It is important to note that under the recently amended Motor Vehicle Rules in the state, auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are now required to have a “working knowledge” of Marathi.
Published: August 20, 2026, 9:13 AM IST
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New Delhi: The Devendra Fadnavis-led Maharashtra government is all set to enforce the rule making knowledge of Marathi mandatory for auto-rickshaw and taxi driversFrom Thursday, the government will launch a special drive to take action against auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who do not know MarathiAdditionally, the entire process of verifying a driver’s “working knowledge” of Marathi before issuing a new badge will be video-recorded.
State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik made the announcement on Wednesday.
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While speaking at a press conference at the Mantralaya, Sarnaik said Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials are being asked to record the entire process of checking a driver’s Marathi proficiency before issuing a badgeOfficials have also been directed to strictly follow the prescribed procedure.
It is important to note that under the recently amended Motor Vehicle Rules in the state, auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers are now required to have a “working knowledge” of Marathi.
Here are some of the key details:
- As per the rules, drivers who do not possess the required certificate or have the prescribed knowledge of Marathi will first be given a one-month notice and an opportunity to learn the language.
- If they still fail to comply with the rules, their driving licence and badge may be suspended for three months.
- If a driver still fails to fulfil the requirement of learning Marathi, orders will be issued to cancel their driving licence and badge.
- A month-long special drive against such drivers will begin on Thursday.
Six lakh auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers
Notably, there are around six lakh auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in MaharashtraOut of this number, a significant number concentrated in the Mumbai Metropolitan RegionThe government says the rule is not intended to take away anyone’s livelihood, but rather to encourage drivers to learn the local languageHowever, non-Marathi-speaking drivers continue to have concerns about the rule.
