The Chief Minister's Office of Maharashtra published a day-end summary on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, outlining key announcements made by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis during the Legislative Council question hour of the 2026 Monsoon Session, covering agricultural power supply, a new grid charge, women's safety, prisoner rehabilitation, pilgrimage management, and the launch of the state's Maha-AI model alongside digital welfare platforms.

Context

Speaking during the Vidhan Parishad question hour, CM Fadnavis stated that 75 per cent of farmers in Maharashtra now receive daytime electricity supply. He added that the state government would endeavour to extend daytime power to the remaining 25 per cent of farmers by the end of this year. The announcement signals continued momentum on a long-standing agricultural power reform that successive Maharashtra governments have pursued through grid separation and solar pump schemes since at least 2017-18.

The Chief Minister also defended the introduction of a 'Grid Support Charge' (ग्रीड सपोर्ट चार्ज), describing it as a measure designed to protect the interests of ordinary electricity consumers. The charge is framed as a mechanism to stabilise grid finances as daytime agricultural supply is expanded without burdening the broader consumer base.

Policy Backdrop

Maharashtra's push for daytime agricultural power is rooted in the recognition that nocturnal electricity supply forces farmers to operate pumps in unsafe conditions and reduces crop productivity. The state has layered solar feeder separation projects and subsidy programmes over successive administrations to shift farm supply to daylight hours. Reaching 75 per cent coverage represents a significant milestone in that phased effort.

On the digital governance front, CM Fadnavis inaugurated the Maha-AI Model, describing it as an important step toward data-driven administration. Alongside it, he launched MahaSarthi, MahaDBT 2.0, and a Digital Life Certificate (डिजिटल हयातीचा दाखला) service. MahaDBT, the state's Direct Benefit Transfer platform, has been a cornerstone of welfare delivery in Maharashtra since the late 2010s; version 2.0 signals an upgrade intended to improve targeting and reduce leakage.

Stakeholders and Impact

The daytime power commitment directly affects millions of farming households across Maharashtra, particularly in water-stressed regions of Vidarbha, Marathwada, and north Maharashtra, where dependence on irrigation pumps is highest. The Grid Support Charge will be watched closely by urban and peri-urban consumers and electricity distribution companies seeking financial sustainability.

CM Fadnavis also announced the formation of a committee of women members to address women's safety — a recurring legislative commitment that now takes institutional form within the session. Separately, the Chief Minister assured that Ashadhi Wari pilgrims (आषाढी वारीत भाविक) heading to Pandharpur would face no inconvenience, with state machinery coordinating logistics for the annual pilgrimage that draws millions of devotees. A prisoner rehabilitation initiative credited to the Chief Minister's leadership was also highlighted, continuing a programme of vocational training and reintegration that dates to earlier Fadnavis-era jail reforms.

What's Next

The government's self-imposed deadline of year-end 2026 for achieving 100 per cent daytime farm power will be a key benchmark in upcoming assembly sessions and budget documents. Operational details of the Maha-AI Model — including data governance safeguards and integration with existing e-service portals — are expected to emerge as the platform is rolled out across departments. The women's safety committee, once constituted, will be expected to submit recommendations within the current legislative calendar.