Mumbai, August 19, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Maharashtra will now be required to have basic conversational knowledge of Marathi, with failure to comply potentially resulting in suspension or cancellation of their driver badges and operating permits, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Wednesday.
The enforcement drive will begin on August 20 and is based on regulations introduced in 1989 and legal provisions updated on August 12, 2026, Sarnaik told reporters.
Drivers found lacking basic Marathi proficiency will initially be given one month to learn the language. Failure to meet the requirement thereafter will lead to suspension of their badge for three months. Continued refusal to learn Marathi could result in cancellation of both the badge and operating permit, the minister said.
Sarnaik said Maharashtra has always welcomed people from across the country seeking employment but stressed that respect for the state’s language and culture was essential. He also cited Marathi being accorded classical language status.
He said no further extensions would be granted to drivers who deliberately refuse to comply and that enforcement would be carried out according to the legal framework.
Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials will assess the practical Marathi skills of new applicants through live interactions, which will also be video-recorded before badges or licences are issued. More than 9.65 lakh permits have been issued in Maharashtra so far, Sarnaik said.
The minister also directed RTO officials to conduct stricter verification of domicile certificates following reports of fraudulent documents being used to obtain permits. Authorities and local police will cross-check whether applicants have genuinely resided in Maharashtra for the required 15 years.
Additional Transport Commissioner Ravi Gaikwad has been appointed to oversee the enforcement drive and will submit an operational report by the end of September.
Alongside the language requirement, Sarnaik highlighted welfare measures being implemented through the Anand Dighe Corporation for auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers. The corporation has more than 37,000 registered members and has allocated Rs 57 crore for their welfare.
The schemes include educational assistance, a Rs 10,000 grant for drivers upon reaching 65 years of age and financial support for critical medical treatment.
The announcement follows the completion of the 105-day ‘Hindutvahridaysamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Bhasha Abhiyan’, organised by the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh.
Around 1.65 lakh non-Marathi drivers underwent Marathi language training under the initiative. They received certificates at an event in Thane attended by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Minister Uday Samant.
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