Mumbai | August 23, 2026
The Maharashtra government has intensified enforcement of its Marathi language requirement for autorickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers, with Regional Transport Office (RTO) teams conducting checks across the state.
Under the latest enforcement drive, drivers are being assessed on their basic working knowledge of Marathi through a 16-question oral test based on situations they commonly encounter while working.
Drivers who fail to demonstrate adequate proficiency are being issued notices and given one month to improve their language skills. Continued non-compliance could result in suspension of their driver badges.
The enforcement follows a 105-day training and assessment programme. As of August 16, around 7,750 drivers had failed the proficiency test, while another 17,427 had not completed the required training.
On the first day of the statewide checking drive, more than 8,200 drivers were assessed, with 1,268 issued notices for failing to meet the language requirement. However, in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, approximately 85% of drivers tested on the first day passed.
The government has said the requirement is intended to ensure smoother communication between drivers and passengers.
The enforcement has nevertheless sparked debate, particularly because a similar Marathi-language requirement linked to autorickshaw permits was struck down by the Bombay High Court in 2017.
Meanwhile, commuters in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region are also set to face higher fares from September 1, with autorickshaw fares increasing by ₹1 and taxi fares by ₹2.
The latest enforcement drive places language proficiency, transport regulation and commuter costs at the centre of renewed debate over public transport in Maharashtra.
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