Archive · 7 Oct 2026
Maharashtra Minister Urges Drivers to Learn Marathi Before 2027
Maharashtra wants drivers to be able to speak with passengers in Marathi.
Minister Pratap Sarnaik asked drivers who do not speak Marathi to join a training campaign.
Rules about knowing practical Marathi have been delayed until August 18, 2027.
The minister said the delay is extra time to learn, not a cancellation of the rules.
In the campaign’s first phase, teachers trained more than 1.65 lakh drivers.
The next phase will offer more training and an online way to learn.
Officials will also work with local representatives to find places for classes.
The campaign aims to make it easier for drivers and passengers to understand each other.
Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik urged non-Marathi-speaking auto, taxi and app-based cab drivers to learn practical Marathi.
Revised rules on practical Marathi remain deferred until August 18, 2027, but have not been withdrawn.
The campaign’s first phase used more than 180 training centres and around 1,800 teachers to train over 1.65 lakh drivers.
The second phase is planned to reach more drivers through expanded in-person training and an online learning platform.
The article reports more than 9 lakh registered auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers statewide, including 4,83,344 in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
- Who
- Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik and non-Marathi-speaking auto-rickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers.
- What
- Sarnaik urged drivers to take practical Marathi training before revised rules take effect.
- When
- The rules are deferred until August 18, 2027; the article does not specify when the meeting took place.
- Where
- Maharashtra, including the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
- Why
- The campaign aims to reduce communication barriers and help drivers interact confidently with passengers in Marathi.
- Rules deferred until
- August 18, 2027
- First-phase training centres
- More than 180
- Teachers in first phase
- Around 1,800
- Drivers trained in first phase
- More than 1.65 lakh
- Statewide registered drivers
- The article says more than 9 lakh; it separately reports around 9.16 lakh auto-rickshaw drivers and 61,000 taxi drivers.
- Drivers in Mumbai Metropolitan Region
- 4,40,238 rickshaw drivers and 43,106 taxi drivers
- Second-phase options
- Training centres and an online platform