Mumbai Driver Marathi Mandate: Mumbai's auto-rickshaw and cab drivers must be able to read and write Marathi to keep their licences. A fresh debate has
erupted after the Maharashtra government announced it will take action against drivers who fail to prove their proficiency. The verification drive begins on May 1st. The decision has triggered tension among drivers, who say their livelihoods depend on it. They argue that they already clear a formal Marathi test when obtaining their licences, and that the government is stretching the law beyond what it actually requires. Transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said the rule is not new and has long been part of the licensing framework. He said the government has received complaints from passengers in Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, and Nagpur that many drivers are unable to speak Marathi or deliberately avoid using it. Sarnaik warned that drivers who fail to meet the requirement will have their licences cancelled, and that transport officials who issue licences improperly will also face strict action. The state transport department will carry out a verification drive across 59 regional and sub-regional transport offices to check compliance. Also Read: Crane Topples, Beam Crashes at Mumbai Metro Line 2B Site in BKC, Traffic Diverted | VIDEO
Driver Union Worry Over Income
However, the announcement has triggered strong opposition from drivers' unions across the state. Union leaders argue that the law only requires a "working knowledge" of Marathi — meaning basic communication skills needed for the job — and not a formal test in reading, writing, or fluency. They say drivers already met this requirement when they obtained their badges and that the minister isDrivers' unions have threatened to take the matter to court if any badges or licences are cancelled. Union leader DA Salian from the Mumbai Taxi Association said it would be unfair to cancel the licences of drivers who have been working for years and whose families depend on them for income. Another union leader warned that the verification drive could open the door to corruption, with enforcement officials deciding arbitrarily who passes and who does not — and demanding bribes to give non-Marathi speakers a clean chit.
Drivers on the ground are also deeply worried. One auto driver from Mumbai's eastern suburbs said his vehicle was bought on loan, and losing his badge would leave him with no income while his EMI payments continue. Another from the western suburbs echoed concerns about corruption during the verification process.
The dispute essentially comes down to a difference in interpretation. The government says knowledge of the local language is a basic and long-standing requirement. The unions say the government is turning a simple rule about basic communication into a strict language test — one that could cost thousands of drivers their livelihoods.
