Mumbai, Aug 12 (IANS) Autorickshaw and taxi drivers in Mumbai and across Maharashtra will face licence cancellation if they fail to possess functional knowledge of the Marathi language, announced Maharashtra Transport Minister, Pratap Sarnaik, here on Wednesday.
The government is set to issue an official Government Resolution (GR) on Wednesday, putting into force the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2026 under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988.
Under the amended regulations, drivers without practical speaking skills or working knowledge of Marathi will first receive a one-month notice. If a driver fails to learn the language within that month, their licence authorisation will be suspended for up to three months.
Continued non-compliance following the suspension will lead to the permanent cancellation of their driving licence.
The Law and Judiciary Department has already cleared the proposal submitted by the Transport Department to enable this legal enforcement.
Minister Sarnaik clarified that the mandate is rooted in an existing 1989 rule that had not been strictly enforced by officials in the past.
“The law itself dates back to 1989 and specifies that to do business in Maharashtra, knowing Marathi is mandatory. Months ago, we ordered strict implementation, but to prevent unfairness, we provided drivers time — until August 15 — to learn Marathi. While many drivers enrolled and learned the language, some continue to arrogantly state that they will not learn. We have introduced these statutory amendments specifically to dismantle such defiance,” he said.
Sub-rule (4) of Rule 4 in the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, has been amended to append the phrase “and working knowledge of Marathi language” after “antecedents”. Applicants seeking driver authorisation must now demonstrate practical proficiency in Marathi alongside other eligibility criteria.
Under the newly inserted Rule 22(3A), drivers operating app-based motor cabs equipped with electronic meters must possess functional Marathi skills. Licencing authorities are empowered to penalise drivers by suspending driver licence authorisation for a maximum of three months upon initial non-compliance and permanently revoking licence authorisation for repeated non-compliance.
Clause (d) has been inserted following Clause (c) in sub-rule (2) of Rule 78, making functional knowledge of Marathi mandatory for permit holders as well.
Under amended Rule 85(1), proof of practical Marathi language proficiency to the satisfaction of the local transport authority is now a mandatory prerequisite for renewing cab and taxi permits.
The Transport Department emphasised that these updates represent amended rules — titled the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, 2026 — rather than a new primary statute (Maharashtra Motor Vehicle Act 2026).
“The regulatory overhaul addresses ambiguities in the 1989 rules that non-Marathi drivers previously exploited during legal challenges. The Transport Minister noted that basic language skills are critical to ensure smooth communication, clear understanding between drivers and passengers, and safer transit across the state,” said Minister Sarnaik.
–IANS
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