The Maharashtra government has clarified that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who do not meet the state’s Marathi language requirement will not immediately lose their licences, permits or badges. Instead, drivers will be given an opportunity to learn Marathi before any punitive action is taken.
State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the government’s primary objective is to ensure that drivers providing passenger transport services have a functional understanding of Marathi, rather than depriving anyone of their livelihood.
Under the amended Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Rules, enforcement will follow a phased process.
RTO flying squads will conduct checks to assess whether drivers have adequate functional knowledge of Marathi. If a driver is found to be non-compliant, the authorities will first issue a show-cause notice giving the driver 30 days to learn the language and explain why further action should not be taken.
If the driver fails to meet the requirement after the notice period, the driving licence could be suspended for three months. In the case of continued non-compliance, a further notice may be issued and the licence could eventually be cancelled, subject to the applicable rules and procedure.
Sarnaik has stressed that enforcement will not mean the immediate cancellation of licences or permits. “First, we will give them notice and an opportunity to learn Marathi.”
The initiative is expected to cover a large number of auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers, particularly those operating in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR).
According to the Transport Department, Maharashtra has around 9.16 lakh registered autorickshaws and 61,657 taxis. A substantial share of these vehicles operates in and around the MMR.
The government says the language requirement is intended to improve communication between drivers and passengers, particularly during everyday interactions and situations where clear communication is important.
The state has already conducted a Marathi-learning campaign for transport workers.
More than 1.65 lakh drivers and transport workers registered for the programme, which was conducted over roughly three and a half months. Of these, around 1.25 lakh drivers completed the functional Marathi course and passed the examination, according to Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
The campaign was jointly conducted by the Maharashtra Transport Department, the State Marathi Development Institute, Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh and Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad.
Drivers who completed the course have been issued certificates that can demonstrate their compliance during RTO checks.
Sarnaik said the government intends to continue efforts to help drivers learn Marathi. The Transport Department and Marathi Language Department are expected to work together on a longer-term training programme.
Officials have also discussed taking drivers beyond basic conversational ability in future phases, with Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant indicating that subsequent programmes could focus on developing stronger language skills.
At present, the emphasis remains on functional Marathi—the ability to communicate effectively with passengers in everyday situations.
The language policy has generated political debate, particularly in Mumbai and other cities with large populations of people from outside Maharashtra.
Congress leaders, including MLA Amin Patel and Aslam Sheikh, have called for more time and better access to training before any penalties are imposed. Suggestions have included extending the deadline and organising classes at night so drivers can attend without losing working hours.
The government, however, maintains that the policy is intended to encourage Marathi learning rather than target people from other states.
Eknath Shinde described Marathi as a “language of devotion, not compulsion” and urged Marathi speakers to support people who are trying to learn the language instead of ridiculing them.
The Transport Department has pointed to motor vehicle rules dating back to 1989, which require basic Marathi proficiency for relevant driving licence eligibility in Maharashtra.
The government says the latest enforcement measures are aimed at ensuring that drivers working in public-facing passenger services can communicate with commuters in the state’s official language.
Sarnaik also said that Marathi is closely connected with Maharashtra’s cultural identity and encouraged people who live and work in the state to make an effort to learn and speak the language.
The government’s initial training campaign ended in August, with officials stating that the deadline for completing the course was August 15.
With the training period over, the Transport Department has been preparing to begin checks against drivers who have not demonstrated the required level of Marathi proficiency.
However, the government has indicated that enforcement will begin with notices rather than immediate licence cancellations. This gives drivers additional time to meet the requirement.
Drivers should therefore use the available period to acquire the required functional Marathi skills and retain any valid training certificate they have received.
The government’s stated approach combines enforcement with an opportunity to learn, with the immediate focus on improving communication between public transport drivers and passengers.
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