news 5 September 2026 Nile Post
Maharashtra Grants Taxi Drivers One Year Extension to Learn Marathi Amid Protests
The Indian state of Maharashtra has extended the deadline for taxi and tuk-tuk drivers to learn the local Marathi language by one year, following significant protests from driver unions. The initial rule, which required drivers to pass a basic Marathi conversation test or face license suspension, sparked concerns about drivers losing their livelihoods. Source: https://nilepost.co.ug/news/369208/indian-state-gives-taxi-and-tuk-tuk-drivers-a-year-to-learn-local-language
In response to widespread protests, the western Indian state of Maharashtra has granted taxi and tuk-tuk drivers an additional year to acquire a working knowledge of Marathi, the state’s official language. Transport officials initially began testing drivers on August 20, with a one-month grace period for those who failed to demonstrate basic conversational skills. Non-compliance risked the suspension or cancellation of driving licenses.
The government’s stated aim was to improve communication between drivers and passengers and enhance road safety. However, the mandate was met with strong opposition from drivers’ unions, who argued that imposing such a requirement could jeopardize the livelihoods of workers who were still in the process of learning.
Many drivers in Maharashtra are migrants from other parts of India, particularly Hindi-speaking regions. The protests led Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to announce the one-year extension, acknowledging that many drivers had been out of formal education for years and required more time to adapt. State Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik emphasized that this extension is final, with no further delays expected.
Maharashtra boasts nearly a million registered tuk-tuk and taxi permits. The extended deadline has offered a sigh of relief to drivers like Lakhan Pandey, a Mumbai taxi driver, who expressed concerns about the impact of license suspension on his daily income. The situation has also reignited a long-standing debate in Maharashtra about language, migration, and employment, issues that have historically shaped the state’s political landscape since its formation in 1960 to accommodate Marathi speakers.
While experts like journalist Prakash Akolkar acknowledge the reasonableness of expecting migrants to learn a local language, he points out that political parties often amplify language issues for strategic purposes. The state is now organizing classes focused on essential Marathi phrases for drivers, aiming to equip them with the necessary skills for basic interactions with passengers, such as inquiring about destinations and discussing fares.