Maharashtra To Mandate Domicile Certificates For Driving Licences From August 2026
The Maharashtra government will make domicile certificates mandatory for obtaining a driving licence starting August 1, 2026, and is establishing a new regulatory framework for bike taxi operations. Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced these policy decisions in the legislative assembly on Tuesday, noting that temporary 30-day licences have already been granted to major aggregators for operations in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
The announcement was made during Question Hour in response to queries raised by MLA Dilip Lande. Minister Sarnaik stated that the proposal to mandate domicile certificates has been sent to the Law and Judiciary Department for formal approval. The rule will be implemented once the department provides the necessary clearance.
In addition to the licensing update, the government is actively regulating the bike taxi sector to curb unauthorised operations, generate state revenue, and create job opportunities for youth. Under the proposed Maharashtra Bike Taxi Rules, 2025, bike taxi operators will be required to pay a daily fee of Rs 5 to the state government. Furthermore, Rs 2 from every ride will be deposited into a dedicated welfare fund for drivers.
To ensure the safety of passengers—particularly women, students, and minors—the new rules mandate that bike taxi drivers hold a valid driving licence under the Motor Vehicles Act, 1988. They must also obtain a public service vehicle badge under the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, which will only be issued after a mandatory police character verification.
While private two-wheelers are legally prohibited from passenger transport without authorisation, the State Transport Authority previously granted temporary 30-day licences in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region to aggregator companies, including Uber India Systems Pvt Ltd, Roppen Transportation Services Pvt Ltd (Rapido), and ANI Technologies Pvt Ltd (Ola), subject to meeting prescribed conditions.
Sarnaik highlighted that enforcement against illegal bike taxi operators has been intensified. Between April 2025 and March 2026, transport authorities detected 814 vehicles operating without valid permits, leading to the seizure of 151 vehicles, the registration of 14 FIRs, and the recovery of Rs 16.25 lakh in fines.
The crackdown continued into the current financial year. Between April and May 2026, authorities penalised 211 vehicles, seizing 66 of them and collecting Rs 2.31 lakh in fines, though no FIRs were registered during this two-month period.
