The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday, 28 October 2026, approved an advance financial assistance of ₹5,000 each to nearly 1.5 crore farmers whose crops suffered more than 33 per cent damage across 304 drought-affected talukas in the state. The total outlay for the relief package is estimated at ₹7,500 crore, to be disbursed directly into beneficiaries' bank accounts through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system.

What the Cabinet Approved

The decision, taken at the weekly Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, follows the state government's recent declaration of drought in 304 of Maharashtra's 358 talukas owing to deficient rainfall this year. The shortfall has severely affected agricultural activities and crop yields across large swathes of the state.

According to a statement from the Chief Minister's Secretariat, Fadnavis has directed officials to ensure the ₹5,000 relief amount is credited to farmers' accounts within this week. He also issued instructions to banks to ensure no deductions are made from the transferred amounts — a directive aimed at preventing recovery of prior dues from the relief credit.

Ruling Alliance Welcomes the Move

Leaders of the ruling Mahayuti alliance — comprising the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Shiv Sena — welcomed the Cabinet decision, framing it as evidence of their government's empathy with rural communities, especially ahead of the Diwali festival.

Shiv Sena spokesperson Shaina NC said, 'The leaders and leadership of Mahayuti are sensitive towards farmers. Our leader, the honourable Eknath Shinde, is himself a farmer and understands their joys and sorrows as a companion. Especially on Diwali, our demand was that ₹5,000 should be given to every farmer's family so that Diwali can be celebrated with happiness in their home.'

BJP MLA Ram Kadam underlined that government support for farmers in distress was a non-negotiable duty. 'It is the government's duty to stand firmly by the farmers during such a difficult time. The government has previously deposited ₹5,000 into their accounts, and now another ₹5,000 is being sent. However, this is not the final instalment of aid; the government will provide further, more substantial support,' he said.

Scale of the Drought Crisis

The drought declaration covering 304 talukas — roughly 85 per cent of Maharashtra's total — ranks among the most extensive in recent years. Deficient monsoon rainfall has hit kharif crops particularly hard, with official crop-loss assessments recording damage exceeding 33 per cent as the threshold for relief eligibility. This is the second consecutive advance payment, with an earlier ₹5,000 tranche already credited to the same beneficiary accounts, according to Ram Kadam.

Notably, the timing — days before Diwali — carries political significance. The Mahayuti government has faced sustained pressure from farmer groups and opposition parties to fast-track relief after the delayed monsoon withdrawal left large parts of Vidarbha, Marathwada, and North Maharashtra with sub-normal soil moisture.

Other Cabinet Decisions

In a separate resolution, the Cabinet approved the allocation of one per cent of District Annual Plan (General) funds for the welfare, rehabilitation, and empowerment of Persons with Disabilities across the state.

What Comes Next

BJP MLA Ram Kadam indicated that the ₹5,000 advance is not the ceiling — the government has signalled that a more comprehensive relief package will follow once full crop-loss assessments are completed across all affected talukas. With assembly session expected in the coming weeks, the scale of the final payout is likely to face legislative scrutiny.