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    Maharashtra

    Maharashtra is a state in the western and central peninsular region of India occupying a substantial portion of the Deccan Plateau. Maharashtra is the second-most populous state in India and the second-most populous country subdivision globally. It was formed on 1 May 1960 by splitting the bilingual Bombay State, which had existed since 1956, into majority Marathi-speaking Maharashtra and Gujarati-speaking Gujarat. Maharashtra is divided into 6 divisions and 36 districts, with the state capital being Mumbai, the most populous urban area in India, and Nagpur serving as the winter capital. Marathi is the most widely spoken language and is the state's only official language. Spread over 307,713 km2 (118,809 sq mi), Maharashtra is the third-largest state by area in India. It is bordered by the Arabian Sea to the west, the Indian states of Karnataka and Goa to the south, Telangana to the southeast and Chhattisgarh to the east, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh to the north, and the Indian union territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu to the northwest. Godavari and Krishna are the two major rivers in the state. The forest cover in the state is 16.47% of the state's geographical area. Out of the total cultivable land in Maharashtra, about 60% is used for grain crops such as millets in the Deccan region and rice in coastal Konkan and other high rainfall areas. Maharashtra provides legal protection to its tiger population through six dedicated tiger reserves under the precincts of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. The state has three international airports, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (Mumbai), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport (Nagpur), and Pune Airport (Lohegaon, Pune). The state is home to three railways headquarters viz. Central Railway (Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus), Konkan Railway (CBD Belapur) and Western Railway (Churchgate). Nagpur hosts the winter session of the state legislature. The High Court of the state viz. Bombay High Court is located in Mumbai. The state contributes 48 seats and 19 seats to the lower house Lok Sabha and the upper house Rajya Sabha, respectively. Maharashtra has been subject to President's rule three times since its formation for a total of 156 days for different reasons. More than three-fourths of the population practise Hinduism, which is followed by Islam and Buddhism. The predominant ethnolinguistic group of Maharashtra is the Marathi people, who speak the Marathi language. More

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    • Gautam Adani to inaugurate centre of excellence in AI in Baramati on Sunday

      The centre of excellence, funded by Adani, has been established under Vidya Pratishthan, the educational institute governed by the Pawar family.

    • Six Bangladeshi women arrested in Maharashtra's Nashik for illegal stay; local man held for helping them

      Local man who helped them for the illegal stay in India was also arrested.

    • Supreme Court stays conviction of ex-Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate in cheating case

      Kokate's conviction and two-year sentence by a magistrate in February this year were upheld by the Nashik sessions court last Tuesday.

    • Mahayuti's Maharashtra sweep: How BJP-Shinde-Pawar alliance prevailed over MVA despite tensions

      Mahayuti's tactical flexibility also played a key role in unsettling the Opposition as several MVA constituents either backed the Eknath Shinde-led Shiv Sena or the Ajit Pawar-led NCP amid public squabbling among ruling alliance partners.

    • BJP-led Mahayuti sweeps local body polls in Maharashtra, Opposition routed

      Maharashtra local body polls: The final figures were shared by the State Election Commission (SEC) in the night.According to the SEC, the BJP won 117 posts of municipal presidents, Shiv Sena won 53, and the NCP won 37 posts. The Congress bagged 28, the NCP (SP) seven, and Shiv Sena (UBT) nine

    • Local body polls: Setback for BJP as all 6 members of family lose in Loha; NCP’s ‘Sharad Pawar’ wins

      The Shiv Sena and Marathwada Janhit Party won from two places each, while the Shiv Sena (UBT) and Congress emerged victorious from one place each, officials said.

    • Population boom or data gone rogue? Probe ordered as Yavatmal panchayat with 1,500 people logs 27,000 births in three months

      The figure is statistically impossible and far exceeds even district-level birth numbers, officials said.

    • Maharashtra minister Manikrao Kokate stripped of his portfolios, Governor reassigns them to Dy CM Ajit Pawar

      Manikrao Kokate, an NCP MLA from Sinnar constituency in Nashik district, was convicted and handed a two-year jail term by a Nashik court in the cheating and forgery case linked to a state government housing scheme.

    • OPINION | Why the BJP is not going it alone in Maharashtra

      BJP dominates its coalition and has relegated allies over time. Yet, the party appears to feel it’s premature to go it alone. It’s the reason why it is likely to keep its alliance intact for the forthcoming civic polls

    • Meet Radha: India’s tiny buffalo who draws big crowds at just two feet tall

      Radha stands at only 2 ft 8 in tall. She lives on the farm of Trimbak Borate in Malawadi.

    • Maharashtra Governor renames Raj Bhavan as Lok Bhavan

      He also said that Lok Bhavan will not be confined merely to constitutional responsibilities, but will, in its true spirit, stay sensitive and connected to the hopes, aspirations and everyday concerns of society, thereby becoming a 'Lok Bhavan' in the real sense.

    • Dynasty rules: Meet Maharashtra’s family packs in fray this election season

      The Shiv Sena came under intense scrutiny for fielding six candidates from one family in the Maharashtra local body elections. However, an analysis shows it isn’t the only culprit.

    • Forget smart cities — this small village in Maharashtra has achieved what big cities still can’t

      Discover Satara Village, the clean and sustainable Maharashtra hamlet praised by Anand Mahindra. Explore its community-led transformation and why travellers love visiting it.

    • Bor Tiger Reserve: What to see, when to visit and how to reach India’s smallest tiger sanctuary

      Bor Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra offers serene safaris, rich wildlife, and untouched forests. Discover what to see, when to visit, and how to reach this hidden gem.

    • Minor girl's rape-murder in Malegaon: Ujjwal Nikam appointed special public prosecutor

      The girl was found raped and murdered on November 16, triggering outrage across the state

    • Shiv Sena MLA Nilesh Rane booked for 'trespassing' BJP supporter's house for 'sting operation'

      Elections to the 246 municipal councils, including Malvan, and 42 nagar panchayats in the state will be held on December 2

    • Shinde CM who resides in people's hearts; they will see him leading state again: Sena minister

      Shinde was a CM who would meet everyone even late in the night and worked for 20-22 hours a day, Bhuse claimed.

    • Quiet mutiny: 43 MVA runner-up candidates defected to Mahayuti in one year after Maharashtra polls

      Uddhav Thackeray's Shiv Sena (UBT) is the worst hit within the MVA camp with 19 of its candidates jumping ship to join the Mahayuti.

    • Maharashtra sets out plan to outpace southern states in GCC investments

      Kaustubh Dhavse, chief adviser on investments and strategy to the chief minister, said Maharashtra expects each Rs 1 crore in new investment to generate one direct and one indirect job, with a target of 400,000 jobs by 2030

    • Maharashtra local body polls: Why BJP's claim of '100 unopposed wins' has made Opposition see red

      The announcement has sparked a political storm with rivals accusing the BJP of strong-arming candidates while sidelining democracy and engineering unopposed victories.

    • Ladki Bahin scheme e-KYC last date extended: Maharashtra govt extends deadline till this date

      Earlier, beneficiaries were instructed to complete the e-KYC by November 18.

    • VVPAT not mandatory for local body polls, technically not feasible: Election Commission to Bombay HC

      The first round of local body elections in Maharashtra will be held on December 2.

    • Pune land deal report indicts sub-registrar, 2 others; Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar's son not mentioned

      The report of the three-member panel, submitted on Tuesday, however did not mention Parth Pawar himself as his name did not appear on any document

    • Maharashtra to launch India’s first pod taxi network between Thane and Mira-Bhayandar — all you need to know

      Maharashtra is set to launch India’s first pod taxi network connecting Thane, Navi Mumbai, and Mira-Bhayandar. Learn how this driverless, eco-friendly transit system will ease traffic, cut travel time, and transform daily commuting.

    • Maharashtra farmer gets Rs 6 aid for crop losses; says can't even buy cup of tea with it

      Recently, farmers in some villages in Akola district of the state claimed to have received as little as Rs 3 and Rs 21 as compensation under a central insurance scheme for the crop losses they suffered due to heavy rains

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