Marathi Mandatory for Auto, Taxi Drivers

Maharashtra will require licensed auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to prove they can read, write, and speak Marathi starting May 1. (thehindu.com) Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the rule will take effect on Maharashtra Day, May 1, and Regional Transport Offices will begin checks across all 59 regional and sub-regional offices in the state. (indianexpress.com) State officials said drivers who cannot demonstrate Marathi proficiency could face action against their licences, and the transport department framed the move as a passenger-service measure for day-to-day communication. (hindustantimes.com) The order reaches beyond Mumbai because it applies to licensed drivers across Maharashtra, where autos and taxis are regulated through the state transport system rather than by one city alone. The department’s website lists the state’s motor vehicle rules and transport administration framework. (transport.maharashtra.gov.in) The timing ties the language requirement to a long-running politics of Marathi identity in Maharashtra, where language has often been used as a marker of access to jobs, services, and public-facing work. Sarnaik announced the enforcement date as Maharashtra Day, the state’s foundation day. (indianexpress.com) Driver unions have pushed back, saying many cab and auto drivers are migrants who already manage basic passenger interactions in Hindi and other languages. Some union leaders told local media the state should focus on fare disputes, permit issues, and enforcement gaps instead of language testing. (hindustantimes.com) (indianexpress.com) Commuters interviewed in Pune gave mixed reactions. Some said basic Marathi helps with directions and disputes, while others said overcharging, refusals, and poor last-mile service are bigger problems than the language a driver speaks. (indianexpress.com) What happens next depends on enforcement. The state has announced the deadline and inspection drive, but the practical test for the rule will be how Regional Transport Offices check proficiency after May 1 and whether licence action is actually taken. (timesofindia.indiatimes.com)