Maharashtra loan waiver: Fadnavis launches ₹5,028 crore payout to 6.22 lakh farmers
Synopsis
Maharashtra has begun disbursing ₹5,028 crore to 6.22 lakh farmers in the first phase of its Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Loan Waiver Scheme — but with 13 lakh farmer records still pending bank corrections and 1.40 lakh already excluded, the scheme's projected ₹13,336 crore total relief hinges on how quickly the state can clear its own data backlog.
Key Takeaways
CM Devendra Fadnavis launched the first-phase disbursement of ₹5,028 crore to 6.22 lakh farmers on 7 August 2026 .
Total projected debt relief under the scheme stands at ₹13,336 crore for 16.96 lakh eligible farmers.
1.40 lakh farmers were excluded — 94,000 identified as income tax payers by CBDT and 46,000 on technical grounds.
The scheme covers short-term crop loans taken between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2025 , with waivers capped at ₹2 lakh per farmer.
Banks have been directed to issue fresh Kharif crop loans immediately and not charge interest on eligible accounts from 1 April 2026 .
A list of 13 lakh farmers returned for data corrections is expected to be processed shortly.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 7 August 2026 launched the first-phase disbursement of the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmers Loan Waiver Scheme, transferring ₹5,028 crore directly into the loan accounts of 6.22 lakh eligible farmers via online transfer. Fadnavis declared that every eligible farmer in the state would receive the scheme's benefits, framing it as a foundational step in stabilising Maharashtra's agrarian economy.
First-Phase Disbursement
The ₹5,028 crore released on Friday covers farmers whose Aadhaar authentication was completed in the first phase. Chief Minister Fadnavis also directed all banks to immediately issue fresh Kharif crop loans to beneficiaries, ensuring financial support ahead of the upcoming agricultural season.
The scheme operates entirely online, with banks uploading eligible beneficiary lists to a portal developed by MahaIT. The lists have also been published at Gram Panchayat offices, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS), and respective bank branches. Each farmer has been assigned a unique identification number to complete registration via an Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra, enrolment on AgriStack, and Aadhaar authentication.
Scale of the Scheme
Praveen Darade, Principal Secretary of the Cooperation Department, presented data showing that 53 financial institutions — including 30 District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs), 12 nationalised banks, and private banks — have uploaded loan account details to the MahaIT portal. Data for approximately 32 lakh loan accounts has been submitted, and as of 6 August 2026, Aadhaar authentication has been completed for 12.10 lakh loan accounts.
Of the 16.96 lakh eligible farmers, 7.03 lakh are linked to DCCBs and 9.93 lakh to commercial and nationalised banks, with total debt relief amounting to ₹13,336 crore. As of Friday, 11.46 lakh farmers had completed identity verification through 32,000 government service centres across the state.
Who Was Excluded and Why
Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil said 1.40 lakh farmers had been excluded from the scheme. Of these, 94,000 were excluded after the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) identified them as income tax payers, while 46,000 were removed on technical or administrative grounds.
The scheme covers short-term crop loans taken between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2025, encompassing unpaid debts up to 30 September 2025 and 31 March 2026. The initial list of 32 lakh farmers was compiled using data from DCCBs, nationalised banks, and rural banks, and included farmers eligible for debt waivers of up to ₹2 lakh as well as those qualifying for incentive schemes.
Pending Cases and Next Steps
A list of 13 lakh farmers previously returned to banks for data corrections is expected to be processed shortly. Minister Patil said banks had been instructed not to charge interest on eligible farmers' accounts effective 1 April 2026. Chief Minister Fadnavis also asked Guardian Ministers to flag district-specific grievances so the Cabinet Sub-Committee can address them.
With the bulk of Aadhaar authentication still in progress and a large tranche of corrected farmer records pending, the scheme's full financial impact — projected at ₹13,336 crore — is expected to unfold over the coming months.
Point of View
336 crore headline is politically significant, but the operational story is more complicated. With 13 lakh farmer records still stuck in a bank-correction loop and 1.40 lakh already excluded — many on technical grounds that farmers themselves may not have been aware of — the scheme's reach is not yet what the government is projecting. The all-digital architecture via MahaIT and AgriStack is a genuine administrative upgrade, but it shifts the burden of authentication onto farmers in rural areas where digital access is uneven. The Cabinet Sub-Committee's role in resolving district-level grievances will be the real pressure valve — how quickly it clears the backlog will determine whether this scheme is remembered as delivery or as another well-intentioned announcement that left a significant portion of its intended beneficiaries waiting.
NationPress
8 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmers Loan Waiver Scheme?
It is a Maharashtra government scheme that waives short-term crop loans taken between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2025, covering unpaid debts up to 30 September 2025 and 31 March 2026, with waivers of up to ₹2 lakh per eligible farmer. The total projected relief is ₹13,336 crore for 16.96 lakh farmers.
How much has been disbursed in the first phase and to how many farmers?
In the first phase, ₹5,028 crore was transferred directly into the loan accounts of 6.22 lakh farmers whose Aadhaar authentication was completed. The disbursement was launched by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on 7 August 2026.
How can farmers complete their registration for the scheme?
Farmers must present their unique identification number at an Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra, register on the AgriStack platform, and complete Aadhaar authentication. The process is fully online; no physical application is required.
Why were 1.40 lakh farmers excluded from the scheme?
A total of 1.40 lakh farmers were excluded — 94,000 were identified as income tax payers by the Central Board of Direct Taxes and 46,000 were removed on technical or administrative grounds. Their exclusion was determined during a verification process conducted before disbursement.
What happens to farmers whose records are still pending correction?
A list of 13 lakh farmers whose data was returned to banks for corrections is expected to be processed shortly, according to Cooperation Minister Babasaheb Patil. Banks have also been instructed not to charge interest on eligible farmers' accounts effective 1 April 2026, pending resolution.
