State PCS - Maharashtra (MPSC)

• 09 Mar 2026

Maharashtra Budget 2026–27

Why in News? 

Chief Minister and Finance Minister Devendra Fadnavis presented the Maharashtra Budget for 2026–27 in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, outlining measures focused on farmers’ welfare, infrastructure development, clean energy, and economic growth. 

Key Points: 

• Total Budget Outlay: The total budget outlay for FY 2026–27 is ₹7,69,467 crore, making it one of the largest budgets in the state’s history. The budget projects revenue receipts of about ₹6.16 lakh crore and revenue expenditure of about ₹6.56 lakh crore, leading to a revenue deficit. 
• Fiscal Provision: 
  • Revenue Receipts: ₹6,16,099 crore 
  • Revenue Expenditure: ₹6,56,651 crore 
  • Revenue Deficit: ₹40,552 crore 
  • Fiscal Deficit: ₹1,50,491 crore 
  • Total Outstanding Debt: ₹11,02,654 crore 
• Sector Wise Allocation:  
  • Scheduled Castes (SC): ₹23,150 crore. 
  • Scheduled Tribes (ST): ₹21,723 crore. 
  • Wainganga–Nalganga River Linking Project: ₹94,968 crore. 
  • Damanganga–Vaitarna–Godavari River Linking Project: ₹13,497 crore. 
  • Urban Water Supply & Wastewater Management Projects (with World Bank support): ₹5,860 crore. 
  • Mukhyamantri Baliraja Mofat Veej Yojana: ₹23,000 crore. 
• Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare:  
  • Farm Loan Waiver Scheme: The government announced the “Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmers’ Loan Waiver Scheme”, under which crop loans up to ₹2 lakh per farmer taken till 30 September 2025 will be waived. 
  • Incentive: Farmers who regularly repay loans on time will receive an additional incentive of ₹50,000. 
  • Natural Farming Mission: The state plans to bring around 5 lakh hectares under natural farming to promote sustainable agriculture and reduce chemical input costs.  
  • Irrigation Development: Major irrigation projects such as the Wainganga–Nalganga irrigation project have received large allocations to improve water availability in drought-prone regions. 
  • Free Electricity for Farmers: Around ₹20,000 crore has been allocated for providing free electricity to farmers, reducing agricultural input costs. 
• Women and Social Welfare:  
  • Ladki Bahin Scheme: The government allocated ₹26,500 crore for the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, aimed at supporting women through financial assistance. 
  • Women Farmers: The budget includes initiatives to promote women’s participation in agriculture and entrepreneurship. 
• Infrastructure and Connectivity:  
  • Capital Expenditure: The state government has proposed capital expenditure of about ₹1.2 lakh crore to strengthen infrastructure and boost economic growth. 
  • Expressway Development: ₹14,886 crore has been allocated for the second phase of the Shirur–Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar Greenfield Expressway, which aims to improve connectivity between key industrial hubs. 
  • Metro and Urban Infrastructure: Metro Line 11, a fully underground corridor connecting Wadala to the Gateway of India, with an estimated cost of ₹23,487 crore. 
• Energy and Green Development:  
  • Renewable Energy Push: The state is expanding renewable energy initiatives and solar projects to increase clean power generation and reduce carbon emissions. 
  • Environmental Initiatives: The government has proposed ₹300 crore for a tree plantation drive as part of climate and environmental conservation efforts. 
• Health Sector: 
  • Health Budget Allocation: The health budget has been reduced to about ₹33,653 crore, which is lower than the previous year’s allocation.  
  • Preventive Health Initiative: A proposed Pragati Yojana aims to provide large-scale screening for diseases such as diabetes, cancer and heart disease in rural areas. 
• AI & Digital Agriculture: 
  • Mahavistar AI Chatbot: AI-based digital tools will provide farmers with weather updates, crop disease alerts, and market price information. 
  • Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture: A pilot project in 75 villages will use AI to provide farmers with real-time information on weather, crop conditions, and soil health. 
  • AgriStack & Farmer ID: Digital farmer identification through AgriStack is being implemented to ensure targeted delivery of government schemes. 
• Industrial Growth: Special focus has been placed on strengthening industrial clusters and logistics hubs in cities like Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. 
• Start-up and Innovation: The state plans to promote start-ups, innovation hubs, and digital technology sectors to boost employment and entrepreneurship. 
• Vision for Development: The budget aims to transform Maharashtra into a $1-trillion economy by 2030 under the broader vision of “Viksit Maharashtra 2047.” 
• Significance: The Maharashtra Budget 2026–27 focuses on farmer relief, welfare schemes, and infrastructure development, while laying a long-term roadmap for sustainable economic growth and the vision of Viksit Maharashtra 2047. 

International Women’s Day 2026

Why in News? 

International Women's Day (IWD) is observed annually on 8 March to celebrate women’s achievements and promote gender equality. The observance in 2026 highlights the role of Nari Shakti in India’s development and the vision of Viksit Bharat. 

Key Points: 

• About: International Women's Day is celebrated every year on 8 March across the world to recognise women’s contributions in social, economic, cultural, and political spheres and to promote gender equality. 
  • The day originated from early 20th-century labour movements in North America and Europe advocating for women’s rights.  
  • It gained global recognition when the United Nations officially recognised the observance in 1977. 
• Reason for 8 March: The date is linked to 1917 protests by women workers in Russia demanding “bread and peace.”  
  • The strike began on 23 February (Julian calendar), which corresponds to 8 March in the Gregorian calendar used internationally. 
• Theme: The theme for International Women’s Day 2026 is “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.”  
  • It emphasises strengthening women’s rights, ensuring access to justice, and accelerating gender equality worldwide. 
• Global Campaign: A global campaign titled “Give to Gain” highlights the importance of collective support, mentorship, and resource sharing to empower women and achieve gender equality. 
  • India’s development approach has evolved from “development for women” to “women-led development,” recognising women as drivers of economic and social progress through entrepreneurship, education, and participation in governance. 
• Initiatives: Various initiatives related to financial inclusion, education, health, safety, self-help groups, and skill development are strengthening the ecosystem for women’s empowerment in India. 
  • Programmes such as “Shakti Walk – #SheLeadsBharat” along Kartavya Path in New Delhi, symbolising women’s leadership and participation in national development.  
• Significance: The day serves as a global platform to celebrate women’s achievements, promote gender equality, and accelerate progress toward inclusive and sustainable development.

Read More: Viksit Bharat, United Nations,  Financial inclusion, Gender equality, Sustainable development 

‘Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion’ (OTEC) Project in Lakshadweep

Why in News? 

Union Minister of State for Science & Technology Jitendra Singh inspected the upcoming Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) project in Lakshadweep, which is being developed as the world’s first OTEC-based desalination plant using deep ocean water. 

Key Points: 

• Location: Kavaratti Island, the capital of Lakshadweep. 
• Developed By: It will be developed by the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT) under the Ministry of Earth Sciences. 
• Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC): It is a renewable energy technology that generates electricity by utilizing the temperature difference between warm surface seawater and cold deep seawater. 
• Mechanism: The plant harnesses the thermal gradient (temperature difference) between warm surface seawater (approx. 29°C) and cold deep-sea water (approx. 5°C) drawn from depths of about 1,000 metres. 
  • The technology works best in tropical oceans, where the temperature difference between surface and deep water is significant. 
• Dual Output: 
  • Electricity: Expected to generate approximately 60-65 kilowatts (kW) of power. 
  • Freshwater: Will produce about 1 lakh litres (100 cubic metres) of potable water daily via Low-Temperature Thermal Desalination (LTTD). 
• Infrastructure: The project involves a complex 3.8 km long pipeline made of high-density polyethylene to reach the deep cold-water layers. 

India Wins Third ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Title

Why in News?

India are the champions of the 2026 ICC Men's T20 World Cup, securing their third title by defeating New Zealand by 96 runs in the final held on 8 March, 2026, at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Key Points: 

• Organized by: International Cricket Council (ICC) 
• Hosts: Jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 to March 8, 2026. 
• Champions: India defended their title, becoming the first team to win three T20 World Cups and the first to win it on home soil. 
  • The captain of the Indian team (2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup) was Suryakumar Yadav. 
• Runner-up: New Zealand. 
  • The captain of the New Zealand team was Mitchell Santner. 
• Format: 20 teams divided into four groups, followed by a Super 8 stage and knockouts. 
• Key Statistics & Awards 
  • Player of the Tournament: Sanju Samson (India), who scored 321 runs at an average of 80.25. 
  • Man of the Match: Jasprit Bumrah (India) for his spell of 4/15. 
  • Most Runs: Sahibzada Farhan (Pakistan) with 383 runs. 
  • Most Wickets: Jointly held by Jasprit Bumrah and Varun Chakravarthy (India) with 14 wickets each.  
• Final Match Summary: 
  • India: 255/5 in 20 overs. 
  • New Zealand: 159 all out in 19 overs .  

Read More: Record