Chhattisgarh’s attempt to promote medical education in Hindi has hit a major roadblock this year, with zero enrolments recorded for the Hindi-medium MBBS batch for the 2025–26 academic session. The initiative, introduced last year to support rural and Hindi-speaking students, has struggled to attract takers even as the state houses a sizeable Hindi-speaking population. Chhattisgarh currently offers nearly two thousand MBBS seats across fourteen government and private colleges. In the previous academic year, only two students had opted for the Hindi-medium batch. This year, however, the number has fallen to none, prompting the cancellation of Hindi-medium classes due to lack of demand.
Why Students Are Hesitating
Experts point to the dominance of English medical terminology as the biggest hurdle. Concerns over global competitiveness and limited access to high-quality Hindi study material have further discouraged students from shifting away from the traditional English curriculum. Former IMA Raipur chairman Dr. Rakesh Gupta termed the policy “impractical”, noting that almost all standard medical textbooks and reference materials continue to be published in English. He highlighted RTI findings indicating a lack of clarity surrounding the availability and quality of Hindi-medium content, which has deepened doubts among aspirants. Interestingly, despite seventy per cent of MBBS entrants belonging to Hindi-speaking backgrounds, most continue to prefer English for medical studies, fearing potential disadvantages in postgraduate opportunities, national-level exams, and global mobility.
Government’s Position
Director of Medical Education Dr. U.S. Paikra stated that the government has completed its responsibility by preparing and providing the required Hindi study material. According to him, the final choice between Hindi and English “rests entirely with the student,” and the state’s objective has been to ensure that language does not become a barrier for anyone wishing to pursue medical education.
Political Debate Intensifies
The issue has also triggered political reactions. Congress media cell chairman Sushil Anand Shukla criticised the policy as rushed and unrealistic, questioning the feasibility of teaching modern medicine—heavily dependent on globally standardised terminology—in Hindi. He noted that any significant language shift must be backed by robust planning, quality resources, and long-term academic support.
What This Means for the Future?
The complete absence of enrolment for the Hindi-medium MBBS course this year raises broader questions about the viability of regional-language medical education in India. With modern medicine deeply tied to English-language literature and global standards, experts believe that structural reforms, high-quality translations, and extensive academic support will be essential before students begin to adopt Hindi or other Indian languages for medical training.
