Maharashtra Mandates Marathi Knowledge For Auto And Taxi Drivers

The Maharashtra government will begin enforcing mandatory practical Marathi language knowledge for autorickshaw and taxi drivers from Thursday, August 20, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced on Wednesday.

The requirement applies broadly across the public transport sector, including traditional autorickshaw and black-and-yellow taxi operators as well as drivers working with app-based cab aggregators such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido. Under the provisions of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Rules, practical knowledge of the Marathi language is compulsory for all commercial passenger drivers, and aggregator platforms receive no exceptions under the regulations.

The enforcement announcement comes amid renewed attention on language use in app-based transit services, following a video shared widely on social media showing a dispute between a cab driver and a passenger.

In the recorded interaction, an argument escalated after the passenger recited the four-digit ride One Time Password (OTP) in Marathi. The cab driver asked the passenger to speak in English and placed his mobile phone on the dashboard, asking the passenger to enter the digits himself.

The driver questioned whether the mobile application operated in English or Marathi, prompting the passenger to argue that the vehicle was being driven in Maharashtra and that the state had issued the driver's licence. The recording concluded after the driver spat out of the car and placed a phone call. The specific date, locality, and cab company involved in the recorded incident were not confirmed.

With the state government moving forward with enforcement, authorities require all commercial passenger vehicle drivers operating within Maharashtra to possess functional proficiency in the state's official language to communicate with commuters.