The Maharashtra government has announced that action will be taken against auto-rickshaw and auto drivers who do not have working experience in Marathi. Maharashtra transport minister Pratap Sarnaik made the announcement on August 19 and the new rule started from August 20, 2026.
According to the government, commercial drivers must know basic Marathi. The government wants Marathi to be used more often in everyday conversations and wants drivers to communicate with passengers in the local language.
Drivers who refuse to learn Marathi or continue to break the rules will first receive a notice from the State Transport Department. They will then be given a one-month grace period to learn the language and improve their communication skills.
If a driver still refuses to learn Marathi after the given time, their driving licence may be suspended for three months. If they continue to ignore the rule even after the suspension, their licence may be cancelled.
Minister Pratap Sarnaik said that drivers who openly challenge the government’s order will not be allowed to ignore the rules. The authorities will take action against them according to the regulations.
The government had earlier given drivers time to learn Marathi. A 105-day campaign was started on May 1 to encourage auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to learn the language. During this campaign, around 1.65 lakh drivers received certificates showing that they had gained Marathi language skills.
The campaign was started after auto-rickshaw unions objected to the government’s decision. They said that implementing the rule immediately would be unfair because drivers needed enough time to learn Marathi.To help drivers, the Maharashtra government also released a Marathi language guidebook in April. The guidebook was designed to teach drivers basic Marathi words and communication skills.
In conclusion, the Maharashtra government’s decision aims to encourage the use of Marathi among auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers and make communication with passengers easier. Drivers have been given time and support to learn the language, including a guidebook and a special training campaign. However, drivers who refuse to follow the rule may face suspension or cancellation of their licences. The government hopes this step will increase the use of Marathi in daily life while ensuring that drivers follow the required rules.
