Mumbai, August 12, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Autorickshaw and taxi drivers across Maharashtra will be required to have a working knowledge of Marathi, with repeated non-compliance potentially resulting in permanent cancellation of their licence authorisation, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Wednesday.
The Maharashtra government is set to issue a Government Resolution implementing the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2026 under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Under the amended rules, drivers who do not have practical speaking skills or working knowledge of Marathi will initially be given one month to comply. Failure to do so could lead to suspension of their licence authorisation for up to three months. Continued non-compliance after the suspension could result in permanent cancellation.
The Law and Judiciary Department has cleared the Transport Department’s proposal to provide statutory backing for the enforcement.
Sarnaik said the requirement is based on a provision dating back to 1989 that had not been strictly implemented.
“The law itself dates back to 1989 and specifies that to do business in Maharashtra, knowing Marathi is mandatory. Months ago, we ordered strict implementation, but to prevent unfairness, we provided drivers time — until August 15 — to learn Marathi,” he said.
He added that while many drivers had enrolled to learn the language, some had continued to refuse to comply, prompting the government to introduce the amendments.
Under the amended Rule 4 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, “working knowledge of Marathi language” has been added to the eligibility requirements for driver authorisation.
A newly inserted Rule 22(3A) makes functional Marathi proficiency mandatory for drivers operating app-based motor cabs equipped with electronic meters. Authorities can suspend the driver authorisation for up to three months for initial non-compliance and permanently revoke it in case of repeated violations.
The amendments also make working knowledge of Marathi mandatory for permit holders. Under amended Rule 85(1), practical Marathi proficiency to the satisfaction of the local transport authority will be required for renewal of cab and taxi permits.
The Transport Department clarified that the changes are being introduced through the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2026 and do not constitute a new primary law titled the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Act, 2026.
Sarnaik said the amendments address ambiguities in the 1989 rules that had previously been raised in legal challenges. He also said basic Marathi skills would facilitate communication between drivers and passengers and contribute to safer transportation across the state.
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