Maharashtra Cabinet Approves AI Policy 2026 to Boost Investment and Jobs

The State of Maharashtra Cabinet which was led by Honorable Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis have approved the ambitious Maharashtra Artificial Intelligence Policy 2026. This policy is aims to attract over the ₹10,000 crore in the investments and will generate around the 1.5 lakh jobs by 2031. With this policy it will positioning the state as the leading AI hub in India. With the strong focus on the innovation, infrastructure and the inclusive growth the policy’s vision aligns with the India’s broader push toward to becoming the global leader in the artificial intelligence.

Maharashtra AI Policy 2026

The newly approved AI policy is designed to transform the Maharashtra into the national and global AI innovation center. It will be focuses on to building the robust ecosystem which integrates the,

• Advanced infrastructure
• Skilled workforce
• Startup ecosystem
• Responsible AI governance

The state also aims to act as the role model for the national India AI Mission.

₹10,000 Crore Investment and Job Creation Target

One of the most important aspects of this policy is its the economic ambition which aligned with it.

• It will have the ₹10,000+ crore investment target.
• Will lead to creation of the 1.5 lakh jobs by 2031.
• Also recognized that the nearly 70% of jobs may transform due to AI

This also highlights the growing importance of the AI to reshaping industries and employment patterns.

AI Infrastructure Push in State

The policy also proposes the major infrastructure developments which includes the,

• Establishment of the 5 AI Innovation Cities.
• Also the creation of the common computing backbone with 2,000 GPUs.
• Also the introduction of “Compute-as-a-Service” for the government departments.

This will ensure the affordable access to high-performance computing which is vital for the AI development.

Strong Focus on Skilling and Human Resource Development

To prepare the state’s workforce for the AI era the Maharashtra plans to train the 2 lakh youth and professionals.

It will also set up the Maharashtra Centre for Advanced AI Training (MCAT) and will promote the industry-academia partnerships.

This initiative also aims to bridge the skill gap and create the future-ready workforce.

Boost for Startups, MSMEs, and Innovation

The policy also introduces the strong incentives to support the innovation of AI.

• The total ₹500 crore AI startup venture fund (public-private partnership) to be provided.
• Also the subsidy of 20% for AI adoption by 5,000 MSMEs.
• The establishment of 12 AI incubators for the policy support.
• It will also give grants up to ₹1 crore for startups and ₹1.25 crore for women-led ventures.

Additionally the ‘Maha AI Tools Hub’ will provide the common platform for the AI adoption and development.

Incentives to Attract Investment

To make the state as the attractive destination for investment in AI the state will,

• Give up to 20% capital subsidy.
• Relaxation or the 100% stamp duty exemption.
• Also the power tariff subsidy (₹2 per unit for up to 10 years)
• Giving the reimbursement for patents, certifications and global exhibitions.