Maharashtra Budget Session 2025: Ajit Pawar presents budget of Rs 7 lakh crore

Deputy Chief Minister CM and Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented the Maharashtra Budget 2025 on Monday March 10 2025Pawar presented a Rs 700020 crore budget for 202526 with a revenue deficit of Rs 45891 crore in the state legislative assemblyldquoThe Maharashtra Budget 2025 for the year 202526 has allocated a total expenditure of Rs 700020 crore Revenue collection is estimated at Rs 560964 crore while revenue expenditure is projected at Rs 606855 crore As a result the estimated revenue deficit stands at Rs 45891 crorerdquo said PawarldquoMaharashtra will not stop now development will not be delayedrdquo the Finance Minister saidPawar stated that the government is actively working to attract investments in the industrial sector leading to significant investments in MaharashtraState government commits to development expresses gratitude to CentreMaharashtrarsquos Finance Minister Ajit Pawar presented the statersquos annual budget today marking his 11th budget presentation on the auspicious occasion of Amalaki Ekadashi In his address he paid tribute to revered historical and social reformers including Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj Rajmata Jijau Chhatrapati Shahu Maharaj Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Bharat Ratna Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Rajmata Ahilyadevi Holkar Krantijyoti Savitribai Phule and Lokshahir Annabhau Sathe He also commemorated the 350th anniversary of the martyrdom of Sikh Guru Shri Guru Tegh BahadurThe Finance Minister highlighted the significance of the year 2025 calling it a ldquohistoric periodrdquo as it marks the 300th golden jubilee of Swarajya Saudamini Maharani Tarabai and the 300th birth anniversary of Punyashloka Ahilyadevi Holkar Additionally he emphasized that Indiarsquos Constitution a pillar of the countryrsquos democracy has completed 75 yearsMahayutirsquos historic mandate and development commitmentReflecting on the results of the November 2024 Maharashtra Assembly Elections the Finance Minister thanked the people for giving an ldquounprecedented majorityrdquo to the Mahayuti government ldquoThe trust shown by voters in us is a great responsibility I assure you that the Mahayuti government will honor this trust and remain committed to the statersquos progressrdquo he saidHe also lauded the Union Budget presented on February 1 2025 highlighting the income tax relief provided to the middle class He stated that the provisions made by the Central Government would significantly boost various welfare and infrastructure projects in MaharashtraInvestment and employment generationMaharashtra continues to lead in industrial development and ranks first in the country in terms of foreign direct investment FDI During the World Economic Forum held in Davos in January 2025 the state government signed Memorandums of Understanding MoUs with 63 companiesThrough these agreements an investment of Rs 1572654 crore is expected in the coming period which is estimated to generate around 16 lakh jobs across various sectors The Finance Minister emphasised that these investments would strengthen Maharashtrarsquos position as an economic powerhouse and create new opportunities for skilled and unskilled workers alikeState announces Logistics Policy2024The state has announced the Logistics Policy2024 under which dedicated logistics infrastructure will be developed over 10000 acres of landWith the special incentives and facilities offered for these projects approximately 5 lakh direct and indirect jobs are expected to be createdGadchiroli emerging as a steel hubldquoOnce known as a Naxalaffected district Gadchiroli is now emerging as a steel hub said Ajit Pawar During the World Economic Forum in Davos investment agreements worth Rs 21830 crore were signed for the district which is expected to generate 7500 jobsldquoTo improve connectivity in Gadchiroli a network of mining highways is being developed In the first phase projects worth approximately Rs 500 crore will be undertakenrdquo he addedElectricity tariff proposal and cost savingsldquoMahavitaran has submitted a proposal to the Maharashtra Electricity Regulatory Commission to fix electricity tariffs for the next five yearsrdquo Pawar saidldquoDue to strategic planning in the energy sector and the procurement of lowercost green energy an estimated savings of Rs 113 lakh crore in power purchase costs is expected over the next five yearsrdquo he addedAs a result industrial electricity rates in Maharashtra will be lower compared to other states he saidNew Jetty to be built at Radio Club near Gateway of IndialdquoThe construction of a jetty equipped for passenger transport at Radio Club near the Gateway of India in Mumbai is progressing at a cost of Rs 22927 crore Additionally work on jetties at Dighi in Raigad district Vengurla in Sindhudurg district as well as KalherDombivli Kolshet and MiraBhayander in Thane district is underway The construction of a floating jetty at Kashid in Raigad district will also commence soonrdquo said Ajit PawarGratitude to PM Modi for strong Central supportExpressing gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi the Finance Minister acknowledged the Centrersquos substantial financial support for Maharashtrarsquos railway projects infrastructure development and social welfare schemes He expressed confidence that the state would continue to receive similar support from the Central Government in the futureAs Maharashtra moves ahead with ambitious development plans the budget presentation sets the tone for the statersquos financial roadmap under the Mahayuti government The focus remains on economic growth infrastructure expansion and social welfare initiativesNotably this is the first budget for the newlyformed Mahayuti government and Ajit Pawarrsquos 11th budget as a Finance MinisterIn a press statement the Nationalist Congress Party NCP said that Ajit Pawar has been a strict administrator in terms of financial discipline and maintains a fine balance between peoplefriendly decisions and development decisions in the budget During the Covid19 crisis when several states faced financial difficulties Pawarrsquos fiscal prudence and discipline were appreciated He has always given priority for development projects and boosting infrastructure development in the State keeping farmers laborers women dalits tribals students and youth at the center of the budgetIn 2021 Ajit Pawar had presented the budget on International Womenrsquos Day and in 2022 he presented the budget on March 11 the death anniversary of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj The party in the statement said that Pawar has also presented budgets focusing on agriculture industry transportation healthcare and human resource developmentldquoAjit Pawar will present his 11th state budget today and this will make him the second Finance Minister to present the highest number of budgets after Sheshrao Wankhede who presented the budget 13 times in the State Mr Pawar holds the secondhighest record with 11 times followed by Jayant Patil 10 times and Sushilkumar Shinde 9 timesrdquo read the statementOn March 8 the statersquos preBudget Economic Survey tabled in the assemblyAccording to the Economic Survey Maharashtrarsquos economy is projected to grow at 73 per cent in the financial year 202425 surpassing the national growth estimate of 65 per centThe agriculture and allied activities sector is expected to grow at 87 per cent while industry and services are projected to expand by 49 per cent and 78 per cent respectively Maharashtrarsquos nominal Gross State Domestic Product GSDP for 202425 is estimated at Rs 4531 lakh crore up from Rs 4055 lakh crore in 202324The state continues to lead the nation with the highest contribution to Indiarsquos nominal GDP at 135 per centThe per capita income for 202425 is estimated at Rs 309340 a significant rise from Rs 278681 in the previous financial year However Maharashtrarsquos per capita income trails behind Tamil Nadu Rs 315220 Karnataka Rs 332926 and Gujarat Rs 297722Earlier the Maharashtra government tabled supplementary demands worth Rs 6486 crore on the first day of the budget session of the state assemblyDeputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar who holds the finance portfolio presented the supplementary demands which are additional funds sought by the government over the budgetary allocationOf the demands worth Rs 6486 crore Rs 213325 crore were for schemes sponsored by the Centre