Supplementary Grant Funds to Boost State Assets Through Central Schemes: Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar

Mumbai : Deputy Chief Minister and Finance & Planning Minister Ajit Pawar assured the Legislative Assembly that the funds allocated through supplementary demands will be spent primarily on centrally sponsored development schemes, grants under the 15th Finance Commission, and infrastructure projects such as roads, railways, bridges, metro, and underground works. This, he said, would enhance the state’s asset base while adhering strictly to financial discipline. The state’s financial burden and debt levels remain well within limits, and the government is focused on generating new sources of revenue.

Responding to the discussion on supplementary demands in the Assembly, Pawar emphasized that the financial management of the state is being conducted with strict fiscal discipline. As per the Finance Commission’s norms, a state’s total outstanding liabilities should not exceed 25% of its Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP). For FY 2025–26, Maharashtra’s liabilities stand at 18.87%, well within the limit. Similarly, the fiscal deficit must remain under 3% of GSDP, and Maharashtra has achieved a lower figure of 2.76%. Currently, only three states—Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Odisha—have debt levels under 20%, he noted.

Pawar further highlighted that during the monsoon session, the government proposed supplementary demands worth ₹57,509 crore, but the actual net financial burden is only ₹40,645 crore. Of this:

• ₹19,184 crore is for mandatory expenditures
• ₹34,661 crore is for various developmental schemes
• ₹3,665 crore is for centrally sponsored programmes

The detailed allocation includes:

• ₹11,043 crore in grants as per the 15th Finance Commission recommendations
• ₹3,228 crore as stamp duty surcharge reimbursements
• ₹2,241 crore as the state’s share in metro and transportation infrastructure loans
• ₹2,183 crore in margin money loans from the National Cooperative Development Corporation for cooperative sugar factories
• ₹2,150 crore under the Centre’s 50-year interest-free special assistance scheme for capital expenditure
• ₹2,097 crore through NABARD for completing and improving irrigation projects
• ₹1,000 crore for preparations related to the Simhastha Kumbh Mela

Pawar underlined that the limited actual burden of ₹40,645 crore, when viewed in light of the state’s strong financial planning, is a clear indicator of Maharashtra’s sound and disciplined financial governance.

He reiterated that Maharashtra’s economy remains resilient, stable, and sustainable due to the government’s commitment to financial prudence, meticulous planning, and continuous focus on revenue generation.