Maharashtra To Give Rs 5,000 Aid to 1.5 Crore Farmers Before Diwali

Mumbai: The Maharashtra Cabinet on Tuesday approved financial assistance of Rs 5,000 per farmer, with the amount to be deposited directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts before Diwali through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT).

The advance assistance will be provided to around 1.5 crore farmers in drought-affected talukas across the state. The decision was taken at a Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at Mantralaya. Fadnavis said the amount would start being credited to farmers’ accounts through DBT within the next two days. All eligible farmers in drought-affected areas will receive Rs 5,000 before Diwali. The state Cabinet approved an expenditure of Rs 7,500 crore for the advance assistance.

Officials said four to five more talukas could be added to the list of drought-affected areas following ground-truthing exercises in Maval, Hatkanangle and Dindori.

According to the Cabinet decision, farmers who have suffered crop losses of more than 33 per cent due to drought during the current kharif season will be eligible for the assistance without any conditions. Farmers who have completed e-KYC under various government schemes since November 1, 2025, will not be required to undergo the process again. Farmers holding forest land titles who do not have an AgriStack Farmer ID will also receive the advance assistance based on their e-KYC details.

After the Cabinet meeting at Mantralaya, the Chief Minister told reporters that disbursement would begin within the next two days. “We are making efforts to ensure that the money is credited to the bank accounts of all eligible farmers before Diwali,” he said.

The state government had earlier declared 304 talukas drought-affected in two phases due to deficient rainfall and crop damage. It has also extended 12 types of concessions to people in these drought-hit talukas.

The Relief and Rehabilitation Department has also issued a government resolution (GR) setting out the eligibility criteria for the Rs 5,000 advance assistance to farmers in the 304 drought-affected talukas during the 2026 kharif season.

According to the GR, farmers who pay income tax on income earned from sources other than agriculture will not be eligible for the assistance. Serving and former Cabinet ministers and ministers of state, sitting and former MLAs and MPs, and current members of local bodies will also be excluded. Central and state government employees drawing a monthly salary of more than Rs 25,000 will not qualify for the assistance. Former government employees receiving a monthly pension exceeding Rs 25,000 will also be excluded, except ex-servicemen.

Following the decision to provide advance assistance, the state government will submit a proposal to the Centre by October 31, seeking financial aid from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).

According to preliminary information, the state government is likely to seek assistance of more than Rs 40,000 crore from the Centre. Officials indicated that the amount could increase further.

A senior official said legislators had been demanding that areas in Maval, Hatkanangle and Dindori be included in the list of drought-affected talukas.

“We have informed them that, following ground-truthing in some revenue circles of these talukas, the Relief and Rehabilitation Department will decide whether to include them in the drought-affected list. The number of talukas likely to be added is five,” the official said.