For the 2021-22 academic session, a few Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs) and National Institutes of Technology (NITs) will start offering mother-tongue engineering courses. This decision was taken by the government at a high-level review meeting chaired on Thursday by Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal of the Union. "During the meeting, Pokhriyal tweeted, "A seminal decision was also made that engineering courses offering #mother tongue education will be opened from next academic year. A few IITs & NITs are shortlisted for the same." "A seminal decision was made to start technical education, particularly engineering courses (in mother tongues)… fr fr will be opened to teaching mother tongue education. There are a few IIT and NIT shortlisted for the same," read a press release from the ministry.

According to a director of an IIT, "It will be impossible, especially in the short term to implement this. After one has to offer all languages as medium of instruction in the IIT as we get students from all states and it won't be fair to deny even a single student if he/she wants to study in say Odia or Telugu. Where will we find so many faculties to teach such a wide range of students? In fact, we are now struggling to find faculty even in English! State engineering colleges can gradually implement the same offering the courses in the state language." After reviewing the current scenario in different boards, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will come up with a syllabus for competitive exams. He also directed officials to ensure that all scholarships are disbursed, fellowships are disbursed in time and launch a helpline for the same and resolve student grievances immediately.