Pune RTO: Auto, Taxi Drivers Without Marathi Skills Face 3-Month Badge Suspension
Pune, 20th August 2026: The Pune Regional Transport Office (RTO) is set to take action against autorickshaw and taxi drivers who fail to acquire working knowledge of Marathi, with their driver badges or authorisations liable to be suspended for three months and subsequently cancelled in case of continued non-compliance.
The move follows an amendment made by the Maharashtra government to the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, on August 12, introducing a mandatory requirement for drivers of autorickshaws fitted with electronic meters and motor cabs, as well as the holders of permits for such vehicles, to have working knowledge of Marathi.
According to the Pune RTO, drivers or permit holders who do not currently possess the required knowledge of Marathi will be given a one-month period to acquire it from the permit authority. If they fail to do so within the stipulated period, action will be initiated against their driver badge or authorisation.
The rules provide for suspension of the badge or authorisation for three months after recording the reasons for non-compliance. If the driver continues to violate the requirement even after the suspension period, the authorities can initiate proceedings for cancellation of the badge or authorisation.
The Marathi-language requirement will also apply when permits are renewed. At the time of renewal, permit holders will be required to demonstrate knowledge of Marathi to the satisfaction of the competent authority.
The Pune Regional Transport Office will conduct examinations to assess the Marathi-language knowledge of concerned permit holders through motor vehicle inspectors. Passing the examination will be mandatory for permit renewal, the RTO said.
The amended rules were published in the Maharashtra government’s Extraordinary Gazette, Part IV-B, on August 12, 2026.
