Maharashtra CM Fadnavis Gives Auto, Taxi Drivers One Year to Learn Marathi; No Action During Period
Mumbai: Amid the ongoing Marathi language row in Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday announced that auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers will be given an additional one year to learn Marathi. The announcement comes as major relief for auto and taxi drivers, days after the language requirement sparked protests and triggered unrest across the state.
Speaking to reporters, Fadnavis said no action would be taken against drivers during the one-year period. He said the government understood that drivers from different age groups may need more time to learn the language, and had therefore accepted their demand for an additional year.
Government Accepts Drivers’ Demand
“I met cab and auto drivers. They all agree that everyone should know Marathi, but they said people from different age groups are in this profession and it is difficult for them to learn Marathi quickly. They have prepared a plan and demanded a year for this. The state government has accepted this demand. There will be no action in the year,” Fadnavis said.
#WATCH | Mumbai: On Marathi compulsory for auto, taxi, cab drivers, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis says, "Today, people from the auto drivers' and rickshaw drivers' organizations met with me. They first expressed their support for the idea that functional Marathi should be… pic.twitter.com/NIlPRVFDHn
— ANI (@ANI) August 27, 2026
The decision comes days after Maharashtra Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik directed that all taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers across the state must have basic working knowledge of Marathi.
Badge Suspension Was Proposed
Sarnaik had earlier said that drivers who failed to demonstrate working knowledge of Marathi could face suspension of their authorisation badges, stating that a driver’s badge would initially be suspended for one month for failing to meet the language requirement.
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He had further said that drivers would be given additional time to learn Marathi, and if they still failed to meet the requirement, their badges could eventually be cancelled as per the rules amended earlier this month.
Drivers Protested Language Requirement
The requirement had drawn opposition from several auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers across Maharashtra, who argued that they needed more time to learn Marathi. Several drivers also staged protests, alleging that the language requirement and the proposed action against those failing to meet it were unfair.