Maharashtra
Maharashtra’s Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana: Govt To Require Rs 4.60 Lakh Crore Over 5 Years For Expanded Aid

Mumbai: The Maharashtra government will need Rs 4.60 lakh crore for the next five years to pay a monthly financial assistance of Rs 3,000 up from the present Rs 1,500 to over two crore eligible women under the ambitious Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana.
Maharashtra CM Eknath Shinde Formally Launches ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’ In Pune
These estimates have been made internally by the MahaYuti government after Chief Minister Eknath Shinde’s formal launching of the Ladki Bahin scheme on Saturday in Pune. He announced that if voted to power after the upcoming Assembly election the government will increase the financial aid to Rs 3,000 per month. He did not stop there but asked the two Deputy Chief Ministers, Devendra Fadnavis and Ajit Pawar (present finance and planning minister), to work out its matrix.
About The Slew Of Schemes Announced By Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar In The Run-up To The State Assembly Election
In the run-up to the upcoming Assembly election, Dy CM Ajit Pawar during the presentation of the annual budget for 2024-25 announced a slew of welfare and development schemes, including the Ladki Bahin scheme costing nearly Rs 1 lakh crore. He has also made a provision of Rs 46,000 crore for the Ladki Bahin scheme for the year 2024-25.
If the government decides to increase the financial aid to Rs 3,000 per month, the government will have to bear a burden of Rs 92,000 crore annually alone on its implementation for the next five years.
CM Shinde’s announcement and the subsequent state government’s burden need to be seen in the present context of the government’s fiscal deficit, estimated at Rs 1.10 lakh crore, and a revenue deficit of Rs 20,051 crore in 2024-25. Besides, the state’s public debt is expected to surge to Rs a record Rs 7.82 lakh crore in 2024-25 from Rs 7.11 lakh crore in 2023-24.
Claim Made By The Opposition
The opposition has claimed that the state government’s additional outgo will put pressure on state finances and there is every possibility that the fiscal deficit, which is estimated at 2.6 per cent in 2024-25, may cross the 3 per cent limit of Gross State Domestic Product. As per the revised estimates, in 2023-24, the fiscal deficit of the state is expected to be 2.8 per cent of the GSDP. This is higher than the budget estimate (2.5 per cent).
Fiscal deficit is projected to be lowered to 2.3 per cent of GSDP by 2026-27. However, a finance department officer said that the government is making efforts to keep the fiscal deficit within the 3 per cent GSDP limit. He added that the government is quite bullish over proposed estimates of the state’s own tax revenue of Rs 3,35,811 crore in 2024-25. Of this, the state GST is expected to be the largest source with a collection of Rs 1,55,756 crore.
According to the officer, Maharashtra’s GSDP for 2024-25 (at current prices) is projected to be Rs 42,67,771 crore, amounting to a growth of 5.5 per cent over 2023-24 revised estimates.
A MahaYuti Minister strongly defended the CM’s announcement of hiking the monthly financial aid to Rs 3,000 saying that it is the government’s welfare economy.
“The opposition and critics may criticised the expenses on the Ladki Bahin and other schemes but the government is of the view that the payment of financial assistance will increase consumption and thereby the money will come back to the economy. It will further boost the growth,” he argued.
Crime
Thane Crime Branch Seizes ₹1.69 Crore Worth MD Powder; Man Arrested While En Route To Mumbra

The Thane Crime Branch Unit One has arrested a man for allegedly possessing over 1 kilogram of MD powder, valued at ₹1.69 crore, which he intended to sell in Mumbra. The accused has been identified as Mohanlal Joshi alias Sharma, a resident of Kudus village in Wada, Palghar.
According to officials, acting on a tip-off received on July 18, a team was deployed near the Mumbra bypass flyover bridge, where the suspect was expected to arrive. The man was intercepted in his car en route to Mumbra. Upon searching the vehicle, the police discovered and seized 1.209 kilograms of MD powder, with an estimated value of ₹1,69,26,000.
He was taken to the police station, and a case was registered against him under the relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
An investigating officer from Thane Crime Branch Unit One said they are currently probing the source of the contraband and its intended recipients. Efforts are also underway to determine how many others may be involved in the case. Further investigation is ongoing.
Maharashtra
Air India Flight From Kochi Veers Off Runway While Landing At Mumbai Airport Amid Heavy Rains

Mumbai: A major tragedy averted on Monday as Air India flight, AI2744, from Kochi veered off runway at Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport amid heavy rains in the city. All passengers are reported to be safe.
As per Air India’s spokesperson, the flight experienced heavy rain during landing, resulting in a runway excursion. The aircraft was taxied safely to the gate. All passengers and crew members deboarded the flight. The aircraft has been grounded for checks.
The hard landing reportedly caused damaged to the primary runway. Repair works are currently underway. Three tyres burst during the landing and the engine of the aircraft likely to have been damaged, Emergency teams were deployed to control the situation.
Visuals Of The Damaged Plane:
“An incoming aircraft from Kochi experienced a runway excursion at Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA), Mumbai at 09.27 hours on 21 July 2025. CSMIA’s emergency response teams were immediately activated to manage the runway excursion,” a spokesperson for CSMIA said, as quoted by the media house.
“All passengers and crew are safe. There are minor damages reported to the airport’s primary runway – 09/27. In order to ensure continuity of operations, the Secondary Runway 14/32 has been activated. At CSMIA, safety always remains our highest priority,” the CSMIA spokesperson added.
Mumbai Rains:
Heavy rains lashed Mumbai on Monday, throwing normal life out of gear. Waterlogging was reported in several areas, leading to traffic disruption, especially in western and central suburbs. Local train services were also affected due to heavy showers. Local trains on the harbour line were reportedly running 20-25 minutes late.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicted more rains in the city during the week as the monsoon activity intensified. On Tuesday, moderate rainfall and overcast skies are expected, along with occasional thunderstorms. The overall temperature will remain mild, although humidity levels may remain steady.
Maharashtra
Mumbai HC Acquits All Convicted in 2006 Train Blasts Case; Death Sentences Overturned

Mumbai | July 21, 2025 — In a landmark verdict, the Bombay High Court has acquitted all 12 individuals previously convicted in the 2006 Mumbai local train serial bomb blasts case, reversing the 2015 judgment of the MCOCA special court which had handed out death and life sentences.
The case (G.R. No. 05/2006, MCOCA Special Case No. 21/2006) pertains to the horrific series of bomb blasts that rocked the Western Railway suburban trains in Mumbai on July 11, 2006, killing over 180 people and injuring more than 800.
On September 30, 2015, the special MCOCA court had sentenced:
- 5 accused to death,
- 7 accused to life imprisonment,
- while 1 accused was acquitted.
Following standard procedure, the death sentences were referred to the Bombay High Court for confirmation, and the convicted individuals filed appeals challenging their sentences.
A division bench of Justice Anil Kilor and Justice S. G. Chapalgaonkar heard the matter extensively from *July 2024, with final arguments concluding on *January 27, 2025.
On July 21, 2025, the High Court delivered its judgment:
- Rejected the death reference,
- Allowed the appeals of all convicted individuals,
- Set aside the 2015 convictions and sentences passed by the MCOCA special court.
Representing the Government of India and the state of Maharashtra were Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Raja Thakare and Special Public Prosecutor Chimalkar, who argued for upholding the original verdict.
The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Maharashtra, has stated that it is currently analyzing the High Court’s detailed judgment. Consultations are underway with legal experts and special prosecutors to determine the next course of legal action, which may include an appeal to the Supreme Court.
The verdict has sparked significant public and legal interest, as it not only impacts one of the most devastating terror incidents in Mumbai’s history but also raises serious questions about the prosecution’s evidence and investigation.
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