Maharashtra
Maha govt awaits high-level committee report on making farmers free from debt trap
Mumbai, Feb 27: Maharashtra Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil on Friday said that to address the recurring cycle of debt, the state government has established a high-level committee on October 30, 2025.
The committee is tasked with recommending both short-term and long-term measures to free farmers from the “debt trap.”
In a written reply to a question raised by members Shiv Sena-UBT leader Bhaskar Jadhav, BJP leader Prashant Thakur and others, the minister informed the state Assembly that the committee has yet to submit its final report but it is currently processing data from banks regarding agricultural loans as of June 2025 and arrears as of September 30, 2025 and records of farmers who consistently repaid loans over the last five years.
The Minister noted that out of an expected 54.63 lakh loan accounts, data for 52.80 lakh accounts has been received and is currently being analysed via computer processing.
Minister Patil said that over 6,00,000 farmers are still waiting for benefits from the 2017 loan waiver scheme. Out of 50.60 lakh eligible farmers, 44.04 lakh have received benefits. The government confirmed that the process to extend benefits to the remaining 6.56 lakh farmers is currently underway. In the case of 2019 crop loan waiver scheme, he stated that it has seen higher completion rates, with 32.29 lakh farmers out of 32.42 lakh eligible beneficiaries already receiving waivers.
Under the Mahatma Phule scheme, 14.50 lakh farmers who underwent Aadhaar authentication have received incentive grants for regular loan repayment.
According to the minister, in light of the heavy rain and floods during the Kharif 2025 season, the government has issued directives to the State Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) and district banks.
“These instructions include restructuring of cooperative crop loans in affected talukas. Besides, a one-year stay on the recovery of agriculture-related loans to provide immediate breathing room for distressed farmers,” he said.
The minister dismissed allegations of a fund shortage, noting that on December 3, 2025, it approved the computer system for the 2017 scheme’s continued implementation.
A fund of Rs 500 crore was sanctioned during the Winter Session of 2025. Furthermore, the government has requested a budget of Rs 5,175.51 crore for the 2026-27 financial year to ensure the continuity of these welfare programs.
The minister’s response comes a day after Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in his reply to debate on the Governor’s address on Thursday said a dedicated committee has been formed to study the loan waiver process and its report is currently awaited. He assured the House that the government would fulfil its promise at the appropriate time.
Highlighting the lessons learned from previous crop loan waiver schemes, CM Fadnavis pointed out significant irregularities especially with regard to banking discrepancies. “In past loan waivers, the government has noticed that banks often provide incorrect account information. Some even revive old, dormant accounts to siphon off government funds.
To prevent such fraud, the state is developing a 100 per cent ‘Agri-Stack’. This will serve as a comprehensive digital record of agriculture, integrating farmer registration data, land ownership records, 7/12 extract reports and Aadhaar-linked verification, he said.
By consolidating these data points, the government aims to ensure that the benefits of the loan waiver reach only the genuine and intended beneficiaries.
Maharashtra
Eknath Shinde’s Operation Tiger was successful… Uddhav Thackeray’s rebellion in Shiv Sena UBT, Sanjay Raut is angry

Mumbai: Operation Tiger has been successful. Shinde Sena has succeeded in forcing 6 MPs of Shiv Sena UBT to form another group, after which the rebellion has started again in UBT. The independent group has also been approved by the Lok Sabha Speaker. Now these 6 MPs can soon merge with Shiv Sena Shinde Party. After Operation Gaigar, Uddhav Thackeray group MP Sanjay Raut addressed a press conference and said that despite what Uddhav Thackeray did not do for these MPs, these people have acted dishonestly. This is dishonest. It is said that the rebel MPs are camped in Delhi and will merge with the Shinde group in the next two days. The operation in the state has been going on for the past several days and in June, a meeting of the India Alliance was also held in Delhi. In this meeting, Home Minister Amit Shah gave the green signal to Operation Tiger. The rebel MPs of the Thackeray group have been accommodated in a five-star hotel in Delhi. On Sunday, Uddhav Thackeray also held a meeting of his MPs in which five MPs attended the online meeting, due to which no one suspected them. This is the second biggest split in the Shiv Sena. After the rebellion of the Shiv Sena MPs, the Shiv Sena has become completely weakened. These rebel MPs include Sanjay Deshmukh, Ayut Mahal, Sanjay Jadhav, Parbhani, Sanjay Dina Patel, Mumbai, Nagesh Patil, Hingoli, Amarraje, Nimbalkar, Dhara Shiv. There is resentment in Shiv Sena after the rebellion of these MPs. Sanjay Raut is angry with them. He says that Uddhav Thackeray did so much for them but these people became dishonest.
Maharashtra
Muslim students deprived of government schemes… Only Hindu candidates are accepted for drone pilot training scheme: Raees Sheikh

Mumbai: Raising the issue of Muslim youth and students being deprived of the government’s ‘Amrit’ institute schemes, Samajwadi Party MLA from Bhiwandi East Raees Sheikh has said that applications are being accepted for the drone pilot training programme of the institute run by the state government’s Other Backward Classes Welfare Department, while online applications from Muslim candidates are not being accepted. In his letter to Minister Atal Seo and the Chief Executive Officer of Maharashtra Research, Advancement and Training (AMRUT) Institute, MLA Raees Sheikh said that the Amrit Institute has invited applications till June 30 for drone pilot training which is aimed at candidates from Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) of the open category. “However, when applicants try to fill the online form, they are required to provide information about their religion and caste. The portal offers caste options only for Hindu communities, which prevents Muslim applicants from successfully submitting their applications.” Sheikh said he had received several complaints regarding this issue. Pointing out that the Amrit Institute aims to serve the economically weaker sections in the open category, he said that as an autonomous government institution, the founding government resolution (August 22, 2019) of Amrit does not mention any specific religion. It aims to work for different communities in the open category. Therefore, restricting applications in this manner is against the rules, he claimed. The Maharashtra government has set up several institutions for different social groups, including Barati, Aarti, Sarathi, Mahajyoti, Marti, and Amrit. While each institution may focus on a specific target group, it can be limited to a certain extent. They also provide training opportunities to and benefits to other communities. Sheikh added that unemployment is currently a major concern for youth of all castes and religions across the state. He said, “The Amritsar should not interpret the rules in such a way that Muslim youth are deprived of skilling opportunities. Minister Atul Sivaji, who heads the Other Backward Bahujan Welfare Department, should ensure that Muslim youth are not excluded from these training programmes.”
Maharashtra
Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026: Important seminar in Mumbai on constitutional rights and minority concerns, Justice Abhay Thapsay and legal experts express their views

Mumbai: “The Constitution of India gives every citizen the full right to practice and propagate his religion, but the government has become a tradition of ‘saying one thing and doing another’. The ‘Maharashtra Freedom of Religion Bill 2026’ is ostensibly named ‘religious freedom’, but its real purpose is to impose strict restrictions on religion and suppress minorities. When the language of the law becomes ambiguous, it becomes a cause of concern rather than protection, and this ambiguity damages the social fabric and mutual tolerance.” These views were expressed by Justice Abhay Thapsay, a former judge of the Bombay High Court, while addressing an important seminar organized by ‘United Against Injustices and Discrimination’ (UAID) and ‘Association for Protection of Civil Rights’ (APCR) at the Mayor’s Hall in Andheri West. More than 250 intellectuals, lawyers and social workers from different schools of thought participated in the seminar.
Addressing the seminar, renowned lawyer Advocate Lara Jessani shed detailed light on the provisions of the bill and said that hate crime is being systematically promoted in the country. The provisions of this law are so vague that under the guise of ‘allurement’, an attempt is being made to criminalize education, marriage, charity, employment and especially the relief activities of minority schools. She said that under the law, conversion of religion in the name of marriage or by luring has been proposed with a sentence of up to 10 years and a fine of Rs 5 lakh. Moreover, any third party or the police can register an FIR at their own will, and the most dangerous aspect is that the onus of proving innocence has been placed on the accused, which is a serious constitutional conspiracy to keep citizens in jails for years without being proven guilty.
Dolphy D’Souza of Police Reforms Watch revealed that the draft of this sensitive bill was prepared in secret within just 72 hours, without any public consultation, hence the majority and the minority should all come together to raise their voice against this ‘divide and rule’ politics.
Dr. Salim Khan, member of the Central Advisory Council of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said that faith and trust are a matter of the heart which cannot be changed through laws. He strongly criticized the anti-people and undemocratic policies of the government, citing Maulana Umar Gautam and Maulana Kaleem Siddiqui, and termed it a manifestation of political failure.
Earlier, APCR Maharashtra General Secretary Shakir Sheikh, while directing the program, referred to the country’s situation, bulldozer operations, mob lynching and UCC and said that this draft is also a link in this chain. Renowned intellectual Irfan Engineer clarified that this law is not only anti-Muslim or anti-Christian, but also an ‘anti-Hindu’ law suppressing the backward classes, which has been brought to end secularism. At the end of the seminar, Jamaat-e-Islami Hind Mumbai PR Secretary Syed Sharif Yunus expressed his gratitude to all the guests and participants.
-
Crime4 years agoClass 10 student jumps to death in Jaipur
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai Local Train Update: Central Railway’s New Timetable Comes Into Effect; Check Full List Of Revised Timings & Stations
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMumbai To Go Toll-Free Tonight! Maharashtra Govt Announces Complete Toll Waiver For Light Motor Vehicles At All 5 Entry Points Of City
-
Maharashtra2 years agoFalse photo of Imtiaz Jaleel’s rally, exposing the fooling conspiracy
-
National News2 years agoMinistry of Railways rolls out Special Drive 4.0 with focus on digitisation, cleanliness, inclusiveness and grievance redressal
-
Maharashtra2 years agoMaharashtra Elections 2024: Mumbai Metro & BEST Services Extended Till Midnight On Voting Day
-
National News2 years agoJ&K: 4 Jawans Killed, 28 Injured After Bus Carrying BSF Personnel For Poll Duty Falls Into Gorge In Budgam; Terrifying Visuals Surface
-
Crime2 years agoBaba Siddique Murder: Mumbai Police Unable To Get Lawrence Bishnoi Custody Due To Home Ministry Order, Says Report
