Mumbai: Auto-rickshaw and taxi drivers in Mumbai have raised questions over the manner in which the Maharashtra government’s Marathi language proficiency requirement is being enforced, alleging that Regional Transport Office (RTO) roadside tests are including questions that were not covered during their training.

The controversy has intensified as drivers who attended Marathi language classes say they were taught a limited set of basic conversational sentences but were later confronted with different questions during roadside inspections. Several drivers have claimed that they failed the assessment despite completing the lessons arranged by the RTO and literary organisations.

The issue has emerged amid a wider enforcement drive covering auto-rickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers across Maharashtra. The government has maintained that drivers must have a working knowledge of Marathi to communicate with passengers and authorities, while protesting drivers are demanding clarity, adequate training and a fair assessment process.

Drivers allege mismatch between classes and tests

According to drivers who participated in a demonstration in Kandivali, the Marathi lessons they attended focused on basic phrases that could be used while interacting with commuters.

One protesting auto driver said participants had learnt at least 16 basic conversational Marathi sentences during classes organised by the RTO and literary groups. However, the driver alleged that the questions asked by RTO teams during roadside checks did not correspond with the material taught during the training.

The allegation has become a key point of contention because the drivers are not opposing the idea of learning Marathi outright. Many say they are willing to acquire sufficient working knowledge of the language but want the government to ensure that the training and assessment follow the same standards.

Drivers have also questioned whether adequate facilities are available for those who have been given notices to improve their Marathi within a month. Some said they were unable to access continuing classes and had to rely on unions or online material to learn the language.

RTO has been conducting a 16-question assessment

The Marathi proficiency exercise is based on a 16-question assessment intended to check whether commercial passenger vehicle drivers can communicate in everyday situations.

The test is not designed as a formal academic examination. Officials have said the questions are based on situations drivers commonly encounter while working, with the questionnaire prepared through the Transport Commissioner’s office and linked to Marathi training provided to drivers.

The distinction is important because protesting drivers argue that the questions they encountered on the road were different from what they understood to be the prescribed training material.

For drivers who have spent years working in Mumbai but have limited Marathi proficiency, the sudden enforcement of the requirement has created considerable uncertainty. They are concerned not only about passing the test but also about the possible effect of continued non-compliance on their ability to earn a livelihood.

Thousands have received notices

The enforcement drive has already resulted in thousands of drivers being issued notices.

A senior transport official cited by The Times of India said more than 3,000 drivers had been issued show-cause notices and given one month to improve their Marathi proficiency. The broader exercise began in August and is scheduled to continue until September 30.

Earlier inspections in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) showed that a substantial majority of drivers passed the initial assessments, while those who did not demonstrate adequate proficiency were given an opportunity to improve.

On the first day of the drive, 3,995 drivers were inspected across the MMR, with 604 receiving show-cause notices. Across the rest of Maharashtra, 4,222 drivers were inspected and 664 notices were issued. Overall, about 85% of those tested in both areas performed satisfactorily.

A subsequent round of checks in the MMR saw 722 of 3,942 drivers fail the assessment, resulting in one-month show-cause notices. The reported failure rate was 18% for that round, while officials indicated that the rate in parts of Greater Mumbai was considerably higher.

Drivers fear impact on livelihoods

For auto and taxi drivers, the dispute is not merely about a language examination. Their main concern is what could happen if they fail to meet the requirement within the prescribed period.

Under the enforcement mechanism, drivers who are found lacking adequate Marathi proficiency are initially given time to improve. Continued non-compliance can eventually result in action against their badges, potentially preventing them from continuing commercial passenger transport work.

Driver unions have therefore called for more time, better access to training and a clearly defined assessment process. One of their demands is that the language tests should remain strictly within the officially prescribed syllabus.

The unions have also objected to what they describe as excessively harsh enforcement. Union representatives have sought additional time for nearly 4 lakh drivers to learn Marathi and have urged the authorities to reconsider punitive measures while the training and testing system is being streamlined.

Protest disrupts auto services in Mumbai

The dispute has also spilled over into street protests and a strike by sections of the driver community.

Drivers staged demonstrations in several parts of Mumbai, with protests reported in areas including Andheri, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Kandivali, Borivali and Juhu in the western suburbs, and Kurla, Ghatkopar, Bhandup and Mulund in the eastern suburbs.

In Kandivali, protesters attempted to block a road, although police said traffic movement was largely unaffected. Seven to eight protesters were detained during the demonstration, according to the report. In some areas, drivers stopped operating autos and passengers were asked to get down, adding to concerns among commuters.

The disruption has placed passengers in a difficult position, particularly those dependent on autos and taxis for short-distance travel and last-mile connectivity.

Government moves to address concerns

The Maharashtra government has sought to reassure drivers amid the growing protests.

Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik announced the establishment of 161 Marathi language training centres across the state to help drivers who need to improve their proficiency. A dedicated RTO helpline has also been announced to address complaints concerning alleged harassment, illegal fines and irregularities in the implementation of the language requirement.

The government’s response indicates that authorities are attempting to balance enforcement with additional opportunities for drivers to learn the language.

The transport department has also introduced measures intended to improve transparency in the verification process. From August 20, the Marathi verification procedure for new auto-rickshaw and taxi badges was to be videographed, with the stated aim of ensuring greater transparency and accuracy in assessments.

Language requirement remains under wider scrutiny

The controversy comes at a time when the Marathi proficiency requirement itself is facing broader public and legal scrutiny.

The Maharashtra government’s directive requires auto-rickshaw, taxi and app-based cab drivers to possess a working knowledge of Marathi. A Public Interest Litigation is also set to challenge the requirement before the Bombay High Court, adding a legal dimension to the ongoing debate.

For the government, the policy is intended to ensure that drivers providing public-facing transport services can communicate effectively with passengers and authorities. For drivers, however, the immediate concern is whether the system provides enough time, training and clarity to meet the requirement without putting their livelihoods at risk.

The dispute over alleged “out-of-syllabus” questions therefore highlights a larger need for consistency between training, testing and enforcement. If drivers are expected to demonstrate a defined level of working Marathi, the learning material and assessment criteria need to be transparent and uniformly applied.

A need for clarity and fair implementation

The Marathi language requirement has become a sensitive issue involving language, public service, employment and livelihoods. While basic communication between drivers and passengers is important, the concerns raised by drivers over training facilities and testing standards cannot be dismissed if the enforcement process is to command public confidence.

A clearly published syllabus, accessible training, standardised questions and transparent assessment procedures could help reduce confusion and prevent disputes over whether drivers have been fairly tested. The government’s decision to expand training centres and establish a helpline could provide an opportunity to address these concerns.

For Mumbai’s auto and taxi drivers, the immediate demand is not simply to avoid learning Marathi but to ensure that the rules are implemented in a predictable and fair manner. As enforcement continues, resolving the gap between what drivers are taught and what they are tested on will be crucial to preventing further protests while ensuring that the government’s language objective is achieved.