Page 2 - Maharashtra News

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.

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

Maharashtra FDA to pay ₹5 lakh after Bombay HC order on licence suspension

The order came after Tukaram Mundhe-led FDA continued to keep the food licence of a sweet shop suspended despite the shop achieving 98 per cent compliance with food safety norms

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

FDA shuts some Domino's, Pizza Hut stores in Maharashtra over hygiene lapse

In recent weeks, India's federal food regulator has cracked ‌down on labelling by companies including PepsiCo and Diageo that it says breaches rules, while also cancelling many food business licenses

Maharashtra CET 2026 CAP Round 2 Seat Allotment result announced at website

The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test Cell has released the MHT CET 2026 CAP Round 2 seat allotment result today, Aug 13 on the official website, to check their Engineering admission result

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 ...

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

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

Maharashtra govt bans analogue paneer for a year over food safety concerns

The Maharashtra government has imposed a one-year ban on the manufacture and sale of "analogue" or non-dairy paneer in view of public health concerns and widespread violations of food safety norms, officials said on Wednesday. Offenders could face life imprisonment and a fine of up to Rs 10 lakh, as per a recent government order. Maharashtra is the second state after Chhattisgarh to impose such a ban. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it found that several hotels, restaurants, caterers and other food establishments were using analogue paneer in place of conventional paneer without disclosing the substitution on menus, invoices or display boards. Analogue paneer is a non-dairy substitute made using vegetable oils, starches, emulsifiers and other additives instead of milk fat. It is cheaper to produce than conventional paneer and generally contains lower protein levels. A gazette notification issued by Maharashtra Food Safety Commissioner Tukaram Mundhe has prohibited the

UP gains credit-active consumer share as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu decline

TransUnion Cibil data shows Uttar Pradesh posted the sharpest rise in credit-active consumer share between March 2017 and March 2026, while Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu lost ground

Bhiwandi building collapse: Death toll rises to 9, rescue op continues

At least six persons were killed after a four-storey building collapsed in Maharashtra's Bhiwandi, officials said on Friday, adding that six to seven persons are still trapped under the rubble. A portion of the Kohinoor Building in Balaji Nagar area of the powerloom town in Thane district came crashing down around 11.30 pm on Thursday, the officials said. "At least six persons were killed. All but one are still to be identified. The bodies have been sent to a government hospital for postmortem," said Resident Deputy Collector Sandeep Mane. Six to seven persons are still trapped under the rubble and a search and rescue operation is underway, the official said. An injured minor was rescued and rushed to a nearby medical facility, he said. The structure comprised 48 rooms, 12 on each floor, municipal officials said. The building had been declared dangerous by the civic body. Tragedy struck while repair work was underway on the premises. Around 9 pm on Thursday, residents heard "loud

Maharashtra FDA conducts inspection of canteens at Bombay High Court

The Maharashtra Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has inspected canteens operating within the Bombay High Court premises, an official said on Friday. An FDA official told PTI that a team inspected the canteens at the high court on Thursday and was preparing a report. "Our team did inspect the canteens of the Bombay High Court. We are preparing a report on it. Once we file the report to our higher authorities, a statement will be issued regarding the same," the official said. Ever since IAS officer Tukaram Mundhe took charge as the FDA commissioner in May, the department has inspected several establishments, including several well-known food joints, across the state. The FDA's crackdown on milk adulteration has also led to the closure of several milk collection centres and dairies. Recently, the FDA suspended the food business licences of the Cricket Club of India, the MIG Cricket Club in Bandra East, and three other clubs in Mumbai for alleged violations of food safety and hygiene

Maharashtra FDA enforces junk food ban within 50 metres of schools

Maharashtra FDA has banned the sale of processed and packaged foods and drinks high in fat, sugar and salt within 50 metres of school compounds, and the order will be implemented strictly, FDA commissioner Tukaram Mundhe said on Wednesday. He said every school kitchen operator and food supplier to schools should have licenses under food safety regulations. He said the sale, advertisement and free distribution of high-fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food items are prohibited in and around all schools in the state as part of efforts to promote healthy eating habits among children. "Within school premises and up to 50 metres from the school compound, the sale, advertisement and free distribution of high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food items is completely banned by the FDA. It will be implemented strictly," Mundhe told reporters here. He said the state government had issued a compliance order on July 27 to enforce food safety and nutritional standards across educational institutions, adding

MHT CET 2026 final merit list to be out today on official CAP portal

The MHT CET 2026 Final Merit List will be released today. The exams were conducted in April- May 2026. Candidates can check their Maharashtra State and All India ranks on the official CAP portal

Maharashtra FDA chief widens crackdown on food adulteration, fake drugs

A civil servant, who has been reportedly been transferred over 25 times in his career, Mundhe is regarded as unyielding administrator whose frequent moves reflect his insistence on strict enforcement

Tata Power wins LoA from SECI to supply 324 MW from Maharashtra project

Tata Power on Monday said it has received a Letter of Award (LoA) from the Solar Energy Corporation of India Ltd (SECI) to supply 324 MW of power from its 1,000 MW Pumped Hydro Storage Project (PSP) at Bhivpuri in Maharashtra. The project was awarded under SECI's tariff-based global competitive bidding for the supply of 1,500 MW / 12,000 MWh of power from pumped hydro storage projects being set up in the country, a company statement said. The project was secured through an e-reverse auction. It has a 40-year Pumped Storage Purchase (PSP) agreement and is scheduled for commissioning by 2029. The project will be developed under the Build, Own, Operate (BOO) model and will provide 8 hours of energy storage, enabling reliable supply of electricity during peak demand periods. It will be connected to the 765/400 kV South Kalamb Central Transmission Utility (CTU) Substation through the Inter-State Transmission System (ISTS). The SECI's award further strengthens Tata Power's position in .