Maharashtra Proposes Mandatory Marathi Knowledge For Taxi, Auto Drivers

The Maharashtra government has proposed making working knowledge of Marathi mandatory for drivers of taxis, autorickshaws and app-based cabs, with the August 15 deadline for compliance remaining unchanged. State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said there would be no extension for non-Marathi-speaking drivers to acquire basic functional knowledge of the language. The proposed requirement is aimed at improving communication between public transport drivers and passengers and is expected to be linked to relevant permits and driving authorisations.

Under the proposed Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2026, drivers of motor cabs fitted with electronic meters will be required to demonstrate working knowledge of Marathi. The draft notification also covers drivers and permit holders of autorickshaws, taxis and app-based motor cabs equipped with electronic meters. The proposed changes seek to amend the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, and add Marathi proficiency to the requirements applicable to drivers seeking the relevant authorisation.

Sarnaik said knowledge of the local language was necessary for drivers to communicate effectively with passengers, understand their requirements and ensure safe and convenient travel. He said the requirement would help improve the implementation of the rules in the future. The minister also maintained that drivers had been given sufficient time to learn Marathi and that functional knowledge of the language would become mandatory for taxi and autorickshaw drivers from August 15.

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The draft notification lays out penalties for drivers who fail to meet the language requirement. If a driver is found to lack the required working knowledge of Marathi, the licensing authority will issue a notice allowing one month to acquire the necessary proficiency. Failure to comply could result in suspension of the authorisation on the driving licence for up to three months. Continued non-compliance could eventually lead to revocation of the authorisation, although the driver must first be given a reasonable opportunity to be heard.

The Marathi requirement would also apply when relevant permits are renewed, with permit holders required to demonstrate proficiency to the satisfaction of the competent authority. The proposed rules would require new applicants to show working knowledge of Marathi alongside other prescribed qualifications. A senior Transport Department official said the draft notification had been cleared by the Law and Judiciary Department and was ready for issuance, while the final notification would be issued by the Home Department under the provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act.

Sarnaik said the government would not extend the August 15 deadline and reiterated that Marathi was the language of Maharashtra and that drivers providing public transport services should have basic functional knowledge of it. He also said Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde would present certificates on August 17 to hundreds of autorickshaw drivers who had completed a government-organised Marathi training course. The proposed amendments are intended to provide a clearer legal framework for the language requirement while setting out consequences for drivers who fail to comply.

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