Sign Language Now a School Subject in Assam!
Assam becomes the first Indian state to introduce Indian Sign Language as an elective subject in schools from Class 11, starting 2025–26. The new curriculum also includes Artificial Intelligence and F
For years, the Deaf community in India has faced exclusion in education due to a lack of Indian Sign Language (ISL) recognition and support. Despite over 70 million Deaf or hard-of-hearing people, mainstream schools lacked ISL teachers, curriculum, and inclusion.
Now, Assam has become the first Indian state to introduce ISL as an elective subject for Class 11 and 12 students starting in 2025–26, alongside subjects like AI and Financial Literacy. This landmark move promotes communication, inclusion, and empathy between hearing and Deaf students, potentially opening new career paths and reshaping how language and accessibility are viewed.
Assam’s decision aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 and sets a powerful example for other states to follow, moving India closer to an inclusive, shared future where everyone speaks — or signs — the same language.
