Mumbai (Maharashtra) [India], August 22 (ANI): The Maharashtra Transport Department has continued its action against commercial vehicle drivers who do not have practical knowledge of the Marathi language, as it served notices to 777 drivers who were found lacking practical Marathi language skills.
During a statewide exercise conducted on Friday, a total of 5,211 drivers were tested in Mumbai and other parts of Maharashtra.
The department has issued notices to these drivers, directing them to acquire practical knowledge of Marathi within one month, failing which further action may be taken, including the possibility of suspension or cancellation of their driving licences.
Out of the 777 drivers identified, 722 were from the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, according to officials.
The action comes after the Maharashtra government’s directive requiring auto-rickshaw, taxi and cab drivers to have practical knowledge of Marathi to communicate effectively with passengers.
Reacting to the directive, Union Minister Giriraj Singh said that people coming from outside Maharashtra for livelihood should be given adequate time to learn the local language.
Speaking to ANI, he said, “The government should give people from outside Maharashtra, who are earning their livelihood here, a certain timeframe to learn and speak the local language. I am not saying that one shouldn’t know the local language while earning a living in Maharashtra; I certainly believe one should learn it. But they need to be given time.”
On August 12, Practical knowledge of the Marathi language has been made mandatory for all commercial passenger vehicle drivers in Maharashtra, including those operating app-based cabs, with the state government warning of strict penalties for non-compliance.
The new directive, announced by Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, has been formalized through the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2026, which introduce more explicit language requirements into the existing 1989 framework.
Under the amended rules, drivers who fail to demonstrate a working knowledge of Marathi could face a three-month suspension of their driving license authorisation. Repeated violations may lead to the permanent cancellation of their permits.
“These amendments remove ambiguity in the rules and make the importance of practical Marathi for passenger-vehicle drivers clearer. Practical knowledge of the local language is necessary to communicate with passengers, understand their concerns, and ensure a safe and convenient journey,” Minister Sarnaik said.
The amendments specifically target drivers and permit holders of auto-rickshaws, taxis, and app-based motor cabs equipped with electronic meters. (ANI)