In Maharashtra, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced that auto and taxi drivers will be given one year to learn 'functional Marathi,' the state's official language. This follows earlier announcements requiring non-Marathi drivers to achieve basic proficiency in Marathi by August 15, which included organized language classes. The decision came after a meeting with driver representatives who requested more time due to challenges in learning the language quickly, particularly among older drivers who had left formal education years ago. The government stated that no enforcement actions would be taken during this grace period and pledged to provide resources to assist drivers. The move followed a recent crackdown by the Transport Department, which issued notices to drivers failing a Marathi test. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde praised the initiative, citing that over 1.6 lakh non-Marathi individuals learned the language through these efforts.
Bias read (Center): The article presents the policy change neutrally, quoting both the government's stance and the concerns raised by the drivers. It includes statements from the Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, providing balanced perspectives without overtly favoring either side. There is no evident loaded or




