Maharashtra makes Marathi mandatory for commercial passenger vehicle drivers

Drivers of commercial passenger vehicles operating in Maharashtra will be required to have a working knowledge of Marathi under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Amendment Rules 2026 The requirement covers drivers and permit holders associated with rickshaws taxis and appbased motor cabs fitted with electronic metersThe amended rules provide licensing authorities with specific provisions to take action against drivers who fail to meet the language requirement Depending on the circumstances and continued noncompliance the authorisation linked to a drivers licence can be suspended for up to three months and subsequently cancelledRule 4 adds Marathi language requirementThe Maharashtra government has amended subrule 4 of Rule 4 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 by inserting the words and working knowledge of Marathi language after the word antecedentsThe change means applicants seeking the relevant authorisation must demonstrate working or practical knowledge of Marathi in addition to meeting other prescribed qualificationsThe provision applies to drivers who operate passenger vehicles and interact directly with commuters as part of their work The government has said the amendment is intended to remove ambiguity in the existing rules and provide a clearer basis for enforcing the requirementAppbased cab drivers face specific compliance provisionThe amendments also introduce a specific provision under Rule 22 for authorised drivers of appbased motor cabs fitted with electronic metersUnder the newly inserted Rule 223A such drivers must have a working knowledge of Marathi If a licensing authority finds that a driver does not meet the requirement it can initiate action after recording the reasons for noncompliance in writingThe authorisation on the drivers driving licence can be suspended for a period of up to three months If the driver continues to violate the requirement after the suspension the authorisation can subsequently be cancelledThe provision gives licensing authorities a defined procedure for dealing with cases where drivers are found to be noncompliantLanguage requirement also applies to permit holdersThe amendments extend the requirement beyond drivers to certain permit holders as wellA new clause added to subrule 2 of Rule 78 requires the concerned permit holder to have a working knowledge of MarathiAnother amendment under Rule 85 deals with the renewal of permits for appbased motor cabs fitted with electronic meters During the renewal process the permit holder must demonstrate a working knowledge of Marathi at a level considered satisfactory by the concerned authorityThe provisions therefore apply at both the driver and permitholder levels for the categories of passenger transport services covered by the amended rulesGovernment seeks clearer enforcement of rulesThe government has clarified that the changes should not be referred to as the Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Act2026 The official notification is titled the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Amendment Rules 2026The amendments have been made to the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules 1989 under the Motor Vehicles Act 1988According to the government complaints had previously been received about some drivers avoiding the requirement to demonstrate knowledge of Marathi by citing ambiguities in the existing rules The legal aspects of the requirement had also been considered at the judicial levelThe latest amendments are intended to make the rules more specific and give licensing authorities clearer provisions for assessing compliance and taking action when violations are foundMinister says practical language skills will help passengersTransport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said the amendments would make the language requirement clearer and help passenger vehicle drivers communicate with commuters using their servicesldquoThrough these amendments the ambiguity in the rules has been removed and the importance of practical Marathi for drivers engaged in passenger transport has been made clearer Practical knowledge of the local language is necessary to communicate with passengers understand their concerns and ensure a safe and convenient journey Therefore it will be possible to implement these rules more effectively in the futurerdquo Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik saidThe amended rules consequently make working knowledge of Marathi a specific compliance requirement for the relevant passenger vehicle drivers and permit holders They also establish consequences for continued noncompliance including suspension and possible cancellation of the relevant driving licence authorisation