New Delhi: The Maharashtra Cabinet on Wednesday approved the Artificial Intelligence (AI) Policy 2026, envisaging an investment of Rs 10,000 crore and the creation of around 1.5 lakh employment opportunities across the state.
Follow The PSUWatch Channel on WhatsApp
According to an official statement, the policy aims to strengthen the AI ecosystem by establishing six AI Excellence Centres and five AI Innovation Cities. The initiative is focused on developing robust AI infrastructure and positioning Maharashtra as a key hub for emerging technologies.
"Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis noted that in the coming years about 70 percent of jobs will be reshaped by AI, and therefore the policy should be periodically updated in line with changing times and technologies. The policy aims to attract more than Rs 10,000 crore in investment by 2031 and generate more than 1.5 lakh new employment opportunities," the statement said.
In a separate decision, the cabinet also cleared the implementation of the ‘MAJESTIC’ (Maharashtra Accelerating Green Energy and Storage Technologies Integration in Connected Grid) scheme to boost the adoption of green energy. The state plans to secure financial assistance from the World Bank for the project, with a preliminary report to be submitted to the Centre.
At a time when many countries worldwide are competing in the field of Artificial Intelligence, Maharashtra proposes to position itself as the "National Centre for Ethical and Inclusive AI Development". Towards this, the policy proposes setting up the "Maharashtra AI Mission" and also includes a plan to provide AI skills training to two lakh young people and professionals in the state, the statement said.
The policy is structured around seven "pillars", it said.
The first and most important pillar is the development of statewide AI infrastructure. It includes making available at least 2,000 GPUs of computing capacity and creating a "Computer as a Service" style platform so that all government departments can access these computing facilities, the statement said.
The second major pillar is the use of local data. The policy emphasises creating datasets in Marathi, regional dialects and tribal languages, and establishing a "State AI Data Exchange". This platform will be linked with the central government's "AI Fund" (India AI Mission) framework.
The third pillar envisages setting up the "Maharashtra Centre for Advanced Artificial Intelligence Training" (MCAT), which will operate as a dual partnership platform between industry and academic institutions, the statement said.
The policy includes special provisions to bring small and medium-scale enterprises (MSMEs) into the AI ecosystem. Financial support of up to 20 per cent of their AI implementation costs will be provided to 5,000 MSMEs, and a central "Maha AI Tools Hub" platform will be established.
The fifth pillar is setting up 12 AI incubators across the state, the statement said. Each startup will be eligible for up to Rs 1 crore in grant support, while women-led startups will be entitled to up to Rs 1.25 crore rupees and an additional 25 percent financial assistance.
Under the sixth pillar, Centres of Excellence (CoEs) will be established in six key domains: Health, Agriculture, Education, Urban Development, Marathi language and culture, and Finance-Revenue. The seventh and final pillar focuses on creating a permanent framework for ethical AI use.
It will be mandatory for every government department to undergo an annual "AI readiness audit", the statement said.
To attract industrial investment, the policy announces several incentives. These include a maximum capital subsidy of 20 percent on fixed capital investment, 100 percent remission of stamp duty, an electricity tariff incentive of Rs 2 per unit for 10 years, a reimbursement of up to Rs 8 lakh for domestic patents and up to Rs 10 lakh for international patents, and a reimbursement of up to Rs 25 lakh for certification expenses.
Follow PSU Watch on LinkedIN
Additionally, the cabinet approved the establishment of the Green Maharashtra Commission, which will spearhead an ambitious afforestation drive targeting the plantation of 300 crore trees across the state.
(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)