Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday, 2 July directed state officials to overhaul the Scheduled Tribe (ST) caste verification process using Blockchain technology and artificial intelligence, aiming to make the system more transparent, tamper-proof, and citizen-friendly. The directives were issued at the 52nd meeting of the Maharashtra State Tribal Advisory Council in Mumbai.

Blockchain and AI at the Core

Fadnavis instructed officials to convert all caste validity certificates into a blockchain-secured digital verification system, creating an unalterable record that prevents duplication and forgery. Alongside this, AI-driven tools will be deployed to detect duplicate applications, carry out preliminary document screening, and streamline the overall verification workflow.

The Chief Minister emphasised that the entire caste verification process must shift fully online, with a distinct technology roadmap guiding the transition to a secure digital ecosystem.

Key Directives for Tribal Welfare

The Tribal, Forest, and Revenue departments have been jointly tasked with organising special camps to distribute essential certificates and documentation to the Pardhi community. Fadnavis also directed coordination with the Finance Department to ensure that funds under the Tribal Component Programme remain strictly proportional to the Scheduled Tribe population.

On educational welfare, the Chief Minister called for a review of income eligibility criteria across schemes run by the Tribal Development Department, directing that the income ceiling be raised to a minimum of ₹4 lakh annually so that a greater number of tribal students can access government benefits.

Legal and Administrative Reforms

Fadnavis urged departments to expedite the amendment process of the Scheduled Tribes Certificate (Scrutiny and Verification) Act. He called for filling vacant Project Officer positions, appointing special legal experts to handle pending court cases, and strengthening state and district-level monitoring mechanisms to track fund utilisation by the Tribal Development Department.

The General Administration Department (GAD) and the Tribal Development Department were directed to work in tandem and execute time-bound actions on all pending matters.

Forest Rights and Local Economic Empowerment

Reviewing the implementation of the Forest Rights Act (FRA), the Chief Minister stressed mission-based initiatives for forest conservation and the economic empowerment of tribal communities. He directed that local tribal populations receive overriding priority in fisheries within dam reservoirs and other new local economic projects.

Fadnavis also asked the Rural Development and Tribal Development departments to review policies governing Gram Sabha rights over Minor Forest Produce (MFP) — including bamboo, tendu leaves, and apta leaves — and take necessary administrative steps to strengthen those rights.

What Comes Next

With strict orders issued across multiple departments for time-bound execution, the success of this initiative will depend on inter-departmental coordination and the pace of technology rollout. The move signals a broader shift in Maharashtra's tribal governance approach — from paper-heavy processes to a digitally auditable, AI-assisted framework that critics of the old system have long demanded.