Maharashtra to play key role in Viksit Bharat journey: Devendra Fadnavis on Independence Day 2026; cites 8.8 per cent growth

Maharashtra will play a key role in Indias journey towards becoming a Viksit Bharat Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Saturday highlighting the states economic performance and its contribution to the countrys developmentSpeaking after hoisting the national flag at Mantralaya to mark the 80th Independence Day Fadnavis said Maharashtra remained the countrys largest economy and had recorded a growth rate of around 88 per cent in the first half of the yearToday I am very happy that Maharashtra is the countrys largest economy This year too in the first half our growth rate is around 88 per cent he saidFadnavis said the state government was working to ensure that economic development was spread across Maharashtra rather than being concentrated in a few regionsGovernment aims to make every district a growth engineThe chief minister said the government was seeking to turn every district into a growth engine and ensure that the benefits of development reached people across the stateOne of the efforts we are making is to ensure that every district becomes a growth engine Around 13 districts have made significant progress in this direction We are trying to ensure that development reaches the last person whether it is Gadchiroli or Palghar he addedFadnavis said Maharashtras development journey was being pursued on the principles of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and in accordance with the Constitution given by Dr B R AmbedkarHe described Maharashtra as an important contributor to Indias overall development and said the state would continue to have a significant role in the countrys economic progressMaharashtra seeks more investment and jobs for youthFadnavis said Maharashtra had emerged as a major destination for startups and investments creating opportunities for young peopleMaharashtra has become the countrys startup capital In the edu city coming up in the state cuttingedge education will be provided The highest investment is coming to Maharashtra We are trying to ensure that the maximum employment opportunities are created for our youth he saidHe said the government was also preparing targeted schemes for deprived sections of society to ensure that the benefits of economic development reached a wider section of the populationThe chief minister said Maharashtra would remain a major contributor to Indias economic progress in the coming yearsFadnavis links Viksit Bharat with inclusive developmentFadnavis said India had made significant progress during the 80 years since Independence and had emerged as the worlds fourthlargest economyUnder the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi Indias journey over the last 12 years to become the worlds fourthlargest economy is remarkable he saidAccording to Fadnavis 25 crore people had been brought out of poverty which he described as a matter of satisfaction for allHe said the concept of Viksit Bharat went beyond building a larger economy and should also result in improvements in the lives of people across social and economic groupsViksit Bharat is not only about a developed economy It is about bringing positive change progress and improvement in the lives of every person in society the poor Dalits tribals farmers farm labourers and women he said adding that progress of every section is the true essence of Viksit Bharat conceptFadnavis said Maharashtra would have a particularly important role in achieving the national development goalIf there is one state that will have the most important role in this concept of Viksit Bharat it will be Maharashtra he saidFarmers to benefit from Rs 36585crore loan waiverThe chief minister also highlighted initiatives aimed at supporting farmers including the states Rs 36585crore farm loan waiver scheme which he said would benefit 56 lakh farmersFadnavis said the government was also expanding access to daytime electricity for farmersWe had dreamt of giving daytime electricity to farmers Today we are giving daytime electricity to 76 per cent of farmers In the next year we will fulfil our resolve to provide daytime electricity to 100 per cent of farmers he addedHe also spoke about efforts to reduce the impact of drought on future generations pointing to riverlinking projects being undertaken in parts of North and Western MaharashtraWe have seen drought on a large scale but the coming generation should not see drought he saidEducation and sevenpoint national frameworkFadnavis said modern and worldclass education including the entry of foreign universities was another area of focus for the stateHis remarks came against the backdrop of Prime Minister Narendra Modis Independence Day address in which the Prime Minister outlined a sevenpoint reform framework Sapta Dhara aimed at accelerating Indias journey towards becoming a developed nation by 2047The framework focuses on manufacturing agrofood production and food processing technology and innovation logistics defence the green and blue economy and soft powerFadnavis also appealed to citizens to remain conscious of their constitutional duties while exercising their rightsLet us all citizens remain conscious of our duties and take a resolve today that our Tricolour will always fly high he added