Big news has come for the auto-rickshaw drivers of Maharashtra. Marathi language has been made mandatory for driving auto-rickshaws in Maharashtra. From August 20, a campaign will be launched against those auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers who do not have working knowledge of Marathi. In simple language, auto-rickshaw drivers must know working Marathi. This campaign will run across the state for a month from 20th August to 20th September. Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik himself announced this.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said that first notice will be given to the drivers, in which they will be given 3 months time to learn Marathi. Even after this, if the drivers do not know Marathi, their license and badge will be suspended.
Maharashtra: Congress MLA Amin Patel has written to Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik, requesting additional time for non-Marathi auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers to learn Marathi. pic.twitter.com/YydJ7U02wQ
— IANS (@ians_india) August 19, 2026
RTO teams will investigate, video recording will also be done
Now the question arises that how will one know whether auto-rickshaw drivers know Marathi or not? In this regard, the Cabinet Minister said that Additional Transport Commissioner Ravi Gaikwad will monitor this ongoing campaign across Maharashtra. RTO's flying squad will check auto and taxi drivers. It remains to be seen whether the new rules are being followed or not. During verification, video recording will be done for verification.
New rule not yet clear, increased concern among drivers
Seva Sarathi Auto-Rickshaw Taxi and Transport Union leader DM Gosavi said that the government has made working knowledge of Marathi language mandatory. However, it is not clear how much Marathi will be necessary to know. He further said that the rules are not yet clear, due to which there is a possibility of increase in corruption and exploitation of drivers in RTO. There are a large number of auto and taxi drivers in Maharashtra, who have come from other states and do not know Marathi. According to an estimate, most of the auto-taxi drivers in Maharashtra are from Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states. Many drivers are not able to speak Marathi, due to which they are afraid of getting licenses and permits.
Mumbai, Maharashtra: Minister Pratap Sarnaik is chairing a meeting at Mantralaya to prepare an action plan for taking action against auto and taxi drivers who do not know Marathi, starting August 20
(Source: Pratap Sarnaik) pic.twitter.com/GXyUCAMHKA
— IANS (@ians_india) August 19, 2026
Plan to teach Marathi to about 6 lakh drivers
According to the government, there are about 9.16 lakh autos and 61,657 taxis in Maharashtra, the largest number of which operate in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. According to the government, it wants to involve 6 lakh auto-taxi drivers in the initiative to teach Marathi. This campaign was started a month ago and till now 1,65,601 drivers have joined this campaign.
Minister Sarnaik himself used to drive auto on the roads of Thane.
The story of Transport Saranaik of Maharashtra is also a bit interesting. Before coming into politics, he himself used to drive an auto-rickshaw, the financial condition of his family was normal, due to which he even sold incense sticks and calendars in the initial days. After a long struggle, his luck changed and he entered the business of real estate and hospitality. He joined the Vihang group. During the 2024 assembly elections, he stated in the election affidavit that he is associated with builder and hotel business. He is currently an MLA from Eknath Shinde's faction Shiv Sena.