Why are Maharashtra’s auto-rickshaw, taxi drivers being issued notices for lacking Marathi language skills? | Explained
Since August 20, around 13,000 drivers have been tested in Mumbai and other parts of the State, as per the Transport Department
On August 20, 2026, the Maharashtra Transport Department initiated a crackdown on auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers lacking proficiency in the Marathi language. This measure, now in effect until September 30, has resulted in around 2,500 notices being issued thus far. Approximately 13,000 drivers have undergone testing since the drive began on August 20, as reported by the Transport Department.
Drivers who do not pass the conversational assessment are given a one-month window to improve their Marathi skills. Failure to adhere to this notice could lead to a three-month suspension of their license, according to Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik.
The initiative aims to ensure that all drivers communicating with passengers can do so effectively in the local language. The Transport Department has emphasized the importance of this requirement, stating that the ability to converse in Marathi is now a mandatory condition for operating passenger vehicles in the state.
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