Maharashtra Budget 2026–27: AI Department, Land Title Bill and Fiscal Discipline Highlight Governance Agenda

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Budget 2026–27 outlines several governance reforms focused on administrative restructuring, digital transformation and fiscal management, with the government announcing new technology initiatives and legislative measures aimed at improving public service delivery.

Presenting the Budget in the Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government plans to modernise administrative systems and expand the use of technology to make governance more transparent and efficient.

As part of this initiative, the government announced the creation of a separate Department of Electronics, Information Technology and Artificial Intelligence, supported by a dedicated commissionerate with technical expertise to promote technology-driven governance.

The government has also signed letters of intent with global and national institutions such as OpenAI, Sarvam AI and IIT Bombay to strengthen the state’s artificial intelligence ecosystem and promote research and innovation in emerging technologies.

In addition, the state plans to introduce specialised policies to promote cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence, quantum computing, drones, autonomous vehicles and deep-tech industries, with the aim of creating a research and innovation ecosystem in Maharashtra.

The Budget also proposes a Cyber Security Policy to strengthen digital security systems and ensure protection of the state’s digital infrastructure and citizen data.

To support digital governance, the government plans to establish an advanced State Data Centre in Nagpur to ensure secure storage of government data and applications.

In the field of land administration, the government announced that it will introduce the Maharashtra Land Title Bill, aimed at reducing disputes related to property ownership and preventing irregularities in land transactions.

Administrative reforms are also being undertaken to simplify government processes. Under this initiative, upgraded digital platforms such as Aaple Sarkar Portal 2.0, Maitri Portal 2.0 and MahaDBT 2.0 will be developed to streamline delivery of government services.

The government also announced that more than 1.20 lakh public service recruitments have been completed since the formation of the Mahayuti government, and recruitment for another 75,000 posts will be undertaken in phases through the Maharashtra Public Service Commission and other agencies.

On the fiscal front, the government said it continues to maintain financial discipline under the Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management framework.

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According to the Budget estimates for 2026–27, total expenditure is projected at ₹7,69,467 crore, while revenue receipts are estimated at ₹6,16,099 crore and revenue expenditure at ₹6,56,651 crore, resulting in a revenue deficit of ₹40,552 crore.

The fiscal deficit is estimated at ₹1,50,491 crore, which the government said remains below 3 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product, in line with FRBM norms.

The government also highlighted that Maharashtra continues to rank among the leading states in Goods and Services Tax collection, reflecting growth in economic activity and consumption.

According to the government, the proposed reforms and fiscal strategy are aimed at strengthening governance systems while supporting the state’s long-term economic growth objectives.