The Maharashtra government has introduced its indigenous “Maha AI” platform along with several digital governance initiatives aimed at making public services faster, simpler, and more transparent.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched the Maha AI platform, MahaDBT 2.0, the digital life certificate system, and the standardisation of Aaple Sarkar service centres at the Vidhan Bhavan.
Fadnavis said the state has taken a significant step towards building a knowledge-based and data-driven governance system through its own AI model. He added that the initiatives will improve service delivery while enhancing transparency for citizens.
Under the MahaSarathi initiative, the government has created an integrated data pool that will help deliver welfare schemes more efficiently and support the planning, design, and implementation of future programmes. According to the Chief Minister, the system will reduce duplication of beneficiaries, detect misuse, and ensure eligible citizens receive benefits without delays.
He also said applicants for government schemes will now need to provide less information, as existing government data will automatically populate application forms. With the future adoption of agentic AI, the process is expected to become even faster and more seamless.
Describing MahaDBT 2.0 as a major reform, Fadnavis said all government departments have been directed to shift their schemes to the unified platform within a specified timeline. Schemes that continue to operate on older systems will be discontinued. He added that the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system has already improved transparency in scholarship disbursals and reduced irregularities.
The Chief Minister also highlighted the role of Maharashtra’s more than 31,000 Aaple Sarkar service centres, calling them the face of governance for citizens. Their standardisation and a new incentive-based ranking system are expected to improve service quality. The digital life certificate system will allow pensioners and beneficiaries to submit proof of life from home, reducing visits to government offices.
Fadnavis described data as the “new gold and new oil” and said the AI platform, developed jointly by the Maharashtra government and the National Informatics Centre (NIC), will use government-owned data to strengthen cybersecurity, improve administrative efficiency, support faster decision-making, and enhance public service delivery.
According to the government, MahaDBT 2.0 has reduced application fields from 138 to 66, offers Aadhaar-based verification, and enables quicker benefit disbursal. The government also said Maha AI is India’s first state-level initiative designed to build an AI-enabled hub for governance and citizen-centric services.
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