Fadnavis said drivers were not required to become experts in Marathi and should only be able to communicate sufficiently with passengers during their work. He also indicated that additional time could be provided to those struggling to acquire functional knowledge of the language, while stressing that the government did not intend to discriminate against Hindi-speaking workers.
The clarification followed protests by sections of autorickshaw and taxi drivers who said the enforcement drive had created uncertainty over their licences and livelihoods. Services were disrupted in parts of Mumbai, including Kandivali, Bandra, Govandi and Vakola, while fewer vehicles were reported on feeder routes connecting residential areas with railway stations.
Drivers began the three-day strike on Monday after inspections intensified under rules requiring operators of commercial passenger vehicles, including app-based cabs, to demonstrate a working knowledge of Marathi. A group of drivers also blocked Kandivali Link Road near Laljipada for about 90 minutes, disrupting traffic during the morning rush and drawing a sizeable police deployment.
The state Transport Department began statewide checks on August 20. On the first day, Regional Transport Offices issued notices to 1,268 drivers who were unable to demonstrate adequate Marathi proficiency. Another 1,499 drivers received notices the following day. Checks continued this week, with hundreds more drivers being served notices.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik has said drivers who fail an assessment must first be given one month to improve their Marathi. Officials who impose penalties before that notice period expires could face action. Drivers who still fail to demonstrate working knowledge after the stipulated period may face suspension of their licence or badge for three months, during which they can continue learning the language. Persistent non-compliance can eventually lead to cancellation.
Fadnavis sought to distinguish the requirement from a formal language examination. The objective, he said, was to ensure that drivers could understand passengers and conduct ordinary conversations connected with their work. The deadline had already been extended more than once, and the government remained prepared to allow further time where necessary.
Protesting drivers said the manner of assessment remained a concern. Several said they could understand or speak limited Marathi but feared that questions asked during checks went beyond vocabulary normally required for fares, destinations, directions and other passenger interactions. Older drivers and those with little formal education said learning sufficient Marathi at short notice was particularly difficult.
Some drivers also complained about rumours that failure to answer questions could result in fines running into thousands of rupees. Authorities have sought to dispel those claims, saying the enforcement mechanism is based initially on notices and an opportunity to learn rather than immediate heavy financial penalties.
The language requirement forms part of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 2026, notified on August 12. It covers autorickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers, bringing operators working through platforms such as Ola, Uber and Rapido within the same framework.
The policy followed a months-long training programme intended to provide non-Marathi-speaking drivers with practical vocabulary for passenger interactions. More than 165,000 autorickshaw and taxi drivers who did not speak Marathi as their first language had attended training sessions by the time the enforcement controversy intensified.
Officials have described assessments as practical tests rather than academic examinations. Drivers may be asked everyday questions connected with operating a vehicle, taking a passenger to a destination, using the meter or understanding directions. Authorities have also introduced videography of some verification procedures in an effort to make assessments more transparent.
The rule has nevertheless opened a legal and political debate. Maharashtra previously attempted to attach Marathi proficiency conditions to autorickshaw permits, but the Bombay High Court struck down a comparable requirement nearly a decade ago because it lacked sufficient statutory backing. The government has now amended the motor vehicle rules to establish a formal regulatory basis for the language condition.
A challenge to the latest measure has also emerged before the Bombay High Court, raising questions over whether language proficiency can be enforced as a condition affecting the right of existing drivers to continue earning their livelihood.
