Hundreds of auto and taxi operators across Maharashtra have been served formal notices after failing a basic oral Marathi test, a move that threatens to disrupt the livelihoods of thousands of commercial drivers statewide.

The action follows a large-scale evaluation by the Maharashtra Transport Department, which tested 5,211 drivers on their practical, spoken knowledge of the state’s native tongue. Out of these, a total of 1268 drivers were found deficient and handed official notices. The state has given these individuals a one-month grace period to pick up basic conversational skills, warning that failure to do so could result in the suspension or loss of their driving licences.

The statewide enforcement drive officially commenced on August 20, following an earlier deadline of August 15 set by the government for commercial drivers to acquire functional language skills. Official reports confirm that field inspections across the state will continue through September 30, 2026.

The legal groundwork for this directive was formalised through a Maharashtra government Gazette notification published on June 12, 2026. Initially, authorities had offered drivers a 100-day window to learn the basics. A structured three-month training initiative was organised across testing centres, and the completion deadline was subsequently pushed back to August 15 after driver associations voiced logistical concerns.

Why Maharashtra Has Made Marathi Compulsory for Commercial Drivers

The state administration maintains that mandating practical language skills is essential for smooth daily communication between drivers and local commuters. Department officials have cited frequent grievances from passengers who faced communication barriers with non-native drivers during daily travel.

The enforcement initiative traces back to a targeted check by the Mira-Bhayandar Regional Transport Office (RTO), where inspectors observed numerous drivers unable to converse in basic Marathi. Following those findings, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik formally announced that commercial drivers operating in the state would have to demonstrate working knowledge of the language. On May 1, the department rolled out a 105-day training and outreach drive across 59 RTOs, sub-RTO offices, and designated language learning facilities.

Despite the administration's stated goals, the requirement has caused considerable worry among commercial drivers, a substantial portion of whom are interstate migrants. Union representatives note that many auto and cab operators have minimal formal education, making it unreasonable to expect them to grasp a completely unfamiliar language through a short, four-session course.

The policy carries immense weight in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, where there are more than 2.8 lakh registered autorickshaws and roughly 20,000 traditional taxis, engaging an estimated workforce of over five lakh drivers operating across day and night shifts.

The Consequences of Failing to Acquire Marathi Proficiency

Non-compliance carries severe regulatory consequences. Drivers who fail to meet the standard risk losing their driving licences as well as their commercial vehicle operating authorisations within Maharashtra.

However, individuals who fail the initial oral assessment are not removed from service immediately. Instead, they are granted a 30-day corrective window to practice their conversational skills before taking a re-test.

From a regulatory standpoint, Rule 24(3) of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 empowers licensing authorities to suspend a driver’s commercial authorisation for up to three months if the condition is not satisfied. If non-compliance continues beyond this timeframe, the authority can permanently cancel the driving authorisation.

Furthermore, Rules 4(4), 78, and 85 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 tie a working knowledge of Marathi directly to the renewal of vehicle permits. This mandate also covers app-based cab aggregators and vehicles fitted with electronic fare meters. While these statutory provisions have been on the rulebooks for decades, enforcement was historically relaxed; the current administration has now made compliance strictly mandatory.

The Legal Standing of the State’s Language Mandate

Although the transport department relies on Rule 24 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 to execute its drive, previous judicial rulings present a legal complication.

In a notable 2017 ruling, the Bombay High Court struck down a Transport Department circular that made Marathi proficiency a mandatory prerequisite for obtaining autorickshaw permits. In its judgement, the High Court clarified that autorickshaws fall under the legal definition of ‘motor cabs’. The court observed that while Rule 24 specifies language conditions for Public Service Vehicle (PSV) badges, it expressly exempts motor cabs from that scope.

Based on this statutory distinction, the High Court held that the administration could not legally impose a language condition on auto-rickshaw drivers. In response to recent scrutiny, the transport department has reiterated that its ongoing verification drive aligns with the current legal framework.

‘Had We Been Educated, We’d Be in Office’: Mumbai Auto Drivers Block Road, Launch 3-Day Strike

MUMBAI: Protesting the sudden enforcement of the language rule, a large section of autorickshaw drivers in Mumbai launched a three-day strike on Monday, arguing that the policy creates unnecessary operational friction and financial strain for non-native workers. Protesting drivers blocked traffic along the busy Kandivli Link Road to express their anger over the compulsory requirement, pointing out that senior drivers with little to no formal schooling are finding it nearly impossible to clear formal language checks.

“We are 55-60-year-olds. We have never been to a school. How can we speak Marathi? Had we been educated, we would have been sitting in an office,” one protesting driver stated during the demonstration.

Drivers further highlighted that many non-native operators were actively attempting to converse in basic or broken phrases to assist passengers, but were being hit with penalty notices rather than being given adequate guidance and reasonable adjustment periods. “Can we pay Rs 15,000-20,000 as fine? We will do this three-day strike until justice is done,” he added.

The protest marks growing resistance across Mumbai’s transport sector, with multiple driver unions urging the state government and transport authorities to immediately reconsider the compulsory test and withdraw the associated monetary and administrative penalties.