moment has arrived — and its youth are helping to shape its future.

Source: The Hindu February 21, 2026 06:05 UTC