Maharashtra auto, taxi drivers without Marathi certificate face action after August 15
Non-Marathi auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Maharashtra, including the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), who fail to obtain a Marathi language proficiency certificate by August 15, 2026, will face regulatory action. The state transport department announced that the language training has been made mandatory for all such commercial operators.
Under the new directive, non-Marathi drivers must complete a four-hour training course called 'Marathi Bhasha Samvad Pathyakram', which is a Marathi communication course. The mandatory training period commenced on June 1 and is scheduled to conclude on August 15, 2026.
To ensure the training is accessible, the state government is offering the course entirely free of charge. The transport department has designated three authorised institutions to conduct the sessions and issue the valid certificates: the Maharashtra State Marathi Language Department, the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad, and the Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh. Only certificates issued by these bodies will be officially recognised.
Transport Department Joint Commissioner Ravi Gaikwad stated that 71 training centres have been established across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) to manage the rollout. Additionally, around 4,500 teachers affiliated with the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad have been deployed to conduct the classes.
Regional Transport Office (RTO) officials are also stationed at various points to assist drivers with the enrolment process and help them complete the course successfully.
According to a statement from the transport department, the main objective of the programme is to remove language barriers between passengers and drivers, improve the overall quality of public transport services, and enhance professional opportunities for the drivers themselves.
While the department warned of legal and penal action after the August 15 deadline, Gaikwad emphasised that the government's intention is not to penalise drivers. Instead, the focus is on ensuring that drivers utilise the free training resource and obtain their certificates within the stipulated period.
