Maharashtra Budget 2026-27 | Fadnavis announces Rs 2 lakh farm loan waiver honouring Ajit Pawar

Mumbai: In a budget dedicated to the late Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who heads the BJP-led Maha Yuti government, announced a loan-waiver scheme  to combat the agrarian distress in the western Indian state. 

Presenting the State Budget 2026-27, Fadnavis announced Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Farmers’ Loan Waiver Scheme named after the legendary Holkar-queen of the Maratha-Malwa kingdom.

“Till September 30, 2025, loan of up to Rs 2 lakh will be waived off under Punyashlok Ahilyabai Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana,” Fadnavis, who is also the state Finance Minister, said while presenting the budget.

While Fadnavis tabled the budget in the Legislative Assembly, Minister of State for Finance Ashish Jaiswal presented it in the Legislative Council. 

Fadnavis said that the State Budget 2026-27 is dedicated to Ajit Pawar, the then Deputy Chief Minister and NCP President, who died in a plane crash on 28 January 2026.

As Finance Minister, Ajit Pawar had presented 11 budgets and was preparing for next year’s budget. 

Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Sunetra Pawar were present in the House when Fadnavis tabled the budget. 

Fadnavis also announced that the Mukhya Mantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana, the cash-benefit scheme for women, would continue. 

In 2024, ahead of Vidhan Sabha elections, Ajit Pawar had rolled out the scheme when Shinde was the Chief Minister.