Maharashtra farm debt waiver: Fadnavis launches India's largest scheme, 56 lakh farmers to benefit
Synopsis
Maharashtra has launched what the government calls India's largest farm debt waiver — ₹13,000 crore to reach 17 lakh farmers by 31 July, with 56 lakh ultimately covered. Paired with a ₹48,000 crore electricity dues write-off and an AI farming app already used by 50 lakh farmers, the Pandharpur rollout signals a sweeping pre-monsoon push to shore up rural support in a politically pivotal state.
Key Takeaways
Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis launched the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Debt Relief Scheme in Pandharpur on 25 July 2025 .
The scheme covers 56 lakh farmers ; the first tranche of ₹13,000 crore for 17 lakh farmers will be credited before 31 July .
Farmers with regular repayment records will receive an additional ₹50,000 directly in their accounts.
Outstanding electricity dues of ₹48,000 crore for 50 lakh farmers will also be waived.
Maha Vistar , described as India's first AI-based farmer app, has already enrolled 50 lakh farmers .
The government targets 12 hours of uninterrupted daytime power for all farmers by December or March .
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday, 25 July 2025, formally launched the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Debt Relief Scheme in Pandharpur, Solapur district, declaring it the country's largest farm debt waiver programme. Fadnavis symbolically distributed debt waiver certificates and fresh crop loan cheques, reaffirming a campaign pledge his government had made to the state's distressed agricultural community.
Scheme Coverage and First Disbursements
The scheme is designed to cover 56 lakh farmers across Maharashtra. The Cooperation Department has released an initial list of 17 lakh farmers, with ₹13,000 crore to be credited directly into their bank accounts before 31 July. Subsequent tranches will follow as beneficiary data is received from banks, according to the Chief Minister.
Farmers with a consistent loan repayment record will additionally receive ₹50,000 deposited directly into their accounts — a component aimed at rewarding credit discipline while still extending relief to those in default.
Electricity Bill Waiver and Power Supply Commitments
Beyond the loan waiver, Fadnavis announced that ₹48,000 crore in outstanding electricity dues owed by 50 lakh farmers will be written off. He also stated that the government disburses ₹24,000–25,000 crore annually to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company to subsidise agricultural pump connections up to 7.5 HP.
By December or March, the government expects 100 per cent of farmers to receive 12 hours of uninterrupted daytime power supply — a long-standing demand from farming communities in the state.
AI App, Subsidies, and Agricultural Modernisation
Fadnavis introduced Maha Vistar, described as India's first AI-based mobile application for farmers, offering personalised guidance on fertiliser use, pest control, water management, and modern farming techniques in local dialects. Nearly 50 lakh farmers have already registered on the platform, and the Chief Minister urged others to enrol.
He noted that the government spent nearly ₹95,000 crore last year on agricultural subsidies covering drip irrigation, fertilisers, tractors, and mechanisation — positioning the debt relief as part of a broader, sustained commitment to the farm sector.
Pandharpur Corridor and Water Infrastructure Plans
Speaking at the inauguration of the Sudhakarpant Paricharak State-Level Agriculture Exhibition organised by the Pandharpur Agriculture Produce Market Committee (APMC), Fadnavis said the choice of Pandharpur — the holy city of Lord Panduranga and a gathering point for millions of farmers and Warkaris — was deliberate. He added that preparations for the Pandharpur Corridor development are nearly complete, with comprehensive rehabilitation promised for affected residents.
The Chief Minister also said departments would examine the feasibility of constructing barrages on the Bhima River and converting the new bridge over the Chandrabhaga River into a bridge-cum-barrage to improve local water retention. Nearly 30 lakh devotees visit Pandharpur annually, and improved infrastructure for safety and convenience is planned.
With disbursements already in motion and a hard deadline of 31 July for the first tranche, the coming weeks will test whether the scheme's implementation matches the scale of its announcement.
Point of View
000 crore in a single tranche, ₹48,000 crore in electricity write-offs, and 56 lakh eventual beneficiaries. But Maharashtra has a history of farm relief schemes that stall between announcement and account credit, and the 31 July deadline for the first tranche will be an early stress test. The addition of a ₹50,000 incentive for prompt repayers is a structurally sound idea, but its reach depends entirely on data quality from banks. The Maha Vistar AI app is an intriguing modernisation signal, yet 50 lakh registrations mean little without evidence of behavioural change in input use. The harder question — whether debt relief without structural reforms in input costs and crop prices breaks the cycle — goes unaddressed in Pandharpur.
NationPress
25 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Debt Relief Scheme?
It is Maharashtra's farm loan waiver programme launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 25 July 2025 in Pandharpur. The scheme is designed to cover 56 lakh distressed farmers across the state, with the government describing it as the country's largest such debt relief initiative.
When will farmers receive the debt waiver money?
The first tranche of ₹13,000 crore, covering 17 lakh farmers on the Cooperation Department's initial list, is to be credited directly into beneficiary accounts before 31 July 2025. Subsequent lists will be processed as banks submit data.
Who qualifies for the ₹50,000 incentive under the scheme?
Farmers who have maintained a regular loan repayment record — that is, those who are not in default — are eligible for an additional ₹50,000 deposited directly into their bank accounts under the scheme.
What is the Maha Vistar app and how does it help farmers?
Maha Vistar is described by the Maharashtra government as India's first AI-based mobile application for farmers. It provides personalised guidance on fertiliser use, pest control, water management, and modern farming techniques in local dialects. Nearly 50 lakh farmers have already registered on the platform.
What happens to farmers' outstanding electricity bills under this scheme?
The Maharashtra government announced a waiver of ₹48,000 crore in outstanding electricity dues owed by 50 lakh farmers. Additionally, the government disburses ₹24,000–25,000 crore annually to the Maharashtra State Electricity Distribution Company to subsidise agricultural pump connections up to 7.5 HP.
