Marathi Mandatory, But How Will Drivers Be Tested? RTO Faces Fresh Dilemma
Mumbai, August 18, 2026: The Maharashtra Transport Department has made practical Marathi knowledge mandatory for commercial passenger vehicle drivers, but it now faces a key question: how will the language skills of more than eight lakh drivers who did not participate in the government’s Marathi learning campaign be tested? The 105-day ‘Learn Marathi’ campaign saw participation from over 1.65…
Mumbai, August 18, 2026: The Maharashtra Transport Department has recently made it mandatory for commercial passenger vehicle drivers to possess practical Marathi knowledge. However, the department is now faced with a significant challenge: determining how to test the language skills of over eight lakh drivers who did not take part in the government’s Marathi learning campaign.
The 105-day 'Learn Marathi' campaign managed to attract participation from more than 1.65 lakh drivers, leaving a considerable gap between the number of trained drivers and the total number of valid permits in the state. As of now, Maharashtra has 9,78,541 valid auto-rickshaw and taxi permits, with 9,16,884 permits for autos and 61,657 for taxis. Consequently, over 8.13 lakh permit holders did not participate in the campaign.
Despite the Marathi Language Department continuing to support drivers who wish to learn the language, the method of testing those who have not undergone the course remains undefined. The revised rules, issued on August 12, require professional passenger vehicle drivers to demonstrate practical knowledge of Marathi. Yet, officials have yet to finalize the assessment format, eligibility criteria, testing authority, and implementation mechanism.
This uncertainty has sparked questions about whether the assessment framework should have been established before the rules came into effect.
On Wednesday, the Transport Department launched the 105-day campaign to provide drivers with the opportunity to learn Marathi prior to its implementation. However, the department now needs to decide how to handle those who did not participate. A meeting of senior officials will convene on Wednesday, attended by Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, to discuss the appropriate course of action for the remaining drivers.
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