Maharashtra

State (pop., 2008 est.: 106,894,000), west-central India.

The word aharashtra, the land o! the arathi spea"in# people, appears to $e
deri%ed !ro& aharashtri, an old !or& o! 'ra"rit. So&e $elie%e that the word
indicates that it was the land o! the ahars and the (attas, while others consider it
to $e a corr)ption o! the ter& *aha +antara* (the ,reat -orest), a s.non.& !or
*/anda"aran.a*.
,o%ernor - Shri. +. San"aranara.anan

0ddress:
Telephone: 21612660 2 21630838
4&ail: ra5$ha%an6&aharashtra.#o%.in
7hie! inister - Shri. 0sho" Shan"arrao 7ha%an
0ddress: 8arsha
Telephone: (022) 2202-9191,9222
4&ail: chie!&inister6&aharashtra.#o%.in
/ep)t. 7hie! inister - Shri. 7hha#an 7handra"ant :h)5$al
'ort!olio:- ')$lic ;or"s (4<cl)din# ')$lic =nderta"in#),
Special 0ssistance
0ddress: (a&te"
Telephone: 22022401,22029014
4&ail: /ep)t.7hie!inister6&aharashtra.#o%.in
Cabinet Minister2State Minister
Name Portfolio Telepho
ne
(O)
Telepho
ne (R)
Email
Shri.
>ara.an
Tat) (ane
(0dditional 7har#e
(eha$ilitation ? (elie! wor"
4arth@)a"e
(eha$ilitation),4arth@)a"e ?
(eha$ilitation,(e%en)e ?
+har land
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Shri. Bo&e 2202313 2163699 inABo&e6
(aosahe$
(a&rao
'atil 0lias
(.(. 'atil
4
2202934
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4<t:
1991
1
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1
&aharashtra.#o%.i
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/r.
'atan#rao
Shripatrao
+ada&
-orests 2202919
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2202439
1
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2161968
8
2161234
8
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&aharashtra.#o%.i
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Shri.
Shi%a5irao
Shi%ara&5i
o#he
/e-0ddiction 0cti%ities,Social
C)stice,;el!are o! >o&adic
/enotiDed Tri$es and Ether
:ac"ward 7lasses
2283646
1
2283606
9
4<t:
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2161882
2
2161881
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n
Shri. 05it
0nantrao
'awar
4ner#.,;ater (eso)rces
(4<cl)din# "rishna 8alle.
Irri#ation 7orporation)
2202916
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1638
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&aharashtra.#o%.i
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Shri.
(adha"rish
na
4"nathrao
8i"he-'atil
(0dditional 7har#e o!
F?C/),'orts,Transport
2202210
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2202199
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Shri. Ca.ant
(a5ara&
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1199
2191988
9
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Shri.
Barshwardh
an
Shaha5irao
'atil
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,)arantee
Sche&e,ar"etin#,'arlia&en
tar. 0Gairs
2284169
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1944
2111898
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Shri.
,anesh
(a&chandr
a >ai"
>on-con%entional
ener#.,State 4<cise
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Shri. 8i5a.
alias
:alasahe$
:ha)sahe$
Thorat
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4d)cation),0#ric)lt)re,4&pl
o.&ent ,)arantee
Sche&e,;ater 7onser%ation
2202910
8
2202949
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Government >> Cabinet Minister2State Minister
Name
Portfolio Telephone
(O)
Telepho
ne (R)
Email
'ro!.
Fa<&anra
o +ondi$a
/ho$ale
;ater S)ppl. and
Sanitation
2202180
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8
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1494
2281306
4
2281303
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Shri. 0nil
8asantrao
/esh&)"
h
-ood and 7i%il
S)pplies and
7ons)&er
'rotection
2288618
8
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Shri.
Caidatta
Sona5irao
+shirsa#a
r
')$lic ;or"s
(')$lic
=nderta"in#s)
2202916
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Shri.
anoharr
ao
(a5)sin#h
>ai"
-ood ? /r)#s
0d&inistration
2202929
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2202866
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Shri. S)nil
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2202931
6
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1628
2163261
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&aharashtra.#o%.in
Shri. ;ater 2284239 2163661 inA;ater(eso)rcesA+
(a&ra5e
'ratapsin
h >ai"
>i&$al"ar
(eco)rses(+rishna
8alle. Irri#ation
7orporation)
1
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Shri.
:a$anrao
:hi"a5i
'achp)te
Tri$al
/e%elop&ent
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(a5esh
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Government >> Cabinet Minister2State Minister
Name Portfolio Telepho
ne
(O)
Telepho
ne (R)
Email
Shri.
oha&&
ed 0ri!
(>asee&)
+han
0)"a!,4<-ser%ice&an
;el!are,inorities
/e%elop&ent,Te<tiles
2204281
0
2288910
4
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2282821
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&aharashtra.#o%.in
Shri.
S)resh
Bira.enn
a Shett.
(0dditional char#e o!
Sports and Ho)th
;el!are),4n%iron&ent,-
a&il.
;el!are,'rotocol,')$lic
Bealth
2283144
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2283944
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nA'B
Shri.
Bassan
i.anlal
)shri!
Fa$o)r 2202910
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2202468
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9
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1982
/r. >itin
+ashinath
(a)t
0ni&al
B)s$andr.,/air.
/e%elop&ent,-isheries
2283991
0
2283614
2
2202009
3
2288008
1
inA0>BS6
&aharashtra.#o%.in
Shri.
S)$hash
(a&rao
Iana"
;o&en ? 7hild
/e%elop&ent
2281306
1
2281306
0
4<t:
1303
inA;?7B/6
&aharashtra.#o%.in
It lies on the 0ra$ian Sea and is $ordered $. the states o! ,)5arat, adh.a 'radesh,
7hhattis#arh, 0ndhra 'radesh, +arnata"a, and ,oa and the )nion territor. o! /adra
and >a#ar Ba%eliJ its capital is )&$ai (:o&$a.). Ecc)p.in# an area o! 118,800 s@
&i (103,690 s@ "&), it co%ers &)ch o! the /eccan platea), containin# the %alle.s o!
the +rishna, :hi&a, and ,oda%ari ri%ers. The pop)lation is a &i<t)re o! ethnic
#ro)psJ arathi is the state lan#)a#e. The re#ion was di%ided into Bind) "in#do&s
in the 8thK11th cent)riesJ the. were !ollowed $. a series o! )sli& d.nasties. 0
aratha "in#do& r)led $. 1634, and $. the 18th cent)r. a aratha e&pire had
$een esta$lished. The :ritish #ained control earl. in the 19th cent)r.. ;hen India
won independence in 1943, the area was "nown as :o&$a. stateJ it was di%ided on
lin#)istic lines in 1960, creatin# ,)5arat in the north and aharashtra in the so)th.
Its econo&. is $ased on a#ric)lt)re and &an)!act)rin#J ind)stries incl)de oil
reDnin# and cotton te<tiles.
It is occ)p.in# a s)$stantial portion o! the /eccan platea) in the western penins)lar
part o! the s)$continent. Its shape ro)#hl. rese&$les a trian#le, with the 490-&ile
(329-"&) western coastline !or&in# the $ase and its interior narrowin# to a $l)nt
ape< so&e 900 &iles (800 "&) to the east. aharashtra is $o)nded $. the Indian
states o! ,)5arat to the northwest, adh.a 'radesh to the north, 7hhattis#arh to
the east, 0ndhra 'radesh to the so)theast, +arnata"a to the so)th, and ,oa to the
so)thwest and $. the )nion territor. o! /adra and >a#ar Ba%eli and the 0ra$ian Sea
to the west.
aharashtraLs capital, )&$ai (!or&erl. :o&$a.), is an island cit. on the western
coast, connected to the &ainland $. roads and railwa.s. 0ptl. called the #atewa. o!
India, aharashtra is one o! IndiaLs $i##est co&&ercial and ind)strial centres, and it
has pla.ed a si#niDcant role in the co)ntr.Ls social and political li!e.
aharashtra is a leader a&on# Indian states in ter&s o! a#ric)lt)ral and ind)strial
prod)ction, trade and transport, and ed)cation. Its ancient c)lt)re, at one sta#e
considera$l. o$sc)red $. :ritish do&inance, s)r%i%es lar#el. thro)#h the &edi)&
o! a stron# literar. herita#e. 0 co&&on literat)re in arathi, the predo&inant
lan#)a#e o! the state, has in !act pla.ed an i&portant role in n)rt)rin# a sense o!
)nit. a&on# the aharashtrians. 0rea 118,800 s@)are &iles (103,690 s@)are "&).
'op. (2008 est.) 106,894,000.
Land
aharashtra presents an interestin# ran#e o! ph.sical di%ersit.. To the west is the
narrow +on"an coastal lowland, which reaches its widest e<tent near )&$ai.
>)&ero)s &inor hills do&inate the relie!. There are &an. s&all, swi!t, west-Mowin#
strea&s, &ost o! the& less than 90 &iles (80 "&) lon#. The $i##est, =lhas, risin# in
the :hor ,hat, 5oins the sea a!ter an 80-&ile (110-"&) co)rse.
The ;estern ,hats (a &o)ntain ran#e at the western ed#e o! the /eccan platea)J
ghat &eans NpassO in arathi) r)n al&ost contin)o)sl. !or 400 &iles (640 "&)
north-so)th, with the !oothills reachin# to within 4 &iles (6.4 "&) o! the 0ra$ian
Sea. 4le%ations increase northward to pea"s o! so&e 4,320 !eet (1,440 &etres).
There are a !ew passes thro)#h which roads and railroads lin" the coast with the
interior. The eastern slopes o! the ,hats descend #entl. to the /eccan platea) and
are sc)lpt)red $. the wide &at)re %alle.s o! the +rishna, :hi&a, and ,oda%ari
ri%ers.
:etween the >ar&ada %alle. in the north, the +rishna $asin in the so)th, and the
western coast to as !ar east as the cit. o! >a#p)r, the ,hats and the trian#)lar
platea) inland are co%ered with e<tensi%e la%a o)tpo)rin#s called traps. The. reach
a &a<i&)& thic"ness o! 10,000 !eet (1,000 &etres) near )&$ai. The diGerential
erosion o! la%a has res)lted in characteristic steppeli"e slopes, )ni!or& crest lines,
and a ta$le-top appearance o! &an. hills in aharashtra.
0ro)nd >a#p)r, the /eccan trap #i%es wa. to )nd)latin# )plands (a$o)t 890 to
1,080 !eet P230 to 110 &etresQ hi#h) )nderlain $. ancient cr.stalline roc"s. The
;ardha-;ain#an#a %alle., part o! the lar#er ,oda%ari $asin, trends so)thward and
has &an. la"es.
0 &a5or part o! aharashtra is co%ered in $lac" soils deri%ed !ro& deco&posed la%a
roc"s that are co&&onl. called N$lac" cotton soilsO ($eca)se cotton o!ten is #rown
in the&). /ri!ts alon# the slopes ha%e eroded into &edi)& $rown and li#ht-colo)red
sand. soils. Saline soils in the ri%er %alle.s are the res)lts o! i&peded soil draina#e
!ollowed $. intense e%aporation.
Climate
The cli&ate is characteristicall. &onsoonal (i.e., wet-dr.), with local %ariations.
IndiaLs so)thwest &onsoonal rains $rea" on the )&$ai coast )s)all. in the Drst
wee" o! C)ne and last )ntil Septe&$er, d)rin# which period the. acco)nt !or a$o)t
!o)r-D!ths o! the ann)al rain!all. -o)r seasons are nor&al: archKa. (hot and dr.)J
C)neKSepte&$er (hot and wet)J Ecto$erK>o%e&$er (war& and dr.)J and /ece&$erK
-e$r)ar. (cool and dr.).
The ;estern ,hats and the ran#es on the northern $orders #reatl. inM)ence the
cli&ate and separate the wet +on"an 7oast !ro& the dr. interior )pland, an area
called the /esh. (ain!all is e<tre&el. hea%. in +on"an, a%era#in# a$o)t 100 inches
(2,940 &&), with so&e o! the wettest spots recei%in# )p to 290 inches (6,190 &&)
$)t rapidl. di&inishin# to one-D!th o! that a&o)nt east o! the ,hats. (ain!all
increases a#ain in the eastern areas, reachin# a$o)t 40 to 80 inches (1,000 to 2,000
&&) in the e<tre&e east.
The coastal re#ions en5o. e@)a$le te&perat)resJ &onthl. a%era#es at )&$ai are
in the low 80s - (a$o)t 23K28 R7). 0 chan#e o! &ore than a$o)t 11 R- (3 R7)
$etween da. and ni#ht te&perat)res is )n)s)al. ')ne ('oona), hi#her )p on the
platea), $eneDts !ro& cooler te&perat)res thro)#ho)t the .ear. In the interior,
a%era#e s)&&er te&perat)res reach into the low 100s - (a$o)t 18K41 R7), and
winter te&perat)res a%era#e in the low 30s - (a$o)t 21K21 R7).
Plant and animal life
-orests co%er less than one-D!th o! the state and are conDned to the ;estern ,hats,
&ainl. their trans%erse ran#es, the Satp)ra (an#e in the north, and the 7handrap)r
re#ion in the east. En the coast and ad5oinin# slopes, plant !or&s are rich with lo!t.
trees, %arie#ated shr)$s, and &an#o and cocon)t trees. The !orests .ield tea",
$a&$oo, &.ro$alan (!or d.ein#), and other woods.
Thorn. sa%anna-li"e %e#etation occ)rs in areas o! lesser rain!all, nota$l. in )pland
aharashtra. S)$tropical %e#etation is !o)nd on hi#her platea)s that recei%e hea%.
rain and ha%e &ilder te&perat)res. :a&$oo, chestn)t, and &a#nolia are co&&on.
In the se&iarid tracts, wild dates are !o)nd. an#ro%e %e#etation occ)rs in &arshes
and est)aries alon# the coast.
;ild ani&als incl)de ti#ers, leopards, $ison, and se%eral species o! antelope. The
striped h.ena, wild ho#, and sloth $ear are co&&on. on"e.s and sna"es occ)r in
#reat %ariet., as do d)c"s and other #a&e $irds. The peacoc" is indi#eno)s. an.
o! these ani&als can $e %iewed at the stateLs national par"s at Tado$a, 7hi"haldara,
and :ori%li. The stateLs a$)ndant &arine li!e in the waters oG the western coast
re&ains lar#el. )ne<ploited.
Poplation !omposition
aharashtrians are ethnicall. hetero#eneo)s. arathas and +)n$is (descendants o!
settlers who arri%ed !ro& the north a$o)t the $e#innin# o! the 1st cent)r. ce) &a"e
)p the &a5orit. o! the re&ainder o! the state pop)lation. The :hil, ;arli, ,ond,
+or"), ,o%ari, and other tri$al co&&)nities li%e on the slopes o! the ;estern ,hats
and the Satp)ra (an#e.
arathi, the oScial state lan#)a#e, is spo"en $. &ore than !o)r-D!ths o! the
pop)lation. Ether lan#)a#es spo"en in the state are ,)5arati, Bindi, Tel)#),
+annada, Sindhi, =rd), :en#ali, ala.ala&, and 4n#lish. There are also &an. local
lan#)a#es, incl)din# +on"ani on the west coast and ,ondi, 8arhadi, and )ndari in
the eastern and northern !orests.
aharashtraLs reli#io)s di%ersit. reMects that o! India as a whole. Bind)s
predo&inate, !ollowed $. )sli&s and :)ddhists. There are &an. 7hristians in the
&etropolitan areas. Cewish and 'arsi (a reli#io)s &inorit. adherin# to
Ioroastrianis&) #ro)ps ha%e settled &ostl. in )r$an areasJ 'arsis li%e &ainl. in
)&$ai and its en%irons. Ether reli#io)s &inorities incl)de Cainas and Si"hs, whose
s&all co&&)nities are widespread.
Settlement patterns
0$o)t two-thirds o! the pop)lation is r)ral and li%es in %illa#es. )&$ai, the lar#est
cit. in the state, is also the &ost pop)lo)s &etropolis in India. >a#p)r, ')ne, and
Solap)r are other &a5or cities. E! partic)lar historical interest is the )#hal cit. o!
0)ran#a$ad in the northwest-central part o! the state, which contains se%eral
&on)&ents and other historic $)ildin#s.
E!onom"
The national and state #o%ern&ents ha%e pro&oted $oth i&pro%ed a#ric)lt)ral
techni@)es and increased ind)strialiTation o! the econo&.. 0s a res)lt, aharashtra
has $eco&e one o! the &ost de%eloped and prospero)s Indian states. )&$ai,
IndiaLs $est-e@)ipped port, handles an enor&o)s !orei#n trade. It is a h)$ o!
&an)!act)rin#, Dnance, and ad&inistration $)t also a national centre !or &otion-
pict)re prod)ction. ')ne has de%eloped &an. ind)stries $eca)se o! its pro<i&it. to
)&$ai. >a#p)r and Solap)r ha%e te<tile and other a#ric)lt)rall. $ased ind)stries.
#$ri!ltre
Ins)Scient rain!all in &)ch o! aharashtra constit)tes the &ain o$stacle to
a#ric)lt)re in the state. eas)res to co&$at !ood deDcits ha%e incl)ded the
electriDcation o! irri#ation p)&ps, the )se o! h.$rid seeds, &ore eScient
c)lti%ation, and incenti%es oGered to !ar&ers. aharashtra is the lar#est prod)cer o!
s)#arcane in India. Cowar (#rain sor#h)&), &illet, and p)lses (le#)&es) do&inate
the cropped area. (ice #rows where rain!all e<ceeds 40 inches (1,000 &&), and
wheat is a winter crop in Delds that retain &oist)re. 7otton, to$acco, and pean)ts
(#ro)ndn)ts) are &a5or crops in areas with hea%. rain!all. an#oes, cashew n)ts,
$ananas, and oran#es are pop)lar orchard crops.
Resor!es and po%er
ost o! aharashtraLs "nown &ineral reso)rcesUincl)din# &an#anese, coal, iron
ore, li&estone, copper, $a)<ite, silica sand, and co&&on saltUocc)r in the eastern
districts, with so&e deposits in the west. The :handara, >a#p)r, and 7handrap)r
re#ions are partic)larl. rich in $it)&ino)s coal. =ndersea oil deposits were
disco%ered near )&$ai in the 1930s and ha%e since $een e<ploited, enhancin# the
cit.Ls econo&ic i&portance nationall.. The &o)ntaino)s areas o! the state possess
si#niDcant ti&$er reser%es.
B.droelectric and ther&al stations pro%ide &ost o! the stateLs power. Far#e ther&al
power plants, which $)rn coal, are located near >a#p)r and 7handrap)r. The
n)clear power !acilit. at Tarap)r, 30 &iles (111 "&) north o! )&$ai, was IndiaLs
Drst n)clear power plant.
Manfa!trin$
The &an)!act)re o! cotton te<tiles is the oldest and lar#est ind)str. in aharashtra.
)&$ai, >a#p)r, Solap)r, 0"ola, and 0&ra%ati are the &ain !actor. centresJ woolen
#oods are prod)ced especiall. in and aro)nd >a#p)r and Solap)r. Ether h)$s o!
traditional a#ric)lt)rall. $ased ind)str. incl)de Cal#aon and /h)le (edi$le oils
processin#) and +olhap)r, 0h&adna#ar, and the San#li-ira5 ind)strial co&ple<
(s)#ar reDnin#). -r)it cannin# and preser%ation are i&portant in >a#p)r, :h)sawal,
(atna#iri, and )&$ai. an)!act)red !orest prod)cts incl)de ti&$er, $a&$oo,
sandalwood, and tendu lea%esUthe latter )sed !or rollin# bidi (Indian ci#arettes).
S&all-scale a#roprocessin# o! !ood #rains and other crops is %irt)all. )$i@)ito)s in
the state.
The )&$ai-')ne co&ple< $oasts the stateLs #reatest concentration o! hea%.
ind)str. and hi#h technolo#.. The petroche&ical ind)str. has de%eloped rapidl.
since the installation o! IndiaLs Drst oGshore oil wells near )&$ai in 1936. Eil
reDnin# and the &an)!act)re o! a#ric)lt)ral i&ple&ents, transport e@)ip&ent,
r)$$er prod)cts, electric and oil p)&ps, lathes, co&pressors, s)#ar-&ill &achiner.,
t.pewriters, re!ri#erators, electronic e@)ip&ent, and tele%ision and radio sets are
i&portant. 0)to&o$iles are also asse&$led there.
The eastern area aro)nd >a#p)r, 7handrap)r, and :handara s)pports &a5or coal-
$ased ind)stries, alon# with plants that process !erroallo.s, &an#anese and iron
ores, and ce&ent. 0)ran#a$ad and Thane are also i&portant ind)strial h)$s.
Transportation
The stateLs rail networ" is %ital to aharashtraLs transport s.ste&. The +on"an
(ailwa. lin"s )&$ai with settle&ents in the coastal plain. ;ardha and >a#p)r are
i&portant 5)nctions on the rail ro)tes.
>ational hi#hwa.s connect the state with /elhi, +ol"ata (7alc)tta), 0llaha$ad,
B.dera$ad, and :an#alore (:en#al)r)).
/ail. air ser%ices connect )&$ai with ')ne, >a#p)r, 0)ran#a$ad, and >ashi". The
international airport at )&$ai is one o! IndiaLs $)siest and lar#est h)$s, and
>a#p)r is the centre o! IndiaLs do&estic air ser%ice. Inland water transport pla.s a
li&ited role in aharashtra, and other than )&$ai there are onl. &inor ports on
the western coast.
Constittional frame%or&
The str)ct)re o! the #o%ern&ent o! aharashtra, li"e that o! &ost other states o!
India, is deter&ined $. the national constit)tion o! 1990. The head o! state is the
#o%ernor, who is appointed $. the president o! India. The #o%ernor is aided and
ad%ised $. the 7o)ncil o! inisters (led $. a chie! &inister) and is responsi$le to the
le#islat)re, which consists o! two ho)ses: the 8idhan 'arishad (Fe#islati%e 7o)ncil)
and the 8idhan Sa$ha (Fe#islati%e 0sse&$l.). :oth $odies &eet !or re#)lar sessions
in )&$ai and once ann)all. in >a#p)r. Seats are reser%ed !or &e&$ers o!
Sched)led 7astes and Sched)led Tri$es and !or wo&en. aharashtra is represented
in the Fo" Sa$ha and the (a5.a Sa$ha (which are, respecti%el., the lower and )pper
ho)ses o! the Indian 'arlia&ent).
4<ec)ti%e a)thorit. in the state is e<ercised $. the ca$inet in the na&e o! the
#o%ernor. The district collector and chie! e<ec)ti%e oScerUresponsi$le !or the
collection o! land re%en)e and special ta<es and !or coordinatin# the wor" o! other
depart&entsUare the "e. D#)res within the local ad&inistrati%e areas.
The 5)diciar., a Bi#h 7o)rt headed $. the chie! 5)stice and a panel o! 5)d#es, is
$ased in )&$ai. There are $ranches o! this co)rt at >a#p)r and at 0)ran#a$ad.
aharashtra co&prises three con%entional re#ions: western aharashtra, 8idar$ha,
and arathwada. 4ach is di%ided ad&inistrati%el. into districts, which are !)rther
di%ided into talukas (townships). Focal ad&inistrations consist o! zilla parishads
(district co)ncils), panchayat samiti (township co)ncils), and gram panchayats
(%illa#e co)ncils). 7ities and towns ha%e corporations and &)nicipal co)ncils as
elected $odies.
The ')$lic Ser%ice 7o&&ission and a State Selection :oard select candidates !or
appoint&ent to all state ser%ices. This process is carried o)t lar#el. $. &eans o!
co&petiti%e e<a&inations.
'ealth and %elfare
Scores o! hospitals and clinics, incl)din# #eneral hospitals, wo&enLs hospitals, and
&ental health instit)tes, are in aharashtra. edical personnel &ainl. consist o!
allopathic (traditional ;estern) and 0.)r%edic (ancient Indian) practitioners. =nanV
(traditional )sli&) and ho&eopathic s.ste&s o! &edicine are also pop)lar. The
state is a leader in the pre%ention and control o! &alaria and parasites s)ch as
#)inea wor&s and the ne&atodes that ca)se Dlariasis, in the i&&)niTation o!
children and e<pectant &others, and in the treat&ent o! t)$erc)losis, #oitre,
lepros., cancer, and BI820I/S. (e#ional $lood $an"s are in )&$ai, ')ne,
0)ran#a$ad, and >a#p)r, and e&er#enc. centres are !o)nd in all districts. The
state has repeatedl. recei%ed national reco#nition !or its !a&il.-plannin# pro#ra&.
In )&$ai the BaG"ine Instit)te, a leadin# $acteriolo#ic research centre specialiTin#
in tropical diseases, and the Indian 7ancer (esearch 7entre (located in the Tata
e&orial Bospital) are well "nown.
Ed!ation
0t the $e#innin# o! the 21st cent)r., aharashtraLs literac. rate was one o! the
hi#hest o! all the Indian states, with a$o)t three-!o)rths o! the pop)lation a#ed 19
and o%er a$le to read and write. The state pro%ides !ree co&p)lsor. ed)cation !or
children $etween a#es 6 and 14. 8ocational and &)ltip)rpose hi#h schools also
ha%e #rown in i&portance.
Far#er instit)tions !or hi#her ed)cation incl)de the =ni%ersit. o! )&$ai (1893) and
Shree&ati >athi$ai /a&odar Thac"erse. ;o&enLs =ni%ersit. (1916) in )&$ai,
(ashtrasant T)"ado5i ahara >a#p)r =ni%ersit. (1921) in >a#p)r, the =ni%ersit. o!
')ne (1949) in ')ne, Shi%a5i =ni%ersit. (1962) in +olhap)r, and Hashwantrao 7ha%an
aharashtra =ni%ersit. (1989) in >ashi". There are other )ni%ersities in
0)ran#a$ad, 0h&adna#ar, 0"ola, 0&ra%ati, Cal#aon, and +olhap)r. So&e pro&inent
instit)tions in the state incl)de the 7entral Instit)te o! -isheries 4d)cation, the
Indira ,andhi Instit)te o! /e%elop&ent (esearch, the International Instit)te !or
'op)lation Sciences, and the Tata Instit)te o! Social Sciences in )&$ai and the
/eccan 7olle#e 'ost#rad)ate and (esearch Instit)te and the ,o"hale Instit)te o!
'olitics and 4cono&ics in ')ne.
Se%eral &edical, dental, and 0.)r%edic colle#es are in )&$ai, >a#p)r, and ')ne.
ost district hospitals &aintain n)rsin# schools. Technical ed)cation is pro%ided $.
en#ineerin# colle#es and pol.technic and ind)strial instit)tes. 0l&ost e%er. taluka
(township) has a technical school.
0n i&portant ad5)nct to ed)cation in the state is trainin# co)rses r)n $. the
co)ntr.Ls sec)rit. esta$lish&ent. The >ational /e!ence 0cade&. near ')ne is a
pre&ier instit)tion that pro%ides cadet trainin# !or IndiaLs de!ense !orces. The
7olle#e o! ilitar. 4n#ineerin# at ')ne is r)n $. the Indian 0r&. 7orps o!
4n#ineers. Saini" schools (co&petiti%e secondar. schools that prepare st)dents to
ser%e in the >ational /e!ence 0cade&.) and the %ol)ntar. >ational 7adet 7orps
pro%ide &ilitar. trainin#. There are also instit)tes in aharashtra !or research and
de%elop&ent in e<plosi%es, ar&a&ent technolo#., %ehicle research, and na%al,
che&ical, and &etall)r#ical la$oratories.
Cltral life
aharashtra is a distinct c)lt)ral re#ion. Its lon# artistic tradition is &ani!ested in
the ancient ca%e paintin#s !o)nd at 05anta and 4llora 5)st north o! 0)ran#a$ad, $oth
which were desi#nated =>4S7E ;orld Berita#e sites in 1981, in a n)&$er o!
&edie%al architect)ral &asterpieces, in its classical and de%otional &)sic, and in its
theatre. ')ne, where n)&ero)s or#aniTations s)stain these #reat traditions, is the
stateLs )ndisp)ted c)lt)ral capital.
The arts
)sic in aharashtra, li"e arathi literat)re, has an ancient tradition. It $eca&e
allied with Bind)stani &)sic a$o)t the 14th cent)r.. In &ore recent ti&es 8ishn)
/i#a&$ar 'al)s"ar and 8ishn) >ara.ana :hat"hande #reatl. inM)enced Indian
classical &)sic. 7onte&porar. %ocalists incl)de :hi&sen Coshi and Fata
an#esh"ar.
In r)ral aharashtra the !ore&ost di%ersion is tamasha, a per!or&ance !or& that
co&$ined &)sic, dra&a, and dance. The t.pical tamasha tro)pe co&prises se%en
artists, incl)din# a !e&ale dancer !or !eat)red roles and a $awd. clown.
The theatre and the cine&a are pop)lar in )r$an areas o! aharashtra. Feadin#
pla.wri#hts 8. +hadil"ar and 8i5a. Tend)l"ar and actor :al ,andhar%a raised the
stat)s o! the arathi dra&a as an art !or&. The Indian &o%ie ind)str., "nown as
:oll.wood, $e#an in )&$ai in the 1910s, and $. the earl. 21st cent)r. its Dl&s
had #ained pop)larit. a&on# international a)diences. 'ra$hat -il& 7o&pan. in
')ne is one o! the co)ntr.Ls leaders in cine&aJ so&e o! its $est-"nown prod)ctions
are Sant Tukaram (1916) and Sant Dnyaneshwar (1940). aharashtrian Dl&
pioneers are /adasahe$ 'hal"e and :a$)rao 'ainter, and artists o! Bindi cine&a
incl)de >ana 'ate"ar and adh)ri /i<it.
Re!reation
an. !esti%als are held thro)#ho)t the .ear in aharashtra. Boli and (an#a
'ancha&i are sprin# !esti%als. The /assera (/ashahara) is an a)t)&n e%ent that
co&&e&orates the da. on which aratha warriors traditionall. started on their
&ilitar. ca&pai#ns. /)rin# 'ola in 0)#)st, !ar&ers $athe, decorate, and parade
their $)lls thro)#h the streets, si#ni!.in# the start o! the sowin# season. The
,anesha !esti%al, cele$ratin# the $irth o! Bind) deit. ,anesha, is held d)rin# the
rain. season and is $. !ar the &ost pop)lar in aharashtra. Its p)$lic cele$ration
was Drst sponsored $. the nationalist political leader :al ,an#adhar Tila" in 1891.
7la. idols o! ,anesha are sold thro)#ho)t the state. =ni@)e to aharashtra is the
B)rda part., in which a !ar&er in%ites nei#h$o)rin# %illa#ers to parta"e o! !resh
ears o! 5owar (#rain sor#h)&). WshXrY, o$ser%ed on the 10th da. o! )Zarra& (the
Drst &onth o! the Isla&ic calendar), hono)rs the &art.rs o! Isla&, altho)#h Bind)s
also participate. -ol" son#s and traditional dances acco&pan. all these
cele$rations.
'istor"
The na&e aharashtra, denotin# the western )pland o! the /eccan platea), Drst
appeared in a 3th-cent)r. inscription and in the acco)nt o! [)anTan#, a 7hinese
tra%eler at that ti&e. 0ccordin# to one interpretation, the na&e deri%es !ro& the
word maharathi (#reat chariot dri%er), which re!ers to a s"ill!)l northern D#htin#
!orce that &i#rated so)thward into the area. The #ro)pLs lan#)a#e, inter&in#led
with the speech o! the earlier >a#a settlers, $eca&e aharastri, which $. the 8th
cent)r. had de%eloped into arathi. There was also a contin)o)s inM)< o! people
!ro& re&ote ,reece and 7entral 0sia.
/)rin# this earl. period the territor. constit)tin# the &odern state o! aharashtra
was di%ided $etween se%eral Bind) "in#do&s: Sata%ahana, 8a"ata"a, +alac)ri,
(ashtra")ta, 7hal)".a, and Hada%a. 0!ter 1103 there was a s)ccession o! )sli&
d.nasties. 'ersian, the co)rt lan#)a#e o! the )sli&s, had a !ar-reachin# eGect on
arathi. :. the &iddle o! the 16th cent)r., aharashtra was a#ain !ra#&ented
$etween se%eral independent )sli& r)lers, who !o)#ht each other endlessl.. It was
in the &idst o! this chaos that a #reat leader, Shi%a5i, was $orn in 1623. Shi%a5i
showed astonishin# prowess $. !o)ndin# a lar#e aratha e&pire that shoo" /elhi-
$ased )#hal r)le to its !o)ndations.
/)rin# the 18th cent)r. al&ost all o! western and central India, as well as lar#e
se#&ents o! the north and east, was $ro)#ht )nder aratha s)Teraint.. It was this
e&pire that s)cc)&$ed to the :ritish !ro& the earl. 19th cent)r. onward. ;hen
India $eca&e independent in 1943, the pro%ince, lon# "nown as the :o&$a.
'residenc., $eca&e :o&$a. state. The !ollowin# .ear a n)&$er o! !or&er princel.
states (nota$l. :aroda Pnow 8adodaraQ) were &er#ed into the new state, and on
>o%. 1, 1996, a &a5or lin#)istic and political reor#aniTation o! the states o!
penins)lar India res)lted in the addition o! lar#e parts o! adh.a 'radesh and the
erstwhile B.dera$ad to :o&$a. state. The o)tco&e o! this reor#aniTation was a
state in which &ost o! the ,)5arati-spea"in# peoples li%ed in the north and &ost o!
the arathi-spea"in# peoples li%ed in the so)th. 0s a res)lt o! the de&ands o! the
two lan#)a#e #ro)ps, the state was di%ided into two parts on a. 1, 1960, th)s
creatin# ,)5arat in the north and aharashtra in the so)th. :o&$a., re&ainin# part
o! aharashtra, $eca&e the new stateLs capital. The cit.Ls na&e was chan#ed to
)&$ai in the &id-1990s.
In contrast to the a#rarian econo&. that characterises India, aharashtra stands
o)t, with the hi#hest le%el o! )r$anisation o! all Indian states. The &o)ntaino)s
topo#raph. and soil are not as s)ita$le !or intensi%e a#ric)lt)re as the plains o!
>orth IndiaJ there!ore, the proportion o! the )r$an pop)lation (18.69 per cent)
contrasts star"l. with the national a%era#e (29.3 per cent).
The state has one &etropolitan cit., two &ini-&etropolises and &an. lar#e towns.
)&$ai is the state capital, with a pop)lation o! appro<i&atel. 9.926 &illion
people. The other lar#e cities are ')ne, >asi", >a#p)r, 0)ran#a$ad and +olhap)r.

)&$ai - The ,atewa. o! India
The earliest inha$itants o! the se%en islands o! )&$ai were
the +olis, a Dshin# co&&)nit.. The. called the islands
\)&$a-aiee (&other )&$a)\ o)t o! a re%erence !or
)&$ade%i, their patron deit.. E%er histor., the se%en
islands were lin"ed and con#lo&erated, !or&in# a cit. which
co&&ands the c)rrenc. and co&&erce o! India.
The ori#ins o! &odern )&$ai har" $ac" to 1662, when
7atherine o! :ra#anTa, the sister o! the +in# o! 'ort)#al,
&arried 7harles the II. The 'ort)#)ese, who then r)led the islands, incl)ded the&
as part o! the weddin# dowr.. In 1668, when the coGers o! 4n#land were al&ost
e&pt., 7harles the II sold his dowr. to the 4ast India 7o&pan., a tradin# %ent)re,
which !)ll. appreciated )&$aiLs nat)ral ad%anta#esJ a &a#niDcent har$o)r
sheltered !ro& the &onsoon winds enco)ra#ed the 7o&pan. to shi!t its
head@)arters !ro& S)rat to )&$ai. The 7o&pan. esta$lished doc"s, a printin#
press and a &int and in%ited rich &erchants and ship $)ilders to the cit., pro&isin#
!reedo& o! worship. 0r&enians, ,)5aratis, 'arsis, Cews and 7hristians soon arri%ed,
#i%in# )&$ai its cos&opolitan character and the wor" ethic which s)r%i%es e%en
toda..
)&$ai is the Dnancial and co&&ercial capital o! India. It has the lar#est proportion
o! ta<pa.ers in India and its share &ar"ets transact al&ost 30 per cent o! the
co)ntr.Ls stoc"s.
)&$ai oGers a li!est.le that is rich, cos&opolitan and di%erse, with a %ariet. o!
!ood, entertain&ent and ni#htli!e a%aila$le in a !or& and a$)ndance co&para$le to
that in world capitals.
The lar#est n)&$er o! 8ictorian $)ildin#s in the world are 5)<taposed with so&e o!
the &ost &odern. -o)r #ol! co)rses, specialit. race co)rses and polo #ro)nds,
n)&ero)s cric"et arenas and !acilities !or other sports - ran#in# !ro& $rid#e to
chess and $illiards - are a%aila$le at cl)$s across the cit..
The world !a&o)s 'rince o! ;ales )se)& ho)ses an e<@)isite collection o! (a5p)t
and )#hal &iniat)res, as well as rare pieces o! Ti$etan, Capanese and 7hinese art.
)&$ai is the ho&e o! the Bindi Dl& ind)str., "nown as :oll.wood, distin#)ished
$. proliDc records in prod)ction. 7ine&as showin# the newest Dl&s !ro& the ;est,
theatres with Indian and 4n#lish pla.s and dance and &)sic per!or&ances can $e
seen in a)ditoria all across the cit..
)&$ai has d.na&ic transportation lin"s with the rest o! India and the world. The
tradin# ports, )&$ai and >ha%a She%a, oGer connections with &a5or ports
worldwide. The international airport at Sahar (recentl. rena&ed 7hhatrapati Shi%a5i
ahara5 International 0irport) and the do&estic ter&inal at Santa 7r)T (also called
7hhatrapati Shi%a5i ahara5 0irport) recei%e &a5or airlines o! the world, as well as
the ser%ices o! do&estic airlines. The ;estern, 7entral and Bar$o)r railwa. lines
connect the cit. to distant s)$)r$s and destinations across India, while the :4ST
(:o&$a. 4lectrical S)ppl. and Transport) $)ses pro%ide ser%ices relied on $. 9.926
&illion people in )&$ai.
'=>4
')ne, the second lar#est cit. in aharashtra, is the state*s
c)lt)ral capital, with a pop)lation o! 2.9 &illion people. 0$o)t
130-"& !ro& )&$ai $. road, ')ne was the $astion o! the
aratha e&pire. =nder the rei#n o! the 'eshwas - "e. &inisters
in the aratha 4&pire - ')ne $losso&ed into a centre o! art and
learnin#. Se%eral !ar-reachin# re%en)e and 5)dicial re!or&s were
also initiated in the cit..
The :ritish de%eloped ')ne as a &ilitar. town when the. capt)red it in 1818.
4d)cational instit)tes there incl)de the 7olle#e o! ilitar. 4n#ineerin# and the
=ni%ersit. o! ')ne, which oGers a di%erse choice o! en#ineerin#, a#ric)lt)re and
technical co)rses.
0 n)&$er o! ind)stries were located in ')ne a!ter Independence, as the cit. had
well-connected road and rail lin"s and a pool o! technical and pro!essional
personnel.
:a5a5 0)to, the worldLs lar#est &an)!act)rer o! scooters and three wheelers, T4F7E
(Tata 4lectric and Foco&oti%e 7o&pan.), the &an)!act)rer o! IndiaLs pri&ar.
co&&ercial %ehicles and tr)c"s, and the l)<)r. car-&a"er, ercedes :enT are
located here. So!tware co&panies are the newest entrants into ')ne*s %i$rant
at&osphere. ;ith the settin# )p o! these new ind)stries, there has $een a
correspondin# increase in $oth the pop)lation and standards o! li!est.leJ toda. ')ne
is rapidl. &at)rin# into a pri&e ind)strial town, while retainin# all its old char&, a
)ni@)e $lend o! :ritish and aratha inM)ences.
>0SI+
Ene o! the hol. cities o! the Bind) tradition, >ashi" lies
on the $an"s o! the sacred ri%er ,oda%ari and has a
pop)lation o! a$o)t 0.329 &illion people. It is $elie%ed
that Ford (a&a, hero o! the #reat Indian epic, the
(a&a.ana, spent a &a5or part o! his e<ile here. >ashi" is
also a te&ple town, with o%er 200 te&ples.
>ashi" is located at a distance o! 199 "& !ro& )&$ai
$. road on the :o&$a.-0#ra hi#hwa.. It is also a &a5or
pil#ri&a#e centre. The #reatest e%ent in >ashi" is the
sacred +)&$ha ela, held to co&&e&orate a &.tholo#ical stor.. The &ela (a
reli#io)s carni%al) occ)rs e%er. 12 .ears (e@)al to one da. !or the #ods) and
attracts &illions o! people !ro& India and a$road. This e%ent is held alternatel. at
>ashi", Bardwar, =55ain and 0llaha$ad, which are a&on# the &a5or pil#ri&a#e
centres in the co)ntr..
>0,'=(
The ner%e centre o! 8idar$ha (eastern aharashtra),
>a#p)r - the *oran#e cit.* as it is "nown - is located in
the heart o! India, with a pop)lation o! a$o)t 1.3
&illion people. It is dotted with &an. pict)res@)e sites,
incl)din# the ci%il lines and well-laid-o)t #ardens.
>a#p)r has &)ch to oGer $. wa. o! rela<ation. It was
the old capital o! the :honsale r)lers, the !or&er 7entral 'ro%inces and :erar. The
cit. is noted !or its anti@)it. and is a$o)t 868 "& !ro& )&$ai $. road.
>a#p)r is a #rowin# ind)strial centre and the ho&e o! se%eral ind)stries, ran#in#
!ro& !ood prod)cts and che&icals to electrical and transports e@)ip&ent.
0=(0>,0:0/
ali" 0&$ar, the 'ri&e inister o! )rtaTa >iTa& Shah II, and the then r)ler o! the
/eccan (central parts o! So)thern India), !o)nded 0)ran#a$ad in 1610. The cit. has
a pop)lation o! a$o)t 0.991 &illion people.
0)ran#a$ad deri%es its na&e !ro& 'rince 0)ran#Te$ (who
later $eca&e a )#hal e&peror), who &ade it his re#ional
capital when he was 8icero. o! /eccan. Bis le#ac. is
reMected in the architect)re o! the cit.. 4%en toda.,
0)ran#a$ad is a h)$ o! c)lt)re and histor. in the
arathwada re#ion. The :i$i-"a-a@$ara is the onl. e<a&ple
o! )#hal architect)re in the /eccan platea)J it was $)ilt in 1639 as a tri$)te to
0)ran#Te$Ls wi!e, :e#)& (a$ia /)rani, $. his son.
7lose to the cit. o! 0)ran#a$ad are the !a&o)s 05anta and 4llora ca%es, an
architect)ral &ar%el. Thro)#h the ca%es, %isitors can trace the e%ol)tion o! three
#reat world reli#ions - :)ddhis&, Bind)is& and Cainis&.
0)ran#a$ad is !a&o)s !or 'aithani saris, hi&roo shawls and $idri wor" (Tinc with
sil%er e&$eddin#).
+EFB0'=(
In so)thern aharashtra, on the $an"s o! the ri%er
'anch#an#a, +olhap)r is an ancient town "nown !or its
e<@)isite palaces and !orts. In 1949, archaeolo#ical
e<ca%ations close to a hill near +olhap)r re%ealed the
e<istence o! an ancient town datin# $ac" to the ti&es o!
the (o&an e&pire. Toda., +olhap)r is a &odern cit. with a
pop)lation o! a$o)t 0.419 &illion people and a thri%in#
ind)strial in!rastr)ct)re
]]]]]]