19 August,2026 03:05 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the rule requiring autorickshaw and taxi drivers to have practical knowledge of Marathi has been in place in the state since 1989. FILE PIC
Practical knowledge of Marathi will be mandatory for autorickshaw and taxi drivers in Maharashtra from Thursday, August 20, with drivers who fail to meet the requirement facing suspension of their badges, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Wednesday.
Drivers who do not have practical knowledge of Marathi will initially be given one month to learn the language. If they fail to acquire the required knowledge within this period, their badge will be suspended for up to three months. If they subsequently refuse to learn Marathi deliberately, action will be taken to cancel their badge and licence, Sarnaik said at a press conference.
The minister said the rule requiring autorickshaw and taxi drivers to have practical knowledge of Marathi has been in place in the state since 1989. Following the relevant legal provision introduced on August 12, 2026, the rule will now be strictly enforced, he said.
The Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh have been conducting the âHinduhá¹Âdayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Language Campaign' for autorickshaw and taxi drivers for the past 105 days.
Around 1.65 lakh non-Marathi-speaking autorickshaw and taxi drivers responded to the campaign and underwent Marathi language training.
Certificates were distributed to participating drivers at Gadkari Rangayatan in Thane in the presence of Padma Shri awardee and veteran litterateur Madhu Mangesh Karnik, Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and Minister Uday Samant.
Sarnaik congratulated all the drivers who participated in the campaign.
Sarnaik said the government's objective was not to take away the livelihood of people who have come to Maharashtra from different parts of the country.
"Maharashtra should provide employment opportunities to citizens who have come from different parts of the country. Mumbai has always welcomed citizens from across the country. However, it is equally important to preserve the pride of Maharashtra's language and culture," he said.
He said the decision had been taken to promote, spread and preserve Marathi after the language was granted classical language status.
Sarnaik said it was the Transport Department's responsibility to take action within the legal framework against drivers who refuse to learn or speak Marathi.
"Drivers who take a stand that they will neither learn nor speak Marathi will face action within the framework of the law. No additional humanitarian extension will now be given to such drivers and action will be taken as per the law," he said.
Around 9.65 lakh autorickshaw and taxi licences and badges have been issued in Maharashtra so far, Sarnaik said.
Going forward, when issuing a new licence and badge, Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials will assess the driver's practical knowledge of Marathi through a direct interaction. The interaction will also be video-recorded.
A badge will be issued only after it is established that the driver has practical knowledge of Marathi, Sarnaik said.
The minister said the department had received complaints about the use of fake domicile certificates to obtain autorickshaw and taxi licences or badges.
Instructions have been issued to conduct detailed scrutiny of such certificates. RTO officials have been directed to verify, wherever necessary, whether the applicant has actually been residing in Maharashtra for 15 years and conduct an inquiry through the police before taking further action.
The responsibility for the entire drive has been assigned to Additional Transport Commissioner Ravi Gaikwad. Sarnaik said a report on the drive would be submitted by the end of next month.
The Anand Dighe-named corporation established for the welfare of autorickshaw and taxi drivers has more than 37,000 members, Sarnaik said.
Around Rs 57 crore has been allocated through the corporation for various welfare schemes. These include schemes for students, a Rs 10,000 grant for autorickshaw drivers after they turn 65, and financial assistance for serious illnesses and medical treatment, among other initiatives, he said.
