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Mumbai drivers strike over mandatory Marathi language rule

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2026-08-27 20:26 UTC → 2026-09-05 07:12 UTC · added ~~removed~~

The Maharashtra government’s mandate requiring commercial passenger-vehicle drivers to have a working knowledge of Marathi has led to significant unrest. Following a statewide inspection campaign where 777 drivers were issued notices for insufficient proficiency, auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Mumbai launched a three-day strike, disrupting transportation services. Protests escalated in areas such as Kandivali, where road blockades resulted in clashes and the arrest of four individuals following an alleged assault on a driver. Drivers have argued that the requirement threatens their livelihoods and criticized RTO officials for asking questions beyond the scope of official training. In response to the unrest, a petition has been filed in the Bombay High Court challenging the rule as a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and fundamental rights. Addressing the situation, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis stated that drivers do not need to be experts but must know enough Marathi to perform their duties. Following meetings with driver association heads, the government granted a one-year extension for drivers to meet the proficiency requirement. Under this extension, the state will take no punitive action against drivers for a lack of Marathi proficiency. The mandate also applies to app-based cab drivers working with aggregators such as Ola, Uber, and Rapido. While Shiv Sena spokesperson Sanjay Nirupam welcomed the extension as a way to promote the language through “respect rather than strictness,” the decision remains politically charged. Amit Thackeray of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) criticized the extension, linking the timing to upcoming elections and threatening consequences for drivers who continue to speak Hindi. New regulations for app-based services, effective September 1, require aggregator companies to obtain licenses from the transport authority. Drivers must undergo police verification and provide a 15-year residence certificate, with a prohibition on driving for more than 12 continuous hours.

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