Archive · 6 Aug 2026
Over 1 lakh non-Marathi drivers complete functional Marathi lessons
Many taxi, auto-rickshaw, and bus drivers in the Indian state of Maharashtra come from other places and speak other languages.
The state government now wants all commercial drivers to learn basic Marathi, the main local language.
More than one hundred thousand drivers have already finished special Marathi classes.
The classes are part of a campaign named after Balasaheb Thackeray, founder of the Shiv Sena party.
The campaign began on May 1 and will end with a big ceremony in Thane on August 17.
Drivers who have not yet learned Marathi are asked to finish by August 15.
From August 16, the Marathi language requirement for drivers will be strictly enforced.
The government says learning Marathi helps drivers talk easily with passengers and get help quickly in emergencies.
It also says the lessons are a way to respect and honour Maharashtra's culture.
The transport minister calls Marathi a language of affection, not force.
Over 1,00,000 non-Marathi commercial passenger vehicle drivers across Maharashtra have completed functional Marathi lessons, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Thursday.
Sarnaik urged remaining drivers to learn functional Marathi before August 15, ahead of the mandate taking strict force on August 16.
The 'Hinduhridayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Classes Campaign', named after Shiv Sena founder Balasaheb Thackeray, was launched on May 1 and concludes August 17 in Thane.
The campaign is jointly organized by the state's Marathi Language Department, Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh, and Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad.
Rules 4, 22, 78, and 85 of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 were amended, and unregistered or untrained drivers face scrutiny during Regional Transport Office verification drives.
- Who
- Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik; over 1,00,000 non-Marathi commercial passenger vehicle drivers; Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar, and Marathi Language Minister Uday Samant are scheduled to attend the concluding event.
- What
- Over 1,00,000 non-Marathi drivers completed functional Marathi lessons under a campaign making functional Marathi knowledge mandatory for commercial passenger vehicle drivers.
- When
- Announced on Thursday; the campaign runs from May 1 to August 17, and the mandate strictly comes into force on August 16.
- Where
- Maharashtra, India; the concluding ceremony is at Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan in Thane.
- Why
- To improve passenger safety, enable rapid emergency assistance, ensure smoother daily interactions, and honour the local language and culture.
- Transport Minister
- Pratap Sarnaik
- Drivers trained
- Over 1,00,000
- Campaign name
- Hinduhridayasamrat Balasaheb Thackeray Marathi Classes Campaign
- Campaign period
- May 1 to August 17
- Training deadline
- August 15
- Mandate effective
- August 16
- Concluding venue
- Ram Ganesh Gadkari Rangayatan, Thane
- Organizers
- Marathi Language Department, Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh, Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad
