History
Etymology
The modern Marathi language developed from the Maharashtri Prakrit, and the word ''Marhatta (region), Marhatta'' (later used for the Marathas) is found in the Jain Maharashtri literature. The term Maharashtra ( mr, महाराष्ट्र) along with Maharashtri, Marathi, and Maratha may have derived from the same root. However, their exact etymology is uncertain. The most widely accepted theory among the linguistic scholars is that the words Maratha and Maharashtra ultimately derived from a combination of ''Mahā'' ( mr, महा) and ''Rāshtrikā'' ( mr, राष्ट्रिका), the name of a tribe or dynasty of chiefs ruling in the Deccan Plateau, Deccan region. Another theory is that the term is derived from ''Mahā'' ("great") and ''ratha'' / ''rathi'' (chariot / charioteer), which refers to a skilful northern fighting force that migrated southward into the area. An alternative theory states that the term derives from the word ''Mahā'' ("great") and ''Rāshtra'' ("nation/dominion"). However, this theory is somewhat controversial among modern scholars who believe it to be the Sanskritised interpretation of later writers.Geography and climate
Maharashtra occupies the West India, western and central part of the country and has a long coastline stretching 720 kilometres along theClimate
Maharashtra has a tropical climate, with three distinct seasons: summer (March–May), monsoon (June–September), and winter (October–February). However, dew and hail also occur sometimes, depending on seasonal weather. The winter between October to February is followed by summer between March and May and the monsoon season between June and September. Summers (March, April and May) are extremely hot, temperatures rising from to as high as . Rainfall starts normally in the first week of June. July is the wettest month in Maharashtra, while August also gets substantial rain. The rainy season starts its retreat with the coming of September. Rainfall in Maharashtra differs from region to region. Rainfall is particularly high in areas adjacent to the Sahyadri mountains such as coastal Konkan on the west and foothills of the mountain range on the eastern side. Central Maharashtra receives less rainfall. However, under the influence of the Bay of Bengal, eastern Vidarbha receives good rainfall in July, August and September. Thane, Raigad district, Raigad, Ratnagiri district, Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg district, Sindhudurg districts, receive heavy rains of an average of , and the hill stations of Matheran and Mahabaleshwar over . Contrariwise, the rain shadow districts of Nashik district, Nashik, Pune district, Pune, Ahmednagar district, Ahmednagar, Dhule district, Dhule, Jalgaon district, Jalgaon, Satara district, Satara, Sangli district, Sangli, Solapur district, Solapur and parts of Kolhapur district, Kolhapur receive less than annually. In winter, a cool dry spell occurs, with clear skies, gentle air breeze, and pleasant weather prevails from October to February, although the eastern part of Maharashtra sometimes receives some rainfall. Temperatures rise from to during this season.Biodiversity
Flora of Maharashtra is heterogeneous in composition. In 2012 the recorded thick forest area in the state was which was about 20.13% of the state's geographical area. These There are three main Public Forestry Institutions (PFIs) in the Maharashtra state: the Maharashtra Forest Department (MFD), the Forest Development Corporation of Maharashtra (FDCM) and the Directorate of Social Forestry (SFD). The Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board, constituted by the Government of Maharashtra in January 2012 under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, is the nodal body for conservation of biodiversity within and outside forest areas in the State. According to the Harry George Champion, Champion and Seth classification, Maharashtra has five types of forests: # Southern Tropical Semi-Evergreen Forests:These are found in the western ghats at height of 400–1000 meters. Some of the species of trees found in this type of forests are Memecylon umbellatum, Anjani, Terminalia chebula, Hirda, Terminalia paniculata, Kinjal, and Mango. # Southern Tropical Moist Deciduous Forests:Two main sub-types occur under this group. i) Moist Teak bearing Forests:These forests are found in Melghat, other districts in Vidarbha and Thane district. Commercially important Teak, Dalbergia sissoo, Shishum and bamboo are found here. ii) Moist Mixed deciduous Forests:In addition to evergreen Teak, some of the other tree species found in this type of forests include Jambul, Ain, and Dalbergia latifolia, Shisam. # Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous Forests. Forests of this type occupy a major part of the state. Two types of occur under this group. i) Dry Teak Bearing Forests and ii) Moist Mixed deciduous Forests # Southern Tropical Thorn Forests:These are found in the low rainfall regions of Marathwada, Vidarbha, Khandesh and Western Maharashtra. At present, these forests are heavily degraded. Babul (tree), Babul, Ziziphus mauritiana, Bor, and Butea monosperma, Palas are some of the tree species found here. # Littoral and Swamp Forests: These are mainly found in the Creeks of Sindhudurg and Thane districts of the coastal Konkan region. These forests are important for the protection of the coastal environment In addition to the above forest types, Maharashtra harbours significant mangrove, coastal and marine biodiversity, with of area under mangrove cover as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) of the Forest survey India. Some of the forest areas have been converted into wildlife reserves, thus preserving their biodiversity. Western ghats of Maharashtra are included in the 34 global Biodiversity hotspots owing to its extraordinarily rich biodiversity. The biodiversity includes more than five hundred species of birds. Similarly a study in the Amravati region found 171 species of birds. Both regions include resident as well as migrant species. The state has three game reserves, as well as several national parks and bird sanctuaries. The Tiger reserves of Maharashtra, six tiger reserves located in the state cover a total area of . Wildlife sanctuaries in the state include Bhimashankar Wildlife Sanctuary, Kalsubai Harishchandagad Sanctuary, Radhanagari Wildlife Sanctuary, Bor Wildlife Sanctuary, Koyna Wildlife Sanctuary, Chandoli National Park, Sanjay Gandhi National Park, Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary, Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve, part of Pench National Park, Navegaon National Park and Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary. The most common animal species present in the state areRegions, divisions and districts
Demographics
Language
The official language isGovernance and Administration
State government
Politics
The politics of the state in the first decades after its formation in 1960 were dominated by the Indian National Congress party or its offshoots such as the Nationalist Congress Party. But the father of Maharashtra Politics was Shiv Sena, Shiv Sena Pramukh Bal Thackeray, Balasheb Thackeray, He formed Shiv Sena in 1966 and started to fight for the justice for Marathi people. He was recognised as the most powerful person in Maharashtra. In the early years, politics of Maharashtra was dominated by Congress party figures such as Yashwantrao Chavan, Vasantdada Patil, Vasantrao Naik and Shankarrao Chavan. Sharad Pawar, who started his political career in the Congress party, has been a towering personality in the state and national politics for over forty years. During his career, he has split the Congress twice with significant consequences for the state politics. The Congress party enjoyed a near unchallenged dominance of the political landscape until 1995 when the Shiv Sena and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured an overwhelming majority in the state to form a coalition government. After his second parting from the Congress party in 1999, Sharad Pawar founded the Nationalist Congress Party, NCP but then formed a coalition with the Congress to keep out the BJP-Shiv Sena combine out of the Maharashtra state government for fifteen years until September 2014. Prithviraj Chavan of the Congress party was the last Chief Minister of Maharashtra under the Congress / NCP alliance. For the 2014 Maharashtra Legislative Assembly election, 2014 assembly polls, the two alliances between NCP and Congress and that between BJP and Shiv Sena respectively broke down over seat allocations. In the election, the largest number of seats went to the Bharatiya Janata Party, with 122 seats. The BJP initially formed a minority government under Devendra Fadnavis. The Shiv sena entered the Government after two months, and provided a comfortable majority for the alliance in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, Maharashtra Vidhansabha for the duration of the assembly. In 2019 Indian general election, 2019 Lok sabha elections, the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured 41 seat out 48 from the state. Later in 2019, the BJP and Shiv Sena alliance fought the assembly elections together but the alliance broke down after the election over the post of chief minister. Uddhav Thackeray of Shiv Sena then formed an alternative governing coalition under his leadership with his erstwhile opponents from NCP, INC, and a number of independent members of legislative assembly. On 28 November 2019, Thackeray took oath as 19th Chief minister of Maharashtra after being elected as the president of the newly formed coalition named Maha Vikas Aghadi.State representation in Indian Parliament
The people of Maharashtra also elect 48 members to theLocal government
Judiciary
Economy
The economy of Maharashtra is driven by manufacturing, international trade, Mass Media (television, motion pictures, video games, recorded music), aerospace, technology, petroleum, fashion, apparel, and tourism. Maharashtra is the most industrialised state and has maintained the leading position in the industrial sector in India. The State is pioneer in small scale industries. Mumbai, the capital of state and the financial capital of India, houses the headquarters of most of the major corporate and financial institutions. India's main Bombay Stock Exchange, stock exchanges and capital market and commodity exchanges are located in Mumbai. The state continues to attract industrial investments from domestic as well as foreign institutions. Maharashtra has the largest proportion of taxpayers in India and its share markets transact almost 70 per cent of the country's stocks.Transport
The state has a large, multi-modal transportation system with the largest road network in India. In 2011, the total length of surface road in Maharashtra was 267,452 km; national highways comprised 4,176 km and state highways 3,700 km. The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation (MSRTC) provides economical and reliable passenger road transport service in the public sector. These buses, popularly called ST (State Transport), are the preferred mode of transport for much of the populace. Hired forms of transport include metered taxis and auto rickshaws, which often ply specific routes in cities. Other district roads and village roads provide villages accessibility to meet their social needs as well as the means to transport agricultural produce from villages to nearby markets. Major district roads provide a secondary function of linking between main roads and rural roads. Almost 98% of villages are connected via the highways and modern roads in Maharashtra. Average speed on state highways varies between 50 and 60 km/h (31–37 mi/h) due to heavy presence of vehicles; in villages and towns, speeds are as low as 25–30 km/h (15–18 mi/h). The first passenger train in India ran from Mumbai to Thane on 16 April 1853. Rail transportation is run by Central Railway Zone (India), Central Railway, Western Railway Zone (India), Western Railway, South Central Railway Zone, South Central Railway and South East Central Railway zone, South East Central Railway zones of the Indian Railways with the first two zones being headquartered inEducation
Census of 2011 showed literacy rates in the state for males and females were around 78% and 67% respectively.History
University of Mumbai, Mumbai University is the first university of Maharashtra, it was established during the rule of East India Company rule, East India company in 1857 as Bombay university. It is one of the first universities of the country along Kolkata university and Madras university. Scottish missionary John Wilson (missionary), John Wilson, Indian nationalists such as Vasudev Balwant Phadke and Bal Gangadhar Tilak, social reformers such as Jyotirao Phule, Dhondo Keshav Karve and Bhaurao Patil all played a leading role in the setting up of modern schools and colleges during the British colonial era. The forerunner of Deccan College Post-Graduate and Research Institute was established in 1821. The Shreemati Nathibai Damodar Thackersey Women's University, the oldest women's liberal arts college in south Asia, started its journey in 1916. College of Engineering Pune, established in 1854, is the third oldest college in Asia. Government Polytechnic Nagpur, established in 1914, is one of the oldest polytechnic in India.Primary and secondary level
Tertiary level
Maharashtra has 24 universities with a turnout of 160,000 Graduates every year. Maharashtra has played a pioneering role in the development of the modern education system in India. The University of Mumbai, is the largest university in the world in terms of the number of graduates and has 141 affiliated colleges. According to prominent national rankings, 5 to 7 Maharashtra colleges and universities are ranked among the top 20 in India. Maharashtra is also home to such notable autonomous institutes as Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, College of Engineering Pune (CoEP), Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Technological University, Institute of Chemical Technology, Homi Bhabha National Institute, Walchand College of Engineering, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) and Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute (VJTI), Sardar Patel College of Engineering (SPCE). Most of these autonomous institutes are ranked the highest in India and have very competitive entry requirements. The University of Pune (now Savitribai Phule Pune University), the National Defence Academy (India), National Defence Academy, Film and Television Institute of India, Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, Armed Forces Medical College and National Chemical Laboratory were established in Pune soon after the Indian independence in 1947. Mumbai has an Indian Institutes of Technology, IIT, has National Institute of Industrial Engineering and Nagpur has Indian Institutes of Management, IIM and AIIMS.Vocational training
The state has many post-secondary school industrial training institutes (ITIs) run by the government and private trusts that offer vocational training in numerous trades such as construction, plumbing, welding, automobile mechanic etc. Successful candidates receive the National Trade Certificate.Infrastructure
Healthcare
Energy
Plastics
The Maharashtra Plastic and Thermocol Products ban became effective as law on 23 June 2018, subjecting plastic users to fines and potential imprisonment for repeat offenders.Culture
Cuisine
Attire
Performing arts
Literature
Films
Cinema of India was born in Maharashtra when Dadasaheb Phalke made Raja Harishchandra movie in 1913. It was a silent film direct by Phalke. Dadasaheb Phalke is widely considered as the father of Cinema of India, India cinema. Raja Harishchandra (1913) was the first Indian movie. Maharashtra is a prominent location for the Indian entertainment industry, with many films, television series, books, and other media being set there. Maharashtra's Mumbai have many film production studios and it have facilities to produce films.Mainstream Hindi films are popular in Maharashtra, especially in urban areas. Mumbai is the largest centre for film and television production and a third of all Indian films are produced in the state. Multimillion-dollar Bollywood productions, with the most expensive costing up to , are filmed there. The Marathi film industry, previously located in Kolhapur, has spread throughout Mumbai. Well known for its art films, the early Marathi film industry included acclaimed directors such as Dadasaheb Phalke, and V. Shantaram, Dada Kondke is the most prominent name in Marathi film. The Dadasaheb Phalke Award is India's highest award in cinema, given annually by the Government of India for lifetime contribution to Indian cinema.Theatre
Modern Theatre in Maharashtra can trace its origins to the British colonial era in the middle of the 19th century. It is modelled mainly after the western tradition but also includes forms like Sangeet Natak (musical drama). In recent decades, Marathi Tamasha has been also been incorporated in some experimental plays. Today, theatre continues to have a marked presence inMedia
Sports
Cricket is the most popular sport in Maharashtra. Maharashtra have produced greatest of all time players such as Sunil Gavaskar and Sachin Tendulkar. This state had played dominant role in Indian cricket for decades.Indigenous sports
A number of Indian sports either originated in Maharashtra or were formalised here. These include Badminton (previously known as Poona game), Kabaddi, Kho kho, and Mallakhamba. In rural areas of Maharashtra, Pehlwani, Kusti (Indian mud wrestling) and bullock cart competitions are regular fixtures during the annual ''jatra'' (carnival). The government of Maharashtra has in the past supported Kusti by building two permanent akhara (Indian training centers) in the Kolhapur area.Tourism
Mumbai, the biggest and the most cosmopolitan city in India attracts tourists from all over the world for its many attractions including colonial architecture, beaches, movie industry, shopping, and an active nightlife. Pune, called the cultural capital of Maharashtra, also attracts many visitors during the annual Ganesh Chaturthi, Ganeshotsav festival. According to a survey, most tourists visiting places in Maharashtra are from the state. Two other states,See also
* Deccan * Khaede * List of Maratha dynasties and states * List of Marathi people * List of people from Maharashtra * List of synagogues in Maharashtra * Make in Maharashtra * Religion in MaharashtraReferences
External links
Government
General information
* * {{Authority control Maharashtra, 1960 establishments in India States and territories established in 1960 States and union territories of India