Maharashtra: 80 lakh women found ineligible for Ladki Bahin scheme
The Opposition parties have alleged that the Devendra Fadnavis-led government was weeding out large number of beneficiaries due to a "severe financial crisis".
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, presenting Maharashtra Budget 2026 on Friday, announced that farmers’ loans of up to Rs 2 lakh will be waived off under the Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Shetkari Karj Maafi Yojana scheme. The loan waiver scheme will be applicable to farmers with outstanding debts of up to Rs 2 lakh and whose crop loans have arrears till September 30, 2025.
Fadnavis also announced an incentive of up to Rs 50,000 to farmers who repay their loans regularly. He announced that the popular election winning Majhi Laadki Bahin scheme will continue, though there will be no increase in the monthly payout from the current Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100, as announced earlier. “Adequate funding has been allocated for it. A new policy for the welfare of single women will be introduced soon, with a target to benefit 25 lakh women,” he said.
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With the announcement of the politically sensitive farmers’ loan waiver as well as the Laadki Bahin scheme, Fadnavis seems to have attempted to keep rural voters satisfied.
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For this year’s Maharashtra Budget, Rs 7,69,467 crore has been allocated for expenditure provisions. The state faces a a revenue deficit of Rs 40,552 crore and a fiscal deficit of Rs 1,50,491 crore in the current Budget, but the government has successfully kept the state’s fiscal deficit below 3 per cent and its revenue deficit under 1 per cent, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced.
Fadnavis said, “Maharashtra is the country’s financial engine, and our share will be the biggest. The state aims to achieve an economy of USD $5 trillion by 2047”.
To highlight his resolve and ambition, Fadnavis also recited an Urdu couplet, “Jab irada bana liya hai unchi udaan ka, fir dekhna fizul hai sar asmaan ka,” which means that once a high-flying goal is set, no sky is too high to reach.
“Agricultural produce should reach international markets. An integrated supply chain will be created for around 15 crops,” he said, adding that Artificial Intelligence (AI ) will be leveraged for agriculture through the Mahavistar AI platform, which will also integrate tribal languages.
He announced the implementation of an Agristack scheme, with over 1 crore agriculture cards prepared for farmers, including tribals and launch of the Maharashtra Organic Farming Scheme and the inclusion of farm labourers under the Gopinath Munde Accident scheme.
Rs 33,410 crore has been spent for the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin) under which rooftop solar systems will be provided to beneficiaries, to promote sustainable and affordable housing. Rooftop solar panels will be installed on houses constructed under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY). “3.57 lakh houses will be completed under the scheme.
The chief minister said 1.31 crore farmer digital IDs have been created as of February and more that 30 lakh farmers receive timely information on weather and market prices. All four agricultural universities are using artificial intelligence (AI) support to assist farmers, helping to boost their income through the Agristack scheme. During the next four years, capital investment will be increased, and infrastructure will be developed to further support agriculture, he said.
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