Union Home Minister Amit Shah will inaugurate the Hindi Diwas 2026 celebrations and the sixth All India Official Language Conference in Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra on Monday, 15 September 2026, according to an official statement. The two-day event will spotlight Hindi's deep ties with Maharashtra's linguistic, cultural, and literary heritage, drawing inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision for the promotion of official languages.

Key Dignitaries at the Conference

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, several Members of Parliament, scholars, litterateurs, educationists, and senior officials from various Central government departments and Ministries are all expected to attend. The breadth of the gathering underscores the event's significance as a national platform for Hindi promotion rather than a routine administrative function.

Awards and Publications on the Agenda

During the inaugural session, Home Minister Shah will present the 'Rajbhasha Gaurav' and 'Rajbhasha Kirti' Awards for the year 2025–26, recognising institutions and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the cause of Official Language Hindi. Several publications will also be launched, including a special commemorative issue of the Department of Official Language's journal 'Rajbhasha Bharati' — focused on the National Song 'Vande Mataram' — alongside 'Bharatiya Gyan Tantra: Srot aur Swaroop', 'Shiv Anadi Hain, Anant Hain', and 'Andheron Se Ujalon Tak', a compilation of writings by prison inmates.

Special Focus: Vande Mataram and Its Legacy

A dedicated discussion session centred on the National Song 'Vande Mataram' is billed as a special attraction this year. Notably, Joydeep Chattopadhyay, a fifth-generation descendant of Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay — the author of 'Vande Mataram' — will have a special presence at the programme, lending a direct ancestral link to the centrepiece of the conference's literary agenda.

Conference Journey and NARAKAS Session

The Department of Official Language under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has been organising All India Official Language Conferences every year since 2021. The series began in Varanasi and has since passed through Surat, Pune, New Delhi, and Gandhinagar before reaching Navi Mumbai this year. A dedicated session on the role of Town Official Language Implementation Committees (TOLICs/NARAKAS) — described as grassroots units driving Hindi implementation — will also be held. A special exhibition featuring stalls by various institutions, banks, organisations, and ministries will run alongside the conference sessions.