Maharashtra

Ministers' dogs get better facilities: Dipke on condition of govt schools

Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) convenor Abhijeet Dipke on Thursday said Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse should resign, claiming government schools are in a pitiable condition and that even "ministers' dogs get better facilities" than students. Dipke, whose group launched the 'School Thik Karo' (improve government schools) campaign last week, visited a Zilla Parishad school at Ujani village in Latur's Ausa tehsil. Later, talking to reporters, he said elected representatives and ministers must be held accountable for the condition of schools, many of which continue to lack basic facilities such as proper classrooms, benches, toilets and safe access roads. Students in some schools were being treated "worse than animals", he alleged. "It is a question of students' lives. When political leaders are not doing anything for students, why should people vote for them? Do people vote for them so that they can only travel in helicopters? People should see in what conditions their

Maharashtra CM gets power to override decisions in 'public interest'

The provision comes three years after the Bombay HC ruled that then CM Eknath Shinde lacked independent power under the existing law to review or modify a decision taken by the minister in charge

Fadnavis backs Mundhe, says FDA's crackdown on food safety will continue

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said he was very pleased with the FDA's action against food safety violations, adulteration and hygiene lapses across the state.

How Maharashtra charity law led to Tata Sons' first-ever AGM adjournment

A 2025 amendment capped perpetual trustees at public trusts, triggering a freeze on SRTT that blocked Tata Sons' quorum and stalled key shareholder decisions on Tuesday

Maha govt makes snakebite notifiable disease, reporting of cases compulsory

The Maharashtra government has declared snakebite a notifiable disease, making it mandatory for all hospitals, medical colleges and healthcare professionals to report every suspected or confirmed case and death. The move comes after three tribal schoolgirls died and three others were hospitalised after a venomous snake bit them at a state government-aided residential school in Japtalai village of Gadchiroli district on August 9. The government later cancelled the school's license. Informing about the government's decision, Health Minister Prakash Abitkar on Tuesday said the move will help strengthen monitoring of snakebite cases, ensure timely treatment and improve planning for the availability of anti-snake venom (ASV). The decision would make snakebite prevention and treatment more systematic, prompt and effective, he added. Under the notification, every health institution and medical practitioner will have to report snakebite cases to the district health officer or district surg

Who is Tukaram Mundhe? The IAS officer taking on Maharashtra's food sector

In his latest move, Mundhe's FDA issued notices to actors Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn and Tiger Shroff over advertisements for a pan masala brand, whose products are banned in Maharashtra

Maharashtra govt forms panel to tackle Chakan industrial belt's infra woes

Facing the ire of companies over potholed roads and traffic snarls in Pune's Chakan industrial belt, the Maharashtra government has admitted serious infrastructure gaps and set up a highlevel panel to resolve them. With the Opposition targeting the government over the issue, the ruling dispensation has moved swiftly to contain the situation. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis admitted on Friday that there were serious infrastructure issues in the industrial area and promised relief. The government subsequently formed a high-level panel to resolve the problems troubling the companies. Industries Minister Uday Samant visited the area on Sunday and met senior officials and representatives of industrial associations. Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde joined the discussions via video-conferencing. The state government drew flak after the owners of at least 20 companies recently said they had decided to shift their factories to Khandala in Pune district due to severe traffic congestion a

Shah Rukh Khan, Ajay Devgn, Tiger Shroff get FDA notice over Vimal ad

The notice says the Vimal elaichi advertisement may create an association with the pan masala brand, whose manufacture and sale are prohibited in Maharashtra

Maharashtra suspends licences of 12 Blinkit, Zepto, Swiggy warehouses

Reports of food contamination are common in India's local eateries, and Maharashtra's drive and Mundhe are gathering social media attention

Maharashtra FDA suspends 14 licences linked to Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration has suspended the licences of 14 food business establishments linked to online platforms such as Blinkit, Zepto and Instamart after a state-wide inspection drive found safety and hygiene violations, officials said on Friday. The FDA inspected 86 establishments in different parts of Maharashtra selling and delivering food through online platforms on August 13. It issued 60 improvement notices and ordered the temporary stoppage of business operations at one facility. No licence was cancelled during the drive, said the state government regulator. Of the 14 suspended licences, five belonged to Blinkit establishments, five to Zepto, two to Instamart, one to Bhagwati Stores and one to Swinsta Ent Pvt Ltd, the FDA said. The inspections covered storage, temperature control, cleanliness, pest control, personal hygiene of food handlers, compliance with FIFO/FEFO (First In, First Out/First Expired, First Out) practices, food safety records and displ

Maharashtra FDA suspends licences of 4 Domino's outlets amid special drive

The action came as part of a special drive covering 104 chain restaurant establishments across Maharashtra

Marathi mandatory for auto, taxi and cab drivers in Maharashtra from Aug 18

The rule applies to drivers of commercial passenger vehicles, including autorickshaws, taxis and app-based motor cabs fitted with electronic meters

Over 36,000 firms shut ops in Maharashtra in 5 yrs, Oppn slams govt

Opposition leaders have sharply criticised the Maharashtra government after data disclosed in the Lok Sabha showed that over 36,000 private companies were liquidated, dissolved, or struck off in the state over the last five financial years. They claimed excessive government interference, widespread corruption, and an increasingly unfavourable business environment as key drivers pushing commercial and industrial activity away from Maharashtra. The information was shared in the Lok Sabha by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs on August 10, in response to a question asked by Shiv Sena (UBT) Lok Sabha member Rajabhau Waje. Waje on Wednesday said that the closure of more than 14,000 companies in business services and nearly 6,500 in manufacturing was particularly alarming, as these sectors generate substantial employment. "Some 14,000 companies in business services and some 6,500 companies from manufacturing sectors have closed down in the last five fiscal years. These sectors generate ..

Maha Gazetted officers association seeks retirement age of 60 for employees

The Maharashtra State Gazetted Officers' Federation has urged Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to raise the retirement age of government employees to 60 from the current 58, taking a cue from the Centre and 25 other states. In a letter to Fadnavis dated August 10, the federation said the Union government raised the retirement age of its employees to 60 years in 1998, and 25 states adopted the same policy subsequently. It welcomed the state government's recent decision to raise the retirement age of judicial officers serving in subordinate courts to 62 years in compliance with an interim order of the Supreme Court. The government should consider extending a similar benefit to state government employees, the association said, referring to the principle of equality guaranteed under Article 14 of the Constitution. Of 7.19 lakh sanctioned posts in the state government, around 2.75 lakh, or 35 per cent, are vacant, and vacancies increase by 3 per cent every year due to retirement, the ...

State FDAs raid dark stores, warehouses, hotels in food safety crackdown

Expired food, poor hygiene, suspected adulteration and improper storage have emerged from recent food safety inspections across Maharashtra and Karnataka

Milk prices in Maharashtra to increase by ₹2 per litre from August 11

The price hike is expected to affect consumers across the state as milk producers and processors revise the rates of both cow and buffalo milk

Fadnavis orders probe into alleged donation irregularities at Siddhivinayak

: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has ordered a comprehensive probe into alleged donation irregularities at the famous Siddhivinayak Temple in the city, directing officials to examine the shrine's records of the last five years, an official said on Saturday. The directive comes on the heels of allegations by Maharashtra Navnirman Sena chief Raj Thackeray claiming Rs 18 crore was siphoned off annually from the temple, prompting the arrest of nine employees and Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde's demand for independent inquiries. According to officials, Fadnavis ordered a probe after a delegation from the Siddhivinayak Temple Trust met him and presented a detailed account of the collections between 2023-2026. The chief minister has sought the probe report at the earliest, they said. Last month, Shinde had sought an independent inquiry and instructed officials to begin the process. The controversy came to the fore after Raj Thackeray alleged that nearly Rs 18 crore was

Maharashtra govt may bring Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto under bike-taxi rules

Proposed changes could require delivery platforms to run EV fleets, track vehicles, provide insurance, and contribute 2% of each ride's fare to a driver welfare fund

Maharashtra doctors' protest explained: What is the CCMP registration row?

The Maharashtra government's decision to begin registering CCMP-qualified homoeopathy practitioners has sparked protests over patient safety, medical training, and prescribing rights

Maharashtra bans manufacture, sale of analogue paneer: What did FDA find?

The state FDA said that selling analogue paneer as genuine dairy paneer would mislead consumers and constitute an unfair trade practice under the food safety law