Maharashtra, located in the western peninsular region of India, is one of the country's most significant states, known for its financial hub and rich historical and cultural heritage.
Establishment Year and Details
* Establishment Year: Maharashtra was officially formed on May 1, 1960, following the linguistic reorganization of the erstwhile Bombay State, based on the demand for a separate state for Marathi-speaking people (the Samyukta Maharashtra Movement).
Borders and Geography
Maharashtra is bordered by six other Indian states and one union territory.
* North: Madhya Pradesh
* North-West: Gujarat and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
* South-East: Chhattisgarh
* South: Karnataka
* South-West: Goa
* East: Telangana
* West: Arabian Sea (Coastline)
Demographics (As per 2011 Census)
* Population: 112,372,972 (approximately 112.37 million), making it the second-most populous state in India.
* Principal Language: Marathi is the official and most widely spoken language.
* Other Major Languages Spoken: Hindi, Gujarati, Kannada, Urdu, Telugu, and various tribal languages.
Religion
The state is religiously diverse, with Hinduism being the dominant faith.
| Religion | Percentage (2011 Census) |
|---|---|
| Hinduism | 79.8% |
| Islam | 11.5% |
| Buddhism | 5.81% |
| Jainism | 1.25% |
| Christianity | 0.96% |
| Sikhism | 0.20% |
President's Rule
President's Rule (imposition of Article 356 of the Indian Constitution) has been imposed in Maharashtra three times since its formation in 1960:
* First Instance (1980): February 17, 1980 to June 8, 1980 (Dismissal of the Progressive Democratic Front government led by Sharad Pawar by the then central government).
* Second Instance (2014): September 28, 2014 to October 30, 2014 (Following the resignation of CM Prithviraj Chavan after the Congress-NCP alliance break-up).
* Third Instance (2019): November 12, 2019 to November 23, 2019 (Due to the inability of political parties to form a stable government after the state assembly elections).
Chief Ministers List
Here is a list of the Chief Ministers of Maharashtra since its formation, with their joining and leaving dates:
| Name of Chief Minister | Joined | Left | Party |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yashwantrao Chavan | May 1, 1960 | Nov 19, 1962 | INC |
| Marotrao Kannamwar | Nov 20, 1962 | Nov 24, 1963 | INC |
| Vasantrao Naik | Dec 5, 1963 | Feb 20, 1975 | INC |
| Shankarrao Chavan | Feb 21, 1975 | May 16, 1977 | INC |
| Vasantdada Patil | May 17, 1977 | Jul 18, 1978 | INC |
| Sharad Pawar | Jul 18, 1978 | Feb 17, 1980 | Indian National (Socialist) |
| President's Rule | Feb 17, 1980 | Jun 8, 1980 | N/A |
| A. R. Antulay | Jun 9, 1980 | Jan 21, 1982 | INC |
| Babasaheb Bhosale | Jan 21, 1982 | Feb 1, 1983 | INC |
| Vasantdada Patil | Feb 2, 1983 | Jun 1, 1985 | INC |
| Shivajirao Patil Nilangekar | Jun 3, 1985 | Mar 6, 1986 | INC |
| Shankarrao Chavan | Mar 12, 1986 | Jun 26, 1988 | INC |
| Sharad Pawar | Jun 26, 1988 | Jun 25, 1991 | INC |
| Sudhakarrao Naik | Jun 25, 1991 | Mar 6, 1993 | INC |
| Sharad Pawar | Mar 6, 1993 | Mar 14, 1995 | INC |
| Manohar Joshi | Mar 14, 1995 | Feb 1, 1999 | Shiv Sena |
| Narayan Rane | Feb 1, 1999 | Oct 18, 1999 | Shiv Sena |
| Vilasrao Deshmukh | Oct 18, 1999 | Jan 18, 2003 | INC |
| Sushilkumar Shinde | Jan 18, 2003 | Nov 1, 2004 | INC |
| Vilasrao Deshmukh | Nov 1, 2004 | Dec 8, 2008 | INC |
| Ashok Chavan | Dec 8, 2008 | Nov 11, 2010 | INC |
| Prithviraj Chavan | Nov 11, 2010 | Sep 28, 2014 | INC |
| President's Rule | Sep 28, 2014 | Oct 30, 2014 | N/A |
| Devendra Fadnavis | Oct 31, 2014 | Nov 8, 2019 | BJP |
| President's Rule | Nov 12, 2019 | Nov 23, 2019 | N/A |
| Devendra Fadnavis | Nov 23, 2019 | Nov 26, 2019 | BJP |
| Uddhav Thackeray | Nov 28, 2019 | Jun 29, 2022 | Shiv Sena |
| Eknath Shinde | Jun 30, 2022 | Dec 4, 2024 | Shiv Sena |
| Devendra Fadnavis | Dec 5, 2024 | Present | BJP |
(INC: Indian National Congress; BJP: Bharatiya Janata Party)
Famous Places and Products
Maharashtra has several globally and nationally renowned places and products.
Famous Places (Worldwide Recognition)
* Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Aurangabad: UNESCO World Heritage Sites, famous for ancient rock-cut Buddhist, Hindu, and Jain temples and artwork.
* Mumbai (Bombay): The financial, commercial, and entertainment capital of India ("Bollywood"). It houses major global entities and landmarks like the Gateway of India and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (UNESCO World Heritage Site).
* Western Ghats (Sahyadri Range): Part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world's eight "hottest hotspots" of biological diversity.
???????? Famous Places (India Recognition)
* Pune: Cultural capital of Maharashtra, a major IT and education hub, and historical seat of the Maratha Empire.
* Shirdi: Home to the revered Sai Baba Temple, a major pilgrimage destination.
* Mahabaleshwar & Lonavala/Khandala: Popular hill stations known for scenic views and waterfalls.
* Nashik: One of the four locations for the Hindu pilgrimage, Kumbh Mela, and known as the "Wine Capital of India."
Famous Products
| Product | Type | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Alphonso Mango (Hapus) | Agricultural | Renowned worldwide for its flavor and aroma, primarily grown in the Konkan region. |
| Paithani Sarees | Textile/Handicraft | Famous traditional silk sari known for its elaborate pallu (border) and use of gold and silver threads; a GI-tagged product. |
| Kolhapuri Chappals | Footwear/Handicraft | Hand-crafted leather sandals, a GI-tagged product popular across India. |
| Engineering Goods | Industrial | Maharashtra is a major industrial hub, particularly for engineering and electronics exports. |
| Pharmaceuticals | Industrial | The state is a leading center for the production and export of drug formulations and biologicals. |
| Cashew Kernels | Agro-product | Significant production and processing, especially in the Konkan region, with growing global export.
