Overview
- Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis granted a one‑year grace period after meeting driver representatives, and he said no action will be taken against drivers during that time.
- The decision follows roadside checks in late August that led RTO teams to issue more than 1,200 notices to drivers judged to lack basic Marathi during the testing drive.
- The government said it will roll out organised Marathi training, study material, 161 language centres and an RTO helpline to support drivers as they acquire working knowledge of the language.
- A public interest litigation by app‑based drivers challenging the August notification is pending in the Bombay High Court, so the legal status of the rule remains unsettled.
- The rule affects a large migrant workforce across Maharashtra and the extension aims to avert immediate livelihood loss, though unclear proficiency standards and enforcement practices have fuelled protests and political debate.