Maharashtra has tightened its rules for commercial passenger-vehicle drivers, making a working knowledge of Marathi mandatory for those operating taxis, auto-rickshaws, buses and app-based cabs. What The New Rule Means For DriversThe amended provisions cover commercial passenger-vehicle drivers who regularly interact with commuters, including taxi and auto-rickshaw drivers and those working with app-based cab aggregators. Marathi classes have been organised through RTO offices, with the Konkan Marathi Sahitya Parishad and Mumbai Marathi Sahitya Sangh among the organisations involved. In a recent development, more than one lakh non-Marathi-speaking auto and taxi drivers were reported to have completed a three-month functional Marathi training programme under the state’s Marathi language initiative. Commercial driving is a livelihood for thousands of people, including workers who have migrated from other parts of India.