Can English now be considered an Indian language?
The question came up before the Supreme Court during a hearing on the CBSE's three-language policy. Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that the meaning of the word "native" may need to be revisited and asked whether, after more than 200 years in India, English could be regarded as an Indian language.
The court did not give a ruling on the issue but sought a response from the CBSE, with its observations triggering a wider debate on language, identity, education and the implementation of the three-language policy in schools.