{
  "id": 3313045,
  "title": "Navi Mumbai Autorickshaw Drivers Receive Marathi Test Certificates As Language Rule Implementation Begins",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/navi-mumbai-autorickshaw-drivers-receive-marathi-test-certificates-as",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-25T17:22:56.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/navi-mumbai-autorickshaw-drivers-receive-marathi-test-certificates-as-language-rule-implementation-begins"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Maharashtra government has started mandating practical knowledge of Marathi for autorickshaw and taxi drivers in Navi Mumbai. On Sunday, certificates were given to drivers who passed a Marathi communication test conducted by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Saturday. Drivers gathered at the Nerul RTO to obtain their certificates. Numerous drivers lined up outside the RTO office from around 11 am on Sunday to collect their certificates. Nearly 5,000 drivers received Marathi language training, with 3,855 passing the test and 647 failing. Training centers were set up at Koparkhairane, Digha, Vashi, and the RTO office in Nerul. Some drivers welcomed the initiative, while others questioned why Hindi-speaking drivers were specifically targeted. Passengers often speak Hindi, and some drivers suggested encouraging Marathi communication among all rather than imposing it only on autorickshaw drivers. Meanwhile, the Shiv Vahatuk Sena is investigating allegations of illegal autorickshaw badges and misuse of domicile certificates for obtaining them.",
  "summary": "The implementation of the Maharashtra government’s decision making practical knowledge of Marathi mandatory for autorickshaw and taxi drivers has begun in the city. On Sunday, certificates were distributed to autorickshaw drivers who cleared the Marathi communication test conducted by the Regional Transport Office (RTO) on Saturday. Drivers gather at Nerul RTO Several autorickshaw drivers lined…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Live Mint",
        "title": "Mumbai auto and cab drivers move Bombay HC against Marathi language rule; say livelihoods of lakhs at risk",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/mumbai-auto-and-cab-drivers-move-bombay-hc-against-marathi-language",
        "published": "2026-08-25T09:40:57.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Indian Express",
        "title": "Marathi language crackdown: Uber drivers seek Bombay HC help against ‘illegal’ rule",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/marathi-language-crackdown-uber-drivers-seek-bombay-hc-help-against",
        "published": "2026-08-25T12:46:59.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}