This will be the first full-fledged budget of the Mahayuti government, which came to power late last year. The budget is being presented in the backdrop of Maharashtra’s projected 7.3 percent economic growth for 2024-25, surpassing the national estimate of 6.5 percent. However, fiscal challenges remain as the state grapples with a rising debt burden, growing welfare expenditures, and a widening fiscal deficit. The government is expected to scrutinise and trim welfare scheme beneficiaries to manage financial constraints. CM Devendra Fadnavis has already announced an increase in the Namo Shetkari Samman Nidhi for farmers, from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 per year. An increase in Ladki Bahin stipend from Rs 1,500 to Rs 2,100 per month is unlikely in this budget. It comes ahead of key local body elections, including those in major cities like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, and Thane. It is the 11th budget of Finance Minister Ajit Pawar’s career.