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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Maratha quota stir poised for revival

Manoj Jarange issues August ultimatum as CM cites record certificate distribution Mumbai: Maharashtra is bracing for renewed political turbulence as the Maratha quota agitation threatens to engulf the state once again. Prominent activist Manoj Jarange Patil has sounded a clarion call for a final, decisive protest beginning August 29, marking the third anniversary of the community’s relentless struggle. In stark contrast, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in to defuse the escalating...

Maratha quota stir poised for revival

Manoj Jarange issues August ultimatum as CM cites record certificate distribution Mumbai: Maharashtra is bracing for renewed political turbulence as the Maratha quota agitation threatens to engulf the state once again. Prominent activist Manoj Jarange Patil has sounded a clarion call for a final, decisive protest beginning August 29, marking the third anniversary of the community’s relentless struggle. In stark contrast, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has stepped in to defuse the escalating tensions, asserting that the government remains highly responsive to the community’s demands and that the pendency of caste certificates is virtually negligible. Addressing a massive press conference at Antarwali Sarati in the Jalna district of Marathwada, Jarange Patil expressed deep frustration with the state administration. He accused the government of deliberately deceiving the Maratha community and employing delaying tactics. According to the activist, the state has discovered approximately 58 lakh Kunbi caste records, yet the administration continues to withhold vital Kunbi certificates from eligible Maratha community members. Issuing a stern ultimatum, he demanded that caste certificates based on the Hyderabad gazette be issued to all rightful beneficiaries by August 28. Failing this, he warned, a massive mobilization will commence from every village across the state starting August 19. He passionately stated that the community has been sacrificing its blood for the youth for three years and will not back down until the issue reaches a logical conclusion. Robust Defence Countering these allegations, CM Fadnavis presented a robust defence of the Mahayuti government’s track record while speaking to the media in Nagpur. He emphasised that caste certificates are processed and issued promptly upon request. He firmly stated that everyone who has applied for a caste certificate has received it, adding that the number of pending cases is exceedingly low. Fadnavis dismissed the notion that certificates are being arbitrarily denied, reinforcing that the current administration has made and executed more pro-Maratha decisions than any previous government. He maintained a conciliatory tone, noting that the administration remains open to dialogue and is willing to find constructive solutions if any genuine grievances persist. Progress Report The state government’s claims are corroborated by the latest progress report from the Justice Sandeep Shinde committee, which was established to oversee the distribution of Maratha-Kunbi, Kunbi-Maratha, and Kunbi certificates. As of July 27, 2026, the data from the Divisional Commissionerate in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar paints a picture of swift administrative action in Marathwada. Out of a total of 311,609 applications received, a staggering 311,033 applicants have been successfully issued Kunbi certificates. Only 515 applications faced rejection, while a mere 61 remain pending across the division. Furthermore, officials noted that 72,012 certificates have been distributed in the region from September 2025 to the present date. A district-wise analysis of the Marathwada region highlights this extensive distribution network. In Beed district, the administration achieved a near-perfect clearance rate, distributing 206,789 certificates against 206,799 applications, with zero pending files currently. Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar saw 25,211 certificates issued from 25,295 applications, leaving only 15 pending. Similarly, Jalna district processed 18,128 applications to distribute 18,053 certificates, with just 13 awaiting approval. Parbhani and Hingoli districts reported the distribution of 20,832 and 13,286 certificates, respectively, with negligible pendency. Nanded district cleared all its 4,841 applications with no backlog, while Latur and Dharashiv districts successfully distributed 2,751 and 19,281 certificates, respectively. Demands’ Charter Despite these administrative milestones, Jarange Patil has expanded his charter of demands, intensifying his critique of the state’s welfare mechanisms. He has now called for the creation of a dedicated Maratha welfare department, questioning why the Maratha community cannot have a separate ministry similar to the one existing for OBCs. He alleged that nine ministers in the current coalition are actively opposing this proposal, threatening to expose their names during the mega rally on August 29. Furthermore, he lashed out at the government over the systemic failure in implementing existing welfare schemes. He claimed that despite official resolutions granting Maratha students parity with OBC students, educational institutions are not enforcing these benefits at the school and college levels. He also accused the state of shutting down initiatives under the Sarathi institute and noted that flawed loan processes under the Annasaheb Patil Corporation are turning into bad debts, effectively ruining the CIBIL scores of young entrepreneurs. Capping off his grievances, Jarange Patil alleged a discriminatory bias in government recruitment, questioning the state administration over what he termed an “apartheid” against Maratha candidates.

The IT Growth Continues

IT Growth

The Government policies play a pivotal role in shaping the economic landscape of the state as well as the nation. Whether it’s fiscal, monetary, or from investment and consumption to employment. While the debate over the appropriate role of government in the economy persists, there’s a consensus on the positive impact well-designed policies can have on fostering economic growth. Here we will discuss government’s policy contributing to economic growth and creating opportunities of employment.


It is usually seen that the government policy gathers a lot of dust in Mantralaya due to rigid regulations and bureaucracy that hinder decision making and ultimately slows down the process. In this particular case it was a slightly different picture. Almost a year ago in a significant move to boost the state’s digital infrastructure, the Maharashtra government has approved the establishment of Green Integrated Data Centre Parks, with an expected investment of Rs 1.60 lakh crore. With this decision Maharashtra became the first state in India to introduce a special policy for Green Integrated Data Centre Parks, a sector that is attracting multinational corporations and global leaders. The project is expected to solidify the State’s position as a key player in the data centre industry. The initiative will not only strengthen Maharashtra’s data infrastructure, but also generate long-term revenue through direct and indirect taxes, following the completion of the promotion period. Furthermore, the project is set to create many jobs in both the categories, high-skilled jobs directly indirect jobs, especially in high-tech sectors.


Under this new policy, IT companies will have the freedom to establish tech parks anywhere within the state of Maharashtra. Additionally, the companies have been granted substantial subsidies, ranging from 50 to 100 percent on stamp duty, and electricity charges will be waived for a period of 10 to 15 years. So far, a total five projects have been given approval and five projects are under consideration before the Cabinet sub-committee. Through these projects, an investment of Rs 1.79 lakh crore will be made in the state and 60,000 jobs will be created. To provide additional support to the Green Integrated Data Centre Park initiative, the government has made amendments to the Information Technology and Information Technology Enabled Services (ITES) Policy, 2023. The policy allows special incentives, alongside regular benefits, for setting up three Green Integrated Data Centre Parks, subject to the conditions outlined in the proposal.


With the rapid rise of Artificial Intelligence (AI), the demand for data storage and processing has surged, leading to increased energy consumption by data centres. This has raised concerns over global warming. In light of India’s goal to achieve carbon neutrality by 2070, green technology has become crucial for the future. Maharashtra’s Green Integrated Data Centre Park will address these concerns by promoting eco-friendly practices in the sector. The special policy aims to create a conducive ecosystem for the data centre industry by encouraging global companies to establish a presence.

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