Cabinet clears way for German in Kendriya Vidayalayas

In October, a MoU was signed between the two countries during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to India

The German language will be taught in Kendriya Vidayalayas after a joint declaration of intent between the HRD ministry and Federal Foreign Office of Germany was approved by the union cabinet on Wednesday.

As per the declaration, German, as an additional foreign language, will be promoted in India while Indian languages will be promoted in Germany.

The declaration is expected to intensify existing bilateral cooperation between India and Germany and to further advance the relations between the two countries in the field of education in accordance with the laws, policies and regulations in force in the two countries.

In October, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two countries during German Chancellor Angela Merkel's visit to India.

The governing board of KV had in its meeting on October 27 last year directed that teaching of German language as an option instead of Sanskrit be discontinued.

The KV's decision had triggered an uproar and had threatened to derail ties between the two countries.

It was criticised also by Merkel who raised the issue during her meeting with Modi on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit in 2014.