The Union Cabinet on November 19 gave a nod to the proposal of including German language in Kendriya Vidyalayas. German will be taught in KVs as an additional subject. The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval to a joint declaration of intent between the HRD ministry and the federal foreign office of Germany in this regard.

Accoridng to PTI, an official statement released in Delhi said, an "expost approval" has been given to the `Joint Declaration of Intent' for the promotion of German as an additional foreign language in Kendriya Vidyalayas (KVs) in conformity with the National Education Policy of India and the promotion of teaching modern Indian languages in Germany.

"The Joint Declaration of Intent will help to intensify the existing bilateral cooperation between India and Germany and to further advance relations between the two countries in the field of education in accordance with the laws, policies and regulations in the two countries," it added. German was earlier being taught in KVs but last year the Board of Governors (BoG) of the Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan (KVS), headed by HRD Minister, Smriti Irani, had in its meeting, on October 27, decided to discontinue the teaching of German language as an option to Sanskrit. The decision had later led to controversy.

Earlier, in April, ahead of Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Berlin, Germany had asked India to continue the teaching of German language in Kendriya Vidyalayas as per the order of the Supreme Court. German Ambassador Michael Steiner had said that the Supreme Court has allowed teaching of the language in KVs from class 6 to 8 and the government should implement the order.

The Supreme Court in December last year had asked the KVs to ensure that the students who want to pursue German or any other language as an optional subject will be provided with all facilities.