Page 2 - Maharashtra News

Maharashtra CM Fadnavis announces farm loan waiver, 4th Mumbai plans

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said the announcement of a farm loan waiver scheme in the state budget for 2026-27 fulfils a promise made by Mahayuti parties ahead of the 2024 assembly polls. In his budget speech, Fadnavis, who holds the finance portfolio, announced Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojna, a loan waiver scheme for farmers under which crop loans of up to Rs 2 lakh till September 30, 2025, will be written off. He announced a Rs 50,000 incentive for other eligible farmers who are regular in repayments of loans. Later, talking to reporters, the CM said in the budget, the capital expenditure has increased by 21 per cent --- from Rs 93,000 crore to Rs 1,12,000 crore. This would lead to an increase in capacity building and strengthening basic infrastructure. Fadnavis acknowledged that there was a "lot of stress", but the government has decided not to stop any scheme, an apparent reference to the Mukhyamantri Ladki Bahin Yojana, a direct

Maharashtra cabinet clears anti-conversion bill; 60-day notice proposed

The Maharashtra cabinet has cleared a draft anti-conversion bill, which makes it mandatory to seek permission from a competent authority before converting to another religion. A person who wants to convert must give a 60-day notice and seek permission from the designated authority before converting, an official said on Thursday, sharing details of the proposed legislation. Further, a conversion must be registered with the authority within 25 days, or it will be considered null and void, he said. If the blood relative of a person who wishes to convert files a complaint about the same being unlawful, police will register a First Information Report and conduct a probe, as per the bill. The right to religious freedom does not include the right to convert by force, fraud or allurement but includes the right to be protected from such unlawful conversions, the bill said. Maharashtra minister and BJP leader Nitesh Rane said the cabinet has approved a strong anti-conversion law, adding the

Centre has asked states not to undertake own Gulf evacuations: Fadnavis

The Centre has advised states not to undertake individual evacuation of those stranded in the Gulf due to the ongoing conflict in West Asia, as it would lead to chaos, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said in the legislative council on Wednesday. He emphasised that efforts are being intensified to safely bring back the stuck persons. "After residents of Maharashtra got stuck in the Gulf, the state government suggested that it would bring them back. However, the Centre said that if all states were to act in a similar manner, it would lead to chaos. Moreover, air space is also not safe. State carriers can undertake a safe journey, and arrangements are being made accordingly," Fadnavis said. He said the state government was informed that the evacuation process should be carried out only by the Centre. "The Centre has advised the states that it will evacuate those stranded in the Gulf countries. So, we aren't going ahead with it. The Centre has begun the process. The situat

Tawde, Athawale among 4 BJP nominees for Rajya Sabha polls from Maharashtra

The BJP on Wednesday announced four candidates for the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections from Maharashtra, nominating Union minister Ramdas Athawale and former state minister Vinod Tawde, among others, for the Upper House. Besides Athawale and Tawde, the party has also fielded Maya Chintaman Ivnate and Ramrao Wadkute for the biennial elections. Seven Rajya Sabha seats from Maharashtra are set to fall vacant in April. With over 230 MLAs in the 288-member assembly, the BJP-led Mahayuti alliance is in a position to ensure the election of all its four nominees. The Rajya Sabha members from Maharashtra retiring this year include NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar, Athawale, who heads RPI (A), Fauzia Khan of NCP (SP), Rajni Patil (Congress), Priyanka Chaturvedi of Shiv Sena (UBT), and BJP leaders Dhananjay Patil and Bhagwat Karad. Polling will be held on March 16 between 9 am and 4 pm, with counting scheduled to commence at 5 pm the same day. The Election Commission of India has announced electio

MSRTC hopes to earn ₹250 cr through advertising over 5 years, says minister

The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) will shore up its revenue through advertising and earn more than Rs 250 crore over the next five years, Transport Minister Pratap Sarnaik said on Tuesday. The move aims to transform the state's iconic 'Lal Pari' (red buses) from a primary transport utility into a significant revenue-generating engine, the MSRTC chairman said during the 310th Board of Directors meeting held at the MSRTC headquarters. According to a release issued by the MSRTC on Tuesday, Sarnaik stated that an ambitious plan has been finalised to leverage the corporation's massive footprint. "The ST Corporation has 251 depots and more than 610 bus stands spread across every corner of Maharashtra. With a fleet of about 12,000 buses transporting 50 to 55 lakh passengers daily, this is a golden opportunity for advertisers," the minister said. As the fleet expands, daily ridership is expected to touch the 1-crore mark, significantly increasing the valuation of ...

Maharashtra, UP among 10 high risk states leading in mule account cases

Other regions identified as major hotspots include Haryana, Delhi, Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar and Tamil Nadu

WCL finds 8 rare earth elements, critical minerals in its 6 mines in Maha

Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), headquartered in Nagpur, has achieved a major breakthrough in exploration of rare earth elements and critical minerals after it found eight significant strategic minerals in its six mines in Maharashtra, an official said on Friday. Talking to PTI, a senior official said the WCL found these minerals in its six Open Cast (OC) mines -- Adasa UG (underground) to OC (open cast), Makardhokra-III, Durgapur OC, Gauri-Pauni, Mungoli-Nirguda, and Yekona I & II -- recently. The analysis found economically significant concentrations of rare earth elements (REEs) and critical minerals of Potash (K), Tellurium (Te), Titanium (Ti), Lanthanum (La) and Cerium (Ce), Rhenium (Re), Selenium (Se) and Zirconium (Zr), he said. Potash (K) has strong potential for fertiliser and agro-chemical applications and Tellurium is essential for solar photovoltaic cells, semiconductors, and thermoelectric devices. Titanium has huge potential for aerospace, defence, pigments, and ...

Maharashtra GST Department initiates inspection, search at Lupin office

Pharmaceuticals firm Lupin Ltd on Wednesday said Maharashtra GST Department has initiated inspection and search at its registered office in Mumbai. The inspection and search by the department seeking documents related to payment of GST and claim of input tax credit etc started at 11.50 am on February 25, 2026, Lupin said in a regulatory filing. The company is extending its cooperation with the officials and providing necessary information and documents, it added. The initiation of this inspection and search doesn't have any impact on the company's financials, operations or other activities, Lupin said.

Ajit Pawar plane crash: Preliminary report due by Feb 28, says MoS Mohol

The preliminary report on the plane crash in which NCP leader Ajit Pawar was killed will be out on or before February 28, Union minister of state for civil aviation and Pune MP Murlidhar Mohol said on Sunday. Pawar and four others were killed on January 28 after their Learjet 45 crashed some distance away from Baramati airport. Talking to reporters at an event here, Mohol said, "The preliminary report will be out before one month (from the day of the incident) on or before February 28." The incident has been the subject of intense speculation with NCP (SP) MLA and Pawar's nephew Rohit Pawar holding several press conferences to flag what he claimed were irregularities connected to the firm that owned the aircraft and other technical anomalies. He has also raised doubts about foul play. On Saturday, the Karjat-Jamkhed MLA wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that Civil Aviation minister K Ram Mohan Naidu be asked to resign from the Union government till the inquiry into th

From expressways to airports, Maharashtra outlines integrated infra push

At GEC Summit 2026, top state agencies highlighted coordinated planning across roads, airports, metros and industrial corridors to drive Maharashtra's next phase of growth

Maximum professors hired in TN followed by Maharashtra, Gujarat: UGC data

Tamil Nadu is leading the way in hiring professors of practice (industry experts) in its Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), followed by Maharashtra and Gujarat, according to UGC data. Professors of practice (PoP) are distinguished industry experts and professionals appointed by HEIs to teach, mentor and bring real-world experience into the classroom, aiming to bridge the gap between academia and industry. The University Grants Commission (UGC) in 2022 released guidelines to hire PoPs to inject professional acumen into classroom environments. The position is strictly temporary and does not displace sanctioned posts. Eligibility demands a minimum of 15 years of relevant experience - ideally in senior positions. According to the data, 1,841 PoPs have been hired by 349 HEIs so far, the maximum of them being in Tamil Nadu (395). While 193 PoPs have been hired in Maharashtra (193), Gujarat and Karnataka have appointed 179 and 170 professionals, respectively. Leading the way in hiring

Sharad Pawar discharged from hospital, advised rest for 3-4 days: Sule

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar, who was undergoing treatment for a chest infection at a private hospital here, was discharged from the facility on Saturday afternoon. The 85-year-old Rajya Sabha member left the hospital around 1 pm. Pawar's daughter and NCP (SP) working president Supriya Sule said he has been advised to rest for three to four days. "Accordingly, he will rest at home and will resume his daily work thereafter," she said in a social media post. Pawar was brought to Ruby Hall Clinic here earlier this week from his residence in Baramati town, Pune district, after he complained of difficulty in breathing and a persistent cough. "He (Pawar) sincerely thanks everyone for inquiring about his health. He also expresses heartfelt gratitude to the doctors, nurses, and supporting staff at Ruby Hall Clinic who treated him and took care of him," Sule wrote. Dr Purvez Grant, chief cardiologist, chairman and managing trustee of the hospital, had said in the morning that Pawar was i

MAH MBA CET 2026 registration deadline extended to February 20; know more

MAH MBA CET 2026 registration has been extended until Feb 20, 2026. The announcement was made by the state CET cell via an official notification. Candidates can now apply before the new deadline

Mahayuti wins big in Maharashtra ZP, panchayat polls; BJP leads alliance

The BJP-led Mahayuti swept the Zilla Parishad and panchayat samiti polls in Maharashtra, results of which were declared on Monday, continuing the winning streak that started with the stellar performance in the 2024 assembly polls. The Mahayuti won 552 of 731 ZP seats and more than 1000 of the 1462 panchayat samiti seats, the State Election Commission said. In the ruling Mahayuti, the BJP led with 225 ZP seats, followed by 165 for the Nationalist Congress Party and 162 for the Shiv Sena. In the opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi, the Congress emerged on top with 55 ZP seats, followed by 43 for the Uddhav Thackeray-led Shiv Sena (UBT) and 26 for Sharad Pawar's NCP (SP). The Maharashtra Navnirman Sena won a seat each in Latur and Ratnagiri. Independents won 20 seats, unrecognised parties registered with the SEC got 14 and parties registered with SEC won seven. NCP won the Pune ZP getting 51 of 73 seats. The NCP and NCP (SP) had contested on the 'clock' symbol, the elections taking place ju

Sharad Pawar hospitalised in Pune with chest infection; condition stable

NCP (SP) chief Sharad Pawar was on Monday brought to a private hospital in Pune from his residence in Baramati after complaints of cough and difficulty in breathing. A CT scan was performed and there is chest infection, Ruby Hall Clinic chief cardiologist and managing trustee Dr Parvez Grant said. "After all the tests, we may admit him for a day," Dr Grant added. A team of doctors is examining him and further course of action will be taken accordingly, he said. The 85-year-old leader was brought to the hospital in the afternoon. He was accompanied by daughter and Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule and her husband Sadanand Sule. Immediately after arrival from Baramati, around 100 km from Pune, the former Union minister, who lost his nephew and deputy CM Ajit Pawar in an air crash on January 28, was wheeled inside the hospital. Pawar, who came in an MPV, came out of the vehicle on his own before being taken inside the facility in a wheelchair. Pawar, an oral cancer survivor, was suffer

Maha Govt signs MoUs worth ₹10,880 cr for multiple Vidarbha projects

The Maharashtra government signed MoUs worth over ₹10,880 crore for solar, healthcare and manufacturing projects in Vidarbha. It will also roll out new industrial policies soon

Mahindra unveils ₹15,000 cr decade-long investment plan for Maharashtra

Mahindra Group on Friday said it will invest Rs 15,000 crore in Maharashtra over the next ten years, which includes setting up an automobile and tractor manufacturing facility in Nagpur. In addition, Mahindra will acquire land in the Igatpuri-Nashik region to expand current product and engine capacities, as well as to support the growth of its Advanced Technology business, the statement said. The Nagpur facility, which will be the group's largest integrated manufacturing facility for automobiles and tractors, will start production in 2028, the group said in a statement. "With these initiatives, Mahindra is committing a comprehensive investment of Rs 15,000 crore over a ten-year period in Maharashtra and will acquire over 2,000 acres across three locations to further strengthen its manufacturing footprint," it added. Once fully operational, the facility will have an annual production capacity of over 5 lakh vehicles and 1 lakh tractors, making it Mahindra's largest integrated ...

3 Naxals killed in ongoing Gadchiroli operation, jawan succumbs to injuries

Two more Naxalites have been killed in an ongoing operation in Maharashtra's Gadchiroli district, while a C-60 jawan injured earlier during the encounter has succumbed, police said on Friday. So far, three Naxalites have been neutralised in the operation, which was launched three days ago, they said. The operation involving 14 C-60 units under SDPO Bhamragd began on Tuesday near Phodewada village on the Gadchiroli-Narayanpur (Chhattisgarh) border, following inputs about the presence of cadres of company number 10 of the Maoists, police said. While police busted two Naxalite camps on Wednesday, they deployed four more C-60 units and one unit of QAT of the Central Reserve Police Force on Thursday morning for reinforcement. The body of a Naxalite, along with an AK-47 rifle and a self-loading rifle (SLR), was recovered Thursday, according to police. Two more bodies of Naxalites, including that of a woman, have been recovered, taking the total number of cadres killed in the ongoing ...

Technical snag detected in Maharashtra minister Pankaja Munde's helicopter

A technical snag was detected in a helicopter hours before it was scheduled to transport Maharashtra Minister Pankaja Munde for campaigning for the Zilla Parishad polls in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, an airport official said on Tuesday. The snag was found late on Monday night hours before the BJP leader was to fly to Latur, he said. According to officials, Munde arrived in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on a chartered plane on Monday and took the helicopter for poll campaigning later in the day. However, when the aviation company conducted a routine inspection later that night, they found some technical issues with the chopper and informed the authorities at the Chikalthana airport, they said. The chopper was scheduled to transport the BJP leader to Latur around 11 am on Tuesday, but her journey was delayed by two hours, the official said. Talking to reporters, Munde said that the helicopter was old, but she didn't raise the issue and continued her travel. She said ever since NCP leade

Uncertainty over NCP merger: Sharad Pawar heads to Mumbai; Sunetra returns

NCP (SP) president Sharad Pawar left for Mumbai from Baramati on Sunday morning, four days after the air crash that claimed the life of his nephew and Maharashtra deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar. NCP leader Ajit Pawar's wife Sunetra Pawar, who took oath as deputy CM in Mumbai on Saturday, returned to Baramati in Pune, the hometown of the Pawars, late at night. It was unclear whether Sharad Pawar and Sunetra Pawar met or spoke over the phone amid the latest political developments and talks about the merger of the two NCP factions. Sharad Pawar has no scheduled programmes in Mumbai. His daughter and Baramati Lok Sabha member Supriya Sule left for Delhi on Saturday to attend the budget session. The NCP (SP) chief on Saturday claimed that he had "no idea" about the swearing-in of Sunetra Pawar as deputy chief minister, and said his late nephew had finalised February 12 to announce a merger between the NCP factions. He also said the process to merge the NCP (SP) and NCP may now face