Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde has launched a welfare board aimed at supporting autorickshaw and taxi drivers and their families, underlining the government’s focus on strengthening social security for transport workers.

The initiative comes as Maharashtra continues to address the economic and welfare concerns of the state’s large community of autorickshaw and taxi drivers. The Maharashtra Transport Department lists the body as the Dharamveer Anand Dighe Saheb Maharashtra State Auto Rickshaw and Metered Taxi Drivers Welfare Board. 

Shinde Highlights Transport Workers’ Contribution

Speaking at the programme, Shinde acknowledged the role played by autorickshaw and taxi drivers in keeping Maharashtra’s transport network functioning, particularly during difficult periods.

He also honoured transport workers during the event and highlighted the importance of recognising their contribution to public mobility and essential services.

The welfare initiative is intended to provide a structured mechanism for addressing the needs of drivers and their families, an issue that has been raised by driver associations for several years.

Welfare Board Gets Formal Backing

The creation of a dedicated welfare body for autorickshaw and taxi drivers has been under consideration in Maharashtra for years. A state transport committee had earlier recommended establishing a welfare board and providing measures covering areas such as healthcare, pensions, insurance and education for drivers and their families. 

The Maharashtra government subsequently moved towards establishing a welfare board for autorickshaw and metered taxi drivers, with an initial allocation of Rs 50 crore reported in 2024. (The Indian Express)

The current board provides an institutional framework through which welfare-related measures for the driver community can be implemented.

Focus on Social Security

Transport workers often depend on daily earnings and can face financial difficulties during periods of illness, accidents or reduced mobility. Earlier state-level recommendations had identified medical support, pension arrangements, insurance and educational assistance for drivers and their dependants as important welfare areas. 

The welfare board is expected to provide a platform for such measures and improve access to government support.

The move is also significant because Maharashtra’s autorickshaw and taxi sector is closely linked to urban and semi-urban public transport, with drivers serving as an important part of the state’s last-mile connectivity network.

Post-COVID Welfare Measures Highlighted

Shinde also referred to welfare initiatives undertaken by the Maharashtra government following the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic had highlighted the vulnerability of workers dependent on daily passenger movement, including those in the transport sector.

The government’s emphasis on welfare has since included measures aimed at improving support for different sections of workers and strengthening access to social-security initiatives.

By highlighting these measures alongside the new welfare board, the government has positioned the initiative as part of a broader effort to provide institutional support to workers in the transport sector.

Maharashtra Transport Sector in Focus

The development comes at a time when issues affecting autorickshaw and taxi drivers remain prominent in Maharashtra. The state recently revised tariff cards for autorickshaws and metered taxis, with the Transport Department publishing revised tariff documents dated September 1, 2026.

The welfare board therefore comes against a wider backdrop of policy decisions affecting drivers, including fares, regulatory requirements and worker welfare.

For the driver community, the effectiveness of the new board will ultimately depend on how quickly welfare schemes are implemented and how easily eligible workers can access the benefits.

The Maharashtra government has formally initiated the process of drafting a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) by constituting a seven-member expert committee headed by former Supreme Court judge Justice Ranjana Desai. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the decision in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly on Wednesday, describing it as a significant step towards creating a common civil framework in the state.

The committee has been tasked with examining the legal, constitutional, social and administrative aspects of implementing a Uniform Civil Code in Maharashtra. It has been asked to submit its recommendations to the state government within six months, after which the government will prepare the final draft of the proposed legislation.

Committee Composition

The panel comprises experts from the judiciary, administration and social sector. Besides Justice Ranjana Desai as chairperson, the members include former Bombay High Court judges Justice R.C. Chavan and Justice S.G. Mehere, former Chief Secretary D.K. Jain, former Advocate General Birendra Saraf, social activist Ramesh Patange and educationist Suvarna Rawal.

According to the state government, the committee has been constituted to ensure that the proposed law is drafted after a comprehensive assessment of constitutional provisions, existing personal laws and practical implementation challenges.

Report Expected Within Six Months

Chief Minister Fadnavis said the committee would carry out detailed consultations before submitting its report. Based on its recommendations, the Maharashtra government will prepare the final draft of the Uniform Civil Code.

The government has indicated that the draft legislation will be prepared only after evaluating the committee's findings and ensuring compliance with constitutional requirements.

Government Targets Winter Session

The Chief Minister said the state government aims to introduce the Uniform Civil Code Bill during the upcoming winter session of the Maharashtra Legislature in Nagpur.

He added that all constitutional and legal procedures would be followed before the legislation is brought before the Assembly and Legislative Council.

According to the government, the proposed law seeks to establish a common civil framework governing matters such as marriage, divorce, inheritance and adoption while remaining consistent with constitutional provisions.

State Push for Uniform Civil Code

The announcement comes days after the Maharashtra government began the formal process of examining the implementation of a Uniform Civil Code.

Speaking in the Assembly, Fadnavis reiterated that the Directive Principles of State Policy encourage the State to work towards securing a Uniform Civil Code for citizens. He also referred to Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's vision of legal uniformity and equality in civil matters.

Background of UCC in India

The Uniform Civil Code has remained a subject of constitutional and political debate for decades. It seeks to replace religion-based personal laws with a common set of civil laws governing issues such as marriage, divorce, succession and adoption.

Goa continues to follow a common civil code inherited from the Portuguese Civil Code, making it the only state with such a system predating Independence.

Uttarakhand became the first Indian state after Independence to implement a Uniform Civil Code in January 2025. Gujarat passed its UCC Bill in March 2026, followed by Assam in May 2026, although implementation processes continue in those states with specified exemptions.

The Maharashtra government's latest move marks another significant development in the broader national debate on the Uniform Civil Code, with the committee's recommendations expected to shape the state's legislative roadmap in the coming months.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday issued a fresh circular easing the transition to its upcoming language structure under the National Education Policy (NEP). The board has announced critical one-time exemptions for students currently enrolled in intermediate classes to shield them from sudden academic disruption.

Meanwhile, in a major regional policy move, the Maharashtra state government has declared that learning Marathi will now be strictly mandatory for all students from Classes 1 to 10 across all educational boards operating within the state.

One-Time Relief Roadmap for Current CBSE Batches

The latest guidelines clarify the application of the upcoming three-language policy, which mandates studying at least two native Indian languages. Following pushback and legal petitions from parents and student groups, CBSE Director (Academics) Praggya M Singh announced transitional safeguards:

CBSE Implementation Adjustments:

├── Current Class 10 Batch : Fully Exempted from the revised 3-language rule.

├── Current Class 9 Batch  : Allowed to continue with 2 foreign languages + 1 Indian language.

└── Classes 7 to 9 Batches : No mandatory 3rd-language Board Examination when reaching Class 10.

The relaxation aims to provide a buffer for students who have already planned their academic modules under the previous framework. This comes on the heels of the board's earlier notification stating that the revised structure would become mandatory for Class 9 students starting July 1.

Core Structure: Dual-Level Math and Science from 2026-27

The board re-emphasized that the broader phased implementation of the NEP policy begins from Class 6, along with a newly designed dual-level assessment matrix for core subjects starting this academic cycle ($2026-27$).

The first Class 10 board examinations under this dual-tiered evaluation method will take place in 2028 for the batch entering Class 9 this year. Additionally, CBSE clarified that foreign languages can only be picked either as a third language (after fulfilling the two native Indian languages condition) or as an extra fourth elective.

Maharashtra Enforcement: Marathi Mandatory Across All Boards

In a concurrent development, Maharashtra Education Minister Dada Bhuse announced that Marathi will be enforced as a compulsory subject from Classes 1 to 10 across every school in the state, irrespective of its central or international board affiliation.

"The state government is fully committed to the preservation, promotion, and propagation of the Marathi language and the legacy of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj," Minister Bhuse stated during the announcement ahead of the state assembly's Monsoon Session.

The state education department is launching an inspection campaign to audit classrooms. School administrations found violating the directive or failing to include Marathi in their regular curriculum will face strict legal and institutional penalties.