The Maharashtra Cabinet today approved a major restructuring of ministerial departments aimed at improving administrative efficiency and accelerating decision-making. The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, cleared a proposal to reorganize existing departments, increasing their number from 33 to 45 without creating any new posts.
The restructuring is intended to streamline governance, strengthen coordination with field-level agencies and facilitate faster implementation of government schemes. Several departments housing multiple sub-divisions will be split into independent entities. These include separate departments for Agriculture and Horticulture; Cooperation, Marketing and Textiles; Industry, Energy and Labour; Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation and Forests; School Education and Sports; Tourism and Cultural Affairs; and the creation of standalone Protocol, Transport, and Food and Drug Administration departments. Existing sanctioned and vacant posts will be redistributed among the newly created departments on a proportional basis.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, enabling final approvals for new colleges, new academic faculties, courses, subjects and additional divisions for the 2026-27 academic year. Under the revised provisions, permissions for establishing new colleges or educational institutions can be granted up to June 30, 2026. The extension will also apply to Kavikulaguru Kalidas Sanskrit University.
In another key decision, the Cabinet approved amendments to the Maharashtra Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, 2017, to align state provisions with changes introduced in the Central GST Act, 2017 following recommendations made at the 56th meeting of the GST Council. The draft amendment bill received Cabinet approval and will be introduced accordingly.
The Cabinet further cleared amendments to the Maharashtra Industrial Development Act, 1961, to enhance the borrowing powers of the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation. The state government has already approved and guaranteed a 6,000-crore rupees loan from Housing and Urban Development Corporation for land acquisition related to the proposed Purandar Airport project.
