The appeal was made by Karnataka Rakshana Vedike through a memorandum submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah.

KRV state president T A Narayana Gowda said drivers dealing directly with the public should be able to read, write or speak Kannada at a basic level.

The organisation argued that language proficiency would improve communication with passengers and strengthen the presence of Kannada in daily public life.

The demand follows reports of stricter language rules for commercial drivers in Maharashtra, where knowledge of Marathi has been linked to licence approvals and renewals.

This has triggered wider debate in Karnataka, especially in Bengaluru, where a large migrant workforce is active in taxi and ride-hailing services.

Supporters say the move would protect Kannada identity and help local commuters who face communication barriers. They also argue that those working in Karnataka should make efforts to learn the state language.

Critics, however, warn that strict rules could hurt migrant workers who depend on driving jobs for income. Labour groups say language learning should be encouraged through training rather than made a barrier to employment.

Karnataka has seen repeated language-related debates in recent years, including campaigns for Kannada signboards and stronger use of the language in commerce and administration.

The state government has not yet announced any immediate policy change on the latest demand.