The University Grants Commission has asked higher education institutions to promote the ‘Learn One More Bharatiya Bhasha’ initiative to help students and faculty learn an additional Indian language beyond their mother tongue. The move aims to strengthen cross-cultural understanding and expand linguistic exposure across states.
The guidelines for the initiative have been framed by the Bharatiya Bhasha Samiti (BBS). These guidelines will support universities in planning and offering structured language courses that focus on communication skills and cultural literacy.
UGC said that learning an additional Indian language is easier because many Indian languages share similar vocabulary, grammar and sound patterns. It added that this initiative will help learners develop a deeper connection with other regions of the country.
Courses to focus on communicative skills: UGC guidelines
Higher education institutions have been advised to design courses that help learners build speaking and reading-writing skills in the target language. The guidelines said that all students of HEIs should be motivated to learn at least one more Indian language in addition to their mother tongue and local language.
Institutions may offer different levels of courses depending on learner background. The guidelines also support Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) so that heritage speakers and learners with earlier exposure can progress to higher levels.
Target groups for the new Bhasha courses
The primary target population includes undergraduate, postgraduate and doctoral students. Institutions may also create separate segments for absolute beginners, heritage speakers, learners with disabilities, or professionals who need sector-specific vocabulary. The course structure must be aligned with the needs of these groups.
HEIs allowed to prepare their own learning materials
Universities and colleges may prepare text, audio, video and situational conversation-based materials using the expertise available within their campuses or collaboration networks. They may also partner with other institutions to share and co-develop materials to support the courses.
Institutions can hire trainers from diverse linguistic backgrounds
HEIs may hire trainers from within or outside the institution. Trainers may belong to different mother tongues and language backgrounds to improve the effectiveness of teaching. The guidelines said that many institutions may require short, stackable credentials for task-based language teaching and CLIL-based instruction to ensure high-quality delivery.
Structured incentives for learners and mentors
The initiative includes incentives for learners who complete courses and reach the required proficiency level. Successful learners will receive micro-credentials that will be added to the Academic Bank of Credits (ABC) and shown on their academic transcripts.
Mentors whose batches show steady proficiency improvement will receive credits toward a stackable ‘HEI Language Mentor’ certificate. The guidelines encourage sustainable community engagement and continuous support to build a strong language learning ecosystem across campuses.
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