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Apr 19, 2026
AICTE Mandates Engineering Courses in 5 More Regional Languages for 2026-27 Academic Year
R
Rohan Varma
Apr 19, 2026
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The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has announced a significant expansion of its regional language initiative for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year. Starting this July, engineering colleges across the country will have the option to offer undergraduate programs in five additional Indian languages: Bengali, Punjabi, Odia, Assamese, and Urdu. This brings the total number of languages in which technical education can be imparted to 18, fulfilling a key mandate of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 to promote mother-tongue instruction in higher education.
To support this rollout, the AICTE has collaborated with technical universities to translate over 400 core engineering textbooks using an AI-based translation tool, which was subsequently vetted by subject matter experts. These books will be available in both digital and physical formats at subsidized rates. Furthermore, the SWAYAM portal has been updated to include video lectures in these new languages, featuring faculty from prestigious IITs and NITs. The goal is to ensure that language does not act as a barrier for talented students from rural backgrounds who may be proficient in their native tongue but struggle with English-medium instruction.
AICTE Chairman, in a press conference held in New Delhi, clarified that this is an optional model. Colleges can choose to offer 'bilingual' sections where core concepts are explained in the regional language while technical terminology remains in English. This 'hybrid' approach is intended to ensure that students remain competitive in the global job market where English is the lingua franca of the industry. Initial feedback from pilot programs in Tamil and Marathi has shown a 15% improvement in the conceptual understanding of students in their first year of engineering.
The council has also announced a special grant for faculty development. Teachers who undergo training to deliver lectures in regional languages will be eligible for research grants and certifications. This move has been welcomed by several state governments, particularly in West Bengal and Punjab, where there has been a long-standing demand for technical education in the local language. However, some industry experts have raised concerns about the placement prospects of these students, prompting the AICTE to include mandatory 'English for Employability' modules in the curriculum.
As the admission season for 2026 begins, several private and state-run universities have already expressed interest in starting regional language batches. The AICTE's move is seen as a major step toward democratizing education in India. By 2030, the government aims to have at least one technical institute in every district offering courses in the local language. For now, the focus remains on ensuring the quality of translated materials and training a new generation of bilingual educators who can bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern technology.
To support this rollout, the AICTE has collaborated with technical universities to translate over 400 core engineering textbooks using an AI-based translation tool, which was subsequently vetted by subject matter experts. These books will be available in both digital and physical formats at subsidized rates. Furthermore, the SWAYAM portal has been updated to include video lectures in these new languages, featuring faculty from prestigious IITs and NITs. The goal is to ensure that language does not act as a barrier for talented students from rural backgrounds who may be proficient in their native tongue but struggle with English-medium instruction.
AICTE Chairman, in a press conference held in New Delhi, clarified that this is an optional model. Colleges can choose to offer 'bilingual' sections where core concepts are explained in the regional language while technical terminology remains in English. This 'hybrid' approach is intended to ensure that students remain competitive in the global job market where English is the lingua franca of the industry. Initial feedback from pilot programs in Tamil and Marathi has shown a 15% improvement in the conceptual understanding of students in their first year of engineering.
The council has also announced a special grant for faculty development. Teachers who undergo training to deliver lectures in regional languages will be eligible for research grants and certifications. This move has been welcomed by several state governments, particularly in West Bengal and Punjab, where there has been a long-standing demand for technical education in the local language. However, some industry experts have raised concerns about the placement prospects of these students, prompting the AICTE to include mandatory 'English for Employability' modules in the curriculum.
As the admission season for 2026 begins, several private and state-run universities have already expressed interest in starting regional language batches. The AICTE's move is seen as a major step toward democratizing education in India. By 2030, the government aims to have at least one technical institute in every district offering courses in the local language. For now, the focus remains on ensuring the quality of translated materials and training a new generation of bilingual educators who can bridge the gap between traditional knowledge and modern technology.