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Twenty20

2023-10-06T08:28:52Z

Nileshkale230: fix

{{Short description|Form of limited overs cricket, 20-over format}}
{{Distinguish|Twenty20 International}}
{{About|the twenty-over format of professional men's cricket|the women's format|Women's Twenty20 cricket|amateur twenty-over cricket|short form cricket|the Indian film|Twenty:20 (film)}}
{{other uses|T20 (disambiguation)|2020 (disambiguation)}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}}

[[File:T20 final 2009.jpg|thumb|[[Lasith Malinga]] bowling to Shahid Afridi in the [[2009 ICC World Twenty20|2009 T20 World Cup]] Final at [[Lord's]], [[London]].]]
{{Cricket sidebar |expanded=all}}

'''Twenty20''' ('''T20''') is a shortened game format of [[cricket]]. At the professional level, it was introduced by the [[England and Wales Cricket Board]] (ECB) in 2003 for the [[county cricket|inter-county]] competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/980687.html|title=The first official T20 in 2003|date=12 March 2016|access-date=12 March 2016|archive-date=2 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170702002949/http://www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/980687.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In a Twenty20 game, the two teams have a single [[innings]] each, which is restricted to a maximum of twenty [[over (cricket)|overs]]. Together with [[first-class cricket|first-class]] and [[List A]] cricket, Twenty20 is one of the three current [[forms of cricket]] recognised by the [[International Cricket Council]] (ICC) as being at the highest international or domestic level.

A typical Twenty20 game is completed in about two and a half hours, with each innings lasting around 70 minutes and an official 10-minute break between the innings. This is much shorter than previous forms of the game, and is closer to the timespan of other popular team sports. It was introduced to create a fast-paced game that would be attractive to spectators at the ground and viewers on television.

The game has succeeded in spreading around the cricket world. On most international tours there is at least one Twenty20 match and all [[Test cricket|Test]]-playing nations have a domestic cup competition.

==History==
===Origins===
[[File:Andrew Strauss twenty20.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Former [[England cricket team|England]] batsman [[Andrew Strauss]] batting for [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] against [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]]]]
When the [[Benson & Hedges Cup]] ended in 2002, the [[England and Wales Cricket Board|ECB]] needed another one-day competition to fill its place. Cricketing authorities were looking to boost the game's popularity with the younger generation in response to dwindling crowds and reduced sponsorship. It was intended to deliver fast-paced, exciting cricket accessible to thousands of fans who were put off by the longer versions of the game. Stuart Robertson, the marketing manager of the ECB, proposed a 20-over-per-innings game, invented by New Zealand cricketer [[Martin Crowe]], to county chairmen in 2001 and they voted 11–7 in favour of adopting the new format.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Cleaver|first=Dylan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=5n6uFKpbkY0C&q=Stuart+Robertson%2C+the+marketing+manager+of+the+ECB%2C+proposed+a+20+over+per+innings+game+to+county+chairmen+in+2001+and+they+voted+11%E2%80%937+in+favour+of+adopting+the+new+format&pg=PT11|title=Brendon McCullum: Inside Twenty20|date=2010-11-03|publisher=Hachette New Zealand|isbn=978-1-86971-238-9|language=en|access-date=22 November 2020|archive-date=3 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403174531/https://books.google.com/books?id=5n6uFKpbkY0C&q=Stuart+Robertson%2C+the+marketing+manager+of+the+ECB%2C+proposed+a+20+over+per+innings+game+to+county+chairmen+in+2001+and+they+voted+11%E2%80%937+in+favour+of+adopting+the+new+format&pg=PT11|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first official Twenty20 matches were played on 13 June 2003 between the English counties in the [[Twenty20 Cup]].<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2003/ENG_LOCAL/TWENTY-20/SCORECARDS/13JUN2003/ Matches played 13 June 2003] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610070441/http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2003/ENG_LOCAL/TWENTY-20/SCORECARDS/13JUN2003/ |date=10 June 2008 }} ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 June 2008</ref> The first season of Twenty20 in England was a relative success, with the [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey Lions]] defeating the [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club|Warwickshire Bears]] by nine wickets in the final to claim the title.<ref>[http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2003/ENG_LOCAL/TWENTY-20/SCORECARDS/KNOCK-OUTS/SURREY_WARWICKS_TWENTY-20-FINAL_19JUL2003.html Twenty20 Cup, 2003, Final – Surrey v Warwickshire] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080725173413/http://www.cricinfo.com/link_to_database/ARCHIVE/2003/ENG_LOCAL/TWENTY-20/SCORECARDS/KNOCK-OUTS/SURREY_WARWICKS_TWENTY-20-FINAL_19JUL2003.html |date=25 July 2008 }} ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 9 June 2008</ref> The first Twenty20 match held at [[Lord's]], on 15 July 2004 between [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] and [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]], attracted a crowd of 27,509, the highest attendance for any [[county cricket]] game at the ground – other than a one-day final – since 1953.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/25/usman-afzaal-surrey-middlesex-twenty20 |title=Usman Afzaal gives Surrey winning start but absent fans fuel concerns |first=Paul |last=Weaver |newspaper=The Guardian |date=25 May 2009 |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-date=17 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317021026/http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2009/may/25/usman-afzaal-surrey-middlesex-twenty20 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Spread worldwide===
Thirteen teams from different parts of the country participated in Pakistan's inaugural competition in 2004, with the [[Faisalabad Wolves]] the first winners. On 12 January 2005 Australia's first Twenty20 game was played at the [[WACA Ground]] between the [[Western Warriors]] and the [[Victorian Bushrangers]]. It drew a sell-out crowd of 20,000, which was the first one in nearly 25 years.<ref>{{cite web |date=12 January 2005 |title=Sellout at WACA for Twenty20 match |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sellout-at-waca-for-twenty20-match-145226 |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=22 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722110011/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/sellout-at-waca-for-twenty20-match-145226 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Starting on 11 July 2006, 19 West Indies regional teams competed in what was named the [[Stanford 20/20]] tournament. The event was financially backed by billionaire [[Allen Stanford]], who gave at least US$28,000,000 in funding money. It was intended that the tournament would be an annual event. [[Guyanese cricket team|Guyana]] won the inaugural event, defeating [[Trinidad and Tobago cricket team|Trinidad and Tobago]] by five wickets, securing US$1,000,000 in prize money.<ref>{{cite web |date=14 August 2006 |title=Guyana crowned Stanford 20/20 champions |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/stanford-20-20-2006-228881/guyana-vs-trinidad-tobago-final-252990/match-report |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-date=8 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208111716/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/stanford-20-20-2006-228881/guyana-vs-trinidad-tobago-final-252990/match-report |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20060208T230000-0500_98302_OBS_DATES_FOR_STANFORD_TWENTY___ANNOUNCED.asp|title=Dates for Stanford Twenty20 announced|work=The Jamaica Observer|date=9 February 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081205185816/http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/sports/html/20060208T230000-0500_98302_OBS_DATES_FOR_STANFORD_TWENTY___ANNOUNCED.asp|archive-date=5 December 2008}}</ref>

On 5 January 2007 the [[Queensland Bulls]] played the [[New South Wales cricket team|New South Wales Blues]] at [[Brisbane Cricket Ground|The Gabba]], [[Brisbane]]. An unexpected 16,000 fans turned up on the day to buy tickets, causing Gabba staff to throw open gates and grant many fans free entry. Attendance reached 27,653.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thetwenty20cup.co.uk/db/aus/article.asp?NewsID=1093|title=Gabba fans let in for free|publisher=Cricket20.com|access-date=31 March 2007|archive-date=8 October 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081008024400/http://www.thetwenty20cup.co.uk/db/aus/article.asp?NewsID=1093|url-status=dead}}</ref> For the February 2008 Twenty20 match between Australia and India, 85,824 people attended the match at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]], involving the Twenty20 World Champions<ref>{{cite web |date=1 February 2008 |title=India crash to nine-wicket defeat |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-australia-2007-08-291320/australia-vs-india-only-t20i-291356/match-report |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=15 February 2023 |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030354/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/india-tour-of-australia-2007-08-291320/australia-vs-india-only-t20i-291356/match-report |url-status=live }}</ref> against the ODI World Champions.{{fact|date=June 2023}}

The [[Stanford Super Series]] was held in October 2008 between the three teams. The respective winners of the English and Caribbean Twenty20 competitions, [[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] and [[Trinidad and Tobago national cricket team|Trinidad and Tobago]], and a [[Stanford Superstars]] team formed from West Indies domestic players. Trinidad and Tobago won the competition, securing US$280,000 prize money.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 October 2008 |title=Udal leads Middlesex for Stanford |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/udal-leads-middlesex-for-stanford-372261 |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=22 July 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210722110910/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/udal-leads-middlesex-for-stanford-372261 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=McGlashan |first=Andrew |date=27 October 2008 |title=Ramdin leads T&T to big-money glory |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/stanford-super-series-2008-09-354384/middlesex-vs-trinidad-tobago-362442/match-report |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=18 April 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418093441/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/stanford-super-series-2008-09-354384/middlesex-vs-trinidad-tobago-362442/match-report |url-status=live }}</ref> On 1 November, the Stanford Superstars played England in what was expected to be the first of five fixtures in as many years with the winner claiming US$20,000,000 in each match. The Stanford Superstars won the first match,<ref>{{cite web |last=McGlashan |first=Andrew |date=1 November 2008 |title=Gayle leads Superstars to millions |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-west-indies-oct-nov-2008-2008-09-354387/stanford-superstars-vs-england-354386/match-report |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=20 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211020045701/https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/england-tour-of-west-indies-oct-nov-2008-2008-09-354387/stanford-superstars-vs-england-354386/match-report |url-status=live }}</ref> but no further fixtures were held as Allen Stanford was charged with fraud in 2009.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7895505.stm |title=US tycoon charged over $8bn fraud |publisher=BBC News |date=17 February 2009 |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-date=12 July 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220712134738/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/7895505.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===T20 leagues===
{{Main|List of T20 cricket competitions}}
[[File:SRH fans while an ipl match.jpg|thumb|right|262px|Crowd during a match of the [[2015 IPL]] season in [[Hyderabad]], India]]
Several T20 leagues started after the popularity of the [[2007 ICC World Twenty20]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1124714/are-t20-leagues-making-money|title=Are T20 leagues making money?|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-date=2 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102012513/http://www.thecricketmonthly.com/story/1124714/are-t20-leagues-making-money|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Board of Control for Cricket in India]] started the [[Indian Premier League]] popularly known as [[IPL]], which is now the largest cricket league, in 2008, which utilizes the [[Major professional sports leagues in the United States and Canada|North American sports franchise]] system with ten teams in major Indian cities. In September 2017, the broadcasting and digital rights for the next five years (2018–2022) of the IPL<ref>{{Cite web|title=IPL Live Score|url=https://iplt20lives.com/|access-date=8 April 2021|website=iplt20lives.com|language=en|archive-date=12 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210412215221/https://iplt20lives.com/|url-status=live}}</ref> were sold to [[Star India]] for US$2.55 billion,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/04/ipl-rights-sold-star-india-cricket-twenty-20|title=IPL television and broadcast rights sold for massive £1.97bn to Star India|date=4 September 2017|work=The Guardian|access-date=18 February 2018|archive-date=4 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170904130121/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2017/sep/04/ipl-rights-sold-star-india-cricket-twenty-20|url-status=live}}</ref> making it one of the world's most lucrative sports league per match. The IPL has seen a spike in its brand valuation to US$5.3 billion after the [[2017 Indian Premier League|10th edition]], according to global valuation and corporate finance advisor Duff & Phelps.<ref name="IPL 2017 Valuation">{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ipl-brand-valuation-rises-to-usd-5-3-billion-duff-phelps/articleshow/60195840.cms|title=IPL 2017 Valuation|publisher=TOI|access-date=2017-08-23|archive-date=17 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170917200045/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/ipl-brand-valuation-rises-to-usd-5-3-billion-duff-phelps/articleshow/60195840.cms|url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Big Bash League]], [[Bangladesh Premier League]], [[Pakistan Super League]], [[Caribbean Premier League]], and [[Afghanistan Premier League]] started thereafter, following similar formulae, and remained popular with the fans.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/top-stories/IPL-worlds-6th-most-attended-league-Big-Bash-9th-Report/articleshow/50535961.cms|title=IPL world's 6th most attended league, Big Bash 9th: Report|website=[[The Times of India]]|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-date=16 February 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170216184007/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/top-stories/IPL-worlds-6th-most-attended-league-Big-Bash-9th-Report/articleshow/50535961.cms|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/20215459/the-lowdown-all-t20-leagues|title=The lowdown on the major T20 leagues|date=3 August 2017|access-date=30 October 2017|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107025024/http://www.espn.in/cricket/story/_/id/20215459/the-lowdown-all-t20-leagues|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Women's Big Bash League]] was started in 2015 by Cricket Australia, while the [[Kia Super League]] was started in [[England and Wales]] in 2016. The [[Mzansi Super League]] in [[South Africa]] was started in 2018.

Several T20 leagues<ref>{{Cite web|date=2011-05-09|title=IPL format: No time to relax|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ipl-format-no-time-to-relax/story-ea1PcKRdYoIir1PIuq7MTN.html|access-date=2020-09-02|website=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-date=25 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220125152823/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/ipl-format-no-time-to-relax/story-ea1PcKRdYoIir1PIuq7MTN.html|url-status=live}}</ref> follow the general format of having a group stage followed by a [[Page playoff system]] among the top four teams where:
* The first- and second-highest placed teams in the group stage face off, with the winner going to the final.
* The third- and fourth-place teams face off, with the loser being eliminated.
* The two teams who have not yet made it to the final after the above two matches have been played face off to fill the second berth in the final.

In the Big Bash League, there is an additional match to determine which of the fourth- or fifth-placed teams will qualify to be in the top four.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-01-22|title=EXPLAINED {{!}} Format of Big Bash League 2019–20 finals|url=https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/explained-format-of-big-bash-league-2019-20-finals-1502848043.html|access-date=2020-09-02|website=The Statesman|language=en-US|archive-date=21 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201021193417/https://www.thestatesman.com/sports/explained-format-of-big-bash-league-2019-20-finals-1502848043.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Twenty20 Internationals===
{{Main|Twenty20 International|Women's Twenty20 International}}
The first Twenty20 International match was held on 5 August 2004 between the [[England national women's cricket team|England]] and [[New Zealand national women's cricket team|New Zealand]] women's teams, with New Zealand winning by nine runs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.cricinfo.com/england/content/story/135007.html |title=Revolution at the seaside |publisher=[[Cricinfo]] |last=Miller |first=Andrew |date=6 August 2004 |access-date=24 March 2010 |archive-date=3 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230403174603/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/revolution-at-the-seaside-135007 |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 17 February 2005 [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] defeated [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] in the first men's international Twenty20 match, played at [[Eden Park]] in [[Auckland]]. The game was played in a light-hearted manner – both sides turned out in kit similar to that worn in the 1980s, the New Zealand team's a direct copy of that worn by the [[Beige Brigade]]. Some of the players also sported moustaches or beards and hairstyles popular in the 1980s, taking part in a competition amongst themselves for "best retro look", at the request of the Beige Brigade. Australia won the game comprehensively, and as the result became obvious towards the end of the NZ innings, the players and umpires took things less seriously: [[Glenn McGrath]] jokingly replayed the [[Trevor Chappell]] [[1981 underarm bowling incident|underarm incident]] from a 1981 ODI between the two sides, and [[Billy Bowden]] showed him a mock [[Red card (sports)|red card]] (red cards are not normally used in cricket) in response.

The first Twenty20 international in England was played between [[English cricket team|England]] and [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] at the [[Rose Bowl, Southampton|Rose Bowl]] in Hampshire on 13 June 2005, which England won by a margin of 100 runs, a record victory which lasted until 2007.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283283.html |title=Records / Twenty20 Internationals / Team records / Largest margin of victory (by runs) |work=ESPNcricinfo |access-date=17 May 2012 |archive-date=24 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120424045525/http://stats.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/records/283283.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 9 January 2006 [[Australian cricket team|Australia]] and [[South African cricket team|South Africa]] met in the first international Twenty20 game in Australia. In a first, each player's [[List of nicknames used in cricket|nickname]] appeared on the back of his uniform, rather than his surname. The international match drew a crowd of 38,894 people at [[Brisbane Cricket Ground|The Gabba]].

On 16 February 2006 [[New Zealand cricket team|New Zealand]] defeated [[West Indian cricket team|West Indies]] in a tie-breaking [[bowl-out]] 3–0; 126 runs were scored apiece in the game proper. The game was the last international match played by [[Chris Cairns]].

The ICC has declared that it sees T20 as the optimal format for globalizing the game,<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Cricket gets smaller before it can grow?|url=https://playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2019/0572_cricket-gets-smaller-before-it-can-grow/|access-date=2021-10-27|website=playthegame.org|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181807/https://playthegame.org/news/news-articles/2019/0572_cricket-gets-smaller-before-it-can-grow/|url-status=live}}</ref> and in 2018, announced that it will give international status to all T20 cricket matches played between its member nations.<ref>{{Cite web|title=T20s between all ICC members to have international status|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/t20s-between-all-icc-members-to-have-international-status-1144460|access-date=2021-10-27|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181808/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/t20s-between-all-icc-members-to-have-international-status-1144460|url-status=live}}</ref> This resulted in a significant leap in the number of T20I matches played across the world.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-10-20|title=Cricket looks set to become a global game|newspaper=The Economist|url=https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/10/20/cricket-looks-set-to-become-a-global-game|access-date=2021-10-29|issn=0013-0613|archive-date=29 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029031903/https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/10/20/cricket-looks-set-to-become-a-global-game|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=T20 International Cricket drives significant growth in 2019|url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1607399|access-date=2021-10-27|website=icc-cricket.com|language=en|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181806/https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/1607399|url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Twenty20 World Cup ====
{{Main|ICC Men's T20 World Cup|ICC Women's T20 World Cup}}
Every two years an [[ICC World Twenty20]] tournament is to take place, except in the event of an [[ICC Cricket World Cup]] being scheduled in the same year, in which case it will be held the year before. The first tournament was in [[2007 ICC World Twenty20|2007 in South Africa]] where [[India cricket team|India]] defeated [[Pakistan cricket team|Pakistan]] in the final. Two Associate teams had played in the first tournament, selected through the [[2007 ICC World Cricket League Division One]], a 50-over competition. In December 2007 it was decided to hold a qualifying tournament with a 20-over format to better prepare the teams. With six participants, two would qualify for the [[2009 ICC World Twenty20|2009 World Twenty20]] and would each receive $250,000 in prize money.<ref>{{cite web |date=13 December 2007 |title=ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier to be held in Ireland |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-to-be-held-in-ireland-325356 |access-date=17 May 2012 |work=ESPNcricinfo |archive-date=10 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220210141841/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-world-twenty20-qualifier-to-be-held-in-ireland-325356 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[2009 ICC World Twenty20|second tournament]] was won by [[Pakistan cricket team|Pakistan]], who beat [[Sri Lanka cricket team|Sri Lanka]] by eight wickets in England on 21 June 2009. The [[2010 ICC World Twenty20]] tournament was held in the West Indies in May 2010, where [[England cricket team|England]] defeated [[Australia cricket team|Australia]] by seven wickets. The [[2012 ICC World Twenty20]] was won by the West Indies, by defeating Sri Lanka at the finals. It was the first time in cricket history when a T20 World Cup tournament took place in an Asian country. The [[2014 ICC World Twenty20]] was won by Sri Lanka, by defeating India at the finals, where the tournament was held in Bangladesh. The [[2016 ICC World Twenty20]] was won by West Indies. In July 2020, the ICC announced that both the 2020 and 2021 editions had been postponed by one year due to the [[COVID-19 pandemic]].

In June 2021, the ICC expanded the Twenty20 World Cup from 16 to 20 teams starting from the 2024 edition onwards.<ref>{{Cite web|title=ICC expands men's world events: ODI WC to 14 teams, T20 WC to 20 teams|url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-expands-men-s-world-events-odi-world-cup-to-14-teams-t20-world-cup-to-20-teams-1264847|access-date=2021-10-27|website=ESPNcricinfo|language=en|archive-date=27 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181807/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/icc-expands-men-s-world-events-odi-world-cup-to-14-teams-t20-world-cup-to-20-teams-1264847|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Impact on the game===
[[File:Twenty20 cricket start.JPG|thumb|right|300px| Twenty20 matches can have some exciting displays, such as when the batsmen run out to the pitch]]
Twenty20 cricket is claimed to have resulted in a more athletic and explosive form of cricket. Indian fitness coach [[Ramji Srinivasan]] declared in an interview with the Indian fitness website Takath.com that Twenty20 had "raised the bar" in terms of fitness levels for all players, demanding higher levels of strength, speed, agility and reaction time from all players regardless of role in the team.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.takath.com/articles/20090619|title=An interview with Ramji Srinivasan|publisher=Takath.com|date=19 June 2009|access-date=22 June 2009|archive-date=8 October 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111008182417/http://www.takath.com/articles/20090619|url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Matthew Hayden]] credited retirement from international cricket with aiding his performance in general and fitness in particular in the [[Indian Premier League]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/cricket/hayden-heroics-shining-light-of-ipl/1511995.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090918140528/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/sport/cricket/hayden-heroics-shining-light-of-ipl/1511995.aspx|title=Hayden heroics shining light of IPL|work=[[The Canberra Times]]|date=13 May 2009|archive-date=18 September 2009 }}</ref>

In June 2009, speaking at the annual [[Cowdrey Lecture]] at [[Lord's]], former Australian wicketkeeper [[Adam Gilchrist]] pushed for Twenty20 to be made an [[Olympic sport]]. "It would," he said, "be difficult to see a better, quicker or cheaper way of spreading the game throughout the world."<ref>Quoted in [[Lawrence Booth|Booth, Lawrence]]. "Myths; And stereotypes." ''The Spin'', 30 June 2009.</ref> In a similar vein, several commentators have noted that the T20 format has been embraced by many Associate members of the ICC partly because it is more financially viable to play.<ref>[https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/germany-brazil-thailand-t20-the-vehicle-to-drive-cricket-to-ever-newer-horizons-7585722/ Germany, Brazil, Thailand: T20 the vehicle to drive cricket to ever newer horizons] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211027181805/https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/germany-brazil-thailand-t20-the-vehicle-to-drive-cricket-to-ever-newer-horizons-7585722/ |date=27 October 2021 }} <nowiki>https://indianexpress.com/</nowiki> 23 October 2021

""We are good at T20 because that's the format in which we get maximum exposure, apart from the fact that it is financially viable", says former Afghanistan Cricket Association chief executive Shafiq Stanikzai."</ref><ref name=":0" />

Former Australian captain [[Ricky Ponting]], on the other hand, has criticized Twenty20 as being detrimental to Test cricket and for hampering batsmen's scoring skills and concentration.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://phone.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/529427.html|title=I told Dravid not to retire – Ponting|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205074331/http://phone.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/story/529427.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Former Australian captain [[Greg Chappell]] made similar complaints, fearing that young players would play too much T20 and not develop their batting skills fully, while former England player [[Alex Tudor]] feared the same for bowling skills.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/review2013/content/story/706051.html|title=How is T20 affecting cricket?|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205074521/http://www.espncricinfo.com/review2013/content/story/706051.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/cricket/alex-tudor-fears-t20-is-killing-cricket-s-traditional-skills-a3213941.html|title=Alex Tudor fears T20 is killing cricket's traditional skills|date=30 March 2016|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205074222/https://www.standard.co.uk/sport/cricket/alex-tudor-fears-t20-is-killing-cricket-s-traditional-skills-a3213941.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Former [[West Indies]] captains [[Clive Lloyd]], [[Michael Holding]] and [[Garfield Sobers]] criticised Twenty20 for its role in discouraging players from representing their test cricket national side, with many West Indies players like [[Chris Gayle]], [[Sunil Narine]] and [[Dwayne Bravo]] preferring instead to play in a Twenty20 franchise elsewhere in the world and make far more money.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.firstpost.com/sports/t20-cricket-has-destroyed-west-indies-cricket-sir-garfield-sobers-2478570.html|title=T20 cricket has destroyed West Indies cricket: Sir Garfield Sobers – Firstpost|website=firstpost.com|date=22 October 2015|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072238/http://www.firstpost.com/sports/t20-cricket-has-destroyed-west-indies-cricket-sir-garfield-sobers-2478570.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/816159.html|title=T20 has messed our cricket up – Lloyd|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205075109/http://www.espncricinfo.com/westindies/content/story/816159.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.express.co.uk/sport/cricket/842428/Why-isn-t-Chris-Gayle-playing-West-Indies-England-Test-cricket-series|title=Why isn't Chris Gayle playing for West Indies against England? Test absence explained|first=James|last=Gray|date=17 August 2017|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072346/https://www.express.co.uk/sport/cricket/842428/Why-isn-t-Chris-Gayle-playing-West-Indies-England-Test-cricket-series|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/missing-stars-india-vs-west-indies-gayle-narine-pollard|title=Gayle, Bravo, Pollard – Why Windies' Stars Will Skip India Series|date=23 June 2017|access-date=4 February 2018|archive-date=5 February 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180205072629/https://www.thequint.com/sports/cricket/missing-stars-india-vs-west-indies-gayle-narine-pollard|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/7790638/Twenty20-will-kill-Test-cricket-within-20-years-says-West-Indian-great-Michael-Holding.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/cricket/twenty20/7790638/Twenty20-will-kill-Test-cricket-within-20-years-says-West-Indian-great-Michael-Holding.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Twenty20 will kill Test cricket within 20 years, says West Indian great Michael Holding|first=Jim|last=White|date=1 June 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

{{Quote box
|quote = Under-17s and Under-19s are playing T20 games in national championships, and at the detriment of two-day games. Good state players these days are averaging 35; if you were averaging 35 when I was playing your dad would go and buy you a basketball or a footy and tell you to play that.
|author = [[Ricky Ponting]]
|source =<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/529427.html | title=I told Dravid not to retire – Ponting | date=25 August 2011 | publisher=ESPN Cricinfo | access-date=30 December 2018 | archive-date=8 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181008135038/http://www.espncricinfo.com/australia/content/story/529427.html | url-status=live }}</ref>
|width=300px
}}

==Match format and rules==
===Format===
Twenty20 match format is a form of [[limited overs cricket]] in that it involves two teams, each with a single [[innings]]. The key feature is that each team bats for a maximum of 20 [[over (cricket)|overs]] (120 legal balls). The batting team members do not arrive from and depart to traditional dressing rooms, but come and go from a bench (typically a row of chairs) visible in the playing arena, analogous to association football's [[technical area]] or a baseball [[Dugout (baseball)|dugout]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/998821.html|title=Bringing back fences could help even up the contest between bat and ball, and ensure that all sixes are genuine|date=17 April 2016|access-date=14 May 2016|archive-date=21 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521031419/http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/998821.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:Twenty20 game.jpg|thumb|right|300px|[[Middlesex County Cricket Club|Middlesex]] playing against [[Surrey County Cricket Club|Surrey]] at [[Lord's]], in front of a 28,000-strong crowd]]

===General rules===
The [[Laws of cricket]] apply to Twenty20, with major exceptions:<ref>{{cite web| url=http://twenty20worldcup.cricketworld4u.com/rules.php| title=Twenty20 Rules| access-date=5 January 2015| publisher=CricketWorld4U| archive-date=28 December 2014| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228191508/http://twenty20worldcup.cricketworld4u.com/rules.php| url-status=dead}}</ref>

* Each bowler may bowl a maximum of only one-fifth of the total overs per innings. For a full, uninterrupted match, this is four overs.
*If a bowler delivers a [[no-ball]] by overstepping the [[Crease (cricket)|crease]], it costs one or two runs (depending on the competition) and their next delivery is designated a "free-hit". In this circumstance the batter can only be dismissed through a [[run out]], [[Hit the ball twice|hitting the ball twice]] or [[obstructing the field]].
* The following [[Fielding (cricket)|fielding]] restrictions apply:
** No more than five fielders can be on the [[leg side]] at any time.
** During the first six overs, a maximum of two fielders can be outside the [[Fielding (cricket)#Restrictions on field placement|30-yard circle]] (this is known as the [[Powerplay (cricket)|powerplay]]).
** After the first six overs, a maximum of five fielders can be outside the fielding circle.
* If the fielding team does not start to bowl their 20th over within 75 minutes, the batting side is credited an extra six runs for every whole over bowled after the 75-minute mark; the umpire may add more time to this if they believe the batting team is wasting time.

===Tie deciders===
{{Main|Super Over}}
Currently, if the match ends with the scores tied and there must be a winner, the tie is broken with a one-over-per-side Eliminator<ref name=Cricinfo_Twenty20_Eliminator_27Jun2008>{{cite web
| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/358299.html
| title=One-over eliminator could replace bowl-out
| date=27 June 2008
| access-date=26 December 2008
| publisher=cricinfo.com [[cricinfo.com]]
| archive-date=28 June 2008
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080628090639/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/ci/content/story/358299.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref> or [[Super Over]]:<ref name=ABC_Twenty20_NZvWI_26Dec2008_SuperOver>{{cite web
| url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/26/2455345.htm
| title=Windies edge NZ in Twenty20 thriller
| date=26 December 2008
| access-date=26 December 2008
| publisher=abc.net.au [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]]
| archive-date=29 December 2008
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081229064717/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2008/12/26/2455345.htm
| url-status=live
}}</ref><ref name=Cricinfo_Twenty20_NZvWI_26Dec2008_SuperOver>{{cite web
| url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/nzvwi2008_09/content/current/story/384254.html
| title=Benn stars in thrilling tie
| date=26 December 2008
| access-date=26 December 2008
| publisher=cricinfo.com [[cricinfo.com]]
| archive-date=7 February 2009
| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207172225/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/nzvwi2008_09/content/current/story/384254.html
| url-status=live
}}</ref>
Each team nominates three batsmen and one bowler to play a one-over-per-side "mini-match". The team which bats second in the match bats first in the Super Over.<ref name="Cricinfo_Twenty20_NZvWI_26Dec2008_VettoriopposesSuperover_HTMLline422">{{cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/nzvwi2008_09/content/story/384312.html|title=Vettori opposes Super Over|date=26 December 2008|publisher=cricinfo.com [[cricinfo.com]]|access-date=5 February 2009|archive-date=30 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081230220549/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/nzvwi2008_09/content/story/384312.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Cricinfo_Twenty20_13Jan2009_TheEliminator">{{cite web|url=http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/386201.html|title=One1|last=The Explainer|date=13 January 2009|publisher=cricinfo.com [[cricinfo.com]]|access-date=5 February 2009|archive-date=2 January 2013|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130102133737/http://content-aus.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/current/story/386201.html|url-status=live}}</ref> In turn, each side bats one over bowled by the one nominated opposition bowler, with their innings over if they lose two wickets before the over is completed. The side with the higher score from their Super Over wins.
If the Super Over also ends up in a tie, it is repeated until the tie is broken.

In the Australian domestic competition the [[Big Bash League]], the Super Over is played slightly differently, with no two-wicket limit, and if the Super Over is also tied then a "[[wikt:countback|countback]]" is used, with scores after the fifth ball for each team being used to determine the result. If it is still tied, then the countback goes to four balls, and so on.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bigbash.com.au/the-league/rules|title=KFC T20 Big Bash League: Rules|publisher=KFC T20 Big Bash League|access-date=5 January 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109215244/http://www.bigbash.com.au/the-league/rules|archive-date=9 January 2015}}</ref> The latest Super Over to decide a match was between the [[Sydney Sixers]] and the [[Brisbane Heat]] on 25 January 2017, in the [[2016–17 Big Bash League season|Big Bash League]] at the [[Brisbane Cricket Ground]], with the Sixers winning 0/22 to 0/15 in the Super Over after tying on 164.<ref name="SixersVHeatSuperOver">{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/live-big-bash-second-semi-final-sydney-sixers-v-brisbane-heat/news-story/d4495faf489a5c70e4be86ab94437e3e|title=Recap: Big Bash second Semi Final: Sydney Sixers v Brisbane Heat|date=25 January 2017|publisher=news.com.au|access-date=25 January 2017|archive-date=25 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170125084223/http://www.news.com.au/sport/cricket/live-big-bash-second-semi-final-sydney-sixers-v-brisbane-heat/news-story/d4495faf489a5c70e4be86ab94437e3e|url-status=live}}</ref>

Tied Twenty20 matches were previously decided by a [[bowl-out]].<ref>{{cite web |date=27 October 2008 |title=Super Over to replace bowl out |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/super-over-to-replace-bowl-out-375503 |access-date=5 January 2015 |publisher=ESPN CricInfo |archive-date=26 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230326030755/https://www.espncricinfo.com/story/super-over-to-replace-bowl-out-375503 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==International==
{{Main|Twenty20 International|Women's Twenty20 International}}
[[Women's Twenty20 International|Women's]] and [[Twenty20 International|men's Twenty20 Internationals]] have been played since 2004 and 2005 respectively. To date, 76 nations have played the format, including all [[Test nations|Test-playing nations]].

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Nation
! Date of men's T20I debut
! Date of women's T20I debut
|-
| {{cr|AUS}}
| 17 February 2005
| 2 September 2005
|-
| {{cr|NZ}}
| 17 February 2005
| 5 August 2004
|-
| {{cr|ENG}}
| 13 June 2005
| 5 August 2004
|-
| {{cr|SA}}
| 21 October 2005
| 10 August 2007
|-
| {{cr|WIN}}
| 16 February 2006
| 27 June 2008
|-
| {{cr|SL}}
| 15 June 2006
| 12 June 2009
|-
| {{cr|PAK}}
| 28 August 2006
| 25 May 2009
|-
| {{cr|BAN}}
| 28 November 2006
| 27 August 2012
|-
| {{cr|ZIM}}
| 28 November 2006
| 5 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|IND}}
| 1 December 2006
| 5 August 2006
|-
| {{cr|KEN}}
| 1 September 2007
| 6 April 2019
|-
| {{cr|SCO}}
| 12 September 2007
| 7 July 2018
|-
| {{cr|NED}}
| 2 August 2008
| 27 June 2008
|-
| {{cr|IRE}}
| 2 August 2008
| 27 June 2008
|-
| {{cr|CAN}}
| 2 August 2008
| 17 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|BER}}
| 3 August 2008
|
|-
| {{cr|AFG|2013}}
| 2 February 2010
|
|-
| {{cr|NEP}}
| 16 March 2014
| 12 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|HK}}
| 16 March 2014
| 12 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|UAE}}
| 17 March 2014
| 7 July 2018
|-
| {{cr|PNG|size=23px}}
| 15 July 2015
| 7 July 2018
|-
| {{cr|OMA}}
| 25 July 2015
| 17 January 2020
|-
| {{cr|SLE}}
| 19 October 2021
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|LES}}
| 16 October 2021
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|KOR}}
| 9 October 2022
| 3 November 2018
|-
| {{cr|CHN}}
|
| 3 November 2018
|-
| {{cr|INA}}
| 9 October 2022
| 12 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|MYA}}
|
| 12 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|BHU}}
| 5 December 2019
| 13 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|BHR}}
| 20 January 2019
| 20 March 2022
|-
| {{cr|KSA}}
| 20 January 2019
| 20 March 2022
|-
| {{cr|KUW}}
| 20 January 2019
| 18 February 2019
|-
| {{cr|MDV}}
| 20 January 2019
| 2 December 2019
|-
| {{cr|QAT}}
| 21 January 2019
| 17 January 2020
|-
| {{cr|RWA}}
| 18 August 2021
| 26 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|USA}}
| 15 March 2019
| 17 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|PHI}}
| 22 March 2019
| 21 December 2019
|-
| {{cr|VAN}}
| 22 March 2019
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|ESP}}
| 29 March 2019
| 5 May 2022
|-
| {{cr|MLT}}
| 29 March 2019
| 27 August 2022
|-
| {{cr|MEX}}
| 25 April 2019
| 23 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|BLZ}}
| 25 April 2019
| 13 December 2019
|-
| {{cr|CRC}}
| 25 April 2019
| 26 April 2019
|-
| {{cr|PAN}}
| 25 April 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|JPN}}
| 9 October 2022
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|FIJ}}
| 9 September 2022
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|TAN}}
| 2 November 2021
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|BEL}}
| 11 May 2019
| 25 September 2021
|-
| {{cr|GER}}
| 11 May 2019
| 26 June 2019
|-
| {{cr|UGA}}
| 20 May 2019
| 7 July 2018
|-
| {{cr|NGA}}
| 20 May 2019
| 26 January 2019
|-
| {{cr|GHA}}
| 20 May 2019
| 28 March 2022
|-
| {{cr|NAM}}
| 20 May 2019
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|BOT}}
| 20 May 2019
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|ITA}}
| 25 May 2019
| 9 August 2021
|-
| {{cr|GUE}}
| 31 May 2019
| 31 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|JER}}
| 31 May 2019
| 31 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|NOR}}
| 15 June 2019
| 31 July 2019
|-
| {{cr|DEN}}
| 16 June 2019
| 28 May 2022
|-
| {{cr|MLI}}
| 17 November 2021
| 18 June 2019
|-
| {{cr|MAS}}
| 24 June 2019
| 3 June 2018
|-
| {{cr|THA}}
| 24 June 2019
| 3 June 2018
|-
| {{cr|SAM}}
| 8 July 2019
| 6 May 2019
|-
| {{cr|FIN}}
| 13 July 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|SIN}}
| 22 July 2019
| 9 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|FRA}}
| 5 August 2021
| 31 July 2019
|-
| {{cr|CAY}}
| 18 August 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|AUT}}
| 29 August 2019
| 31 July 2019
|-
| {{cr|ROM}}
| 29 August 2019
| 27 August 2022
|-
| {{cr|LUX}}
| 29 August 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|TUR}}
| 29 August 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|CZE}}
| 30 August 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|ARG}}
| 3 October 2019
| 3 October 2019
|-
| {{cr|BRA}}
| 3 October 2019
| 23 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|CHI}}
| 3 October 2019
| 23 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|PER}}
| 3 October 2019
| 3 October 2019
|-
| {{cr|BUL}}
| 14 October 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|SRB}}
| 14 October 2019
| 10 September 2022
|-
| {{cr|GRE}}
| 15 October 2019
| 9 September 2022
|-
| {{cr|POR}}
| 25 October 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|GIB}}
| 26 October 2019
|
|-
| {{cr|MAW}}
| 6 November 2019
| 20 August 2018
|-
| {{cr|MOZ}}
| 6 November 2019
| 20 August 2018
|}

===T20 International rankings===
{{Main|ICC World Twenty20 rankings|ICC Women's ODI and T20I rankings}}
In November 2011, the ICC released the first Twenty20 International rankings for the men's game, based on the same system as the Test and ODI rankings. The rankings cover a two- to three-year period, with matches since the most recent 1 August weighted fully, matches in the preceding 12 months weighted two-thirds, and matches in the 12 months preceding that weighted one-third. To qualify for the rankings, teams must have played at least eight Twenty20 Internationals in the ranking period.<ref>[http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/match_zone/team_ranking.php ICC Team Rankings] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120117001145/http://icc-cricket.yahoo.net/match_zone/team_ranking.php |date=17 January 2012 }}</ref><ref>Kendix, David. [http://www.espncricinfo.com/rankings/content/page/211271.html ICC rankings for Tests, ODIs, Twenty20 & Women] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303202904/http://www.espncricinfo.com/rankings/content/page/211271.html |date=3 March 2015 }}. ''ESPN Cricinfo''. ESPN Sports Media Ltd.</ref>

The ICC Women's Rankings were launched in October 2015, which aggregated performance over all three forms of the game.<ref name="ICC_womens_ranking">{{cite web|title=ICC Women's Team Rankings launched|url=http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/media-releases/89919/icc-womens-team-rankings-launched|publisher=International Cricket Council|access-date=12 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161225090128/http://www.icc-cricket.com/news/2015/media-releases/89919/icc-womens-team-rankings-launched|archive-date=25 December 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> In October 2018, the ICC announced that the women's ranking would be split between ODIs and T20Is, and released both tables shortly thereafter.<ref name="ICCwomen">{{cite web |url=https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/877811 |title=ICC Launches Global Women's T20I Team Rankings |work=International Cricket Council |access-date=30 April 2019 |archive-date=12 October 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181012134938/https://www.icc-cricket.com/media-releases/877811 |url-status=live }}</ref>

{{col-float}}
{{ICC T20I Championship rankings}}
{{col-float-break}}
{{ICC Women's T20I Rankings}}
{{col-float-end}}

==Domestic professional T20 leagues==
[[File:Eden Gardens Kolkata.jpg|thumb|250x250px|The [[Kolkata Knight Riders]] taking on the [[Chennai Super Kings]] at the [[Eden Gardens]] during [[India|India's]] [[2008 Indian Premier League|IPL 01]] (2008).]]
[[File:HobartVSPerth WACA.jpg|thumb|250px|The [[Perth Scorchers]] taking on the [[Hobart Hurricanes]] at the [[WACA Ground]] during [[Australia|Australia's]] [[2011–12 Big Bash League season|BBL 01]] (2011–12).]]
{{Main|List of domestic Twenty20 cricket competitions}}

This is a list of the current Twenty20 domestic competitions in several of the leading cricket countries.

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="background:#bdb560b;"
!Country
!Domestic competitions
!Number of teams
|-
|[[Cricket in Afghanistan|Afghanistan]] || [[Afghanistan Premier League]], [[Shpageeza Cricket League]] || 5, 6
|-
|[[Cricket in Australia|Australia]] || [[Big Bash League]] || 8
|-
|[[Cricket in Bangladesh|Bangladesh]] || [[Bangladesh Premier League]] || 8
|-
|[[Cricket in Canada|Canada]] || [[Global T20 Canada]] || 6
|-
|[[Cricket in England|England]] || [[T20 Blast]] || 18
|-
|[[Cricket in Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] || [[Hong Kong T20 Blitz]] || 5
|-
|[[Cricket in India|India]] || [[Indian Premier League]], [[Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy]] || 10, 38
|-
|[[Cricket in Ireland|Ireland]] || [[Inter-Provincial Trophy]] || 4
|-
|[[Cricket in the Netherlands|Netherlands]] || [[Dutch Twenty20 Cup]] || 16
|-
|[[Cricket in Nepal|Nepal]]||[[Nepal T20 League]], [[Everest Premier League]] || 6,6
|-
|[[Cricket in New Zealand|New Zealand]] || [[Super Smash (men's cricket)|Super Smash]] || 6
|-
|[[Cricket in Pakistan|Pakistan]] || [[Pakistan Super League]], [[National T20 Cup]], [[Kashmir Premier League (Pakistan)|Kashmir Premier League]], [[Pakistan Junior League]] || 6, 6, 8, 1
|-
|[[Cricket in Scotland|Scotland]] ||[[Murgitroyd Twenty20]], [[Regional Pro Series]] || 3
|-
|[[Cricket in South Africa|South Africa]] ||[[Mzansi Super League]], [[CSA Provincial Competitions#CSA Provincial T20 Cup|CSA Provincial T20 Cup]], [[SA20_(cricket)|SA20]] || 6, 15, 6
|-
|[[Cricket in Sri Lanka|Sri Lanka]] || [[Lanka Premier League]] || 5
|-
|[[Cricket in the West Indies|West Indies]] || [[Caribbean Premier League]] || 6
|-
|[[Cricket in the United Arab Emirates|United Arab Emirates]] || [[International League T20]] [[Abu Dhabi T10]] || 6, 7
|-
|[[Cricket in the United States|United States]] || [[Major League Cricket]] || 6
|-
|[[Cricket in Zimbabwe|Zimbabwe]] || [[Stanbic Bank 20 Series]] || 4
|-
|}

==See also==
* [[List of Twenty20 cricket records]]
* [[List of Twenty20 International records]]
* [[100-ball cricket]]
* [[The Hundred (cricket)]]
*[[T10 cricket]], the 10-over format of cricket
* [[Major League Cricket]]
* [[International League T20]]
* [[Global T20 Canada]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://stats.cricinfo.com/ci/engine/records/index.html?class=6 Cricinfo – Twenty20 records]
*[https://newsable.asianetnews.com/cricket-battle-ipl IPL News 2021]

{{ICC World Twenty20}}
{{Forms of cricket}}
{{Twenty20 leagues}}
{{Team Sport}}

[[Category:Twenty20 cricket| ]]

Maharashtra

2023-10-06T08:27:41Z

Nileshkale230: fix

{{Short description|State in Western India}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2022}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox Indian state or territory
| name = Maharashtra
| image_alt =
| image_caption =
| type = State
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Ajanta Caves, India, Ajanta chaitya (stupa) worship hall, Cave 26.jpg{{!}}Ajanta Caves
| photo1b = Ellora Caves, India, Religious shrines in Kailash-Kailasa Temple.jpg{{!}}Ellora Caves
| photo2a = Mahabaleshwar Pratapgad 023.jpg{{!}}Pratapgad
| photo2b = Shivaji Maharaj Raigad2.jpg
| photo3a = Shaniwaarwada_Pune.jpg{{!}}Shaniwaarwada, Pune
| photo3b = Hazur Sahib, Nanded, Maharashtra, September 2012.jpg{{!}}Hazur Sahib, Nanded
| photo4a = Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj terminus. Mumbai. Maharashtra.jpg{{!}}CST Mumbai
| photo4b = Gateway of India -Mumbai.jpg{{!}}The Gateway of India, Mumbai
| spacing = 1
| color_border = black
| color = black
| size = 275
| foot_montage = ''From top, left to right:'' [[Ajanta Caves]], [[Kailasa temple, Ellora|Kailasa Temple]] at [[Ellora Caves]], [[Pratapgad]] Fort (near [[Mahabaleshwar]]) located in the [[Western Ghats]], Statue of [[Shivaji]], Raigad, [[Shaniwar Wada]], [[Hazur Sahib Nanded]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus]], [[The Gateway of India]]}}
| imagesize =
| image_seal = Seal of Maharashtra.svg
| etymology = "mahā" (Great) and Sanskritized form of "Ratta dynasty"
| nickname = "Gateway of India"
| motto = Pratipaccandralēkhēva vardhiṣṇurviśva vanditā Mahārāṣṭrasya rājyasya mudrā bhadrāya rājatē (The glory of Maharashtra will grow like the first day moon. It will be worshipped by the world and will shine only for the well-being of people)
| anthem = [[Jai Jai Maharashtra Maza]] (Victory to My Maharashtra!)<ref>{{cite book |title=Bombay, Meri Jaan: Writings on Mumbai |author=Jerry Pinto |author2=Naresh Fernandes |year=2003 |publisher=Penguin Books |page=237 |isbn=9780143029663 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wm1uAAAAMAAJ&q=garja+maharashtra}}</ref>
| image_map = IN-MH.svg
| coordinates = {{coord|18.97|72.82|region:IN-MH_type:adm1st|display=inline,title}}
| region = West India
| before_was = [[Bombay State|State of Bombay (1950–1960)]]
| formation_date3 = formation
| formation_date4 = 1 May 1960
| capital = Mumbai
| winter_capital = Nagpur
| largestcity = Mumbai
| metro = Mumbai Metropolitan Region
| districts = [[List of districts of Maharashtra|36 (6 divisions)]]
| Governor = [[Ramesh Bais]]
| Chief_Minister = [[Eknath Sambhaji Shinde]]
| party = [[Shiv Sena|SHS]]
| Deputy_CM = [[Devendra Gangadharrao Fadnavis]] ([[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]]) [[Ajit Pawar|Ajit Anantrao Pawar]] ([[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP (Rebels)]])
| judiciary = [[Bombay High Court]]
[[Nagpur High Court]]
| legislature_type = [[Bicameral]] [[Maharashtra Legislature]]
| assembly = [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly]]
| assembly_seats = 288 seats
| council = [[Maharashtra Legislative Council]]
| council_seats = 78 seats
| rajya_sabha_seats = 19 seats
| lok_sabha_seats = 48 seats
| area_total_km2 = 307713
| area_rank = 3rd
| length_km = 605
| width_km = 870
| elevation_footnotes = <ref>{{Cite web |title=MAHARASHTRA SADAN NEW DELHI |url=https://maharashtrasadan.maharashtra.gov.in/geoprofile.html#:~:text=The%20Sahyadri%20Range%20is%20the,to%20an%20elevation%20of%201000m}}</ref>
| elevation_m = 100
| elevation_max_m = 1,646
| elevation_max_point = [[Kalsubai]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 2011 |title=Kalsubai |url=http://ahmednagar.gov.in/html_docs/KALASUBAI.htm |access-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110722025159/http://ahmednagar.gov.in/html_docs/KALASUBAI.htm |archive-date=22 July 2011 }}</ref>
| elevation_min_m = -1
| elevation_min_point = [[Arabian sea]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="GOI_2011">{{cite web |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_maha.html |title=Area, population, decennial growth rate and density for 2001 and 2011 at a glance for Maharashtra and the districts: provisional population totals paper 1 of 2011: Maharashtra |publisher=Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=26 January 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107060612/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_maha.html |archive-date=7 January 2012 }}</ref>
| population_total = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 112,374,333
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank = 2nd
| population_urban = 45.22%i
| population_rural = 54.78%
| population_density = 370
| population_demonym = Maharashtrian
| 0fficial_Langs = [[Marathi language|Marathi]]<ref name="auto">{{cite web |url=http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/maharashtra/1965/1965MH5.pdf |title=The Maharashtra Official Languages Act, 1964; Amendment Act, 2015 |website=lawsofindia.org |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171115104204/http://www.lawsofindia.org/pdf/maharashtra/1965/1965MH5.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=nclmanurep2010>{{cite web |url=http://www.nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 52nd report (July 2014 to June 2015) |pages=34–35 |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |access-date=16 February 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228171523/http://www.nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |archive-date=28 December 2017}}</ref>
| official_script = [[Devanagari script]]
| GDP_footnotes = <ref name="EcoSur21">{{cite web|url=https://mahades.maharashtra.gov.in/ESM1920/chapter/Marathi/esm2223_e.pdf |title=Economic Survey of Maharashtra 2022-23, Government of Maharashtra|work=[[Government of Maharashtra]]|pages=21|date=1 February 2022|access-date=1 February 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Maharashtra Budget Analysis 2023-24|url=https://prsindia.org/budgets/states/maharashtra-budget-analysis-2023-24|website=prsindia|access-date=9 July 2023}}</ref>
| GDP_total = {{Increase}}{{INRConvert|38.79|t|lk=r}}
| GDP_year = 2023–24
| GDP_rank = (1st)
| GDP_per_capita = {{Increase}}{{INRConvert|242247|lk=r}}
| GDP_per_capita_rank = 14th
| HDI_year = 2022
| HDI = {{Increase}} 0.750 {{color|#0c0|High}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://ceda.ashoka.edu.in/hdi-how-states-fare-in-human-development/ |title=Sub-national HDI - Subnational HDI |publisher=Global Data Lab |date= 15 June 2021|accessdate=7 March 2023}}</ref>
| HDI_rank = 9th
| literacy = {{IncreaseNeutral}} 84.8%
| literacy_year = 2017
| literacy_rank = 14th
| sex_ratio = 966[[female|♀]]/1000 [[male|♂]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Sex ratio of State and Union Territories of India as per National Health survey (2019-2021)|url=https://main.mohfw.gov.in/basicpage-14|website=Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India}}</ref>
| sexratio_year = 2021
| sexratio_rank = 23rd
| iso_code = IN-MH
| registration_plate = MH
| website = maharashtra.gov.in
| footnotes = {{ref|cap|^}}The [[Bombay State|State of Bombay]] was split into two States i.e. Maharashtra and Gujarat by the ''Bombay Reorganisation Act 1960''<ref>{{cite book |title=The Bombay Reorganisation Act 1960 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=3U_VAAAAMAAJ |access-date=23 May 2015 |last1=Ministry of Law, Government of India |year=1960 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/https://books.google.com/books/about/The_Bombay_Reorganisation_Act_1960_11_of.html?id=3U_VAAAAMAAJ |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{ref|cap|††}} Common high court
| foundation_day = Maharashtra Day
| mammal = [[Indian giant squirrel]]<ref name=pannatigerreserve>{{cite web |title=State Animal, Bird, Tree and Flower |publisher=Panna Tiger Reserve |url=http://www.pannatigerreserve.in/kids/state.htm |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141013002319/http://www.pannatigerreserve.in/kids/state.htm |archive-date=13 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
| bird = [[Yellow-footed green pigeon]]<ref name=pannatigerreserve/>
| fish = [[Silver Pomfret]]
| butterfly = [[Papilio polymnestor|Blue Mormon]]<ref>{{Cite news
|title=State Mammal Blue Mormon :: Maharashtra
|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maharashtra-gets-state-butterfly/article7342955.ece
|website=The Hindu|date=22 June 2015
}}</ref>
| flower = [[Lagerstroemia speciosa|Jarul]]<ref name=pannatigerreserve/><ref>{{cite web
|title=State Flower Jarul: Maharashtra
|url=https://www.cityflowers.co.in/blog/maharashtra-state-flower-jarul/
|website=city flowers|date=11 March 2021
}}</ref>
| tree = [[Mangifera indica|Mango tree]]<ref name=pannatigerreserve/><ref>{{Cite web
|title=Official Flora of States and Union Territories of India
|url=https://www.flowersofindia.net/misc/state_flora.html
|author=Dinesh Valke
|website=flowers of india}}</ref>
| image_highway = SH IN-MH.png
| SH_numbers = [[List of state highways in Maharashtra|MH SH1-MH SH368]]
}}

'''Maharashtra''' ({{IPAc-en|m|ə|h|ɑː|ˈ|r|ɑː|ʃ|t|r|ə}}; {{IPA-mr|məhaɾaːʂʈɾə|lang|Maharashtra.ogg}}, abbr. '''MH''' or '''Maha''') is a [[states and union territories of India|state]] in the [[western India|western]] peninsular region of [[India]] occupying a substantial portion of the [[Deccan Plateau]]. It is bordered by the [[Arabian Sea]] to the west, the Indian states of [[Karnataka]] and [[Goa]] to the south, [[Telangana]] to the southeast and [[Chhattisgarh]] to the east, [[Gujarat]] and [[Madhya Pradesh]] to the north, and the Indian [[Indian union territories|union territory]] of [[Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu]] to the northwest.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maharashtra Tourism |url=https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/maharashtra/about-us |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118212123/https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/maharashtra/about-us |archive-date=18 January 2019 |access-date=3 February 2019}}</ref> Maharashtra is the [[List of states and union territories of India by population|second-most populous state]] in India and the third-most populous country subdivision globally.

The state is divided into 6 [[Divisions of Maharashtra|divisions]] and 36 [[List of districts of Maharashtra|districts]], with the state capital being [[Mumbai]], the [[List of million-plus urban agglomerations in India|most populous urban area]] in India, and [[Nagpur]] serving as the winter capital.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bhushan Kale |date=10 December 2014 |title=उपराजधानी ते राजधानी 'शिवनेरी'ची सवारी |language=mr|trans-title=Uparājdhānī tē Rājdhānī' śivanērī'cī Savārī |work=Divya Marathi |location=Nagpur, Maharashtra, India |url=http://m.divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/Amravati/5540/MAH-VID-AMR-first-time-in-mumbai-to-nagpur-air-conditioner-bus-started-new-s-4834760-NOR.html |url-status=dead |access-date=23 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623020105/http://m.divyamarathi.bhaskar.com/news/Amravati/5540/MAH-VID-AMR-first-time-in-mumbai-to-nagpur-air-conditioner-bus-started-new-s-4834760-NOR.html |archive-date=23 June 2015}}</ref> The [[Godavari River|Godavari]] and [[Krishna River|Krishna]] are the two major rivers in the state and forests cover 16.47 percent of the state's geographical area. The state is home to six [[World Heritage Site|UNESCO World Heritage Sites]]: [[Ajanta Caves]], [[Ellora Caves]], [[Elephanta Caves]], [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus]] (formerly Victoria Terminus), [[The Victorian and Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai|The Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai]] and [[Western Ghats|The Western Ghats]], a heritage site made up of 39 individual properties of which 4 are in Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite web |title=India |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230217015152/https://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/in |archive-date=17 February 2023 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Western Ghats |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1342 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221005101805/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/1342/ |archive-date=5 October 2022 |access-date=19 March 2023 |website=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref>

Maharashtra is the single largest contributor to [[Economy of India|India's Economy]] with a share of 14 per cent in all-India nominal [[gross domestic product|GDP]].<ref name="Maharashtra_data">—{{citation |last1=Prabhu |first1=K. Seeta |last2=Sarker |first2=P.C. |date=5 September 1992 |title=Identification of Levels of Development: Case of Maharashtra |journal=[[Economic and Political Weekly]] |volume=26 |issue=36 |pages=1927–1937 |jstor=4398849 |issn=0012-9976}} —{{cite book |last=Pletcher |first=Kenneth |date=1 April 2010 |title=The Geography of India: Sacred and Historic Places Understanding India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GdKcAAAAQBAJ&q=Delhi+is+a+commercial+hub+of+india |publisher=[[Britannica Educational Publishing]] |page=283 |isbn=978-1-615-30202-4 |access-date=11 July 2020}} —{{cite journal |last1=Sundar |first1=K.R. Shyam |date=2009 |title=Current State and Evolution of Industrial Relations in Maharashtra |url=https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=intl |publisher=[[Cornell University]] |journal=[[International Labour Organization]] |pages=8–30 |access-date=8 July 2020}} —{{Cite news |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/maharashtras-2025-agenda-why-states-1-trillion-gdp-target-could-make-it-indias-growth-engine/1218608/ |title=Maharashtra's 2025 agenda: Why state's $1 trillion GDP target could make it India's growth engine |work=Financial Express |access-date=25 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180624235107/https://www.financialexpress.com/economy/maharashtras-2025-agenda-why-states-1-trillion-gdp-target-could-make-it-indias-growth-engine/1218608/ |archive-date=24 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Biswas |first=Soutik |title=Maharashtra, India's richest state. |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65606770.amp |url-status=live |access-date=19 May 2023 |website=[[BBC]]|date=17 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517234451/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65606770.amp|archive-date=17 May 2023}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=India's richest province of Maharashtra is the nation's best performer |url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2023-01-11/india-s-richest-state-ranked-nation-s-top-performer-study-shows%23:~:text%3DIndia%27s%2520richest%2520province%2520of%2520Maharashtra,on%2520finances%2520and%2520social%2520indicators.&ved=2ahUKEwjM-qqxrYH_AhVc8DgGHem5CP0QFnoECA4QBQ&usg=AOvVaw24znC3yopG6YzCXmcbQKMG |website=[[Bloomberg L.P.|Bloomberg]]}}</ref> The [[economy of Maharashtra]] is the [[List of Indian states and union territories by GDP|largest]] in India, with a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of {{INRConvert|35.27|t|lk=r}} and GSDP per capita of {{INRConvert|242.247|k}}.<ref name="EcoSur21"/> The service sector dominates the state's economy, accounting for 69.3 per cent of the value of the output of the country. Although agriculture accounts for 12 per cent of the state GDP, it employs nearly half the population of the state.

Maharashtra is one of the most industrialised states in India. The state's capital, Mumbai, is India's [[Financial centre|financial]] and commercial capital.<ref name="Maharashtra_PC">—{{cite book |author=Planning Commission of the Government of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ohvu8D3LbgC&q=Maharashtra+richest+states |title=Maharashtra, Development Report |publisher=Academic Foundation |year=2007 |isbn=978-8-171-88540-4 |page=407}} —{{cite book |author=Bhandari Laveesh |title=Indian States at a Glance 2008-09: Performance, Facts And Figures – Maharashtra |publisher=Pearson Education India |year=2009 |isbn=978-8-131-72343-2 |page=176}}</ref> India's largest stock exchange [[Bombay Stock Exchange]], the oldest in Asia, is located in the city, as is [[National Stock Exchange of India|National Stock Exchange]], which is the second largest stock exchange in India and one of world's largest [[derivatives exchange]]s. The state has played a significant role in the country's [[Culture of India|social]] and [[Politics of India|political life]] and is widely considered a leader in terms of [[Agricultural productivity|agricultural]] and [[industrial production]], trade and transport, and education.<ref name="Maharashtra_info">—{{cite book |last=Pletcher |first=Kenneth |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=GdKcAAAAQBAJ&q=Delhi+is+a+commercial+hub+of+india |title=The Geography of India: Sacred and Historic Places Understanding India |date=1 April 2010 |publisher=[[Britannica Educational Publishing]] |isbn=978-1-615-30202-4 |page=280 |access-date=11 July 2020}} —{{citation |last1=Mookerjee |first1=Sitanshu |title=Maharashtra |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Maharashtra |encyclopedia=[[Encyclopædia Britannica]] |access-date=4 July 2020 |quote=Maharashtra is one of India's biggest commercial and industrial centres, and it has played a significant role in the country's social and political life. Maharashtra is a leader among Indian states in terms of agricultural and industrial production, trade and transport, and education. |last2=Wanmali |first2=Sudhir Vyankatesh |url-access=subscription}} —{{cite journal |last1=Sundar |first1=K.R. Shyam |date=2009 |title=Current State and Evolution of Industrial Relations in Maharashtra |url=https://digitalcommons.ilr.cornell.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1080&context=intl |journal=[[International Labour Organization]] |publisher=[[Cornell University]] |pages=8–70 |access-date=8 July 2020}}</ref> Maharashtra is the [[List of Indian states and territories by Human Development Index|ninth-highest ranking]] among Indian states in the [[human development index]].<ref>{{cite web |date=23 January 2023 |title=HDI: How States Fare in Human Development |url=https://ceda.ashoka.edu.in/hdi-how-states-fare-in-human-development/ |access-date=14 June 2021 |website=Center for Economic Data & Analysis}}</ref>

The region that encompasses the state has a history going back many millennia. Notable dynasties that ruled the region include the [[Asmaka]]s, the [[Maurya]]s, the [[Satavahana dynasty|Satavahanas]], the [[Western Satraps]], the [[Abhira dynasty|Abhiras]], the [[Vakataka dynasty|Vakatakas]], the [[Chalukya dynasty|Chalukyas]], the [[Rashtrakuta dynasty|Rashtrakutas]], the [[Western Chalukya Empire|Western Chalukyas]], the [[Seuna (Yadava) dynasty|Seuna Yadavas]], the [[Khalji dynasty|Khaljis]], the [[Tughlaq dynasty|Tughlaqs]], the [[Bahmani Sultanate|Bahamanis]], the [[Deccan sultanates]], the [[Mughal Empire|Mughals]], the [[Maratha Empire]] founded by [[Shivaji]], and the [[British Raj|British]]. Ruins, monuments, tombs, forts, and places of worship left by these rulers are dotted around the state. At the time of the [[Indian independence movement]] in the early 20th century, along with British ruled areas of [[Bombay presidency]], and [[Central Provinces and Berar]], the region included many British [[princely states|Vassal states]]. Among these, the erstwhile [[Deccan States Agency]] included [[Kolhapur State|Kolhapur]], [[Miraj]], [[Sangli]], [[Aundh State|Aundh]], [[Bhor State|Bhor]], [[Sawantwadi State|Sawantwadi]] and [[Marathwada]] of [[Hyderabad State]].

The state was formed on 1 May 1960 after a long struggle for special state for Marathi language speaking people through [[Samyukta Maharashtra Movement]] ({{Translation|United Maharashtra movement}}).

==Etymology==
The modern [[Marathi language]] evolved from the [[Maharashtri Prakrit]],<ref name="The Linguist List">{{cite web |url=http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/LLDescription.cfm?code=pmh |title=The Linguist List |publisher=The Linguist List |date=22 June 2009 |access-date=30 April 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225003616/http://linguistlist.org/forms/langs/LLDescription.cfm?code=pmh |archive-date=25 December 2009}}</ref> and the word ''[[Marhatta (region)|Marhatta]]'' (later used for the [[Maratha]]s) is found in the [[Jain]] Maharashtrian literature. The term Maharashtra ({{lang-mr|महाराष्ट्र}}) along with Maharashtrian, Marathi, and Maratha may have derived from the same root. However, their exact etymology is uncertain.<ref name="Gazetteer1967">{{cite book |title=Maharashtra State Gazetteers: General Series |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KZBTAAAAYAAJ |access-date=30 March 2013 |year=1967 |publisher=Directorate of Government Print., Stationery and Publications |page=208 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527221715/http://books.google.com/books?id=KZBTAAAAYAAJ |archive-date=27 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The most widely accepted theory among the linguistic scholars is that the words Maratha and Maharashtra ultimately derived from a combination of ''Mahā'' ({{lang-mr|महा}}) and ''Rāshtrikā'' ({{lang-mr|राष्ट्रिका}}),<ref name="Gazetteer1967" /><ref name="auto1">{{cite report |author=H. H. Risley |date=1908 |title=Census of India, 1901, Volume I, Ethnographic Appendices |url=http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/files/ideologie/data/CensusIndia/CensusIndia1901/CensusIndia1901EthnographicAppendices.pdf |page=93 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106225316/http://piketty.pse.ens.fr/files/ideologie/data/CensusIndia/CensusIndia1901/CensusIndia1901EthnographicAppendices.pdf |archive-date=6 November 2020}}</ref> the name of a tribe or dynasty of chiefs ruling in the [[Deccan Plateau|Deccan]] region.<ref name="KBala1965">{{cite book |author=K. Balasubramanyam |title=the mysore |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=w9jbqGLH7ioC&pg=PA174 |access-date=30 March 2013 |year=1965 |publisher=Mittal Publications |page=174 |id=GGKEY:HRFC6GWCY6D |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527221642/http://books.google.com/books?id=w9jbqGLH7ioC&pg=PA174 |archive-date=27 May 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> An alternate theory states 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.<ref name="KBala1965" /><ref name="auto1"/>

An alternative theory states that the term derives from the word ''mahā'' ("great") and ''rāshtra'' ("nation/dominion").<ref>{{cite book |title=Personal and geographical names in the Gupta inscriptions |url=https://archive.org/stream/personalgeograph00sharuoft#page/208/mode/2up |page=209 |author=Tej Ram Sharma |year=1978 |publisher=Concept Publishing Co., Delhi |access-date=18 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217151404/https://archive.org/stream/personalgeograph00sharuoft#page/208/mode/2up |archive-date=17 December 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, this theory is somewhat controversial among modern scholars who believe it to be the Sanskritised interpretation of later writers.<ref name="Gazetteer1967" />

==History==
{{Main|History of Maharashtra|Maratha Empire|Samyukta Maharashtra Movement}}
{{See also|Chronology of statehood of Maharashtra}}

[[File:Coach driver Indus 01.jpg|thumb|right|Late Harappa figure from [[Daimabad|Daimabad hoard]], [[Indus Valley civilization]]]]
[[File:Karla caves Chaitya.jpg|thumb|upright|2nd century BCE [[Karla Caves]] are a group of Buddhist caves near [[Lonavala]].]]

Numerous [[Late Harappan]] or [[Chalcolithic]] sites belonging to the [[Jorwe culture]] ({{circa|1300}}–700 BCE) have been discovered throughout the state.<ref>Upinder Singh (2008), [https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC ''A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century''], p.232</ref><ref>P. K. Basant (2012), [https://archive.org/details/citycountryinear0000basa ''The City and the Country in Early India: A Study of Malwa''], pp. 92–96</ref> The largest settlement discovered of the culture is at [[Daimabad]], which had a mud fortification during this period, as well as an elliptical temple with fire pits.<ref name="Lahiri2015">{{cite book |author=Nayanjot Lahiri |title=Ashoka in Ancient India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bJ_XCgAAQBAJ&pg=PP1 |date=5 August 2015 |publisher=Harvard University Press |isbn=978-0-674-05777-7 |page=82}}</ref><ref name=singh>{{cite book |last=Singh |first=Upinder |title=A History of Ancient and Early Medieval India: From the Stone Age to the 12th Century |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3lUIIYxWkEC&q=Daimabad&pg=PA229 |year=2008 |publisher=[[Pearson Education]] |location=[[Delhi]] |isbn=978-81-317-1120-0 |pages=229–233}}</ref> In the [[Late Harappan]] period there was a large migration of people from [[Gujarat]] to northern Maharashtra.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thapar |first=Romila |title=Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300 |publisher=University of California Press |year=2002 |isbn=0-520-24225-4 |pages=87}}</ref>

Maharashtra was ruled by [[Maurya Empire]] in the fourth and third centuries BCE. Around 230 BCE, Maharashtra came under the rule of the [[Satavahana]] dynasty which ruled it for the next 400 years.<ref name="autogenerated440">India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic: p. 440</ref> The rule of [[Satavahana]] dynasty was followed by that of [[Western Satraps]], [[Gupta Empire]], [[Gurjara-Pratihara]], [[Vakataka]], [[Kadambas]], [[Chalukya Empire]], [[Rashtrakuta Dynasty]], and [[Western Chalukya]] and the [[Yadava dynasty|Yadava Dynasty]]. The [[Buddhist]] [[Ajanta Caves]] in present-day [[Aurangabad district, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]] display influences from the Satavahana and Vakataka styles. The caves were possibly excavated during this period.<ref name="Javid2008">{{cite book |author=Ali Javid |title=World Heritage Monuments and Related Edifices in India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=54XBlIF9LFgC&pg=PA101 |year=2008 |publisher=Algora Publishing |isbn=978-0-87586-484-6 |page=101 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/https://books.google.com/books?id=54XBlIF9LFgC&pg=PA101 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Chalukya dynasty ruled the region from the sixth to the eighth centuries CE, and the two prominent rulers were [[Pulakeshin II]], who defeated the north Indian Emperor [[Harsha]], and [[Vikramaditya II]], who defeated the [[Arab]] invaders in the eighth century. The Rashtrakuta dynasty ruled Maharashtra from the eighth to the tenth century.<ref name="Indian History – page B-57">Indian History, p. B-57</ref> The Arab traveller [[Sulaiman al Mahri]] described the ruler of the Rashtrakuta dynasty [[Amoghavarsha]] as "one of the four great kings of the world".<ref name="autogenerated203">A Comprehensive History of Ancient India (3 Vols. Set): p. 203</ref> Shilahara dynasty began as vassals of the Rashtrakuta dynasty which ruled the Deccan plateau between the eighth and tenth centuries. From the early 11th century to the 12th century, the Deccan Plateau, which includes a significant part of Maharashtra, was dominated by the [[Western Chalukya Empire]] and the [[Chola dynasty]].<ref name="autogenerated365">'' The Penguin History of Early India: From the Origins to AD 1300'' by [[Romila Thapar]]: pp. 365–366</ref> Several battles were fought between the Western Chalukya Empire and the Chola dynasty in the Deccan Plateau during the reigns of [[Raja Raja Chola I]], [[Rajendra Chola I]], [[Jayasimha II (Western Chalukya dynasty)|Jayasimha II]], [[Someshvara I]], and [[Vikramaditya VI]].<ref>'' Ancient Indian History and Civilization'' by Sailendra Nath Sen: pp. 383–384</ref>

In the early 14th century, the [[Yadava Dynasty|Yadava dynasty]], which ruled most of present-day Maharashtra, was overthrown by the [[Delhi Sultanate]] ruler [[Alauddin Khalji]]. Later, [[Muhammad bin Tughluq]] conquered parts of the Deccan, and temporarily shifted his capital from Delhi to [[Daulatabad, Maharashtra|Daulatabad]] in Maharashtra. After the collapse of the Tughluqs in 1347, the local [[Bahmani Sultanate]] of Gulbarga took over, governing the region for the next 150 years.<ref>{{cite web |title=Kingdoms of South Asia – Indian Bahamani Sultanate |publisher=The History Files, United Kingdom |url=http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/IndiaBahamanis.htm |access-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150204080014/http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/IndiaBahamanis.htm |archive-date=4 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> After the break-up of the [[Bahamani]] sultanate in 1518, Maharashtra split into five [[Deccan Sultanates]]: [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate|Nizamshah]] of [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate|Ahmednagar]], [[Adilshah]] of [[Bijapur]], [[Qutubshah]] of [[Golkonda]], [[Bidarshah]] of [[Bidar]] and [[Imadshah]] of Elichpur. These kingdoms often fought with each other. United, they decisively defeated the [[Vijayanagara Empire]] of the south in 1565.<ref name="Saletore1934">{{cite book |author=Bhasker Anand Saletore |title=Social and Political Life in the Vijayanagara Empire (A.D. 1346–A.D. 1646) |url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.530021 |year=1934 |publisher=B.G. Paul |access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref> The present area of [[Mumbai]] was ruled by the [[Sultanate of Gujarat]] before its capture by [[Portugal]] in 1535 and the [[Faruqi dynasty]] ruled the [[Khandesh]] region between 1382 and 1601 before finally getting annexed in the [[Mughal Empire]]. [[Malik Ambar]], the regent of the [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate|Nizamshahi dynasty]] of [[Ahmednagar]] from 1607 to 1626,<ref>{{cite book |title=A Sketch of the Dynasties of Southern India |url=https://archive.org/details/asketchdynastie00sewegoog |year=1883 |publisher=E. Keys |pages=[https://archive.org/details/asketchdynastie00sewegoog/page/n35 26]–28 |access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref> increased the strength and power of [[Murtaza Nizam Shah II]] and raised a large army.Ambar is said to have introduced the concept of [[guerrilla warfare]] in the Deccan region.<ref>ANWAR, M. S. (1994). MALIK AMBAR AND THE MUGHALS, 1601-26. Proceedings of the Indian History Congress, 55, 355–367. http://www.jstor.org/stable/44143374</ref> Malik Ambar assisted Mughal emperor [[Shah Jahan]] in Delhi against his stepmother, [[Nur Jahan]], who wanted to enthrone her son-in-law.<ref>{{cite web |title=Malik Ambar (1548–1626): the rise and fall of military slavery |url=http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/other/019pho0000303s1u00112000.html |publisher=British Library |access-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912165017/http://www.bl.uk/onlinegallery/onlineex/apac/photocoll/other/019pho0000303s1u00112000.html |archive-date=12 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Richards |first=John F. |year=1995 |title=The Mughal Empire |pages=112–113 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HHyVh29gy4QC&q=malik+ambar+nur+jahan&pg=PA113|isbn=9780521566032 }}</ref> Both Shivaji's grandfather, Maloji and father Shahaji served under Ambar.<ref>J. J. Roy Burman. (2001). Shivaji’s Myth and Maharashtra’s Syncretic Traditions. Economic and Political Weekly, 36(14/15), 1226–1234. http://www.jstor.org/stable/4410485</ref>
[[File:5 x 7.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bibi Ka Maqbara]], a replica of the [[Taj Mahal]], was built during the reign of Mughal Emperor [[Aurangzeb]]]]
[[File:Emperor of Maratha India.jpg|thumb|Statue of Shivaji opposite [[Gateway of India]] in [[South Mumbai]]]]
In the early 17th century, [[Shahaji Bhosale]], an ambitious local general who had served the [[Ahmadnagar Sultanate]], the Mughals and [[Adil Shahi dynasty|Adil Shah of Bijapur]] at different periods throughout his career, attempted to establish his independent rule.<ref>{{cite web |title=Bijapur (Adil Shah Dynasty) |url=http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/IndiaBijapur.htm |publisher=The History Files, United Kingdom |access-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141023234150/http://www.historyfiles.co.uk/KingListsFarEast/IndiaBijapur.htm |archive-date=23 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> This attempt was unsuccessful, but his son [[Shivaji]] succeeded in establishing the [[Maratha Empire]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Bijapur (Vijapura), the historic city |url=http://www.bijapur.nic.in/history.html |publisher=Bijapur district administration |access-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140722105710/http://bijapur.nic.in/history.html |archive-date=22 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Shortly after Shivaji's death in 1680, the Mughal emperor Aurangzeb launched a campaign to conquer Maratha territories as well as the Adilshahi and Govalkonda kingdoms.<ref name=":2">{{Cite journal |last=Pearson |first=M. N. |date=1976 |title=Shivaji and the Decline of the Mughal Empire |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2053980 |journal=The Journal of Asian Studies |volume=35 |issue=2 |pages=221–235 |doi=10.2307/2053980 |jstor=2053980 |s2cid=162482005 |issn=0021-9118}}</ref> This campaign, better known as [[Mughal–Maratha Wars]], was a strategic defeat for Mughals. Aurangzeb failed to fully conquer Maratha territories, and this campaign had a ruinous effect on Mughal Treasury and Army.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Osborne |first=Eric |title=The Ulcer of the Mughal Empire: Mughals and Marathas, 1680-1707 |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09592318.2020.1764711?journalCode=fswi20 |series=Small Wars & Insurgencies|date=2020 |volume=31 |issue=5 |pages=988–1009 |doi=10.1080/09592318.2020.1764711 |s2cid=221060782 }}</ref> Shortly after Aurangzeb's death in 1707, Marathas under Peshwa [[Bajirao I]] and the generals that he had promoted such as [[Ranoji Shinde]] and [[Malharrao Holkar]] started conquering Mughal Territories in the north and western India, and by 1750s they or their successors had confined the Mughals to city of Delhi. <ref>{{Cite book |last=Gordon |first=Stewart |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/books/marathas-16001818/1098497E96D2AFA760D18DB311A91C80 |title=The Marathas 1600–1818 |date=1993 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-0-521-26883-7 |series=The New Cambridge History of India |location=Cambridge |pages=1, 3–4, 71–75, 114, 115–125, 133, 138–139}}</ref>.In the east the [[Nagpur kingdom|Bhonsale family of Nagpur]] expanded Maratha control all the way to Bengal.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://scroll.in/article/776978/forgotten-indian-history-the-brutal-maratha-invasions-of-bengal|title=Forgotten Indian history: The brutal Maratha invasions of Bengal}}</ref><ref>The Cyclopedia of India: Biographical, Historical, Administrative, Commercial, Volume 3, pg. 312 [https://books.google.com/books?id=Oe9tAAAAMAAJ&q=%22raghoji+the+great%22]</ref><ref>The Political History of Chhattisgarh, 1740-1858 A.D by PL Mishra pgs.38,39,88 [https://books.google.com/books?id=WM5aAAAAIAAJ&q=%22raghoji+the+great%22]</ref><ref>British Relations with the Nāgpur State in the 18th Century: An Account, Mainly Based on Contemporary English Records by Cecil Upton Wills, pages 19, 40, 186 [https://books.google.com/books?id=KpEdAAAAMAAJ&q=%22raghoji+the+great%22]</ref> {{Efn|Stewart Gordon writes on the Northward march of Marathas <blockquote>In the 1750s, the "frontier" extended north to Delhi. In this period, the Mughal government directly controlled little territory further than fifty miles from the capital. Even this was fiercely fought over. Jats and Rohillas disputed for the territory; factions fought for the throne, and the Afghan king, Ahmad Shah Abdali, periodically descended on the capital.

...
For the Marathas, probably the two most significant events of the whole chaotic period in Delhi were a treaty in 1752, which made them protector of the Mughal throne (and gave them the right to collect chauth in the Punjab), and the civil war of 1753, by which the Maratha nominee ended up on the Mughal throne.- <ref>(Cambridge History of India Vol. 2 Part 4 pp138 - 139)</ref>

</blockquote>}}At its peak, the Maratha empire covered much of the subcontinent, encompassing a territory of over 2.8 million km2. The Marathas are credited to a large extent for ending the Mughal rule in India.<ref name=":2" /><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=d1wUgKKzawoC&q=9781932705546 |title=Delhi, the Capital of India |date=2005 |isbn=978-1-932705-54-6 |last1=Mehta |first1=Jaswant Lal|publisher=Sterling Publishers Pvt. }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bXWiACEwPR8C&q=Peshwa+Balaji+Vishwanath+1714&pg=PA1941-IA82 |title=An Advanced History of Modern India |page=Introduction–14 |quote=The victory at Bhopal in 1738 established Maratha dominance at the Mughal court |isbn=978-0-230-32885-3 |last1=Sen |first1=Sailendra Nath |year=2010|publisher=Macmillan India }}</ref>
<ref>{{Cite book |title=Pearson, M. N. (February 1976). "Shivaji and the Decline of the Mughal Empire". ''The Journal of Asian Studies'' 35 (2): 221–235}}</ref>

After their defeat at the hand of [[Ahmad Shah Abdali]]'s Afghan forces in the [[Third Battle of Panipat]] in 1761, the Maratha suffered a setback. However, they soon reclaimed the lost territories and ruled central and north India including Delhi until the end of the eighteenth century. The Marathas also developed a potent ''[[Maratha Navy|Navy]]'' circa in the 1660s, which at its peak under the command of [[Kanhoji Angre]], dominated the territorial waters of the western coast of India from [[Mumbai]] to [[Savantwadi]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sridharan |first1=K. |title=Sea: Our Saviour |publisher=New Age International (P) Ltd. |isbn=978-81-224-1245-1 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9PiwJF7V4EQC&q=kanhoji+angre&pg=PA43 |year=2000}}</ref> It resisted the [[Company Rule in India|British]], [[Portuguese India|Portuguese]], [[Dutch India|Dutch]], and [[Siddi]] naval ships and kept a check on their naval ambitions. Charles Metcalfe, British Civil servant and later Acting Governor-General, said in 1806 <ref>{{Cite book |last=Nehru |first=Jawaharlal |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=_HAgDQAAQBAJ&dq=%22India+contains+no+more+than+two+great+powers,+British+and+Maratha,+and+every+other+state+acknowledges+the+influence+of+one+or+the+other.+Every+inch+that+we+recede+will+be+occupied+by+them.%22&pg=PT466 |title=Discovery of India |date=1 February 2008 |publisher=Penguin Random House India Private Limited |isbn=978-93-85990-05-2 |language=en}}</ref>

{{blockquote|India contains no more than two great powers, British and Maratha, and every other state acknowledges the influence of one or the other. Every inch that we recede will be occupied by them.|}}

The British [[East India Company]] slowly expanded areas under its rule during the 18th century. The [[Third Anglo-Maratha War]] (1817–1818) led to the end of the Maratha Empire and the [[East India Company]] took over the empire.<ref>{{cite web |title=Full text of "Selections from the papers of Lord Metcalfe; late governor-general of India, governor of Jamaica, and governor-general of Canada" |url=https://archive.org/stream/selectionsfromp01metcgoog/selectionsfromp01metcgoog_djvu.txt |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160326232147/https://archive.org/stream/selectionsfromp01metcgoog/selectionsfromp01metcgoog_djvu.txt |archive-date=26 March 2016 |access-date=3 February 2016 |website=archive.org}}</ref><ref name="Rathod1994">{{cite book |author=N. G. Rathod |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uPq640stHJ0C&pg=PA180 |title=The Great Maratha Mahadaji Scindia |date=1994 |publisher=Sarup & Sons |isbn=978-81-85431-52-9 |page=180 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/https://books.google.com/books?id=uPq640stHJ0C&pg=PA180 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Maratha Navy]] dominated till around the 1730s, was in a state of decline by the 1770s and ceased to exist by 1818.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sharma |first1=Yogesh |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FTTGWSme30YC&q=maratha+dhulap+navy&pg=PA66 |title=Coastal Histories: Society and Ecology in Pre-modern India |publisher=Primus Books |year=2010 |isbn=978-93-80607-00-9 |page=66}}</ref>

[[File:Bombay-Poona Mail.jpg|right|thumb|The Bombay-Poona Mail Train of the [[Great Indian Peninsular Railway|GIPR]] company in 1907]]
[[File:Northern excavations in Maharashtra, by Francis Frith.jpg|thumb|Northern excavations in Maharashtra (1850s-1870s) by [[Francis Frith]]]]
The [[United Kingdom|British]] governed western Maharashtra as part of the [[Bombay Presidency]], which spanned an area from [[Karachi]] in Pakistan to northern Deccan. A number of the [[Maratha]] states persisted as [[princely state]]s, retaining autonomy in return for acknowledging British [[suzerainty]]. The largest princely states in the territory were [[Nagpur kingdom|Nagpur]], [[Satara state|Satara]] and [[Kolhapur State]]; Satara was annexed to the Bombay Presidency in 1848, and Nagpur was annexed in 1853 to become [[Nagpur Province]], later part of the [[Central Provinces]]. [[Berar Province|Berar]], which had been part of the [[Nizam]] of [[Hyderabad State|Hyderabad's]] kingdom, was occupied by the British in 1853 and annexed to the Central Provinces in 1903.<ref name="Russell1997">{{cite book |author=R. V. Russell |title=The Tribes and Castes of the Central Provinces of India (Volumes I and II) |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6h2Gm1gPZZQC&pg=PT8 |year=1997 |publisher=Library of Alexandria |isbn=978-1-4655-8294-2 |page=8 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/https://books.google.com/books?id=6h2Gm1gPZZQC&pg=PT8 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> However, a large region called [[Marathwada]] remained part of the Nizam's Hyderabad State throughout the British period. The British ruled Maharashtra region from 1818 to 1947 and influenced every aspect of life for the people of the region. They brought several changes to the legal system,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chhabra |first1=G. S. |title=Advanced study in the history of modern India |date=2004 |publisher=Lotus Press |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-8189093075 |pages=24–25 |edition=[3rd ed.] |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=OzZzFm4pLWQC&q=poona++police+crime+presidency+court+judge+jury+-taylor+-jstor&pg=PA1}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Jaffe |first1=James |title=Ironies of Colonial Governance: Law, Custom and Justice in Colonial India |date=2015 |publisher=Cambridge University press |location=Cambridge UK |isbn=978-1107087927 |pages=68–96 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SfoGBwAAQBAJ&pg=PR9}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Wadia |first1=Sorab P. N. |title=The institution of trial by jury in India |date=1897 |publisher=University of Michigan |pages=[https://archive.org/details/institutiontria00wadigoog/page/n39 29]–30 |url=https://archive.org/details/institutiontria00wadigoog |quote=jury poona.}}</ref> built modern means of transport including roads<ref>{{cite book |last1=Heitzman |first1=James |title=The city in South Asia |date=2008 |publisher=Routledge |location=London |isbn=978-0415574266 |page=[https://archive.org/details/cityinsouthasia0000heit/page/125 125] |edition=1st |url=https://archive.org/details/cityinsouthasia0000heit |url-access=registration |quote=pune.}}</ref> and Railways,<ref>{{cite book |title=Gazetteer of The Bombay Presidency: Poona (Part 2) |publisher=Government Central press |page=156 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yxEIAQAAIAAJ&q=gazetteer+famine+poona&pg=PA85 |year=1885}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=yxEIAQAAIAAJ&q=gazetteer+famine+poona&pg=PA85 |title=Gazetteer of the Bombay Presidency: Poona (2 PTS.) |year=1885}}</ref> took various steps to provide mass education, including that for previously marginalised classes and women,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Keer |first1=Dhananjay |title=Mahatma Jotirao Phooley: father of the Indian social revolution. |date=1997 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |location=Bombay |isbn=978-81-7154-066-2 |page=24 |edition=[New ed.]. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PFY9fz68KEsC&pg=PA1}}</ref> established universities based on western system and imparting education in science, technology,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Naregal |first1=Veena |title=Language politics, elites, and the public sphere: western India under colonialism |date=2002 |publisher=Anthem Press |location=London |isbn=978-1843310549 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vm7OD7aSq-4C&q=poona+missionary+schools+colonial+india&pg=PR8}}</ref> and western medicine,<ref>Mutalik, Maitreyee. "Review of Body Snatching to Body Donation: Past and Present: A Comprehensive Update., Int J Pharm Bio Sci 2015 July; 6(3): (B) 428 – 439"</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Ramanna |first1=Mridula |title=Health care in Bombay Presidency, 1896–1930 |date=2012 |publisher=Primus Books |location=Delhi |isbn=9789380607245 |page=102 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Mm14U_6JVwoC&q=mridula+ramanna&pg=PR7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Kosambi |first1=Meera |last2=Feldhaus |first2=Ann |title=Intersections: socio-cultural trends in Maharashtra |date=2000 |publisher=Orient Longman |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788125018780 |page=139 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0FobxiflfVQC&q=%22seva+sadan%22+ranade&pg=PA256}}</ref> standardised the Marathi language,<ref>{{cite book |last1=Chavan |first1=Dilip |title=Language politics under colonialism : caste, class and language pedagogy in western India |date=2013 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |isbn=978-1443842501 |page=174 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zuIxBwAAQBAJ&pg=PR7}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Chavan |first1=Dilip |title=Language politics under colonialism : caste, class and language pedagogy in western India |date=2013 |publisher=Cambridge Scholars |location=Newcastle upon Tyne |isbn=978-1443842501 |pages=136–184 |edition=1st |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zuIxBwAAQBAJ&q=pune+standard+dialect&pg=PA148 |access-date=13 December 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Natarajan |editor-first1=Nalini |last=Deo |first=Shripad D. |title=Handbook of twentieth century literatures of India |date=1996 |publisher=Greenwood Press |location=Westport, Conn. [u.a.] |isbn=978-0313287787 |page=212 |edition=1. publ. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&q=pune+culture+theatre+movies&pg=PA207}}</ref><ref name="Rao1994">{{cite book |editor=Goparaju Sambasiva Rao |author=Rajyashree |title=Language Change: Lexical Diffusion and Literacy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8Ben0lE61msC&pg=PA9 |year=1994 |publisher=Academic Foundation |isbn=978-81-7188-057-7 |pages=45–58}}</ref> and introduced mass media by utilising modern printing technologies.<ref>Tucker, R., 1976. Hindu Traditionalism and Nationalist Ideologies in Nineteenth-Century Maharashtra. Modern Asian Studies, 10(3), pp.321-348.</ref> The [[Indian Rebellion of 1857|1857 war of independence]] had many Marathi leaders, though the battles mainly took place in northern India. The modern struggle for independence started taking shape in the late 1800s with leaders such as [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]], Justice [[Mahadev Govind Ranade]], [[Gopal Krishna Gokhale]], [[Pherozeshah Mehta]] and [[Dadabhai Naoroji]] evaluating the company rule and its consequences. [[Jyotirao Phule]] was the pioneer of social reform in the Maharashtra region in the second half of the 19th century. His social work was continued by [[Shahu of Kolhapur|Shahu, Raja of Kolhapur]] and later by [[B. R. Ambedkar]]. After the partial [[autonomy]] given to the states by the [[Government of India Act 1935]], [[B. G. Kher]] became the first Chief Minister of the Congress party-led Government of tri-lingual Bombay Presidency.<ref>{{cite web |title=B.G. Kher – Profile and biography City |url=http://www.veethi.com/india-people/b._g._kher-profile-3997-19.htm |access-date=5 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160806101942/http://www.veethi.com/india-people/b._g._kher-profile-3997-19.htm |archive-date=6 August 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> The ultimatum to the British during the [[Quit India Movement]] was given in Mumbai and culminated in the transfer of power and independence in 1947.

After Indian independence, princely states and Jagirs of the [[Deccan States Agency]] were merged into [[Bombay State]], which was created from the former Bombay Presidency in 1950.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kolhapurcorporation.gov.in/english/Ancient_Historical_Places.html |title=History of Kolhapur City |publisher=Kolhapur Corporation |access-date=12 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912164315/http://www.kolhapurcorporation.gov.in/english/Ancient_Historical_Places.html |archive-date=12 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 1956, the [[States Reorganisation Act]] reorganised the Indian states along linguistic lines, and Bombay Presidency State was enlarged by the addition of the predominantly [[Marathi language|Marathi]]-speaking regions of [[Marathwada]] ([[Aurangabad Division]]) from erstwhile [[Hyderabad state]] and [[Vidarbha]] region from the [[Central Provinces and Berar]]. The southernmost part of Bombay State was ceded to [[Karnataka|Mysore]]. In the 1950s, Marathi people strongly protested against bilingual [[Bombay state]] under the banner of [[Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Radheshyam Jadhav |title=Samyukta Maharashtra movement |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Pune-pioneered-Samyukta-Maharashtra-movement/articleshow/5874479.cms |access-date=12 September 2014 |work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=Bennet, Coleman & Co. Ltd. |publisher=[[The Times Group]] |date=30 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113064222/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Pune-pioneered-Samyukta-Maharashtra-movement/articleshow/5874479.cms |archive-date=13 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=The Samyukta Maharashtra movement |url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-what-is-the-samyukta-maharashtra-movement-1983811 |access-date=12 September 2014 |work=[[Daily News and Analysis]] |agency=Diligent Media Corporation |publisher=Dainik Bhaskar Group |date=1 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073631/http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-what-is-the-samyukta-maharashtra-movement-1983811 |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The notable leaders of the samiti included [[Keshavrao Jedhe]], [[S.M. Joshi]], [[Shripad Amrit Dange]], [[Pralhad Keshav Atre]] and [[Gopalrao Khedkar]]. The key demand of the samiti called for a Marathi speaking state with Mumbai as its capital.<ref>Lele, J., 1995. "Saffronisation of the Shiv Sena". ''Economic and Political Weekly'', 24.</ref> In the Gujarati speaking areas of the state, a similar [[Mahagujarat Movement]] demanded a separate [[Gujarat]] state comprising majority Gujarati areas. After many years of protests, which saw 106 deaths amongst the protestors, and electoral success of the samiti in 1957 elections, the central government led by Prime minister [[Nehru]] split Bombay State into two new states of Maharashtra and Gujarat on 1 May 1960.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhagwat |first1=Ramu |title=Linguistic states |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/People-dont-want-Vidarbha-to-be-treated-as-colony-of-Maharashtra/articleshow/21564818.cms |access-date=12 September 2014 |work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=Bennet, Coleman & Co. Ltd. |publisher=[[The Times Group]] |date=3 August 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151113062718/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/nagpur/People-dont-want-Vidarbha-to-be-treated-as-colony-of-Maharashtra/articleshow/21564818.cms |archive-date=13 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The state continues to have a dispute with [[Karnataka]] regarding the region of [[Belgaum]] and [[Karwar]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Banerjee |first1=S. |title=The Saffron Wave: The Eleventh General Elections in Maharashtra |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=1997 |volume=32 |issue=40 |pages=2551–2560 |jstor=4405925}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Border dispute: Karnataka CM's comments need to be taken seriously, says Maharashtra Congress chief Nana Patole |work=The Economic Times |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/border-dispute-karnataka-cms-comments-need-to-be-taken-seriously-says-maha-cong-chief/articleshow/88541449.cms |access-date=1 February 2022}}</ref> The Government of Maharashtra was unhappy with the border demarcation of 1957 and filed a petition to the Ministry of Home affairs of India.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sirsikar |first1=V.M. |title=Politics in Maharashtra, Problems and Prospects |date=1966 |publisher=University of Poona |location=Poona |page=8 |url=http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAD260.pdf |access-date=21 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141129073441/http://pdf.usaid.gov/pdf_docs/PNAAD260.pdf |archive-date=29 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Maharashtra claimed 814 villages, and 3 urban settlements of Belagon, Karwar and [[Nipani|Nippani]], all part of then Bombay Presidency before freedom of the country.<ref>{{cite news |title=Belgaum border dispute |url=http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140730/nation-current-affairs/article/belgaum-border-dispute-karnataka-govt-warns-against-taking-law |access-date=12 September 2014 |work=[[Deccan Chronicle]] |agency=Deccan Chronicle Holdings Limited |date=30 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912170941/http://www.deccanchronicle.com/140730/nation-current-affairs/article/belgaum-border-dispute-karnataka-govt-warns-against-taking-law |archive-date=12 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> A petition by Maharashtra in the Supreme Court of India, staking a claim over Belagon, is currently pending.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/the-dispute-over-belagavi/article38069096.ece |title=The dispute over Belagavi |first=Nagesh |last=Prabhu |date=30 December 2021 |access-date=16 February 2022 |website=Thehindu.com}}</ref>
{{Further|Belagavi border dispute}}

==Geography==
{{Main|Geography of Maharashtra}}
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Maharashtra with a total area of {{cvt|307713|km2|sqmi|0}}, is the [[List of states and territories of India by area|third-largest state]] by area in terms of land area and constitutes 9.36 per cent of India's total geographical area. The State lies between 15°35' N to 22°02' N latitude and 72°36' E to 80°54' E longitude. It occupies the [[West India|western]] and central part of the country and has a coastline stretching 840 kilometres<ref>{{cite web |url=http://iasri.res.in/agridata/02data%5Cchapter%204%5Cdb2002tb4_5.htm |title=AgriData |access-date=22 May 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180414161217/http://www.iasri.res.in/agridata/02data/chapter%204/DB2002TB4_5.HTM |archive-date=14 April 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref> along the [[Arabian Sea]].<ref name=outline>{{cite web |title=Maharashtra Geography |url=http://www.maharashtratourism.net/geography.html |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140615015912/http://www.maharashtratourism.net/geography.html |archive-date=15 June 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The dominant physical feature of the state is its plateau character, which is separated from the Konkan coastline by the mountain range of the Western Ghats, which runs parallel to the coast from north to south. The [[Western Ghats]], also known as the Sahyadri Range, has an average elevation of 1,200 metres (4,000 ft); its slopes gently descending towards the east and southeast.<ref name="western ghat">{{cite news |title=Western Ghats as world heritage site |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/UN-designates-Western-Ghats-as-world-heritage-site/articleshow/14595602.cms?referral=PM |access-date=24 January 2014 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=2 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303052832/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/UN-designates-Western-Ghats-as-world-heritage-site/articleshow/14595602.cms?referral=PM |archive-date=3 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Western Ghats]] (or the Sahyadri Mountain range) provide a physical barrier to the state on the west, while the [[Satpura Hills]] along the north and Bhamragad-Chiroli-Gaikhuri ranges on the east serve as its natural borders.<ref name=farmer>{{cite web |title=State Farmer Guide |url=http://farmech.gov.in/FarmerGuide/MH/index1.html |website=Government of India |publisher=Ministry of Agriculture |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140204000430/http://farmech.gov.in/FarmerGuide/MH/index1.html |archive-date=4 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> This state's expansion from North to South is 720 km and East to West is 800 km. To the west of these hills lie the [[Konkan]] coastal plains, 50–80 kilometres in width. To the east of the Ghats lies the flat [[Deccan Plateau]]. The main rivers of the state are the [[Krishna River|Krishna]], and its tributary, [[Bhima River|Bhima]], the [[Godavari River|Godavari]], and its main tributaries, [[Manjira River|Manjara]], and [[Wardha River|Wardha]]-[[Wainganga River|Wainganga]] and the [[Tapi River, India|Tapi]], and its tributary [[Purna River (tributary of Tapti)|Purna]].<ref name="outline" /><ref name="rivers">{{cite web |title=Maharashtra Rivers |url=http://www.maharashtratourism.net/rivers.html |publisher=Maharashtra Tourism |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209135938/http://maharashtratourism.net/rivers.html |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Maharashtra is divided into five geographic regions. Konkan is the western coastal region, between the Western Ghats and the sea.<ref name="state divisions">{{cite web |title=Geographical set up |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/2496/9/09_chapter%202.pdf |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202092824/http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/2496/9/09_chapter%202.pdf |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Khandesh]] is the north region lying in the valley of the Tapti, [[Purna River (tributary of Tapti)|Purna]] river.<ref name=rivers /> [[Nashik]], [[Malegaon]] [[Jalgaon]], [[Dhule]] and [[Bhusawal]] are the major cities of this region.<ref name=cities>{{cite web |title=Cities of Maharashtra |url=http://www.maharashtratourism.net/cities/ |publisher=Maharashtra Tourism |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140209055257/http://www.maharashtratourism.net/cities/ |archive-date=9 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Desh, Maharashtra|Desh]] is in the center of the state.<ref name="Desh region">{{cite web |title=Regions in Maharashtra |url=http://www.discoveredindia.com/maharashtra/about-maharashtra/regions-in-maharashtra.htm |publisher=Discover India Portal |access-date=24 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202155550/http://www.discoveredindia.com/maharashtra/about-maharashtra/regions-in-maharashtra.htm |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref> [[Marathwada]], which was a part of the princely [[state of Hyderabad]] until 1956, is located in the southeastern part of the state.<ref name=outline /><ref name=marathwada>{{cite web |title=United Nations Development Programme |url=http://www.in.undp.org/india/en/home.html?option=com_content&task=view&id=129&Itemid=217 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201214050/http://www.in.undp.org/india/en/home.html?option=com_content&task=view&id=129&Itemid=217 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 February 2014 |publisher=[[United Nations]] |access-date=24 January 2014}}</ref> Aurangabad and [[Nanded]] are the main cities of the region.<ref name=city>{{cite web |title=A Deccan Odyssey destination |url=http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=../Maharashtratourism/CitiestoVisits/Aurangabad.html |publisher=Maharashtra Tourism |access-date=24 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201233812/http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=..%2FMaharashtratourism%2FCitiestoVisits%2FAurangabad.html |archive-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Vidarbha]] is the easternmost region of the state, formerly part of the Central Provinces and Berar.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=EFDVAAAAMAAJ&pg=RA1-PA131 |title=Asian Review |year=1898}}</ref>

The state has limited area under irrigation, low natural fertility of soils, and large areas prone to recurrent drought. Due to this the agricultural productivity of Maharashtra is generally low as compared to the national averages of various crops. Maharashtra has been divided in to nine agro-climatic zones on the basis of annual rainfall soil types, vegetation and cropping pattern.<ref name="Agro Zones">{{cite web |title=Agro Climatic Zones of Maharashtra |url=http://krishi.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/Upload/Pdf/mwsip.pdf |publisher=[[Ministry of Agriculture]] |access-date=1 April 2022}}</ref>
{{Further|Manas Rural Development Institute}}

===Climate===
[[File:The Godavari river at Puntamba in January.JPG|right|thumb|Dried up [[Godavari River]] at [[Puntamba]], Ahmadnagar district, after a poor [[monsoon]] season]]
Maharashtra experiences a [[tropical wet and dry climate]] with hot, rainy, and cold weather seasons.<ref name="IGARSS2017">{{cite book |last1=Swain |display-authors=etal |first1=S. |title=2017 IEEE International Geoscience and Remote Sensing Symposium (IGARSS) |s2cid=26920225 |chapter=Application of SPI, EDI and PNPI using MSWEP precipitation data over Marathwada, India |volume=2017 |pages=5505–5507 |doi=10.1109/IGARSS.2017.8128250 |date=July 2017 |isbn=978-1-5090-4951-6}}</ref> The month of March marks the beginning of the summer and the temperature rises steadily until June. In the central plains, summer temperatures rise to between {{cvt|40|°C|°F|1|disp=or}} and {{cvt|45|°C|°F|1|disp=or}}. May is usually the warmest and January the coldest month of the year. The winter season lasts until February with lower temperatures occurring in December and January. On the Deccan plateau that lies on eastern side of the Sahyadri mountains, the climate is drier, however, dew and hail often occur, depending on seasonal weather.<ref name="Seasonal">{{cite web |title=Climate - ENVIS |url=http://mahenvis.nic.in/Climate.aspx#:~:text=The%20climate%20of%20Maharashtra%20is,and%20Vidarbha%20in%20the%20state. |publisher=Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (Maharashtra) |access-date=1 April 2022}}</ref>

The rainfall patterns in the state vary by the topography of different regions. The state can be divided into four meteorological regions, namely coastal Konkan, Western Maharashtra, Marathwada, and Vidarbha.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Guhathakurta |first1=Pulak |last2=Saji |first2=Elizabeth |title=Detecting changes in rainfall pattern and seasonality index vis-à-vis increasing water scarcity in Maharashtra |journal=Journal of Earth System Science |date=1 June 2013 |volume=122 |issue=3 |pages=639–649 |doi=10.1007/s12040-013-0294-y |bibcode=2013JESS..122..639G |s2cid=132556072 }}</ref> The [[southwest monsoon]] usually arrives in the last week of June and lasts till mid-September. Pre-monsoon showers begin towards the middle of June and post-monsoon rains occasionally occur in October. The highest average monthly rainfall is during July and August. In the winter season, there may be a little rainfall associated with western winds over the region. The Konkan coastal area, west of the Sahyadri Mountains receives very heavy monsoon rains with an annual average of more than 3,000 mm. However, just 150 km to the east, in the rain shadow of the mountain range, only 500–700 mm/year will fall, and long dry spells leading to drought are a common occurrence. Maharashtra has many of the 99 Indian districts identified by the Indian Central water commission as prone to drought.<ref name="Mall">{{cite journal |last1=Mall |first1=R. K. |last2=Gupta |first2=Akhilesh |last3=Singh |first3=Ranjeet |last4=Singh |first4=R. S. |last5=Rathore |first5=L. S. |title=Water resources and climate change: An Indian perspective |journal=Current Science |date=2006 |volume=90 |issue=12 |pages=1610–1626 |jstor=24091910 }}</ref> The average annual rainfall in the state is 1,181 mm and 75 per cent of it is received during the southwest monsoon from June–to September. However, under the influence of the Bay of Bengal, eastern Vidarbha receives good rainfall in July, August, and September.<ref name=climate>{{cite web |title=Climate of Maharashtra |publisher=Public Library |url=http://164.100.47.134/plibrary/ebooks/Climate_of_Maharashtra/Climate_of_Maharashtra.pdf |access-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140219082608/http://164.100.47.134/plibrary/ebooks/Climate_of_Maharashtra/Climate_of_Maharashtra.pdf |archive-date=19 February 2014}}</ref> Thane, [[Raigad district|Raigad]], [[Ratnagiri district|Ratnagiri]], and [[Sindhudurg district|Sindhudurg]] districts receive heavy rains of an average of {{cvt|2000|to|2500|mm|in|-1|disp=or}} and the hill stations of [[Matheran]] and [[Mahabaleshwar]] over {{cvt|5000|mm|in|-1|disp=or}}. 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 {{cvt|1000|mm|in|-1|disp=or}} annually. In winter, a cool dry spell occurs, with clear skies, gentle air breeze, and pleasant weather that prevails from October to February, although the eastern Vidarbha region receives rainfall from the north-east monsoon.<ref>Singh, K.S. and Mehta, B.V., 2004. Maharashtra (Vol. 30). Popular Prakashan. page=5 [https://books.google.com/books?id=OmBjoAFMfjoC&q=vidarbha%20%22north-east%20monsoon%22]</ref>

==Flora and fauna==
[[File:Tara in Tadoba Tiger Reserve AJTJ P1090339.jpg|right|thumb|A Bengal tiger in [[Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve]]]]
The state has three crucial biogeographic zones, namely [[Western Ghats]], [[Deccan Plateau]], and the [[Western Coastal Plains|West coast]]. The Ghats nurture endemic species, Deccan Plateau provides for vast mountain ranges and grasslands while the coast is home to littoral and swamp forests. Flora of Maharashtra is heterogeneous in composition. In 2012 the recorded thick forest area in the state was {{cvt|61939|sqkm|sqmi}} which was about 20.13 per cent of the state's geographical area.<ref name="forest percentile">{{cite web |title=The State's forest cover |url=http://www.mahaforest.nic.in/internal.php?id=23 |website=Wildlife Conservation Trust, Mumbai |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140314005839/http://mahaforest.nic.in/internal.php?id=23 |archive-date=14 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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).<ref name=Forestry>{{cite web |title=Forest department |url=http://mahaforest.nic.in/index.php |website=Forest Management system |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313214004/http://mahaforest.nic.in/index.php |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 the conservation of biodiversity within and outside forest areas in the State.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mahaforest.nic.in/fckimagefile/Notification__.pdf |title=Formation of the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board |website=Maharashtra Forest Department |access-date=29 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190819042126/http://www.mahaforest.nic.in/fckimagefile/Notification__.pdf |archive-date=19 August 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://maharashtrabiodiversityboard.gov.in/about-us/ |title=About Us {{!}} Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board |website=Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board |access-date=29 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191214182309/http://maharashtrabiodiversityboard.gov.in/about-us/ |archive-date=14 December 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Maharashtra is ranked second among the [[States and union territories of India|Indian states]] in terms of the recorded forest area. Recorded Forest Area (RFA) in the state is {{cvt|61579|sqmi|km2|0}} of which {{cvt|49546|sqmi|km2|0}} is reserved forests, {{cvt|6733|sqmi|km2|0}} is protected forest and {{cvt|5300|sqmi|km2|0}} is unclassed forests. Based on the interpretation of IRS [[Resourcesat-2]] LISS III satellite data of the period Oct 2017 to Jan 2018, the State has {{cvt|8720.53|sqmi|km2|0}} under Very Dense Forest(VDF), {{cvt|20572.35|sqmi|km2|0}} under Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) and {{cvt|21484.68|sqmi|km2|0}} under Open Forest (OF). According to the [[Harry George Champion|Champion and Seth classification]], Maharashtra has five types of forests:<ref>{{cite web |title=Forest Types |url=http://www.mahaforest.nic.in/internal.php?lang_eng_mar=Eng&id=29 |website=Maharashtra Forest |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=7 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180408010424/http://www.mahaforest.nic.in/internal.php?lang_eng_mar=Eng&id=29 |archive-date=8 April 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
*Southern Tropical Semi-Evergreen forests - These are found in the western ghats at a height of 400–1000 meters. [[Memecylon umbellatum|Anjani]], [[Terminalia chebula|Hirda]], [[Terminalia paniculata|Kinjal]], and [[Mango]] are predominant tree species found here.
*Southern Tropical Moist Deciduous forests-These are a mix of Moist [[Teak]] bearing forests ([[Melghat]]) and Moist Mixed deciduous forests (Vidarbha and Thane district). Commercially important Teak, [[Dalbergia sissoo|Shishum]], and [[Bambusa tulda|bamboo]] are found here. In addition to evergreen Teak, some of the other tree species found in this type of forest include [[Jambul]], [[Ain]], and [[Dalbergia latifolia|Shisam]].<ref name=wildlife>{{cite web |title=The Melghat Forests |url=http://www.shvoong.com/social-sciences/sociology/2306693-melghat-forests-dhakna-kolkaz-wildlife/ |publisher=Dhakna –Kolkaz wildlife sanctuary |access-date=7 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307165038/http://www.shvoong.com/social-sciences/sociology/2306693-melghat-forests-dhakna-kolkaz-wildlife/ |archive-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=live}}.</ref>
*Southern Tropical Dry Deciduous forests-these occupy a major part of the state. Southern Tropical Thorn forests 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 zone|Littoral]] and [[Swamp forest|Swamp]] forests are mainly found in the Creeks of [[Sindhudurg]] and Thane districts of the coastal Konkan region. The state harbours significant mangrove, coastal and marine biodiversity, with {{cvt|304|km2}} of the area under mangrove cover as per the India State of Forest Report (ISFR) of the Forest survey India in the coastal districts of the state.

The most common animal species present in the state are monkeys, wild pigs, [[tiger]], [[leopard]], [[gaur]], [[sloth bear]], [[sambar (deer)|sambar]], [[blackbuck|four-horned antelope]], [[chital]], [[barking deer]], [[mouse deer]], [[small Indian civet]], [[golden jackal]], [[jungle cat]], and [[hare]].<ref name="fauna">{{cite web |title=Nagzira Wildlife Sanctuary |url=http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Sanctuaries/Sanctuaries.aspx?strpage=NagziraSanctuaries.html |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131019125010/http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/TouristDelight/Sanctuaries/Sanctuaries.aspx?strpage=NagziraSanctuaries.html |archive-date=19 October 2013}}</ref> Other animals found in this state include reptiles such as [[lizard]]s, scorpions and snake species such as [[cobra]]s and [[Bungarus|kraits]].<ref name="biodiversity">{{cite web |title=Flora And Fauna of Maharashtra |url=http://www.discoveredindia.com/maharashtra/land-of-rocks/flora-and-fauna-of-maharashtra.htm |publisher=Discovered India |access-date=6 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140307161252/http://www.discoveredindia.com/maharashtra/land-of-rocks/flora-and-fauna-of-maharashtra.htm |archive-date=7 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The state provides legal protection to its [[tiger]] population through six dedicated [[Tiger reserves of India|tiger reserves]] under the precincts of the [[National Tiger Conservation Authority]].

The state's 720 kilometres of sea coastline of the [[Arabian sea]] marks the presence of various types of fish and marine animals. The [[Zoological Survey of India]] (ZSI) found 1527 marine animal species, including [[Mollusca|molluscs]] with 581 species, many [[crustacean]] species including crabs, shrimps, and lobsters, 289 fish species, and 141 species types of [[annelid]]s (sea worms).<ref>{{Cite news |title=Study identifies 1,527 species of marine fauna in state. |work=[[Times of India]] |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/city/pune/study-identifies-1527-species-of-marine-fauna-in-state/articleshow/12063502.cms}}</ref>

==Regions, divisions and districts==
{{Main|List of districts of Maharashtra}}{{See also|Talukas of Maharashtra|List of cities in Maharashtra by population}}
[[File:Maharashtra Divisions Eng.svg|thumb|right|alt=refer caption|Divisions of Maharashtra, along with their respective districts (with Palghar district formed in 2014 from the northern part of Thane district)]]
Maharashtra has following geographical regions:

# [[North Maharashtra]]
# [[Konkan]]
# [[Marathwada]]
# [[Vidarbha]]
#
# [[Desh, Maharashtra|Desh]] or Western Maharashtra

It consists of six administrative divisions:<ref>[https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/1128/Districts "Districts"] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150912151910/https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/1128/Districts |date=12 September 2015 }}, maha.gov.in</ref>
#[[Amravati Division|Amravati]]
#[[Aurangabad Division|Aurangabad]]
#[[Konkan Division|Konkan]]
#[[Nagpur Division|Nagpur]]
#[[Nashik Division|Nashik]]
#[[Pune Division|Pune]]

The state's six divisions are further divided into 36 [[List of districts of Maharashtra|districts]], 109 sub-divisions, and 358 [[Talukas of Maharashtra|talukas]].<ref name=talukas>{{cite web |title=Talukas of Maharashtra |url=https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/mahInfo/state.php |website=District department |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=13 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064744/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/mahInfo/state.php |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> Maharashtra's top five districts by population, as ranked by the 2011 Census, are listed in the following table.

Each district is governed by a [[district collector]] or district magistrate, appointed either by the [[Indian Administrative Service]] or the Maharashtra Civil Service.<ref name=civil>{{cite web |title=District level governance |url=http://mahades.maharashtra.gov.in/files/publication/esm_2012-13_eng.pdf |publisher=The Government of Maharashtra |access-date=27 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140513154547/http://mahades.maharashtra.gov.in/files/publication/esm_2012-13_eng.pdf |archive-date=13 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Districts are subdivided into ''sub-divisions'' ([[Taluka]]) governed by sub-divisional magistrates, and again into ''blocks''.<ref name=Panchayat /> A block consists of panchayats (village councils) and town municipalities.<ref name="panchayati raj">{{cite web |title=Panchayati raj in state |url=https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/upload/WhatsNew/ABCDCR_03122013_1.pdf |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313214043/https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/upload/WhatsNew/ABCDCR_03122013_1.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=panchayats>{{cite web |title=Maharashtra regional and town planning |url=https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/upload/WhatsNew/ABCDCR_03122013_1.pdf |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140313214043/https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/upload/WhatsNew/ABCDCR_03122013_1.pdf |archive-date=13 March 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Talukas are intermediate level panchayat between the [[District Councils of India|Zilla Parishad]] (district councils) at the district level and [[gram panchayat]] (village councils) at the lower level.<ref name=Panchayat>{{cite web |title=Department of Panchayati Raj |url=http://www.mahapanchayat.gov.in/ |publisher=Ministry of Panchayati Raj |access-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409071241/http://www.mahapanchayat.gov.in/ |archive-date=9 April 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=zilla>{{cite web |title=Short title and extent |url=http://www.mahasec.com/PDF/The%20Maharashtra%20Municipal%20Councils%20Nagar%20Panchayats%20and%20Industrial%20%20Township%20Act,%201965.pdf |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140128130833/http://www.mahasec.com/PDF/The%20Maharashtra%20Municipal%20Councils%20Nagar%20Panchayats%20and%20Industrial%20%20Township%20Act,%201965.pdf |archive-date=28 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Out of the total population of Maharashtra, 45.22 per cent of people live in urban regions. The total figure of the population living in urban areas is 50.8 million. There are 27 [[Municipal Corporations]] in Maharashtra.<ref name="Municipal">{{cite web |title=List of Municipal Corporation |url=https://mpcb.gov.in/sites/default/files/solid-waste/Municipal_Corporation03032020.pdf |publisher=Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) |access-date=9 March 2022}}</ref>
{{Largest cities
|country=Maharashtra
|stat_ref=As of the [[List of cities in Maharashtra|2011 Census]]
|list_by_pop=List of cities in Maharashtra
|div_name=District
|div_link=List of districts of Maharashtra{{!}}District

|city_1=Mumbai
|div_1=Mumbai City district{{!}}Mumbai City district
|pop_1=18,414,288
|img_1=Mumbai Downtown.jpg

|city_2=Pune
|div_2=Pune district{{!}}Pune
|pop_2=5,049,968
|img_2=Amanora_Skyline.jpg

|city_3=Nagpur
|div_3=Nagpur district{{!}}Nagpur
|pop_3=2,497,777
|img_3=Night at Sitabuldi Nagpur.jpg

|city_4=Nashik
|div_4=Nashik district{{!}}Nashik
|pop_4=2,362,769
|img_4=NashikViewfromPandavLeni.jpg

|city_5=Aurangabad, Maharashtra{{!}}Aurangabad
|div_5=Aurangabad_district,_Maharashtra{{!}}Aurangabad
|pop_5=1,189,376

|city_6=Solapur
|div_6=Solapur district{{!}}Solapur
|pop_6=951,118

|city_7=Amravati
|div_7=Amravati district{{!}}Amravati
|pop_7=846,801

|city_8=Jalgaon
|div_8=Jalgaon district{{!}}Jalgaon
|pop_8=737,411

|city_9=Nanded
|div_9=Nanded district{{!}} Nanded
|pop_9=550,564

|city_10=Kolhapur
|div_10=Kolhapur district{{!}} Kolhapur
|pop_10=549,861

}}

==Demographics==

According to the provisional results of the 2011 national census, Maharashtra was at that time the richest state in India and the [[List of states and union territories of India by population|second-most populous]] state in India with a population of 112,374,333. Contributing to 9.28 per cent of India's population, males and females are 58,243,056 and 54,131,277, respectively.<ref name=contribution>{{cite web |title=Provisional population totals |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_maha.html |publisher=[[Census of India]] |access-date=13 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140614013034/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_maha.html |archive-date=14 June 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The total population growth in 2011 was 15.99 per cent while in the previous decade it was 22.57 per cent.<ref name=statics>{{cite web |title=Population of Maharashtra 2011 census |url=http://www.populationindia.com/2012/03/population-of-maharashtra-2011-census.html |publisher=Press Population |access-date=19 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202183158/http://www.populationindia.com/2012/03/population-of-maharashtra-2011-census.html |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=proportion>{{cite web |title=Population proportion in Maharashtra |url=http://www.unicef.org/india/Population_Demographics.pdf |publisher=[[UNICEF]] |access-date=19 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131228164711/http://www.unicef.org/india/Population_Demographics.pdf |archive-date=28 December 2013}}</ref> Since independence, the decadal growth rate of population has remained higher (except in the year 1971) than the national average. However, in the year 2011, it was found to be lower than the national average.<ref name=proportion /> The 2011 census for the state found 55 per cent of the population to be rural with 45 per cent being urban-based.<ref>{{cite web |title=Census India Info |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/stock/profiles/en/IND027_Maharashtra.pdf |access-date=28 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141021102120/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011census/censusinfodashboard/stock/profiles/en/IND027_Maharashtra.pdf |archive-date=21 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="diaspora">{{cite news |url=http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/up-migrant-lynched-in-mumbai_479435.html |title=Population statistics of state |work=[[Zee News]] |access-date=19 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816164149/http://zeenews.india.com/news/nation/up-migrant-lynched-in-mumbai_479435.html |archive-date=16 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> Although, India hasn't conducted a caste-wise census since Independence, based on the British era census of 1931, it is estimated that the [[Maratha (caste)|Maratha]] and the [[Kunbi|Maratha-kunbi]] numerically form the largest caste cluster with around 32 per cent of the population.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dahiwale |first1=S. M. |title=Consolidation of Maratha Dominance in Maharashtra |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=1995 |volume=30 |issue=6 |pages=336–342 |jstor=4402382 }}</ref> Maharashtra has a large [[Other Backward Class]] population constituting 41 per cent of the population. The scheduled tribes include ''[[Adivasi]]s'' such as [[Thakar tribe|Thakar]], [[Warli]], [[Katkari people|Konkana]] and [[Halba people|Halba]].<ref name="tribes">{{cite web |url=http://centralclusteruupgs.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/tribals-of-maharashtra/ |title=Tribals of Maharashtra |publisher=Central Cluster UUPGS |access-date=19 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140221183250/http://centralclusteruupgs.wordpress.com/2011/06/11/tribals-of-maharashtra/ |archive-date=21 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The 2011 census found [[scheduled castes]] and [[scheduled tribes]] to account for 11.8 per cent and 8.9 per cent of the population, respectively.<ref>{{cite web |title=Census of India 2011, PCA Maharashtra |url=http://pibmumbai.gov.in/English/PDF/E2013_PR798.PDF |publisher=Director of Census Operations Maharashtra |access-date=28 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150616020253/http://pibmumbai.gov.in/English/PDF/E2013_PR798.PDF |archive-date=16 June 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The state also includes a substantial number of [[Human migration|migrants]] from other states of India.<ref>{{cite news |title=53 per cent of Mumbai's migrants from within Maharashtra |url=https://m.timesofindia.com/city/mumbai/53-of-citys-migrants-from-within-the-state/amp_articleshow/70322261.cms |access-date=15 January 2021 |work=The Times of India |date=22 July 2019}}</ref> [[Uttar Pradesh]], [[Gujarat]], and [[Karnataka]] account for the largest percentage of migrants to the Mumbai metropolitan area.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Verma |first1=Monika |title=Return of the Politics of Nativism in Maharashtra |journal=The Indian Journal of Political Science |date=2011 |volume=72 |issue=3 |pages=747–758 |jstor=41858848 }}</ref>

The 2011 census reported the human sex ratio is 929 females per 1000 males, which were below the national average of 943. The density of Maharashtra was 365 inhabitants per km2 which was lower than the national average of 382 per km2. Since 1921, the populations of Ratnagiri and Sindhudurg shrank by −4.96 per cent and −2.30 per cent, respectively, while the population of Thane grew by 35.9 per cent, followed by Pune at 30.3 per cent. The literacy rate is 83.2 per cent, higher than the national rate at 74.04 per cent.<ref name=elite>{{cite news |title=Maharashtra in elite group with 83 per cent literacy |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Maharashtra-in-elite-group-with-83-literacy/articleshow/9278068.cms?referral=PM |access-date=14 March 2014 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=19 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Maharashtra-in-elite-group-with-83-literacy/articleshow/9278068.cms?referral=PM |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Of this, male literacy stood at 89.82 per cent and female literacy 75.48 per cent.<ref>{{cite web |title=C-8 Educational Level By Age And Sex For Population Age 7 And Above |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-series/C-08/DDW-2700C-08.xlsx |website=Census of India |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=4 April 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180531202452/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-series/C-08/DDW-2700C-08.xlsx |archive-date=31 May 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Religion ===
{{Main article|Religion in Maharashtra}}
{{multiple image|perrow = 3|total_width=400
| image1 = Alandi Palki 08.jpg
| image2 = Shree Siddhivinayak Temple Mumbai.jpg
| image3 = Sai gold full.jpg
| image4 = Vitthal Tulsi.jpg
| image5 = Khandoba temple Pune.jpg
| image6 = Trimbakweshwar Temple Entrance.jpg
| footer = [[Varkari]] saint Dnyaneshwar's palkhi (palanquin), Shree Siddhivinayak Temple [[Ganpati]], Mumbai, Sai baba of [[Shirdi]],
Panduranga [[Vitthal]] Pandharpur, Khandoba temple Pune, Trimbakweshwar [[Jyotirlinga]] Temple entrance
}}
{{Pie chart
|thumb=right
|caption=Religion in Maharashtra (2011)<ref name="Religion"/>
|label1 = [[Hinduism in Maharashtra|Hinduism]] |value1 = 79.83 |color1=darkorange
|label2 = [[Islam]] |value2 = 11.54 |color2 = Green
|label3 = [[Marathi Buddhists|Buddhism]] |value3 = 5.81 |color3 = yellow
|label4 = [[Jainism in Maharashtra|Jainism]] |value4 = 1.25 |color4=pink
|label5 = [[Christianity in Maharashtra|Christianity]] |value5 = 0.96 |color5=dodgerblue
|label6 = [[Sikhism]] |value6 = 0.20 |color6=darkkhaki
|label7 = Other |value7 = 0.16 |color7 = grey
|label8 = Not stated |value8 = 0.25 |color8 = black
}}

According to the 2011 census, [[Hinduism]] was the principal religion in the state at 79.8 per cent of the total population. [[Islam in India|Muslims]] constituted 11.5 per cent of the total population. Maharastra has highest number of followers of [[Buddhism]] in India, accounting for 5.8 per cent of Maharashtra's total population with 6,531,200 followers. [[Marathi Buddhists]] account for 77.36% of all [[History of Buddhism in India|Buddhists in India]].<ref name="census2011">{{cite web|title=Population by religion community – 2011|url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|website=Census of India, 2011|publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150825155850/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-01/DDW00C-01%20MDDS.XLS|archivedate=25 August 2015}}</ref> [[Sikhism|Sikhs]], [[Christianity|Christians]], and [[Jainism|Jains]] constituted 0.2 per cent, 1.0 per cent, and 1.2 per cent of the Maharashtra population respectively.<ref name="Religion">{{Cite web|date=2011|title=Population by Religion - Maharashtra |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/11382/download/14495/DDW27C-01%20MDDS.XLS |website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

Maharashtra, and particularly the city of Mumbai, is home to two tiny religious communities. This includes 5000 [[History of the Jews in India|Jews]], mainly belonging to the [[Bene Israel]], and [[Baghdadi Jews|Baghdadi Jewish]] communities.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Benaim |first1=Rachel Delia |title=For India's Largest Jewish Community, One Muslim Makes All the Tombstones |url=https://www.tabletmag.com/sections/community/articles/mumbai-tombstone-engraver |access-date=29 April 2022 |magazine=Tablet Magazine |date=23 February 2015}}</ref> [[Parsi]] is the other community who follow [[Zoroastrianism]]. The 2011 census recorded around 44,000 parsis in Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Parsi population dips by 22 per cent between 2001-2011: study |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/Parsi-population-dips-by-22-per-cent-between-2001-2011-study/article14508859.ece |access-date=29 April 2022 |work=The Hindu |date=26 July 2016 |language=en-IN}}</ref>

=== Language ===
{{Further|Languages of India|Marathi people}}

{{Pie chart
|thumb = left
|caption = Languages of Maharashtra (2011)<ref name="2011census-language"/>
|label1 = [[Marathi language|Marathi]] |value1 = 70.34 |color1 = red
|label2 = [[Hindi]] |value2 = 10.70 |color2 = orange
|label3 = [[Urdu]] |value3 = 6.71 |color3 = green
|label4 = [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]] |value4 = 2.06 |color4 = skyblue
|label5 = [[Khandeshi language|Khandeshi]] |value5 = 1.44 |color5 = coral
|label6 = [[Lambadi]] |value6 = 1.40 |color6 = khaki
|label7 = [[Bhili language|Bhili]] |value7 = 1.08 |color7 = indianred
|label8 = [[Telugu language|Telugu]] |value8 = 1.00 |color8 = steelblue
|label9 = [[Kannada]] |value9 = 0.89 |color9 = darkslateblue
|label10 = Others |value10 = 7.72 |color10 = grey
}}

[[Marathi language|Marathi]] is the official language although different regions have their own dialects.<ref name="auto" /><ref name="Marathi">{{cite web |url=http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/libweb/acts/1965.05.PDF |website=[[Bombay High Court]] |title=The Maharashtra Official Languages Act, 1964 |access-date=2 April 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402225839/http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/libweb/acts/1965.05.PDF |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref><ref name=speakers>{{cite news |title=Most spoken language in Maharashtra |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-has-38-languages-other-than-Marathi-finds-survey/articleshow/21063263.cms |access-date=27 February 2014 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=14 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927044931/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Maharashtra-has-38-languages-other-than-Marathi-finds-survey/articleshow/21063263.cms |archive-date=27 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Most people speak regional languages classified as dialects of Marathi in the census. [[Powari language|Powari]], [[Lodhi language|Lodhi]], and [[Varhadi dialect|Varhadi]] are spoken in the Vidarbha region, Dangi is spoken near the Maharashtra-Gujarat border, [[Bhil languages]] are spoken throughout the northwest part of the state, [[Khandeshi language|Khandeshi]] (locally known as Ahirani) is spoken in Khandesh region. In the Desh and Marathwada regions, [[Deccani language|Dakhini Urdu]] is widely spoken, although Dakhini speakers are usually bilingual in Marathi.<ref>Vijayendra, T., Dakhni—People's Language, frontierweekly.com Volume 39, issue 22, [http://www.frontierweekly.com/archive/vol-number/vol/vol-39-2006-07/vol-39-22/dhakni-39-22.pdf]</ref>

Konkani, and its dialect Malvani, is spoken along the southern Konkan coast. Telugu and Kannada are spoken along the border areas of Telangana and Karnataka respectively. At the junction of Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh a variety of Hindi dialects are spoken such as Lodhi and [[Powari language|Powari]]. Lambadi is spoken through a wide area of eastern Marathwada and western Vidarbha. Gondi is spoken by diminishing minorities throughout Vidarbha, but most concentrated in the forests of Gadchiroli and the Telangana border.

[[Marathi language|Marathi]] is the first language of a majority or plurality of the people in all districts of Maharastra except [[Nandurbar district|Nandurbar]], where [[Bhili language|Bhili]] is spoken by 45% of its population. The highest percentage of [[Khandeshi language|Khandeshi]] speakers are [[Dhule district]] (29%) and the highest percentage of [[Gondi language|Gondi]] speakers are in [[Gadchiroli district]] (24%).<ref name="2011census-language">{{cite web |title=Table C-16 Population by Mother Tongue: Maharashtra |url=https://censusindia.gov.in/nada/index.php/catalog/10212/download/13324/DDW-C16-STMT-MDDS-2700.XLSX |website=censusindia.gov.in|publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref>

Hindi is widely-spoken across Maharashtra, mainly as a second-language. The highest percentages of mother-tongue Hindi speakers are in urban areas, especially Mumbai and its suburbs, where it is mother tongue to over a quarter of the population. Pune and Nagpur are also home to large communities of Hindi-speakers. Gujarati and Urdu are also major languages in Mumbai, both are spoken by around 10% of the population.<ref name="2011census-language"/>
[[Urdu]] and its dialect, the [[Deccani language|Dakhni]] are spoken by the Muslim population of the state.<ref>Kazi, N.M., 2013. Measuring Impact of Tourism in India: A Case Study of Aurangabad.</ref>

The Mumbai metropolitan area is home to migrants from all over India, and so Hindi is a common language. Many other languages are spoken in Mumbai including [[Tamil language|Tamil]], Telugu, Konkani, Kannada, Sindhi, Punjabi, Bengali, Tulu to name a few.<ref name="2011census-language" />

==Governance and administration==
{{Main|Government of Maharashtra}}
{{See also|Politics of Maharashtra|List of Chief Ministers of Maharashtra}}
[[File:Mantralay of Mumbai, Administrative Headquarters 03.jpg|right|thumb|[[Mantralaya, Mumbai|Mantralaya]] or administrative headquarters of Maharashtra state government in [[South Mumbai]]]]
The state is governed through a [[Westminster system|parliamentary system]] of [[representative democracy]], a feature the state shares with other Indian states. Maharashtra is one of the seven states in India where the state legislature is bicameral, comprising the [[Vidhan Sabha]] (Legislative Assembly) and the [[Vidhan Parishad]] (Legislative Council).<ref name="mla's">{{cite web |title=Legislative assembly Maharashtra |url=http://maharashtracongress.com/English/members-of-legislative-assembly-mla/ |website=Congress |publisher=Maharashtra Congress |access-date=19 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202174303/http://maharashtracongress.com/English/members-of-legislative-assembly-mla/ |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref> The legislature, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly, consists of elected members and special office bearers such as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, who are elected by the members. The [[Maharashtra Legislative Assembly|Legislative Assembly]] consists of 288 members who are elected for five-year terms unless the Assembly is dissolved before to the completion of the term. The [[Maharashtra Legislative Council|Legislative Council]] is a permanent body of 78 members with one-third (33 members) retiring every two years. The state has 48 seats in the [[Lok Sabha]], or the lower chamber of the Indian Parliament, and 19 seats in the [[Rajya Sabha]], or the upper chamber of the Indian Parliament.<ref name=members>{{cite web |title=Fifteenth Lok Sabha members |url=http://164.100.47.132/lssnew/Members/statedetail.aspx?state_code=Maharashtra |website=Parliament of India |publisher=Lok Sabha |access-date=19 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202145545/http://164.100.47.132/lssnew/Members/statedetail.aspx?state_code=Maharashtra |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref><ref name=list>{{cite web |title=Members of Rajya Sabha |url=http://164.100.47.5/Newmembers/memberstatewise.aspx |website=Parliament of India |publisher=Rajya Sabha |access-date=19 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205185402/http://164.100.47.5/Newmembers/memberstatewise.aspx |archive-date=5 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[government of Maharashtra]] is a democratically elected body in India with the [[List of governors of Maharashtra|Governor]] as its constitutional head who is appointed by the [[President of India]] for a five-year term.<ref name=Governor>{{cite web |title=The Council of Ministers |url=http://jkrajbhawan.nic.in/The%20Governor/powerofgovernor.htm |website=Government of J & K |publisher=J & K Raj Bhavan |access-date=19 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130929021149/http://jkrajbhawan.nic.in/The%20Governor/powerofgovernor.htm |archive-date=29 September 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the [[Chief Minister]] by the Governor, and the Council of Ministers are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister.<ref name="chief minister">{{cite web |title=CM Selection |url=http://eci.nic.in/archive/handbook/CANDIDATES/cap6/cap6_1.htm |website=Election Commission |publisher=Election Commission of India |access-date=19 January 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202224555/http://eci.nic.in/archive/handbook/CANDIDATES/cap6/cap6_1.htm |archive-date=2 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The governor remains a ceremonial head of the state, while the Chief Minister and his council are responsible for day-to-day government functions. The [[Thackeray ministry|council of ministers]] consists of Cabinet Ministers and Ministers of State (MoS). The Secretariat headed by the Chief Secretary assists the council of ministers. The Chief Secretary is also the administrative head of the government. Each government department is headed by a Minister, who is assisted by an Additional Chief Secretary or a Principal Secretary, who is usually an officer of the [[Indian Administrative Service]], the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary serves as the administrative head of the department they are assigned to. Each department also has officers of the rank of Secretary, Special Secretary, Joint Secretary, etc. assisting the Minister and the Additional Chief Secretary/Principal Secretary.

For purpose of administration, the state is divided into 6 divisions and 36 [[List of districts of Maharashtra|districts]]. Divisional Commissioner, an IAS officer is the head of administration at the divisional level. The administration in each district is headed by a [[District Magistrate]], who is an IAS officer and is assisted by several officers belonging to state services. Urban areas in the state are governed by [[Municipal Corporations in India|Municipal Corporations]], [[Municipal governance in India|Municipal Councils]], [[Nagar Panchayat (Notified Area Council)|Nagar Panchayats]], and seven [[Cantonment Board]]s.<ref name=proportion /><ref name="divisions">{{cite web |url=https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/mahInfo/state.php |title=State body info |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=19 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615064744/http://www.maharashtra.gov.in/english/mahInfo/state.php |archive-date=15 June 2011}}</ref> The [[Maharashtra Police]] is headed by an IPS officer of the rank of [[Director general of police]]. A Superintendent of Police, an IPS officer assisted by the officers of the Maharashtra Police Service, is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues in each district. The Divisional Forest Officer, an officer belonging to the [[Indian Forest Service]], manages the forests, environment, and wildlife of the district, assisted by the officers of Maharashtra Forest Service and Maharashtra Forest Subordinate Service.<ref>{{cite web |title=Office of Chief Conservator of Forests & Deputy Director General, Social Forestry |url=http://aurangabad.nic.in/htmldocs/Website_tender_revised_v2.pdf |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=20 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141217145922/http://aurangabad.nic.in/htmldocs/Website_tender_revised_v2.pdf |archive-date=17 December 2014}}</ref>
[[File:Mumbai 03-2016 40 Bombay High Court.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Maharashtra High Court|The [[Bombay High Court]], one of the oldest high courts in India]]
The judiciary in the state consists of the Maharashtra High Court ([[Bombay High Court|The High Court of Bombay]]), district and session courts in each district and lower courts and judges at the taluka level.<ref name="judiciary">{{cite web |url=http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/history.php# |title=Introduction |publisher=The Bombay High Court |access-date=19 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020125511/http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/history.php |archive-date=20 October 2015}}</ref> The High Court has regional branches at [[Nagpur]] and [[Aurangabad, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]] in Maharashtra and [[Panaji]] which is the capital of Goa.<ref name="bombayhighcourt">{{cite web |url=http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/history.php |title=History of High Court of Bombay |publisher=bombayhighcourt.nic.in |access-date=28 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020125511/http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/history.php |archive-date=20 October 2015}}</ref> The state cabinet on 13 May 2015 passed a resolution favouring the setting up of one more bench of the Bombay high court in [[Kolhapur]], covering the region.<ref name="timesofindia">{{cite news |url=http://m.timesofindia.com/city/kolhapur/State-cabinet-nod-to-HC-circuit-bench-in-Kolhapur/articleshow/47257438.cms |title=State cabinet nod to HC circuit bench in Kolhapur – The Times of India |newspaper=The Times of India |date=13 May 2015 |publisher=m.timesofindia.com |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010050430/https://m.timesofindia.com/city/kolhapur/State-cabinet-nod-to-HC-circuit-bench-in-Kolhapur/articleshow/47257438.cms |archive-date=10 October 2017 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The President of India appoints the chief justice of the High Court of the Maharashtra judiciary on the advice of the chief justice of the Supreme Court of India as well as the Governor of Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite web |title=The High Court of Bombay |url=http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/history.php |publisher=High Court of Bombay |access-date=20 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151020125511/http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/history.php |archive-date=20 October 2015}}</ref> Other judges are appointed by the chief justice of the high court of the judiciary on the advice of the Chief Justice.<ref name=jdistrict /> Subordinate Judicial Service is another vital part of the judiciary of Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite news |title=State supports all-India judicial service proposal |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/state-supports-allindia-judicial-service-proposal-cm/1102252/ |access-date=20 September 2014 |work=[[The Indian Express]] |agency=[[Indian Express Group]] |date=14 April 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527022940/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/state-supports-allindia-judicial-service-proposal-cm/1102252/ |archive-date=27 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The subordinate judiciary or the district courts are categorised into two divisions: the Maharashtra civil judicial services and higher judicial service.<ref name=Introduction>{{cite web |title=Introduction to Maharashtra Judiciary |url=http://court.mah.nic.in/courtweb/static_pages/page1.php |publisher=Maharashtra Judicial Academy |access-date=5 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140806015534/http://court.mah.nic.in/courtweb/static_pages/page1.php |archive-date=6 August 2014}}</ref> While the Maharashtra civil judicial services comprises the Civil Judges (Junior Division)/Judicial Magistrates and civil judges (Senior Division)/Chief Judicial Magistrate, the higher judicial service comprises civil and sessions judges.<ref name=activities>{{cite web |title=District Courts, Maharashtra |url=http://court.mah.nic.in/courtweb/static_pages/middle1.php |publisher=Maharashtra Judiciary |access-date=5 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140816185545/http://court.mah.nic.in/courtweb/static_pages/middle1.php |archive-date=16 August 2014}}</ref> The Subordinate judicial service of the judiciary is controlled by the District Judge.<ref name=jdistrict>{{cite web |title=Governing Council |url=http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/mja/left/govern.html |publisher=High Court of Bombay |access-date=5 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122070903/http://bombayhighcourt.nic.in/mja/left/govern.html |archive-date=22 January 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Maharashtra Judicial Academy |url=http://www.csi-sigegov.org/egovernance_pdf/20_168-172.pdf |website=csi-sigegov.org/ |publisher=Computer Society of India |access-date=5 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140808054311/http://www.csi-sigegov.org/egovernance_pdf/20_168-172.pdf |archive-date=8 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Politics===
{{See also|Politics of Maharashtra|List of Chief Ministers of Maharashtra}}
The politics of the state in the first decades after its formation in 1960 was dominated by the [[Indian National Congress]] party or its offshoots such as the [[Nationalist Congress Party]]. At present, it has been dominated by four political parties, the [[Bharatiya Janata Party]], the [[Nationalist Congress Party]], the [[Indian National Congress]] and the [[Shivsena]].

Just like in other states in India, dynastic politics is fairly common also among political parties in Maharashtra.<ref name="Denyer2014">{{cite book |author=Simon Denyer |title=Rogue Elephant: Harnessing the Power of India's Unruly Democracy |url=https://archive.org/details/rogueelephanthar0000deny |url-access=registration |date=24 June 2014 |publisher=Bloomsbury USA |isbn=978-1-62040-608-3 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/rogueelephanthar0000deny/page/115 115]–116}}</ref> The dynastic phenomenon is seen from the national level down to the district level and even village level. The three-tier structure of Panchayati Raj created in the state in the 1960s also helped to create and consolidate this phenomenon in rural areas. Apart from controlling the government, political families also control cooperative institutions, mainly [[Cooperative sugar factories in Maharashtra|cooperative sugar factories]] and district [[Cooperative movement in India|cooperative banks]] in the state.<ref>Palshikar, S., 2004. Issues in an Issue-less Election: Assembly Polls in Maharashtra. Economic and Political weekly, pp.4399-4403.</ref> The [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] also features several senior leaders who are dynasts.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://scroll.in/article/918234/is-the-bjp-less-dynastic-than-the-congress-not-so-lok-sabha-data-shows |title=Is the BJP less dynastic than the Congress? Not so, Lok Sabha data shows|date=29 March 2019 }}</ref><ref name="Chandra2016">{{cite book |author=Kanchan Chandra |author-link=Kanchan Chandra |title=Democratic Dynasties: State, Party, and Family in Contemporary Indian Politics |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VwbFDAAAQBAJ&pg=PR10 |date=28 April 2016 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-316-59212-0 |pages=131, 136}}</ref> In Maharashtra, the [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]] has a particularly high level of dynasticism.<ref name="Chandra2016"/>

In the early years, the 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 state and national politics for over forty years. During his career, he has split the Congress twice with significant consequences for the state politics.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wilkinson |first1=Steven |s2cid=154957863 |title=Elections in India: Behind the Congress Comeback |journal=Journal of Democracy |date=January 2005 |volume=16 |issue=1 |pages=153–167 |doi=10.1353/jod.2005.0018}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kamat |first1=A.R. |title=Politico-economic developments in Maharashtra: a review of the post-independence period |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=October 1980 |volume=15 |issue=40 |pages=1669–1678 |jstor=4369147}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Palshikar |first1=S. |last2=Birmal |first2=N. |title=Maharashtra: Towards a New Party System |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=18 December 2004 |volume=39 |issue=51 |pages=5467–5472 |jstor=4415934}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.firstpost.com/politics/clean-yet-invisible-prithviraj-chavan-quits-as-maharashtra-cm-did-anyone-notice-1732223.html |title=Clean yet invisible: Prithviraj Chavan quits as CM, did anyone notice? |work=Firstpost |date=27 September 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140930005937/http://www.firstpost.com/politics/clean-yet-invisible-prithviraj-chavan-quits-as-maharashtra-cm-did-anyone-notice-1732223.html |archive-date=30 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/prithviraj-chavan-rivals-narayan-rane-maharashtra-assembly-polls/1/377333.html |title=Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan's rivals get key posts for Assembly polls |work=[[India Today]] |date=16 August 2014 |access-date=29 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140927103024/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/prithviraj-chavan-rivals-narayan-rane-maharashtra-assembly-polls/1/377333.html |archive-date=27 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ne280412Coverstory.asp |title=Right man in the wrong polity |work=[[Tehelka]] |date=28 April 2012 |access-date=29 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006113537/http://archive.tehelka.com/story_main52.asp?filename=Ne280412Coverstory.asp |archive-date=6 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=BJP, Shiv Sena announce alliance in Maharashtra |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bjp-shiv-sena-alliance-in-maharashtra-devendra-fadnavis-uddhav-thackeray/1/405098.html |publisher=IndiaToday.in Mumbai |date=4 December 2014 |access-date=7 May 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509012027/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/bjp-shiv-sena-alliance-in-maharashtra-devendra-fadnavis-uddhav-thackeray/1/405098.html |archive-date=9 May 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> In the [[2019 Indian general election|2019 Lok Sabha elections]], the BJP-Shiv Sena alliance secured 41 seats out of 48 from the state.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.esakal.com/loksabha-2019/result |title=#LokSabhaElection |access-date=2 March 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608010227/https://www.esakal.com/loksabha-2019/result |archive-date=8 June 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 the chief minister. [[Uddhav Thackeray]] of Shiv Sena then formed an alternative governing coalition under his leadership with his erstwhile opponents from NCP, INC, and several independent members of the legislative assembly.<ref>{{cite news |title=Political drama has gripped the home state of Bollywood |url=https://www.economist.com/asia/2019/11/29/political-drama-has-gripped-the-home-state-of-bollywood |access-date=30 November 2019 |issue=30 November 2019 |publisher=The Economist}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Maharashtra: With 169 votes, Uddhav-led govt sails through Assembly floor test, BJP stages walkout |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-assembly-floor-test-uddhav-thackeray-fadnavis-bjp-shiv-sena-ncp-congressmaharashtra-uddhav-led-mahavikasaghadi-govt-wins-trust-vote-bjp-stages-walkout-6144236/ |access-date=30 November 2019 |work=Indian Express |issue=30 November 2019 |publisher=Indian Express newspapers}}</ref> Thackeray served as the 19th [[Chief minister of Maharashtra]] of the [[Maha Vikas Aghadi]] coalition until June 2022.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maharashtra-government-formation-news-live-uddhav-thackeray-swearing-in-as-cm/liveblog/72270170.cms |title=Udhav Thackeray swearing in as CM |website=Times of India |access-date=28 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="IE28Nov">{{cite news |title=Maharashtra swearing-in HIGHLIGHTS: Farmers first; Uddhav sets priority after first cabinet meet |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/maharashtra-live-updates-uddhav-thackeray-swearing-in-shiv-sena-ncp-congress-bjp-6140471/ |access-date=29 November 2019 |work=The Indian Express |date=28 November 2019}}</ref><ref name="FP29Nov">{{cite news |title=Uddhav Thackeray sworn in as 19th CM of Maharashtra: First of family to hold this office, 59-yr-old gets kudos from Modi, Sonia Gandhi |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/uddhav-thackeray-sworn-in-as-19th-cm-of-maharashtra-first-of-family-to-hold-this-office-59-yr-old-gets-kudos-from-modi-sonia-gandhi-7714171.html |access-date=29 November 2019 |work=Firstpost |date=29 November 2019}}</ref>

In late June 2022, [[Eknath Shinde]], a senior [[Shiv Sena]] leader, and the majority of [[Member of the Legislative Assembly|MLAs]] from Shiv Sena joined hands with the BJP.<ref name="karthikeyan">{{Cite news |last=Karthikeyan |first=Suchitra |date=22 June 2022 |title=Maharashtra Political Crisis: MVA slides into minority; here's how the numbers stand |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maharashtra-political-crisis-mva-slides-into-minority-heres-how-the-numbers-stand/article65548913.ece |access-date=23 June 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=23 June 2022 |title=What's next in the Maharashtra political crisis? Decoding the future of the MVA alliance |url=https://www.firstpost.com/politics/whats-next-in-the-maharashtra-political-crisis-decoding-the-future-of-the-mva-alliance-10826921.html |access-date=23 June 2022 |website=Firstpost |language=en}}</ref><ref name="BBC 23 June">{{cite news |date=23 June 2022 |title=Maharashtra: The political crisis brewing in India's richest state |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-61891133 |access-date=24 June 2022 |quote=To avoid disqualification under India's anti-defection law, Mr Shinde needs the support of 37 lawmakers in the state. He has claimed the support of 40 Sena lawmakers and six independents, but the number is yet to be independently verified}}</ref> Governor [[Bhagat Singh Koshyari]] called for a trust vote, an action that would later on be described as a "sad spectacle" by [[Supreme Court of India]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rajagopal |first=Krishnadas |date=15 March 2023 |title=Governors cannot precipitate the fall of elected governments: Supreme Court |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/governors-cannot-precipitate-the-fall-of-elected-governments-supreme-court/article66623480.ece |access-date=23 March 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and draw criticism from Political Observers.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 March 2023 |title=Should India abolish its state governors? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65014164 |access-date=23 March 2023}}</ref> [[Uddhav Thackeray]] resigned from the post as chief minister well as a MLC member ahead of [[Motion of no confidence|no-confidence motion]] on 29 June 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 June 2022 |title=Uddhav Thackeray resigns as Maharashtra chief minister hours ahead of trust vote |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/uddhav-thackeray-maharashtra-cm-floor-test-101656518180649.html |access-date=29 June 2022 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> Shinde subsequently formed a new coalition with the BJP, and was sworn in as the Chief Minister on 30 June 2022.<ref name=":0">* {{Cite web |title=Eknath Shinde to take oath as Maharashtra Chief Minister at 7:30 pm today, announces Devendra Fadnavis |url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/eknath-shinde-to-take-oath-as-maharashtra-chief-minister-at-730-pm-today-announces-devendra-fadnavis |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=Free Press Journal |language=en}}
* {{Cite web |date=30 June 2022 |title=Maharashtra political crisis Live Updates: Devendra Fadnavis names Eknath Shinde as Maharashtra CM |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-political-crisis-news-live-updates-shiv-sena-eknath-shinde-supreme-court-uddhav-thackeray-7993148/ |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
* {{Cite web |date=30 June 2022 |title=Maharashtra swearing-in ceremony Live Updates: Eknath Shinde to be Maharashtra CM, Fadnavis announces |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/maharashtra-swearing-in-live-updates-devendra-fadnavis-eknath-shinde-uddhav-thackeray-8000901/ |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}
* {{Cite web |title=Maharashtra Political Crisis LIVE Updates: Eknath Shinde takes oath as chief minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis as deputy CM |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maharashtra-political-crisis-live-updates-june-30/liveblog/92555023.cms |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}
* {{Cite web |title=Eknath Shinde Takes Oath As Chief Minister, Devendra Fadnavis His Deputy |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/eknath-shinde-is-new-maharashtra-chief-minister-oath-at-7-30-pm-3115030 |access-date=30 June 2022 |website=NDTV.com}}</ref> BJP leader, [[Devendra Fadnavis]] was given the post of [[Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra|Deputy Chief Minister]] in the new government.<ref name=":0" /> [[Uddhav Thackeray]] filed a lawsuit in [[Supreme Court of India]] claiming that [[Eknath Shinde]] and his group's actions meant that they were disqualified under [[Anti-defection law (India)|Anti-defection law]], with [[Eknath Shinde]] claiming that he has not defected, but rather represents the true Shiv Sena party.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |last=NETWORK |first=LIVELAW NEWS |date=16 March 2023 |title=Shiv Sena Case : Supreme Court Constitution Bench Reserves Judgment |url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/shiv-sena-case-supreme-court-constitution-bench-reserves-judgment-uddhav-thackeray-eknath-shinde-maharashtra-223929 |access-date=23 March 2023 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rajagopal |first=Krishnadas |date=16 March 2023 |title=Supreme Court reserves judgment on Maharashtra political row |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/absolutely-no-freedom-in-regional-parties-many-run-by-single-family-sc-on-maharashtra-row/article66628047.ece |access-date=23 March 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> The [[Supreme Court of India|supreme court]] delivered its verdict in May 2023. In its verdict the five-judge constitution bench of the Supreme court ruled that the Maharashtra governor and assembly speaker did not act as per the law.<ref>{{cite news |last=Mahapatra |first=Dhananjay |date=12 May 2023 |title=Sena vs Sena: Supreme Court slams governor's role, but spare |work=The Times of India |location=Mumbai |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/100169606.cms |access-date=7 July 2023}}</ref> However, the court said that it cannot order the restoration of the Uddhav Thackeray government as Thackeray resigned without facing a floor test.<ref>{{cite news |date=11 May 2023 |title=Maharashtra Governor, Speakers' Actions Illegal But Can't Restore Uddhav Govt: Supreme Court |url=https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-shiv-sena-uddhav-thackeray-eknath-shinde |access-date=7 July 2023}}</ref><ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news |last=Rajagopal |first=Krishnadas |date=16 March 2023 |title=Supreme Court reserves judgment on Maharashtra political row |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/absolutely-no-freedom-in-regional-parties-many-run-by-single-family-sc-on-maharashtra-row/article66628047.ece |access-date=23 March 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> Supreme Court also asked the Assembly Speaker to decide on the matter of disqualification of 16 MLAs including Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2023 |title=Sena vs Sena: Month after SC verdict, Speaker yet to kick off process in MLAs' disqualification case as MVA cries foul |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/political-pulse/shiv-sena-supreme-court-verdict-speaker-mla-disqualification-case-mva-8657506/ |access-date=26 July 2023 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=5 July 2023 |title=Uddhav faction moves SC to expedite disqualification pleas against Shinde, others |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/mumbai-news/supreme-court-approached-for-time-bound-decision-on-disqualification-petitions-against-shiv-sena-legislators-101688526493425.html |access-date=26 July 2023 |website=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> The case for decision on which faction has rights to use Shiv Sena Name and Symbol is currently being heard by Supreme Court.<ref>{{Cite news |date=10 July 2023 |title=SC to hear Uddhav's plea to quash ECI order giving Shiv Sena name, symbol to Maharashtra CM Shinde led faction on July 31 |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/supreme-court-to-hear-on-july-31-uddhav-thackerays-plea-to-quash-eci-order-giving-shiv-sena-name-symbol-to-maharashtra-cm-eknath-shinde-faction/article67062999.ece |access-date=26 July 2023 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Sharma |first=Padmakshi |date=10 July 2023 |title=Shiv Sena Rift : Supreme Court To Hear Uddhav's Plea Against ECI Order Recognising Shinde Faction On July 31 |url=https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/shiv-sena-rift-supreme-court-to-hear-uddhavs-plea-against-eci-order-recognising-shinde-faction-on-july-31-232319 |access-date=26 July 2023 |website=www.livelaw.in |language=en}}</ref>

In July 2023, [[Nationalist Congress Party|NCP]] leader [[Ajit Pawar]], and a number of NCP state assembly members joined the Shivsena- BJP government led by Eknath Shinde.<ref>[https://m.economictimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/ncp-splits-ajit-pawar-to-join-nda-govt-take-oath-as-deputy-cm-of-maharashtra/articleshow/101431751.cms Ajit Pawar Maharashtra Deputy Cm: Ajit Pawar joins NDA govt, takes oath as deputy CM of Maharashtra - The Economic Times]</ref> Sharad Pawar, the founder of NCP, has condemned the move and expelled the rebels. Ajit Pawar has claimed support from majority of party legislators and office holders of the party, and has claimed the right to the NCP election symbol with the [[Election Commission of India]].<ref>{{cite news |author= |date= |title=-ncp-a-day-after-sharad-pawars-fightback-nephew-ajit-again-approaches-election-commission-for-party-symbol|url= https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/ncp-vs-ncp-a-day-after-sharad-pawars-fightback-nephew-ajit-again-approaches-election-commission-for-party-symbol/articleshow/101576800.cms|work= Times of india |location=Mumbai |access-date=7 July 2023}}</ref>

==Economy==
{{Main|Economy of Maharashtra}}
{|class="wikitable floatright" style="width:280px; background:#f4f5f6; border:#c6c7c8 solid; font-size:90%;"
|colspan="2" style="background:#c2d6e5; text-align:center;"|'''Net state domestic product at factor cost at current prices (2004–05 base)'''<ref name=rbinsdpstat>{{cite web |url=http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=13592 |title=Net state domestic product at factor cost—state-wise (at current prices) |date=15 September 2011 |access-date=7 February 2012 |website=Handbook of statistics on Indian economy |publisher=[[Reserve Bank of India]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120309001542/http://rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=13592 |archive-date=9 March 2012}}</ref>

Figures in [[crore]]s of [[Indian rupee]]s
|-
! Year ||Net state domestic product
|-
|2004–2005 ||{{INRConvert|3.683|t}}
|-
|2005–2006 ||{{INRConvert|4.335|t}}
|-
|2006–2007 ||{{INRConvert|5.241|t}}
|-
|2007–2008||{{INRConvert|6.140|t}}
|-
|2008–2009 ||{{INRConvert|6.996|t}}
|-
|2009–2010 ||{{INRConvert|8.178|t}}
|-
|2013–2014 ||{{INRConvert|15.101|t}}
|-
|2014–2015 ||{{INRConvert|16.866|t}}
|}
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.<ref name="India2007">{{cite book |author=Planning Commission of the Government of India |title=Maharashtra, Development Report |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ohvu8D3LbgC&pg=PA55 |year=2007 |publisher=Academic Foundation |isbn=978-81-7188-540-4 |pages=55–56 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/https://books.google.com/books?id=6ohvu8D3LbgC&pg=PA55 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> Maharashtra is the most industrialised state and has maintained the leading position in the industrial sector in India.<ref name=strategies>{{cite web |title=Assessing climate change vulnerability and adaptation strategies for Maharashtra State |url=http://www.ccmaharashtra.org/ |website=Department of Environment |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=1 March 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301221352/http://www.ccmaharashtra.org/ |archive-date=1 March 2014}}</ref> The State is a pioneer in small scale industries.<ref>{{cite web |title=Overview of MSSIDC |url=http://www.mssidc.org/about-mssidc.aspx |publisher=The Maharashtra Small Scale Industries Development Corporation Ltd. |access-date=7 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140907102212/http://www.mssidc.org/about-mssidc.aspx |archive-date=7 September 2014}}</ref> Mumbai, the capital of the 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.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Pachouly |first1=Manish |title=Taxpayers in Maharashtra |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mumbai/more-than-12-77-lakh-taxpayers-filed-e-returns-in-maharashtra/article1-731073.aspx |access-date=7 September 2014 |work=[[Hindustan Times]] |agency=[[HT Media Ltd]] |date=9 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907192947/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mumbai/more-than-12-77-lakh-taxpayers-filed-e-returns-in-maharashtra/article1-731073.aspx |archive-date=7 September 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[Service sector]] dominates the economy of Maharashtra, accounting for 61.4 per cent of the value addition and 69.3 per cent of the value of output in the state.<ref name=service>{{cite web |title=Service sector synopsis on Maharashtra |url=http://www.dipp.gov.in/English/Publications/SIA_NewsLetter/AnnualReport2011/Chapter6.3.i.pdf |website=RBI's Regional Office – Mumbai |publisher=[[Reserve Bank of India]] |access-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201201044/http://www.dipp.gov.in/English/Publications/SIA_NewsLetter/AnnualReport2011/Chapter6.3.i.pdf |archive-date=1 February 2014}}</ref> The state's per-capita income in 2014 was 40 per cent higher than the all-India average in the same year.<ref>{{cite web |title=Economic Survey |url=http://mahades.maharashtra.gov.in/files/publication/esm_2012-13_eng.pdf |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=7 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903032111/http://mahades.maharashtra.gov.in/files/publication/esm_2012-13_eng.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The gross state domestic product (GSDP) at current prices for 2021-22 is estimated at $420 billion and contributes about 14.2 per cent of the GDP. The agriculture and allied activities sector contributes 13.2 per cent to the state's income. In 2012, Maharashtra reported a revenue surplus of {{INR}}1524.9 million (US$24 million), with total revenue of {{INR}}1,367,117 million (US$22 billion) and spending of {{INR}}1,365,592.1 million (US$22 billion).<ref name=service />  Maharashtra is the largest FDI destination of India. The FDI inflows in the State since April 2000 to September 2021 was ₹9,59,746 crore, which was 28.2 per cent of total FDI inflows at All-India level. With a total of 11,308 startups, Maharashtra has the highest number of recognised startups.

[[File:Mumbai Skyline at Night.jpg|thumb|upright=1.35|right|Mumbai is a major contributor to the economy of Maharashtra.]]

Maharashtra contributes 25 per cent of the country's industrial output<ref name="wealth">{{cite web |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/slide-show/slide-show-1-top-25-states-with-highest-gdp/20120223.htm |title=India's top 25 states with highest GDP |work=Rediff.com |access-date=28 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131212053319/http://www.rediff.com/money/slide-show/slide-show-1-top-25-states-with-highest-gdp/20120223.htm |archive-date=12 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> and is the most indebted state in the country.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=16305 |title=Statement 19: Total Outstanding Liabilities of State Governments (As at end-March) |publisher=[[Reserve Bank of India]] |date=12 May 2015 |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125091130/https://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=16305 |archive-date=25 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/maharashtra-most-indebted-tamil-nadu-gathering-debt-fastest/story-Rr60ryvjugtCD0kfLgraPJ.html |title=Maharashtra most indebted, Tamil Nadu gathering debt fastest |newspaper=[[Hindustan Times]] |date=25 November 2015 |access-date=25 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151125091122/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/maharashtra-most-indebted-tamil-nadu-gathering-debt-fastest/story-Rr60ryvjugtCD0kfLgraPJ.html |archive-date=25 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Industrial activity in state is concentrated in Seven districts: [[Mumbai City district|Mumbai City]], [[Mumbai Suburban district|Mumbai Suburban]], [[Thane district|Thane]], [[Aurangabad District, Maharashtra|Aurangabad]], [[Pune district|Pune]], [[Nagpur district|Nagpur]], and [[Nashik district|Nashik]].<ref name=investment /> Mumbai has the largest share in GSDP (19.5 per cent), both Thane and Pune districts contribute about same in the Industry sector, Pune district contributes more in the agriculture and allied activities sector, whereas Thane district contributes more in the Services sector.<ref name=investment /> Nashik district shares highest in the agricultural and allied activities sector, but is behind in the Industry and Services sectors as compared to Thane and Pune districts.<ref name=investment>{{cite web |title=Industrial investments in Maharashtra |url=http://delhimumbaiindustrialcorridor.com/industrial-investments-in-maharashtra.php |publisher=Delhi Mumbai industrial corridor portal |access-date=13 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222220533/http://delhimumbaiindustrialcorridor.com/industrial-investments-in-maharashtra.php |archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Industries in Maharashtra include chemical and chemical products (17.6 per cent), food and food products (16.1 per cent), refined petroleum products (12.9 per cent), machinery and equipment (8 per cent), textiles (6.9 per cent), basic metals (5.8 per cent), motor vehicles (4.7 per cent) and furniture (4.3 per cent).<ref name="Service sector">{{cite web |title=Maharashtra service sector |url=http://www.maharashtra.ws/business_subsectors.php?sc=SVC&cid=15&sid=259 |publisher=Maharashtra Business and Service Directory |access-date=1 February 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140202130733/http://www.maharashtra.ws/business_subsectors.php?sc=SVC&cid=15&sid=259 |archive-date=2 February 2014}}</ref> Maharashtra is the manufacturing hub for some of the largest public sector industries in India, including [[Hindustan Petroleum Corporation]], [[Tata Group|Tata Petrodyne]] and [[Oil India Ltd]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Public Sector Undertakings |url=http://www.maharashtrastat.com/industries/18/publicsectorundertakings/235/stats.aspx |publisher=Planning Commission |access-date=20 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102063107/http://www.maharashtrastat.com/industries/18/publicsectorundertakings/235/stats.aspx |archive-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Maharashtra is the leading Indian state for many [[Creative industries]] including [[advertising]], [[architecture]], [[art]], [[crafts]], [[design]], [[fashion]], [[film industry|film]], [[music industry|music]], [[performing arts]], [[publishing]], [[research and development|R&D]], [[software]], [[toy]]s and [[game]]s, [[Television|TV]] and [[radio]], and [[video game]]s.

Maharashtra has an above-average [[knowledge industry]] in India with the [[Pune]] Metropolitan area being the leading IT hub in the state. Approximately 25 per cent of the top 500 companies in the IT sector are based in Maharashtra.<ref name=IT>{{cite web |title=Report on IT Sector in Maharashtra. Amol Lakhamle was Director of the National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT), an apex organization for curricular reforms in India |url=https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/PDF/itpolicy.pdf |publisher=Industry Department |access-date=20 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140611070933/https://www.maharashtra.gov.in/PDF/itpolicy.pdf |archive-date=11 June 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The state accounts for 28 per cent of the software exports of India.<ref name=IT />

Maharashtra and particularly Mumbai is a prominent location for the Indian entertainment industry, with many films, television series, books, and other media being set there.<ref>{{cite web|title=Media and Entertainment Industry -Brief Introduction|url=http://www.ibef.org/industry/media-entertainment-india.aspx|website=ibef.org/|publisher=India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF)|access-date=13 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920204535/http://www.ibef.org/industry/media-entertainment-india.aspx|archive-date=20 September 2014|url-status=live}}</ref> 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 {{INRConvert|1.5|b}}, are filmed there.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985129,00.html?internalid=atm100|title=Hooray for Bollywood!|author=Richard Corliss|magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]]|date=16 September 1996|access-date=3 January 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026154551/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985129,00.html?internalid=atm100|archive-date=26 October 2014|url-status=live|author-link=Richard Corliss}}</ref> [[Marathi film]]s used to be previously made primarily in [[Kolhapur]], but now are produced in Mumbai.<ref>Jadhav, V., 2016. When marathi cinema became maratha: A historical perspective on macho-ism in marathi cinema.LENSIGHT Quarterly Academic Journal of Film and media OCTOBER-DECEMBER 2016 ISSN 2395-4604 [http://210.212.169.38/xmlui/bitstream/handle/123456789/4291/When%20marathi%20cinema%20became%20maratha.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y]</ref>

The state houses important financial institutions such as the [[Reserve Bank of India]], the Bombay Stock Exchange, the [[National Stock Exchange of India]], the [[Securities and Exchange Board of India|SEBI]] and the corporate [[List of Indian companies headquartered in Mumbai|headquarters]] of numerous [[List of Indian companies|Indian companies]] and [[multinational corporations]]. It is also home to some of India's premier scientific and nuclear institutes like [[Bhabha Atomic Research Centre|BARC]], [[Nuclear Power Corporation of India|NPCL]], [[Indian Rare Earths Limited|IREL]], [[Tata Institute of Fundamental Research|TIFR]], [[Atomic Energy Regulatory Board|AERB]], [[Atomic Energy Commission of India|AECI]], and the [[Department of Atomic Energy (India)|Department of Atomic Energy]].<ref name=investment />

[[File:Organic sugar cane.JPG|thumb|right|alt=refer caption|Freshly grown [[sugarcane]]. Agriculture is the second leading occupation in Maharashtra.]]

With more than half the population being rural, agriculture and allied industries play an important role in the states's economy and source of income for the rural population.<ref name="Kalamkar2011">{{cite book |author=S.S. Kalamkar |title=Agricultural Growth and Productivity in Maharashtra: Trends and Determinants |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=AzHrY4GhHlIC&pg=PR5 |date=14 September 2011 |publisher=Allied Publishers |isbn=978-81-8424-692-6 |pages=18, 39, 64, 73}}</ref> The agriculture and allied activities sector contributes 12.9 per cent to the state's income. Staples such as [[rice]] and [[millet]] are the main [[monsoon]] crops. Important [[cash crop]]s include [[sugarcane]], [[cotton]], oilseeds, tobacco, fruit, vegetables, and spices such as [[turmeric]].<ref name=farmer /> Animal husbandry is an important agriculture-related activity. The State's share in the livestock and poultry population in India is about 7 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. Maharashtra was a pioneer in the development of [[Agricultural Cooperative]] Societies after independence. It was an integral part of the then Governing [[Indian National Congress|Congress]] party's vision of 'rural development with local initiative'. A 'special' status was accorded to the [[sugar]] cooperatives and the government assumed the role of a mentor by acting as a stakeholder, guarantor, and regulator,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lalvani |first1=Mala |s2cid=154425894 |title=Sugar Co-operatives in Maharashtra: A Political Economy Perspective |journal=The Journal of Development Studies |date=2008 |volume=44 |issue=10 |doi=10.1080/00220380802265108 |pages=1474–1505 |url=https://semanticscholar.org/paper/04f3990ab2dd9015b33859caed3cc29ca3427119}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Patil |first=Anil |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/jul/09sugar.htm |title=Sugar cooperatives on death bed in Maharashtra |publisher=Rediff India |date=9 July 2007 |access-date=27 December 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828234602/http://www.rediff.com/money/2007/jul/09sugar.htm |archive-date=28 August 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="helsinki">{{cite web |url=http://www.helsinki.fi/iehc2006/papers2/Das72.pdf |date=18 July 2006 |publisher=XIV International Economic History Congress, Helsinki 2006, Session 72 |title=Problems and Prospects of the Cooperative Movement in India Under the Globalization Regime |author1=Banishree Das |author2=Nirod Kumar Palai |author3=Kumar Das|name-list-style=amp |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924051908/http://www.helsinki.fi/iehc2006/papers2/Das72.pdf |archive-date=24 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Apart from sugar, cooperatives play a crucial role in dairy,<ref>{{cite web |title=Mahanand Dairy |url=http://www.mahanand.in/Index.aspx?mid=1 |access-date=28 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141124105202/http://mahanand.in/Index.aspx?mid=1 |archive-date=24 November 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> cotton, and fertiliser industries.

The banking sector comprises [[Scheduled banks|scheduled]] and non-scheduled banks.<ref name=IT /> Scheduled banks are of two types, commercial and cooperative. Scheduled Commercial Banks (SCBs) in India are classified into five types: [[State Bank of India]] and its associates, nationalised banks, [[Private-sector banks in India|private sector banks]], [[Regional Rural Bank]]s, and others (foreign banks). In 2012, there were 9,053 banking offices in the state, of which about 26 per cent were in rural and 54 per cent were in urban areas. Maharashtra has a [[microfinance]] system, which refers to small-scale financial services extended to the poor in both rural and urban areas. It covers a variety of financial instruments, such as lending, savings, life insurance, and crop insurance.<ref>{{cite web |title=Microfinance, Self-Help Groups and Empowerment in Maharashtra |url=http://ncw.nic.in/pdfreports/shg-maharashtra.pdf |publisher=National Commission for Women, New Delhi |access-date=7 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140629050237/http://ncw.nic.in/pdfReports/SHG-Maharashtra.pdf |archive-date=29 June 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The three largest urban [[cooperative banking|cooperative banks]] in India are all based in Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/money-and-banking/top-urban-co-op-banks-set-to-expand-area-of-operations/article20253050.ece1 |title=Top urban co-op banks set to expand area of operations|date=7 June 2011 }}</ref>

==Transport==
{{Main|Transport in Maharashtra}}
{{See also|List of airports in Maharashtra}}
[[File:Nashik Mumbai NH3.jpg|thumb|right|[[Mumbai–Nashik Expressway]] |alt=Landscaped four-lane road over rolling terrain]]
{{Multiple image|align=right|direction=vertical|width=220|header=|footer=|header_align=left/right/center|footer_align=left/right/center|header_background=|footer_background=|image1=Mumbai 03-2016 114 Airport international terminal interior.jpg|width1=|alt1=|caption1=[[Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport]] (Mumbai) |image4=Jawaharlal Nehru Trust Port.jpg|width4=|alt4=|caption4=A container ship at [[Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust]] |image2=|width2=|alt2=|caption2=|image3=}}
The state has a large, multi-modal transportation system with the largest road network in India.<ref>{{cite web |title=Multimodal transportation system in state |url=https://mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in/multimodal-corridor-from-virar-to-alibaug |publisher=[[Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority]] |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903151114/https://mmrda.maharashtra.gov.in/multimodal-corridor-from-virar-to-alibaug |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2011, the total length of surface road in Maharashtra was 267,452 km;<ref name=Highwaylength>{{cite web |title=Public Private Partnerships in India |url=http://pppinindia.com/infrastructure-maharashtra.php |website=pppinindia.com/ |publisher=[[Ministry of Finance (India)|Ministry of Finance]] |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140830113346/http://www.pppinindia.com/infrastructure-maharashtra.php |archive-date=30 August 2014}}</ref> national highways accounted for 4,176 km,<ref>{{cite web |title=List of State-wise National Highways in India |url=http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/general_info.php?id=15 |website=knowindia.gov.in/ |publisher=[[Government of India]] |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140905021156/http://knowindia.gov.in/knowindia/general_info.php?id=15 |archive-date=5 September 2014}}</ref> and state highways 3,700 km.<ref name=Highwaylength /> The [[Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation]] (MSRTC) provides economical and reliable passenger road transport service in the public sector.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Maharashtra State Road Transport Corporation |url=http://www.msrtc.gov.in/msrtc/history.html |website=msrtc.gov.in/ |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903042657/http://www.msrtc.gov.in/msrtc/history.html |archive-date=3 September 2014}}</ref> 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|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. Approximately 98 per cent of villages are connected either via the highways or modern roads in Maharashtra. Average speed on state highways varies between 50 and 60 km/h (31–37 mi/h) due to the heavy presence of vehicles; in villages and towns, speeds are as low as 25–30 km/h (15–18 mi/h).<ref>{{cite web |title=Village speed limit in maharashtra |url=http://www.rediff.com/money/report/speed/20070329.htm |website=rediff.com/ |publisher=Rediff News |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903114901/http://www.rediff.com/money/report/speed/20070329.htm |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

The first passenger train in India ran from Mumbai to Thane on 16 April 1853.<ref>{{cite book |author1=Raghunathan, V. |author2=Prasad, V. |title=Beyond the Call of Duty |chapter=The Birth of the East India Railway |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers India |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HzQsCgAAQBAJ&pg=PT105 |isbn=9789351772651 |date=1 July 2015}}</ref>
Rail transportation is run by the [[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 in [[Mumbai]], at [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus]] (CSMT) and [[Churchgate]] respectively. [[Konkan Railway]] is headquartered in [[Navi Mumbai]].<ref name=western>{{cite web |title=Western Railway in its present form |url=http://www.wr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,283 |website=Indian Railways |publisher=[[Western Railway zone|Western Railway]] |access-date=13 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140213185804/http://www.wr.indianrailways.gov.in/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,1,283 |archive-date=13 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=central>{{cite web |title=Central Railway's Head Quarter |url=http://www.cr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,287 |publisher=[[Central Railway (India)|Central Railway]] |access-date=13 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222234920/http://www.cr.indianrailways.gov.in/cris/view_section.jsp?lang=0&id=0,6,287 |archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Mumbai Rajdhani Express]], the fastest [[Rajdhani Express|Rajdhani]] train, connects the Indian capital of [[New Delhi]] to [[Mumbai]].<ref name=rajdhani>{{cite news |title=Mumbai-New Delhi Rajdhani Express |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Mumbai-New-Delhi-Rajdhani-Express-turns-40/articleshow/13308876.cms?referral=PM |access-date=1 February 2014 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=20 May 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303054341/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Mumbai-New-Delhi-Rajdhani-Express-turns-40/articleshow/13308876.cms?referral=PM |archive-date=3 March 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Thane railway station|Thane]] and [[Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus|CSMT]] are the busiest railway stations in India,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Thane-is-busiest-railway-station-in-Mumbai/articleshow/20129363.cms |title=Thane is busiest railway station in Mumbai |newspaper=The Times of India |date=19 May 2013 |access-date=13 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161031152836/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Thane-is-busiest-railway-station-in-Mumbai/articleshow/20129363.cms |archive-date=31 October 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> the latter serving as a terminal for both long-distance trains and commuter trains of the Mumbai Suburban Railway.

The two principal seaports, [[Mumbai Port Trust|Mumbai Port]] and [[Jawaharlal Nehru Port]], which is also in the Mumbai region, are under the control and supervision of the government of India.<ref>{{cite web |title=List of ports in Maharashtra |url=http://www.mahammb.com/regional-port-offices.htm |website=Regional Port Offices |publisher=Maharashtra Maritime Board |access-date=1 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140203004608/http://www.mahammb.com/regional-port-offices.htm |archive-date=3 February 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> There are around 48 minor ports in Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sea ports of Maharashtra |url=http://www.oocities.org/ggavaska/seaports.html |publisher=Geo cities organisation |access-date=13 February 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222132738/http://www.oocities.org/ggavaska/seaports.html |archive-date=22 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Most of these handle passenger traffic and have a limited capacity. None of the major rivers in Maharashtra are navigable and so river transport does not exist in the state.

[[Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport]] (formerly Bombay International Airport), is the state's largest airport. The four other international airports are [[Pune International Airport]], [[Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport]] at [[Nagpur]], [[Nashik Airport]], [[Shirdi Airport]]. [[Aurangabad Airport]], [[Kolhapur Airport]], [[Jalgaon Airport]], and [[Nanded Airport]] are domestic airports in the state. Most of the State's airfields are operated by the [[Airports Authority of India]] (AAI) while [[Reliance Infrastructure#Reliance Airport Project|Reliance Airport Developers (RADPL)]], currently operates five non-metro airports at [[Latur Airport|Latur]], [[Nanded Airport|Nanded]], [[Baramati Airport|Baramati]], [[Osmanabad Airport|Osmanabad]] and [[Yavatmal airport|Yavatmal]] on a 95-year lease.<ref name="TOI">{{cite news |title=Reliance Airport gets five projects on lease |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Reliance-Airport-gets-five-projects-on-lease/articleshow/4861274.cms?referral=PM |work=The Times of India |date=6 August 2009 |access-date=19 September 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150130212553/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/Reliance-Airport-gets-five-projects-on-lease/articleshow/4861274.cms?referral=PM |archive-date=30 January 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Maharashtra Airport Development Company]] (MADC) was set up in 2002 to take up development of airports in the state that are not under the AAI or the [[Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation]] (MIDC). MADC is playing the lead role in the planning and implementation of the [[Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur]] (MIHAN) project.<ref name="MADC">{{cite web |url=http://www.madcindia.org/projects.html |title=MIDC projects |publisher=[[Maharashtra Airport Development Company]] |access-date=31 March 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120226054653/http://www.madcindia.org/projects.html |archive-date=26 February 2012}}</ref> Additional smaller airports include [[Akola Airport|Akola]], [[Amravati Airport|Amravati]], [[Chandrapur Airport|Chandrapur]], [[Ratnagiri Airport|Ratnagiri]], and [[Solapur Airport|Solapur]].<ref name=smaller>{{cite web |title=Statewise airfield list |url=http://cad.gujarat.gov.in/maharashtra-airfiled.htm |website=cad.gujarat.gov.in/ |publisher=Director Civil Aviation, Government of Gujarat |access-date=5 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130208124543/http://cad.gujarat.gov.in/maharashtra-airfiled.htm |archive-date=8 February 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Maharashtra Metro Rail Corporation Limited]] (Maha Metro), headquartered in Nagpur is a [[Joint Venture]] establishment of [[Government of India]] & [[Government of Maharashtra]] headquartered in [[Nagpur]], India. Maha Metro is responsible for the implementation of all Maharashtra state metro projects, except the [[Mumbai Metropolitan Region]]. [[Mumbai Metro]] is operational since 8 June 2014.

==Education==
{{See also|Education in Maharashtra|List of higher education institutions in Maharashtra}}
[[File:Students of a Maharashtra Primary School (9601442866).jpg|right|thumb|Students at a state-run primary school in [[Raigad district]]]]

The state has been known for its pioneering role in the development of the modern education system in India. Most of the private colleges including religious and special-purpose institutions were set up in the last thirty years after the State Government of [[Vasantdada Patil]] liberalised the Education Sector in 1982.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bhosale |first1=Jayashree |title=Economic Times: Despite private participation Education lacks quality in Maharashtra |url=http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-11-10/news/27682218_1_educational-institutes-education-barons-professional-education |access-date=6 October 2014 |date=10 November 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010054204/http://articles.economictimes.indiatimes.com/2007-11-10/news/27682218_1_educational-institutes-education-barons-professional-education |archive-date=10 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Under the [[10+2+3 plan]], after completing secondary school, students typically enroll for two years in a [[junior college]], also known as pre-university, or in schools with a higher secondary facility affiliated with the [[Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education]] or any central board. Students choose from one of three streams, namely [[liberal arts]], commerce, or science. Upon completing the required coursework, students may enrol in general or professional degree programs. Schools in the state are either managed by the government or by private trusts, including religious institutions. The medium of instruction in most of the schools is mainly Marathi, English, or Hindi, though [[Urdu]] is also used. The secondary schools are affiliated with the [[Council for the Indian School Certificate Examinations]] (CISCE), the [[Central Board of Secondary Education|Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE)]], the [[National Institute of Open Schooling|National Institute of Open School (NIOS)]], and the [[Maharashtra State Board of Secondary and Higher Secondary Education]].

[[File:Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute Mumbai.jpg|thumb|right|Founded in 1887, [[Veermata Jijabai Technological Institute]] (VJTI) is one of the oldest engineering colleges in Asia.]]
[[File:AFMC Main Building.jpg|thumb|Situated in Pune, [[Armed Forces Medical College, Pune]] was established in 1948 after the Indian independence.|right]]
Maharashtra has 24 universities with a turnout of 160,000 Graduates every year.<ref name="educational institute">{{cite web |title=State University |url=http://www.ugc.ac.in/stateuniversitylist.aspx?id=21&Unitype=2 |publisher=University Grants Commission |access-date=13 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140422051850/http://www.ugc.ac.in/stateuniversitylist.aspx?id=21&Unitype=2 |archive-date=22 April 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=universities>{{cite web |title=Universities of Maharashtra |url=http://www.educationinfoindia.com/maharashtradir.htm |publisher=Education information of India |access-date=13 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915133355/http://www.educationinfoindia.com/maharashtradir.htm |archive-date=15 September 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> Established during the rule of [[East India Company rule|East India company]] in 1857 as Bombay University, The [[University of Mumbai]], is the largest university in the world in terms of the number of graduates.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Swami |first=V.N. |title=विद्याभरती जिल्हा मध्यवर्ती सहकारी बँक भारती परीक्षा मार्गदर्शक |publisher=Vidyabharti Publication |year=2020 |location=[[Latur]], India |page=65 |language=mr}}</ref> It has 141 affiliated colleges.<ref name=colleges>{{cite web |title=Mumbai University Affiliated Colleges |url=http://www.mu.ac.in/colleges.html |publisher=University of Mumbai |access-date=13 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140509004327/http://www.mu.ac.in/colleges.html |archive-date=9 May 2014}}</ref> According to a report published by The Times Education magazine, 5 to 7 Maharashtra colleges and universities are ranked among the top 20 in India.<ref name="top colleges">{{cite news |title=10 Indian universities in developing nations top 100 list |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/10-Indian-universities-in-developing-nations-top-100-list/articleshow/26916987.cms |access-date=17 May 2014 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=5 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211201523/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/education/news/10-Indian-universities-in-developing-nations-top-100-list/articleshow/26916987.cms |archive-date=11 December 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=India's Best Universities for 2013 |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/bestcolleges/2013/ranks.jsp?ST=Commerce&LMT=5&Y=2013 |access-date=17 May 2014 |newspaper=[[India Today]] |date=12 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518020839/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/bestcolleges/2013/ranks.jsp?ST=Commerce&LMT=5&Y=2013 |archive-date=18 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Top colleges in state |url=http://indiatoday.intoday.in/bestcolleges/2013/ranks.jsp?ST=Commerce&LMT=8&Y=2013 |website=[[India Today]] |access-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518013312/http://indiatoday.intoday.in/bestcolleges/2013/ranks.jsp?ST=Commerce&LMT=8&Y=2013 |archive-date=18 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Maharashtra is also home to notable autonomous institutes as [[Indian Institute of Technology Bombay]], [[Indian Institute of Information Technology, Pune|Indian Institute of Information Technology Pune]], [[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).<ref name="autonomous colleges">{{cite web |title=List of autonomous institutes in Maharashtra |url=http://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/colleges/374autocolleges_april11.pdf |publisher=University Grants Commission |access-date=13 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130102205937/http://www.ugc.ac.in/oldpdf/colleges/374autocolleges_april11.pdf |archive-date=2 January 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> 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]]. Other notable institutes in the state are: [[Maharashtra National Law University, Nagpur]] (MNLUN), [[Maharashtra National Law University, Mumbai]] (MNLUM), [[Maharashtra National Law University, Aurangabad]] (MNLUA), [[Government Law College, Mumbai]] (GLC), [[ILS Law College]], and [[Symbiosis Law School]] (SLS)

[[File:PDKV Akola - Agricultural University.png|thumb|right|Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth (Agricultural University) at Akola]]
Agricultural universities include [[Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University]], [[Mahatma Phule Krishi Vidyapeeth]], [[Dr. Panjabrao Deshmukh Krishi Vidyapeeth]], and [[Dr. Balasaheb Sawant Konkan Krishi Vidyapeeth]],<ref name="mcaer">{{cite web |url=http://www.mcaer.org/ |title=Welcome to MCAER official website |publisher=mcaer.org |access-date=28 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929163851/http://www.mcaer.org/ |archive-date=29 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref> Regional universities viz. [[Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University]], [[Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Marathwada University]], [[North Maharashtra University]], [[Shivaji University]], [[Solapur University]], [[Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University]], and [[Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University]] are established to cover the educational needs at the district levels of the state. [[Deemed university|deemed universities]] are established in Maharashtra, including [[Symbiosis International University]], [[Tata Institute of Social Sciences]], and [[Tilak Maharashtra University]].<ref>{{cite web |title=List of Deemed Universities |url=http://www.aicte-india.org/downloads/deemedunivertisite.pdf |website=aicte-india.org |publisher=[[All India Council for Technical Education]] |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150219220504/http://www.aicte-india.org/downloads/deemedunivertisite.pdf |archive-date=19 February 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Vocational training in different trades such as construction, plumbing, welding, automobile mechanics is offered by post-secondary school [[industrial training institute|Industrial Training Institute]] (ITIs).<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Campbell |editor-first1=James |last1=Melsens |first1=S. |last2=Mangaonkar–Vaiude |first2=P. |last3=Bertels |first3=Inge |title=Building Histories: the Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Construction History Society Conference |date=2017 |publisher=The Construction History Society |location=Cambridge UK |isbn=978-0-9928751-3-8 |pages=27–38 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=93kkDwAAQBAJ&q=%22Industrial+training+institute%22++pune&pg=PA27 |access-date=3 October 2017}}</ref> Local [[community colleges]] also exist with generally more open admission policies, shorter academic programs, and lower tuition.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Chhapia |first1=Hemali |title=Maharashtra: Community colleges to be part of new skills varsity {{!}} Mumbai News |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/community-colleges-to-be-part-of-new-skills-varsity/articleshow/81440748.cms |access-date=10 January 2022 |website=The Times of India|date=11 March 2021 }}</ref> 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]] played a leading role in the setting up of modern schools and colleges during the British colonial era.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Personality and Philosophy of Lokmanya B.G. Tilak |url=http://www.ncte-india.org/pub/tilak/section3.htm |website=ncte-india.org/ |publisher=NCTE: National Council For Teacher Education |access-date=29 August 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100705182851/http://www.ncte-india.org/pub/tilak/section3.htm |archive-date=5 July 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mahatma Jotiba Phule: An Educational Philosopher |url=http://sikhinstitute.org/oct_2011/13-rajni_marwaha.html |website=sikhinstitute.org/ |publisher=Institute of Sikh Studies |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151218044634/http://sikhinstitute.org/oct_2011/13-rajni_marwaha.html |archive-date=18 December 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dr. B.R.Ambedkar's Contribution To Buddhist Education |url=http://www.countercurrents.org/dalit-waghmare160207.htm |website=countercurrents.org/ |publisher=Counter Currents news portal |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903113049/http://www.countercurrents.org/dalit-waghmare160207.htm |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Smith2012">{{cite book |author=George Smith |title=Life of John Wilson, D.D. F.R.S.: For Fifty Years Philanthropist and Scholar in the East |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iZYqwdb1ZUEC&pg=PA50 |date=7 June 2012 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |isbn=978-1-108-05045-6 |page=50 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/https://books.google.com/books?id=iZYqwdb1ZUEC&pg=PA50 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Poona Engineering Class and Mechanical School |url=http://www.coep.org.in/ |publisher=College of Engineering, Pune |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140929220235/http://www.coep.org.in/ |archive-date=29 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Government Polytechnic Nagpur]], established in 1914, is one of the oldest polytechnics in India.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.gpnagpur.ac.in/easy_cms_gpnagpur/2017/msbtetrainingbrochure.pdf |title=Government Polytechnic, Nagpur Training Brochure |year=2018 |access-date=19 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180614050333/http://www.gpnagpur.ac.in/easy_cms_gpnagpur/2017/msbtetrainingbrochure.pdf |archive-date=14 June 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref>

==Infrastructure==
===Healthcare===
[[File:प्राथमिक आरोग्य केंद्र,अंबोली.jpg|thumb|A Primary Healthcare center in the village of Amboli in Pune district|right]]
Health indicators of Maharashtra show that they have attained relatively high growth against a background of high per capita income (PCI).<ref name="PCI">{{cite journal |title=State of Health Care in Maharashtra: A Comparative Analysis |jstor=4400025 |last1=George |first1=Alex |last2=Nandraj |first2=Sunil |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |year=1993 |volume=28 |issue=32/33 |pages=1671–1683}}</ref> In 2011, the health care system in Maharashtra consisted of 363 rural government hospitals,<ref name="Hospital Services">{{cite web |title=List of hospitals in state |url=http://www.maha-arogya.gov.in/services/hospital/rural/default.htm |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=26 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140527185934/http://www.maha-arogya.gov.in/services/hospital/rural/default.htm |archive-date=27 May 2014}}</ref> 23 district hospitals (with 7,561 beds), 4 general hospitals (with 714 beds) mostly under the Maharashtra [[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]], and 380 private medical establishments; these establishments provide the state with more than 30,000 hospital beds.<ref name=women /> It is the first state in India to have nine women's hospitals serving 1,365 beds.<ref name=women>{{cite web |title=List of Women Hospital |url=http://www.maha-arogya.gov.in/services/hospital/district/default.htm#DH |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=26 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140227132756/http://www.maha-arogya.gov.in/services/hospital/district/default.htm |archive-date=27 February 2014}}</ref> The state also has a significant number of medical practitioners who hold the [[Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine and Surgery]] qualifications. These practitioners primarily use the traditional Indian therapy of [[Ayurveda]], nevertheless, modern western medicine is used as well.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Dabhade |first1=Sangeeta |title=Comparative evaluation of prescriptions of MBBS and BAMS doctors using WHO prescribing indicators |journal=Medical Journal of Dr. D.Y. Patil University |date=2013 |volume=6 |issue=4 |page=411 |doi=10.4103/0975-2870.118294|display-authors=etal |doi-access=free}}</ref>

In Maharashtra as well as in the rest of India, Primary Health Centre (PHC) is part of the government-funded public health system and is the most basic unit of the healthcare system. They are essentially single-physician clinics usually with facilities for minor surgeries, too.<ref name="PublicHealthStandards">{{cite web |url=http://archive.org/details/GuidelinesPHC2012 |title=Indian Public Health Standards (IPHS) Guidelines for Primary Health Centres Revised 2012 |date=16 February 2012 |access-date=16 February 2022 |website=Archive.org}}</ref> Maharashtra has a life expectancy at birth of 67.2 years in 2011, ranking it [[List of Indian states by life expectancy at birth|third]] among 29 [[States and territories of India|Indian states]].<ref name=health>{{cite web |title=Inequality- adjusted Human Development Index for India's states |url=http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/inequality_adjusted_human_development_index_for_indias_state1.pdf |publisher=United Nations Development Programme |access-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130301034958/http://www.in.undp.org/content/dam/india/docs/inequality_adjusted_human_development_index_for_indias_state1.pdf |archive-date=1 March 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref> The [[total fertility rate]] of the state is 1.9.<ref name=Fertility>{{cite web |title=Health Indicators of Maharashtra |url=http://nrhm.gov.in/nrhm-in-state/state-wise-information/maharashtra.html |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=17 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518044732/http://nrhm.gov.in/nrhm-in-state/state-wise-information/maharashtra.html |archive-date=18 May 2014}}</ref> The [[Infant mortality]] rate is 28 and the [[Maternal death|maternal mortality]] ratio is 104 (2012–2013), which are lower than the national averages.<ref name=mortality>{{cite news |title=Impressive drop in maternal, infant mortality rates |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/impressive-drop-in-maternal-infant-mortality-rates/article2208208.ece |access-date=17 May 2014 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=8 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518043017/http://www.thehindu.com/news/national/impressive-drop-in-maternal-infant-mortality-rates/article2208208.ece |archive-date=18 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Infant mortality">{{cite web |title=Infant Mortality Rate |url=http://www.maharashtrastat.com/health/16/vitalstatistics/291/infantmortalityrate/17794/stats.aspx |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518034909/http://www.maharashtrastat.com/health/16/vitalstatistics/291/infantmortalityrate/17794/stats.aspx |archive-date=18 May 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Public health system in India|Public health services]] are governed by the [[Ministry of Health and Family Welfare]] (MoHFW), through various departments. The Ministry is divided into two departments: the Public Health Department, which includes family welfare and medical relief, and the Department of Medical Education and Drugs.<ref name=public>{{cite web |title=1 1 Medical Education & Drugs Department |url=http://egovreach.in/uploads/demo/casestudy/HMIS.pdf |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119013746/http://egovreach.in/uploads/demo/casestudy/HMIS.pdf |archive-date=19 November 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Public health">{{cite web |title=Public health department |url=http://arogya.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/Home/Home.aspx |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=17 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140304213920/http://arogya.maharashtra.gov.in/Site/Home/home.aspx |archive-date=4 March 2014}}</ref>

Health insurance includes any program that helps pay for medical expenses, through privately purchased insurance, [[social insurance]], or a [[Social welfare provision|social welfare program]] funded by the government.<ref name=Statistics /> In a more technical sense, the term is used to describe any form of insurance that protects against the costs of medical services.<ref name=diagnostic /> This usage includes private insurance and social insurance programs such as National Health Mission, which pools resources and spreads the financial risk associated with major medical expenses across the entire population to protect everyone, as well as social welfare programs such as [[National Rural Health Mission]] (NRHM) and the Health Insurance Program, which assist people who cannot afford health coverage.<ref name=Statistics>{{cite web |title=Health Intelligence & Vital Statistics |url=http://www.cehat.org/publications/PDf%20files/r53.pdf |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=17 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518024430/http://www.cehat.org/publications/PDf%20files/r53.pdf |archive-date=18 May 2014}}</ref><ref name=diagnostic>{{cite news |title=Maharashtra tie up for diagnostic facilities |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/ge-maharashtra-tie-up-for-diagnostic-facilities-at-22-hospitals/article4724176.ece |access-date=17 May 2014 |newspaper=[[The Hindu]] |date=17 May 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109004243/http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/companies/ge-maharashtra-tie-up-for-diagnostic-facilities-at-22-hospitals/article4724176.ece |archive-date=9 November 2013 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=status>{{cite web |title=Maharashtra State Health Status |date=2 May 2012 |url=http://ehealth.eletsonline.com/2012/05/initiatives-in-nrhm-maharashtra/ |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |access-date=17 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140518002046/http://ehealth.eletsonline.com/2012/05/initiatives-in-nrhm-maharashtra/ |archive-date=18 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>

===Energy===
[[File:Current functioning units of CSTPS.jpg|thumb|right|alt=Current functioning units of Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station|[[Chandrapur Super Thermal Power Station]], the state's power production source]]
Although its population makes Maharashtra one of the country's largest energy users,<ref name=consumes>{{cite news |title=Maharashtra used up 1193 MW more power in winter |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Maharashtra-used-up-1193-MW-more-power-in-winter/articleshow/11983942.cms |access-date=13 September 2014 |work=[[The Times of India]] |agency=The Times Group |date=22 February 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151115123353/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Maharashtra-used-up-1193-MW-more-power-in-winter/articleshow/11983942.cms |archive-date=15 November 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Thermal>{{cite web |title=Indian Power Sector |url=http://indianpowersector.com/home/about/ |website=indianpowersector.com/ |publisher=Ministry of Power |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140822222704/http://indianpowersector.com/home/about/ |archive-date=22 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> conservation mandates, mild weather in the largest population centers, and strong environmental movements have kept its per capita energy use to one of the smallest of any Indian state.<ref name=Regulatory>{{cite web |title=Electricity Governance Initiative |url=http://electricitygovernance.wri.org/files/egi/Maharashtra%20Case%20Study.pdf |website=electricitygovernance.wri.org/ |publisher=Government of Maharashtra |access-date=29 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903064333/http://electricitygovernance.wri.org/files/egi/Maharashtra%20Case%20Study.pdf |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The high electricity demand of the state constitutes 13 per cent of the total installed electricity generation capacity in India, which is mainly from fossil fuels such as coal and natural gas.<ref>{{cite web |title=Electricity tariff in Maharashtra |url=http://www.mercindia.org.in/pdf/LT_Booklet.pdf |website=mercindia.org.in/ |publisher=[[Maharashtra State Electricity Board]] |access-date=13 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150412133658/http://www.mercindia.org.in/pdf/LT_Booklet.pdf |archive-date=12 April 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Mahavitaran]] is responsible for the distribution of electricity throughout the state by buying power from Mahanirmiti, captive power plants, other state electricity boards, and private sector power generation companies.<ref name=Regulatory />

As of 2012, Maharashtra was the largest power generating state in India, with an installed electricity generation capacity of 26,838 MW.<ref name=Thermal /> The state forms a major constituent of the western grid of India, which now comes under the North, East, West and North Eastern (NEWNE) grids of India.<ref name=consumes /> Maharashtra Power Generation Company (MAHAGENCO) operates [[Thermal power station|thermal power plants]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Maharashtra State Power Generation Company -A Power Generating Utility |url=http://www.mahagenco.in/index.php/about-us |website=mahagenco.in/ |publisher=[[Maharashtra State Power Generation Company]] |access-date=13 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140921080018/http://www.mahagenco.in/index.php/about-us |archive-date=21 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> In addition to the state government-owned power generation plants, there are privately owned power generation plants that transmit power through the [[Maharashtra State Electricity Transmission Company]], which is responsible for the transmission of electricity in the state.<ref name="power supply">{{cite web |title=Power demand-supply position of the state of Maharashtra |url=http://greencleanguide.com/2012/11/27/power-supply-position-of-the-state-of-maharashtra/ |publisher=Green guide |access-date=17 May 2014 |date=27 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331205356/http://greencleanguide.com/2012/11/27/power-supply-position-of-the-state-of-maharashtra/ |archive-date=31 March 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Environmental protection and sustainability===
[[Maharashtra Pollution Control Board]] (MPCB) is established and responsible for implementing various environmental legislations in the state principally including the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, Water (Cess) Act, 1977 and some of the provisions under Environmental (Protection) Act, 1986 and the rules framed there under it including, Biomedical Waste (M&H) Rules, 1998, Hazardous Waste (M&H) Rules, 2000, and Municipal Solid Waste Rules, 2000. MPCB is functioning under the administrative control of the Environment Department of the [[Government of Maharashtra]].<ref name="MPCB">{{cite web |title=Introduction |url=https://mpcb.gov.in/introduction |publisher=MPCB |access-date=9 March 2022}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite news |title=Plastic ban in Maharashtra: What is allowed, what is banned |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/plastic-ban-in-maharashtra-mumbai-from-june-23-what-is-allowed-what-is-banned-all-you-need-to-know-5228307/ |access-date=29 December 2018 |publisher=TheIndianExpress |date=27 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230030227/https://indianexpress.com/article/india/plastic-ban-in-maharashtra-mumbai-from-june-23-what-is-allowed-what-is-banned-all-you-need-to-know-5228307/ |archive-date=30 December 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Plastic Waste Management in Maharashtra |url=http://mpcb.gov.in/plastic/plastic.php |publisher=Maharashtra Pollution Control Board |access-date=29 December 2018 |date=23 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180821144803/http://www.mpcb.gov.in/plastic/plastic.php |archive-date=21 August 2018 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Culture==
{{Main|Culture of Maharashtra|List of State Protected Monuments in Maharashtra}}
{{Further|Cultural activities of Maharashtra}}
[[File:Maharashtrian Thali 2.JPG|thumb|right|Maharashtrian vegetarian Thali]]
[[File:Special Kolhapuri Misal Pav.jpg|thumb|Misal Paav, a popular dish from Maharashtra]]

===Cuisine===
{{Main|Maharashtrian cuisine}}
Maharashtrian cuisine includes a variety of dishes ranging from mild to very spicy ones. Wheat, rice, ''[[jowar]]'', ''[[bajri]]'', vegetables, lentils and fruit form [[staple food]] of the Maharashtrian diet. Some of the popular traditional dishes include ''[[puran poli]]'', ''ukdiche [[modak]]'', ''[[Thalipeeth]].''<ref name="Khatau2004">{{cite book |author=Asha Khatau |title=Epicure S Vegetarian Cuisines Of India |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=16mU1bzJx3AC&pg=PA15 |date=February 2004 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7991-119-8 |pages=12, 63}}</ref> Street food items like ''[[Batata wada]],'' ''[[Misal Pav]]'', ''[[Pav Bhaji]]'' and'' [[Vada pav]]'' are very popular among the locals and are usually sold on stalls and in small hotels.<ref name=cuisine>{{cite web |title=Cuisine of Maharashtra |url=http://www.marathiheritage.com/cuisine.html |website=marathiheritage.com |publisher=Maharashtra Heritage news portal |access-date=1 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141008180629/http://www.marathiheritage.com/cuisine.html |archive-date=8 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Meals (mainly lunch and dinner) are served on a plate called [[thali]]. Each food item served on the ''thali'' is arranged in a specific way. All non-vegetarian and vegetarian dishes are eaten with boiled rice, [[chapati]]s or with [[bhakri]]s, made of jowar, bajra or rice flours. A typical vegetarian thali is made of [[chapati]] or [[bhakri]] (Indian flat bread), [[dal]], rice (varan bhaat), amti, ''[[bhaji]] or [[usal]]'', [[chutney]], ''koshimbir'' (salad) and [[buttermilk]] or ''Sol kadhi''. A ''bhaji'' is a vegetable dish made of a particular vegetable or combination of vegetables. ''Aamti'' is variant of the curry, typically consisting of a lentil (''tur'') stock, flavoured with goda masala and sometimes with tamarind or amshul, and [[jaggery]] (''gul'').<ref name="cuisine" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Maharashtra Recipes |url=http://food.ndtv.com/recipes/indian-recipes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225091730/http://food.ndtv.com/recipes/indian-recipes |archive-date=25 December 2014 |access-date=13 September 2014 |website=food.ndtv.com |publisher=NDTV}}</ref> ''Varan'' is nothing but plain [[dal]], a common Indian lentil stew. More or less, most of the dishes use coconut, onion, garlic, ginger, red chili powder, green chilies, and mustard though some section of the population traditionally avoid onion and garlics.<ref name="Annathali" /><ref name="cuisine" />

Maharashtrian cuisine varies with the regions. [[Malvani Konkani|Malvani]] (Konkani), Kolhapuri, and Varhadhi cuisins are examples of well known regional cuisines.<ref name="Annathali">{{cite web |title=Maharashtrian food |publisher=[[Government of Maharashtra]] |url=http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=MaharashtraCuisine.html |website=maharashtratourism.gov.in/ |access-date=13 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140913102952/http://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/MTDC/HTML/MaharashtraTourism/Default.aspx?strpage=MaharashtraCuisine.html |archive-date=13 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Kolhapur is famous for Tambda Pandhra rassa, a dish made of either chicken or mutton.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Marathé |first=Kaumudi |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2Ao5QwAACAAJ |title=The Essential Marathi Cookbook |date=2009 |publisher=Penguin Books |isbn=978-0-14-306802-0 |language=en}}</ref> Rice and seafood are the staple foods of the coastal Konkani people. Among seafood, the most popular is a fish variety called the [[Bombay duck]] (also known as bombil in Marathi).

===Attire===

[[File:A woman in traditional Maharashtrian saree IMG 20221211 131250 (1).jpg|thumb|126px|right|A woman in [[Pune]] wearing traditional Maharashtrian Nauvari lugada (nine-yard sari)]]

Traditionally, Marathi women commonly wore the [[sari]], often distinctly designed according to local cultural customs.<ref name=Costumes /> Most middle-aged and young women in urban Maharashtra dress in western outfits such as skirts and trousers or [[shalwar kameez]] with the traditionally ''[[Kasta sari#Nauvari|nauvari]]'' or nine-yard [[Kasta sari|lugade]],<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ghurye |first1=Govind Sadashiv |title=Indian Costume|orig-date=1966 |year=1995 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |location=Bombay |isbn=978-81-7154-403-5 |page=186 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=irh9dvlLz3MC&q=ghurye+costume&pg=PR5 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> disappearing from the markets due to a lack of demand.{{sfn|Kher|2003|p=}} Older women wear the five-yard sari. In urban areas, the five-yard sari, especially the [[Paithani]], is worn by younger women for special occasions such as marriages and religious ceremonies.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kher |first1=Swati |title=Bid farewell to her |url=http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=69578 |access-date=10 October 2010 |publisher=Indian Express, Mumbai Newsline |date=2003 |url-status=dead |archive-date=1 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100301122101/http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=69578}}</ref> Among men, western dressing has greater acceptance. Men also wear traditional costumes such as the [[dhoti]], and [[Pheta (turban)|pheta]]<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ghurye |first1=Govind Sadashiv |title=Indian Costume|orig-date=1966 |year=1995 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |location=Bombay |isbn=978-81-7154-403-5 |page=177 |edition=2nd |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=irh9dvlLz3MC&q=ghurye+costume&pg=PR5 |access-date=22 September 2014}}</ref> on cultural occasions. The [[Gandhi cap]] is the popular headgear among older men in rural Maharashtra.<ref name=Costumes /><ref>{{cite book |last=Bhanu |first=B.V. |title=People of India: Maharashtra, Part 2 |year=2004 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |location=Mumbai |isbn=978-81-7991-101-3 |pages=1033, 1037, 1039 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsBEgVa804IC&q=%22gandhi+cap%22+maharashtra+men+headgear&pg=PA1033}}</ref><ref name=tradition /> Women wear traditional jewellery derived from Maratha and Peshwa dynasties. [[Kolhapuri saaj]], a special type of necklace, is also worn by Marathi women.<ref name=Costumes>{{cite web |title=Costumes of Maharashtra |url=http://www.maharashtratourism.net/culture-lifestyle/costumes/ |publisher=Maharashtra Tourism |access-date=30 May 2014 |url-status=live |archive-date=23 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723041108/http://www.maharashtratourism.net/culture-lifestyle/costumes/}}</ref> In urban areas, western attire is dominant amongst women and men.<ref name=tradition>{{cite web |title=Traditional costumes of Maharashtra |publisher=Marathi Heritage Organisation |url=http://www.marathiheritage.com/costumes.html |access-date=30 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141028002852/http://www.marathiheritage.com/costumes.html |archive-date=28 October 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

===Music===
Maharashtra and Maharashtrian artists have been influential in preserving and developing [[Hindustani classical music]] for more than a century. Notable practitioners of [[Kirana gharana|Kirana]] or [[Gwalior gharana|Gwalior]] style called Maharashtra their home. The [[Sawai Gandharva Bhimsen Festival]] in Pune started by [[Bhimsen Joshi]] in the 1950s is considered the most prestigious Hindustani music festival in India, if not one of the largest.<ref>{{cite thesis |last1=Grimes |first1=Jeffrey Michael |title=The geography of Hindustani music : the influence of region and regionalism on the North Indian classical tradition |date=December 2008 |id={{ProQuest|304195106}} |hdl=2152/18235 |citeseerx=10.1.1.390.2265 }}</ref>

Cities like Kolhapur and Pune have been playing a major role in the preservation of music like [[Bhavageet]] and [[Natya Sangeet]], which are inherited from Indian classical music. The biggest form of Indian [[popular music]] is songs from films produced in Mumbai. Film music, in 2009 made up 72 per cent of the music sales in India.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/8405891.stm |work=BBC News |title=Plans to start India music awards |date=10 December 2009 |access-date=19 May 2010 |first=Prachi |last=Pinglay}}</ref> Most the influential music composers and singers have called Mumbai their home.

In recent decades, the music scene in Maharashtra, and particularly in Mumbai has seen a growth of newer music forms such as rap.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Datta |first1=Jayanti |title=A New Sense of the Sacred |journal=PostScriptum |issn=2456-7507 |date=July 2020 |issue=ii |pages=234–245 |url=https://postscriptum.co.in/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/pS5.iiJayanti.pdf |access-date=14 February 2022}}</ref> The city also holds festivals in western music genres such as [[Mahindra Blues Festival|blues]].<ref>Gupta, D.R., Paper 11: Special Interest Tourism Module 22: Musical Festivals and Events (Doctoral dissertation, Central University of Jammu).</ref> In 2006, the [[Symphony Orchestra of India]] was founded, housed at the [[National Centre for the Performing Arts (India)|NCPA]] in Mumbai. It is today the only professional symphony orchestra in India and presents two concert seasons per year, with world-renowned conductors and soloists.

Maharashtra has a long and rich tradition of folk music. Some of the most common forms of folk music in practice are Bhajan, Bharud, Kirtan, Gondhal,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Krishnamachari |first=Suganthy |date=16 August 2018 |title=The Gondhala music of Maharashtra |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/music/music-for-all-occasions/article24705745.ece |access-date=4 December 2022 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> and Koli Geet.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zelliot |first1=Eleanor |url=https://archive.org/details/experienceofhind00zell |title=The Experience of Hinduism : essays on religion in Maharashtra |last2=Berntsen |first2=Maxine |date=1988 |publisher=State University of New York Press |isbn=978-0-88706-662-7 |location=Albany, N.Y. |page=[https://archive.org/details/experienceofhind00zell/page/174 174] |quote=gondhali maharashtra. |access-date=26 May 2016 |url-access=registration}}</ref>

===Dance===
[[File:Lavani Dancers.jpg|thumb|Lavani performance]]
Marathi dance forms draw from folk traditions. [[Lavani]] is popular form of dance in the state. The Bhajan, Kirtan and [[Abhang]]as of the [[Warkari]] sect (Vaishanav Devotees) have a long history and are part of their daily rituals.<ref>{{cite book |editor-last1=Kumar |editor-first1=Raj |title=Essays on Indian music |date=2003 |publisher=Discovery Pub. House |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-7141-719-3 |page=12 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wwwX6DWfn3gC&q=shastriya+sangeet+maharashtra&pg=PP9 |access-date=20 June 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mandpe |first1=Asha |title=Vibrant colours of Maharashtra |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Vibrant-colours-of-Maharashtras-folk-dances/articleshow/7674251.cms |access-date=1 September 2014 |work=[[Times of India]] |agency=[[The Times Group]] |date=10 March 2011 |archive-date=31 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151031005217/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/thane/Vibrant-colours-of-Maharashtras-folk-dances/articleshow/7674251.cms |url-status=live}}</ref> Koli dance (called 'Koligeete') is among the most popular dances of Maharashtra. As the name suggests, it is related to the fisher folk of Maharashtra, who are called [[Koli people|Kolis]]. Popular for their unique identity and liveliness, their dances represent their occupation. This type of dance is represented by both men and women. While dancing, they are divided into groups of two. These fishermen display the movements of waves and casting of the nets during their koli dance performances.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dances of Maharashtra |url=http://www.marathiheritage.com/dance.html |website=marathiheritage.com/ |publisher=Maharashtra Heritage news portal |access-date=1 September 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714073004/http://www.marathiheritage.com/dance.html}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=ed |first1=Alison Arnold |title=The Garland encyclopedia of world music |date=2000 |publisher=Garland |location=New York |isbn=978-0-8240-4946-1 |pages=726–730 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZOlNv8MAXIEC&q=%22classical+music%22+maharashtra&pg=PA457 |access-date=20 June 2016}}</ref>

===Theatre===
{{Main|Marathi theatre}}
[[File:Vijay Tendulkar .jpeg|right|thumb|Playwright [[Vijay Tendulkar]]]]

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 also been incorporated in some experimental plays.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Dharwadker |first1=Aparna Bhargava |title=Theatres of Independence: Drama, Theory, and Urban Performance in India Since 1947 |date=2009 |publisher=University of Iowa Press |isbn=978-1-58729-642-0 |pages=314 and 368 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mLQaz-12Eo8C&pg=PA378 |access-date=5 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/https://books.google.com/books?id=mLQaz-12Eo8C&pg=PA378 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>
The repertoire of Marathi theatre ranges from humorous social plays, [[farce]]s, historical plays, and musical, to experimental plays and serious drama. Marathi Playwrights such as [[Vijay Tendulkar]], [[P. L. Deshpande]], [[Mahesh Elkunchwar]], [[Ratnakar Matkari]], and [[Satish Alekar]] have influenced theatre throughout India.<ref>{{cite news |title=Modern Marathi theatre had milestones, limitations.. |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Modern-Marathi-theatre-had-milestones-limitations-Expert/articleshow/8753808.cms?referral=PM |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=7 June 2011 |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141010180458/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/pune/Modern-Marathi-theatre-had-milestones-limitations-Expert/articleshow/8753808.cms?referral=PM |archive-date=10 October 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Besides Marathi theatre, Maharashtra and particularly, Mumbai, has had a long tradition of theatre in other languages such as Gujarati, Hindi, and English.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Sengupta |first1=Ashis |title=Mapping South Asia Through Contemporary Theatre |date=2014 |publisher=Palgrave MacMillan |location=Basingstoke, Uk and New York, US |isbn=978-1-137-37513-1 |page=88 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=DDZvBAAAQBAJ&q=parsi+theatre+mumbai+prithvi&pg=PA64 |access-date=5 October 2014}}</ref>

The [[National Centre for the Performing Arts (India)|National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCP)]] is a multi-venue, multi-purpose cultural center in Mumbai which hosts events in music, dance, theatre, film, literature, and photography from India as well other places. It also presents new and innovative work in the performing arts field.

===Literature===
{{Main|Marathi literature}}
[[File:Suresh Joshi with P L Deshpandey.jpg|right|thumb|P L Deshpande (in center), one of the most popular authors in Marathi language]]
Maharashtra's regional literature is about the lives and circumstances of [[Marathi people]] in specific parts of the state. The [[Marathi language]], which boasts a rich literary heritage, is written in the [[Devanagari]] script.<ref>{{cite web |title=Maharashtra's Regional Literature |url=http://www.discoveredindia.com/maharashtra/culture-in-maharashtra/literature.htm |website=discoveredindia.com/ |publisher=[[Discovery Channel]] |access-date=1 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903061426/http://www.discoveredindia.com/maharashtra/culture-in-maharashtra/literature.htm |archive-date=3 September 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The earliest instance of Marathi literature is [[Dnyaneshwari]], a commentary on the Bhagavad Gita by 13th-century [[Bhakti]] Saint [[Dnyaneshwar]] and devotional poems called [[abhang]]s by his contemporaries such as [[Namdev]], and [[Gora Kumbhar]]. Devotional literature from the [[Early modern period]] includes compositions in praise of the God [[Pandurang]] by [[Bhakti]] saints such as [[Tukaram]], [[Eknath]], and [[Rama]] by [[Samarth Ramdas|Ramdas]] respectively.<ref name="Singh">{{cite book |author=Singh |title=The Pearson Indian History Manual for the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=wsiXwh_tIGkC&pg=RA1-PA120 |publisher=Pearson Education India |isbn=978-81-317-1753-0 |page=120 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/https://books.google.com/books?id=wsiXwh_tIGkC&pg=RA1-PA120 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=Indian History | year=1960 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=X4j7Nf_MU24C&pg=SL2-PA244 |publisher=Tata McGraw-Hill Education |isbn=978-0-07-132923-1 |pages=B–244 |access-date=15 November 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160101080935/https://books.google.com/books?id=X4j7Nf_MU24C&pg=SL2-PA244 |archive-date=1 January 2016 |url-status=live}}</ref>

19th century [[Marathi literature]] includes mainly [[Polemic]] works of social and political activists such as [[Balshastri Jambhekar]], [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]], [[Gopal Hari Deshmukh]], [[Mahadev Govind Ranade]], [[Jyotirao Phule]], and [[Vishnushastri Chiplunkar]].
[[Keshavsuta]] was a pioneer in modern Marathi poetry. The Hindutva proponent, [[Vinayak Damodar Savarkar]] was a prolific writer. His work in English and Marathi consists of many essays, two novels, poetry, and plays.

Four Marathi writers have been honoured with the [[Jnanpith Award]], India's highest literary award. They include novelists, [[Vishnu Sakharam Khandekar]], and [[Bhalchandra Nemade]], [[Kusumagraj|Vishnu Vaman Shirwadkar]](Kusumagraj) and [[Vinda Karandikar]]. The last two were known for their poetry as well.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://jnanpith.net/page/jnanpith-laureates |title=Jnanpith Laureates Official listings |access-date=8 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218122436/http://www.jnanpith.net/page/jnanpith-laureates |archive-date=18 February 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Other notable writers from the early and mid 20th century include playwright [[Ram Ganesh Gadkari]], novelist [[Hari Narayan Apte]], poet, and novelist [[B. S. Mardhekar]], [[Sane Guruji]], [[Vyankatesh Digambar Madgulkar]], [[Prahlad Keshav Atre]], [[Chintamani Tryambak Khanolkar]], and [[Laxmanshastri Joshi]]. [[Vishwas Patil]], [[Ranjit Desai]], and [[Shivaji Sawant]] are known for novels based on Maratha history. [[Pu La Deshpande]] gained popularity in the period after independence for depicting the urban middle class society. His work includes humour, travelogues, plays, and biographies.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Deshpande |first1=G. P. |title=Marathi Literature since Independence: Some Pleasures and Displeasures |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=1997 |volume=32 |issue=44/45 |pages=2885–2892 |jstor=4406042 }}</ref> [[Narayan Surve]], [[Shanta Shelke]], [[Durga Bhagwat]], [[Suresh Bhat]], and [[Narendra Jadhav]] are some of the more recent authors

[[Dalit literature]] originally emerged in the Marathi language as a literary response to the everyday oppressions of caste in mid-twentieth-century independent India, critiquing caste practices by experimenting with various literary forms.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Muthukkaruppan |first1=Parthasarathi |title=Preliminary Remarks on Dalit Poetry |journal=Rethinking Marxism |date=January 2018 |volume=30 |issue=1 |pages=61–71 |doi=10.1080/08935696.2018.1456762|s2cid=149846207 }}</ref>
In 1958, the term "Dalit literature" was used for the first conference of ''Maharashtra Dalit Sahitya Sangha'' (Maharashtra Dalit Literature Society) in [[Mumbai]].<ref>{{cite book |title=Handbook of twentieth-century literatures of India |last=Natarajan |first=Nalini |author2=Emmanuel Sampath Nelson |chapter=Chapter 13: Dalit Literature in Marathi by Veena Deo |year=1996 |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |isbn=0-313-28778-3 |page=363 |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=1lTnv6o-d_oC&q=Dalit+literature&pg=PA363}}</ref>

Maharashtra, and particularly the cities in the state such as Mumbai and Pune are diverse with different languages being spoken. Mumbai is called home by writers in English such as [[Rohinton Mistry]], [[Shobha De]], and [[Salman Rushdie]]. Their novels are set with Mumbai as the backdrop.<ref>BHATTACHARYA, REBECCA. "BOMBAY AS REFLECTED IN THE NOVELS OF SHOBHA DE, SALMAN RUSHDIE AND ROHINTON MISTRY."[http://rjelal.com/5.2.17a/396-399%20REBECCA%20BHATTACHARYA.pdf]</ref> Many eminent [[List of Sahitya Akademi Award winners for Urdu|Urdu poets]] such as [[Kaifi Azmi]], [[Jan Nissar Akhtar]], [[Gulzar]], and [[Javed Akhtar]] have been residents of Mumbai.

===Cinema===
{{Main|Bollywood|Marathi cinema}}
[[File:Amitabh.jpg|thumb|128px|right|[[Amitabh Bachchan]], one of the most popular actors of the Mumbai film industry of the last fifty years]]

First Indian feature length film, [[Raja Harishchandra]], was made in Maharashtra by [[Dadasaheb Phalke]] in 1913.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dada saheb Phalke : भारतीय सिनेमा के पितामह थे दादा साहब फाल्के, ऐसे दिया था भारत में फिल्मों को जीवन |url=https://www.amarujala.com/photo-gallery/entertainment/bollywood/dada-saheb-phalke-film-journey-facts-on-his-death-anniversary-who-known-as-father-of-indian-cinema |access-date=29 November 2021 |website=Amar Ujala |language=hi}}</ref> Dadasaheb Phalke is widely considered the father of [[Cinema of India|Indian cinema]].<ref>{{cite web |title=भारतीय सिनेमा के सूत्रधार रहे दादा साहेब फाल्के, 1969 से दिया जा रहा फाल्के पुरस्कार |url=https://www.jagran.com/news/national-dada-saheb-phalke-is-the-founder-of-indian-cinema-jagran-special-21525821.html |access-date=29 November 2021 |website=Dainik Jagran |language=hi}}</ref> The [[Dadasaheb Phalke Award]] is India's highest award in cinema, given annually by the [[Government of India]] for lifetime contribution to [[Indian cinema]].<ref name="dadasahebdff">{{cite web |title=Dadasaheb Phalke Awards |url=http://dff.nic.in/dadasahebphalke.asp |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160526044918/http://www.dff.nic.in/dadasahebphalke.asp |archive-date=26 May 2016 |access-date=6 May 2012 |publisher=Directorate of Film Festivals}}</ref>

The [[Marathi film]] industry, initially 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, [[V. Shantaram]], [[Raja Thakur]], [[Bhalji Pendharkar]], [[Pralhad Keshav Atre]], [[Baburao Painter]], and [[Dada Kondke]]. Some of the directors who made acclaimed films in Marathi are [[Jabbar Patel]], [[Mahesh Manjrekar]], [[Amol Palekar]], and [[Sanjay Surkar]].

[[Durga Khote]] was one of the first women from respectable families to enter the film industry, thus breaking a social taboo.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 March 2009 |title=rediff.com: The Millennium Special: Gautam Rajadhyaksha on the ten most important women stars in Indian films |url=http://www.rediff.com/millenni/gautam.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090321111313/http://www.rediff.com/millenni/gautam.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=21 March 2009 |access-date=22 December 2022 }}</ref> [[Lalita Pawar]], [[Sulabha Deshpande|Sulabha Deshpande, and]] [[Usha Kiran]] featured in Hindi and Marathi movies. In 70s and 80s, [[Smita Patil]], [[Ranjana Deshmukh]], [[Reema Lagoo]] featured in both art and mainstream movies in Hindi and Marathi. [[Rohini Hattangadi]] starred in a number of acclaimed movies, and is the only Indian actress to win the [[BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role]] for her performance as [[Kasturba Gandhi]] in ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'' (1982).<ref>{{Cite web |title=1983 Film Supporting Actress {{!}} BAFTA Awards |url=http://awards.bafta.org/award/1983/film/supporting-actress |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114152757/http://awards.bafta.org/award/1983/film/supporting-actress |archive-date=14 January 2023 |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=awards.bafta.org}}</ref> [[Bhanu Athaiya]] was the first Indian to win an Oscar in [[Academy Award for Best Costume Design|Best Costume Design]] category for ''[[Gandhi (film)|Gandhi]]'' (1982).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Academy Awards Database Search {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences |url=https://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/search/getresults?query=%7B%22FilmTitle%22:%22Gandhi%22,%22Sort%22:%222-Film%20Title-Alpha%22,%22AwardShowNumberFrom%22:0,%22AwardShowNumberTo%22:0,%22Search%22:30%7D |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230114153313/https://awardsdatabase.oscars.org/search/getresults?query=%7B%22FilmTitle%22%3A%22Gandhi%22%2C%22Sort%22%3A%222-Film%20Title-Alpha%22%2C%22AwardShowNumberFrom%22%3A0%2C%22AwardShowNumberTo%22%3A0%2C%22Search%22%3A30%7D |archive-date=14 January 2023 |access-date=14 January 2023 |website=awardsdatabase.oscars.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=1983 {{!}} Oscars.org {{!}} Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |url=https://www.oscars.org/oscars/ceremonies/1983 |access-date=22 December 2022 |website=www.oscars.org |language=en}}</ref> In 90s and 2000s, [[Urmila Matondkar]] and [[Madhuri Dixit]] starred in critically acclaimed and high grossing films in Hindi and Marathi.

In earliest days of Marathi cinema, [[Suryakant Mandhare]] was a leading star.<ref>{{Cite web |date=4 March 2016 |title=Suryakant Mandare |url=http://kolhapur.nic.in/Htmldocs/suryam.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304045358/http://kolhapur.nic.in/Htmldocs/suryam.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=22 December 2022 }}</ref> In later years, [[Shriram Lagoo]], [[Nilu Phule]], [[Vikram Gokhale]], [[Dilip Prabhavalkar]] played character roles in theatre, and Hindi and Marathi films. [[Ramesh Deo]] and [[Mohan Joshi]] played leading men in Mainstream Marathi movies.<ref>{{Cite web |date=22 July 2011 |title=The legend from Kolhapur |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/news-archive/web/the-legend-from-kolhapur/ |access-date=22 December 2022 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=4 September 2020 |title=Happy Birthday, Mohan Joshi: 'Mulshi Pattern' to 'Deool Band'; FIVE must-watch movies of the veteran star |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/marathi/movies/news/happy-birthday-mohan-joshi-mulshi-pattern-to-deool-band-five-must-watch-movies-of-the-veteran-star/photostory/77924116.cms |access-date=22 December 2022 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> In 70s and 80s, [[Sachin Pilgaonkar (actor)|Sachin Pilgaonkar]], [[Ashok Saraf]], [[Laxmikant Berde]] and [[Mahesh Kothare]] created a "comedy film wave" in Marathi Cinema.

Maharashtra is a prominent location for the Indian entertainment industry, with enormous films, television series, books, and other media production companies being set there.<ref>{{cite web |title=Media and Entertainment Industry -Brief Introduction |url=http://www.ibef.org/industry/media-entertainment-india.aspx |website=ibef.org/ |publisher=India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) |access-date=13 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920204535/http://www.ibef.org/industry/media-entertainment-india.aspx |archive-date=20 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Mumbai has numerous film production studios and facilities to produce films.<ref>{{cite web |title=Film City - Mumbai |url=https://www.ffo.gov.in/en/film-cities/mumbai |access-date=29 November 2021 |website=Ffo.gov.in}}</ref> Mainstream [[Hindi films]] are popular in Maharashtra, especially in urban areas. Mumbai is the largest center 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 {{INRConvert|1.5|b}}, are filmed there.<ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985129,00.html?internalid=atm100 |title=Hooray for Bollywood! |author=Richard Corliss |magazine=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=16 September 1996 |access-date=3 January 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026154551/http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,985129,00.html?internalid=atm100 |archive-date=26 October 2014 |url-status=live |author-link=Richard Corliss}}</ref>

==Media==
[[File:Times of India, Mumbai.jpg|right|thumb|''Times of India'' building in Mumbai]]

The state is home to more than 200 newspapers and 350 consumer magazines. The publishing industry employs more than 250,000 people.<ref>{{cite web |title=Highest Circulated amongst ABC Member Publications |url=http://www.auditbureau.org/files/Highest%20Circulated%20amongst%20ABC%20Member%20Publications%20(across%20languages).pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918051424/http://www.auditbureau.org/files/Highest%20Circulated%20amongst%20ABC%20Member%20Publications%20(across%20languages).pdf |archive-date=18 September 2017}}</ref> There are number of Marathi news channels in the state viz ''[[News18 Lokmat]], [[ABP Majha]]''. As of December 2016, [[Sakal]], published in Pune and other major cities, is the largest circulated Marathi Newspaper in Maharashtra.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.auditbureau.org/files/Highest%20Circulated%20amongst%20ABC%20Member%20Publications%20(across%20languages).pdf |title=Highest Circulated amongst ABC Member Publications |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170918051424/http://www.auditbureau.org/files/Highest%20Circulated%20amongst%20ABC%20Member%20Publications%20(across%20languages).pdf |archive-date=18 September 2017 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Other major Marathi newspapers include ''[[Maharashtra Times]]'', ''[[Loksatta]]'', ''[[Nava Kaal]]'', ''[[Pudhari]]'', ''[[Lokmat]]'' and ''[[Sakal]]''<ref>Sanjay Tambat, Media Convergence in the Regional Language Setting : 43 Some Observations from a Study on Pune -Mumbai Based Media", COMMUNICATOR (2019): 43.Volume LIII, Number-4 page=43-62 [http://iimc.nic.in/WriteReadData/userfiles/file/21/Oct-Dec%202018-TEXT.pdf#page=50]</ref> ''Saptahik Sakal'', ''Grihashobhika'', ''Lokrajya'', ''Lokprabha'', and ''Chitralekha'' are some of the prominent Marathi magazines.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.exchange4media.com/news/story.aspx?Section_id=5&News_id=39218 |title=IRS Q2 2010: Publications in Maharashtra see some light |publisher=Exchange4media.com |access-date=15 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117050215/http://www.exchange4media.com/news/story.aspx?Section_id=5&News_id=39218 |archive-date=17 January 2013}}</ref> English language newspapers are confined to urban areas. Some popular among these are ''[[Daily News & Analysis]]'', ''[[The Times of India]]'', ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', ''[[The Indian Express]]'', ''[[Mumbai Mirror]]'', ''[[Asian Age]]'', ''[[MiD-DAY]]'' and ''[[The Free Press Journal]]''. Some prominent financial dailies like ''[[The Economic Times]]'', ''[[Mint (newspaper)|Mint]]'', ''[[Business Standard]]'', and ''[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]'' are widely circulated.<ref>{{cite web |title=Prominent financial dailies |url=http://www.indiapress.org/gen/browse_state.php/maharashtra |publisher=India Press |access-date=17 September 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140917160827/http://www.indiapress.org/gen/browse_state.php/maharashtra |archive-date=17 September 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Many newspapers in other Indian languages such as [[Nava Bharat]] in Hindi, [[Udayavani]] in Kannada, [[Mumbai Samachar]] in Gujarati, and [[The Inquilab]] in Urdu have Mumbai editions.<ref>Mathur, U.C., 2010. Product and Brand Management. Excel Books India.
ISB=978-8174465498 page=25 [https://books.google.com/books?id=LAClOXKs6IwC&dq=Nava+Bharat++Udayavani+Mumbai+Samachar+++Inquilab+&pg=PR15]</ref>

The television industry in Maharashtra has been contributing significantly in the state's economy.<ref>{{cite web |title=Profile display |url=http://www.karmayog.org/ngo/NFTIC/profile.htm |website=karmayog.org/ |publisher=National Film & Television Industry Committee-Maharashtra |access-date=7 September 2014 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140907103126/http://www.karmayog.org/ngo/NFTIC/profile.htm |archive-date=7 September 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> [[Doordarshan]], a state-owned television broadcaster runs a channel named [[DD Sahyadri]]. Numerous [[Television in India|Indian]] and international television channels can be watched in Maharashtra through one of the [[pay-tv|Pay TV]] companies or the local cable television provider. The four major Indian [[broadcast network]]s are all headquartered in Maharashtra: [[The Times Group|The Times]], [[STAR India]], [[CNN-IBN]] and [[Zee Entertainment Enterprises|ZEEL]]. [[Multi system operator|Multi-system operator]]s provide a range of Marathi, Bengali, Nepali, Hindi, English, and international channels via [[Cable television|cable]]. There are number of entertainment channels that exclusively streams content in Marathi including [[Zee Marathi]], Zee Yuva, [[Colors Marathi]], [[Star Pravah]], [[Sony Marathi]], and [[Fakt Marathi]].

[[All India Radio]] airs its content through multiple channels including ''Air Marathi'', ''FM Gold'', and ''FM Rainbow''. Air India's commercially successful air channel ''[[Vividh Bharti]]'' is headquartered in Mumbai. Private radio stations like ''[[Big 92.7 FM]]'', ''[[Radio Mirchi]]'', ''[[Red FM 93.5|Red FM]],'' ''Vasundhara Vahini'', ''Radio Dhamaal 24'', and ''My FM'' air in all major cities.<ref name="Radio">{{cite web |title=Radio stations in Maharashtra, India |url=https://www.asiawaves.net/india/maharashtra-radio.htm |publisher=Asia Waves |access-date=8 March 2022}}</ref> [[Bharti Airtel|Airtel]], [[BSNL]], [[Jio]], and [[Vodafone Idea|VI]] networks provide cellular services and have covered most of the Maharashtra. Broadband internet is available in most of the towns, villages, and cities, provided by the state-run [[MTNL]] and [[BSNL]] and by other private companies.<ref>{{cite web |title=Citizen Charter of BSNL – Maharashtra Telecom Circle |url=http://www.maharashtra.bsnl.co.in/citizencharter.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200804003029/http://www.maharashtra.bsnl.co.in/citizencharter.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=4 August 2020 |publisher=[[Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited]] |access-date=7 September 2014}}</ref>

==Sports==
{{Main|Sports in Maharashtra}}
{{See also|category : Cricket in Maharashtra|label 1=Sport of cricket in Maharashtra}}
[[File:Cricket Chinawal.jpg|thumb|right|Children playing cricket in a farm outside the village of [[Chinawal]] in [[Jalgaon district]]]]

Cricket is the most popular spectator sport in Maharashtra. It is played as an exercise and recreational activity. Maharashtra is represented by three teams in Domestic Cricket namely [[Maharashtra cricket team|Maharashtra]], [[Mumbai cricket team|Mumbai]] and Vidarbha cricket team. These teams are governed by [[Maharashtra Cricket Association|Maharashtra cricket association]], [[Mumbai Cricket Association]], and [[Vidarbha Cricket Association]], respectively.<ref name="MCA">{{cite web |title=Mumbai Cricket Association |url=https://www.mumbaicricket.com/mca/about-us.php |access-date=30 March 2022 |publisher=[[Mumbai Cricket Association]]}}</ref><ref name="VCA">{{cite web |title=Vidarbha Cricket Association, Nagpur |url=https://www.vca.co.in/pages/about-the-association |access-date=30 March 2022 |publisher=[[Vidarbha Cricket Association]]}}</ref><ref name="Popular">{{cite news |last1=Dubey |first1=Jyotindra |date=4 June 2019 |title=Which state has gifted India the most cricketers for World Cups since 1975? |work=India Today |agency=[[Living Media]] |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/diu/story/which-state-has-gifted-india-the-most-cricketers-for-world-cups-since-1975-1542001-2019-06-04 |access-date=30 March 2022}}</ref> {{Efn|[[Mumbai Cricket Association]] control governs cricket in Mumbai district, Palghar district and Thane districts and select players for their [[Mumbai cricket team]] from these areas only.}} Governing body of Cricket in India, BCCI, has its headquarters in [[Churchgate]], Mumbai. The state also has Indian Premier League (IPL) franchise Mumbai Indians based in Mumbai which plays its home matches at [[Wankhede Stadium]]. [[Brabourne Stadium]], Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and [[Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium|New VCA Stadium]], Nagpur are international cricket stadiums, which are the venues for international cricket.<ref name="Brabourne">{{cite web |title=Brabourne Stadium |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/ground/58317.html |access-date=30 March 2022 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref><ref name="Wankhede">{{cite web |title=Wankhede Stadium |url=https://www.espncricinfo.com/india/content/ground/58324.html |access-date=30 March 2022 |website=[[ESPNcricinfo]]}}</ref>

At [[2022 National Games of India|2022 National games]], Maharashtra won highest number of medals among the states and was second in medals tally behind [[Services Sports Control Board|Services]]. Maharashtra won 39 gold medals.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Utathya Nag |date=12 October 2022 |title=National Games 2022 medal tally: Know the final standing and winners |url=https://olympics.com/en/news/national-games-2022-medal-tally}}</ref>

[[Kabbadi]], [[Kho kho]], [[Pehlwani|Kushti]], and [[Mallakhamba]] are some of the traditional games that are played in the state. [[Pehlwani|Kusti]] and bullock cart races are popular in rural areas of South-west Maharashtra, are organised by villagers during the annual [[Jatra (Maharashtra)|fairs]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Shodhganga |title=Sangli District |website=Shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in |url=http://shodhganga.inflibnet.ac.in/bitstream/10603/9550/10/10_chapter%203.pdf |access-date=17 April 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Maharashtra asks high court to reconsider ban on bullock cart races |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/mumbai/Maharashtra-asks-high-court-to-reconsider-ban-on-bullock-cart-races/articleshow/16872364.cms |access-date=17 April 2014 |newspaper=[[The Times of India]] |date=19 October 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |title=TALEGAON DASHASAR |publisher=The Gazetteers Department |location=Maharashtra |url=http://amravati.nic.in/gazetteer/gazetteerb/places_Talegaon%20Dashasar.html}}</ref> Amateur wrestling tournaments [[Hind Kesari]], [[Maharashtra Kesari]] are held annually.<ref name="kushti">{{cite news |title=Hind Kesari Kushti kicks off |url=http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/hind-kesari-kushti-kicks-off/704681/ |access-date=30 May 2014 |date=30 October 2010 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160914114906/http://archive.indianexpress.com/news/hind-kesari-kushti-kicks-off/704681/ |archive-date=14 September 2016 |newspaper=[[The Indian Express]]}}</ref> Badminton, Volleyball, Tennis are played as a recreational activity in urban areas.<ref>Reddy, P.A., 2005. Sports Promotion in India. Discovery Publishing House.[https://books.google.com/books?id=T37m8eRAEX0C&q=maharashtra+volleyball&pg=PP9]</ref><ref>{{cite journal |author1=Kejal Joshi-Reddy |author2=Veena Kamble |author3=Pooja Kunte |author4=Polly Hardy-Johnson |author5=Caroline HD Fall |author6=Mary Barker |author7=Susie Weller |author8=Chittaranjan S. Yajnik |author9=Sarah H. Kehoe |title=Adolescent diet and physical activity in the context of economic, social and nutrition transition in rural Maharashtra, India: a qualitative study |journal=Public Health Nutrition |volume=24 |issue=16 |date=2021 |pages=5299–5308 |doi=10.1017/S1368980020002220 |pmid=32981556 |pmc=10195224 |s2cid=222146403 |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/1662B30C436E5621732540758321F165/S1368980020002220a.pdf/adolescent_diet_and_physical_activity_in_the_context_of_economic_social_and_nutrition_transition_in_rural_maharashtra_india_a_qualitative_study.pdf}}</ref> The beaches of Konkan coast, mountains of Western Ghats, and the lakes formed by numerous dams in the state facilitate adventure sports such as paragliding, rock climbing, trekking, mountaineering, water sports, and scuba diving and are popular among visitors.<ref name="Atithtya">{{cite journal |author=Nilesh Upadhye |title=The Growth of Experiential Tourism in Maharashtra |journal=Atithya: A Journal of Hospitality |volume=5 |issue=1 |date=2019 |pages=41–42}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last1=Gunaji |first1=Milind |title=Offbeat tracks in Maharashtra |date=2010 |publisher=Popular Prakashan |isbn=978-81-7991-578-3 |edition=2nd}}</ref><ref name="adventure">{{cite web |title=Adventure activities in Maharashtra |url=http://www.discoveredindia.com/maharashtra/attractions/adventure-in-maharashtra/ |website=discoveredindia.com/ |publisher=Discovery India |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725010652/http://www.discoveredindia.com/maharashtra/attractions/adventure-in-maharashtra/ |archive-date=25 July 2014 |url-status=dead |access-date=20 August 2014}}</ref>

India's only world class Tennis championship [[Maharashtra Open]] tennis championship are annually organised in Pune by governing body of tennis in the state, 'Maharashtra Lawn Tennis Association' (MLTA). The tournament is part of [[ATP Tour 250]].{{Efn|Maharashtra Open is the only ATP championship in [[South Asia]].}}<ref>{{cite web |title=About us: Tata Open Maharashtra |url=https://www.maharashtraopen.com/tournament?active=archive |website=www.maharashtraopen.com |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129141654/http://www.maharashtraopen.com/tournament?active=archive |archive-date=29 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Pune Overview: ATP Tour–Tata Open Maharashtra–Tennis |url=https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/pune/891/overview |website=ATP Tour |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220628154204/https://www.atptour.com/en/tournaments/pune/891/overview |archive-date=28 June 2022}}</ref> Mumbai and Pune hold [[derby (horse race)|derby]] races at the [[Mahalaxmi Racecourse]] and [[Pune Race Course]] respectively.<ref name="race">{{cite web |title=The Mahalaxmi Race Course |publisher=Royal Western India Turf Club |url=http://www.rwitc.com/comeracing/mumbairacecourse.php |access-date=30 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140625050537/http://rwitc.com/comeracing/mumbairacecourse.php |archive-date=25 June 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="racecourse">{{cite web |title=The Pune Race Course |url=http://www.rwitc.com/comeracing/puneracecourse.php |publisher=Royal Western India Turf Club |access-date=30 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140207235106/http://rwitc.com/comeracing/puneracecourse.php |archive-date=7 February 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> {{Dubious span|text=Various domestic level leagues for field hockey, chess, tennis, and badminton are organised throughout the state.|date=October 2022}}<ref>Astill, J., 2013. The great tamasha: cricket, corruption, and the turbulent rise of modern India. Bloomsbury Publishing USA.[https://books.google.com/books?id=zqHKajcwyR8C&q=maharashtra+&pg=PR9]</ref> The [[Maharashtra football team]] represents the state in the [[Santosh Trophy]], football tournament.

Many national-level football club are based in this state, such as [[Mumbai Tigers F.C.]], [[Kenkre F.C.]], [[Bengal Mumbai FC]], and [[Air India FC]].<ref name="clubs">{{cite web |title=Maharashtra Football Clubs List with Names & Foundation |url=http://www.fifaworldcuphub.com/maharashtra-football-clubs-list-names-foundation/ |publisher=FIFA World Cup 2014, Brazil |access-date=20 August 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821095933/http://www.fifaworldcuphub.com/maharashtra-football-clubs-list-names-foundation/ |archive-date=21 August 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Two clubs from the state participate in [[Elite Football League of India]].<ref name="indiatimes1">{{cite news |agency=Press Trust of India |url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Gridiron-league-launched-in-India/articleshow/9495133.cms?referral=PM |title=Gridiron league launched in India |work=[[The Times of India]] |date=5 August 2011 |access-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140803195529/http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/Gridiron-league-launched-in-India/articleshow/9495133.cms?referral=PM |archive-date=3 August 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref>{{Update inline|date=October 2022|reason=This league don't have tv coverage, and the edit was done in long time ago.}} [[Mumbai Gladiators]] and [[Pune Marathas (American football)|Pune Marathas]] are teams based in Mumbai and Pune respectively.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.efli.com/video-profiles/pune-marathas-profile |title=Pune Marathas Video Profile – The Elite Football League of India |publisher=[[Elite Football League of India]] |date=18 September 2012 |access-date=21 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131021103748/http://www.efli.com/video-profiles/pune-marathas-profile |archive-date=21 October 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Mumbai Gladiators |url=http://www.eflifans.com/teams/gladiators/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131024130822/http://www.eflifans.com/teams/gladiators/ |archive-date=24 October 2013 |access-date=21 October 2013 |publisher=[[Elite Football League of India]]}}</ref> [[Puneri Paltan]], [[U Mumba]], [[Pro Kabaddi League|Pro Kabbadi]], league teams are based in Pune and Mumbai respectively.

==Tourism==
{{See also|Tourism in Maharashtra}}
Maharashtra has a number of places that attracts national international tourists. The most popular or well known are Mumbai city, [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]], [[Ellora Caves|Ellora]] caves and the Nature reserves in the state.<ref>{{cite journal |id={{ProQuest|1490677543}} |last1=Athma |first1=Prashanta |last2=Nalini |first2=G. |title=Tourism in India- An Analysis |journal=International Journal of Management Prudence |volume=5 |issue=1 |year=2013 |pages=25–35 }}</ref> Ajanta–Ellora are the [[UNESCO world heritage|UNESCO world heritage sites]]. Mumbai, being the biggest and the most cosmopolitan city in India, attracts tourists from all over the world for its many attractions including colonial architecture, beaches, [[Bollywood]], shopping, and an active nightlife.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nallathiga |first1=Ramakrishna |title=Integrating Entertainment, Tourism, Heritage and Culture into the Development of Cities: A Case for Mumbai |journal=ITPI Journal |date=September 2006 |volume=3 |issue=3 |pages=67–72 |ssrn=987481 }}</ref><ref>Indra, S.R. and D'Souza, J.N., A study on Tourists Loyalty based on Impact of Destination Image and Tourists Satisfaction in Mumbai. Food, Tourism and Hospitality Perspectives, p.217.[https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Shivam-Bhartiya/publication/354312164_Food_Tourism_and_Hospitality_Perspectives/links/6130829f38818c2eaf775ab7/Food-Tourism-and-Hospitality-Perspectives.pdf#page=226]</ref> The city attracts three million foreign and forty million domestic tourists annually. The state wants to increase the numbers by allowing retailers and entertainment venues to be open 24-hours a day, seven days a week.<ref>{{citation |last1=Udas-Mankikar |first1=Sayli |title=24x7 Cities: Recommendations for an India Playbook |journal=ORF Issue Brief |date=March 2020 |issue=342 |url=https://www.orfonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ORF_IssueBrief_342_24x7Cities.pdf |archive-date=16 June 2022 |isbn=978-93-89622-71-3 |publisher=Observer Research Foundation |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220616043919/https://www.orfonline.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/ORF_IssueBrief_342_24x7Cities.pdf}}</ref>

Pune city, along with [[MTDC]], organizes many cultural events during Pune festival which coincides with the Hindu [[Ganesh Chaturthi|Ganeshotsav festival]].<ref>Mahadevia, Darshini. (2008). Dynamics of High-Tech Zones in Pune: Emerging Trends and Impacts. []</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kale |first1=Pramod |title=Ideas, Ideals and the Market: A Study of Marathi Films |journal=Economic and Political Weekly |date=1979 |volume=14 |issue=35 |pages=1511–1520 |jstor=4367902 }}</ref><ref>Nagapurkar, S., Narkhede, P. and Sheriff, V.A., 2020. Energizing the Future with Memories of the Past: The Wadas of Pune City. In E3S Web of Conferences (Vol. 170, p. 05006). EDP Sciences.</ref><ref>Shinde, K., 2014. 2 Ganesh festival. Rituals and Traditional Events in the Modern World, p.23.[https://books.google.com/books?id=-A0hBQAAQBAJ&dq=mtdc+%22pune+festival%22&pg=PA23]</ref> [[Hill stations]] built during the British rule are popular tourist destinations, especially during the summer months.These include [[Mahabaleshwar]], Lonavala, and [[Matheran]] in Western Maharashtra, and [[Chikhaldara]] in the Vidarbha region.<ref>Shukla, A.V. and Badwaik, H.B., 2008. Tourist Satisfaction-A study of Tourist destinations in Maharastra. Conference on Tourism in India – Challenges Ahead, 15–17 May 2008, IIMK [http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.530.6198&rep=rep1&type=pdf]</ref> The mountainous districts of Western Maharashtra are dotted with the ruins of hundreds of mountain forts from the Deccan Sultanate and the Maratha empire eras. These forts and the surrounding hills are popular among people interested in trekking, and hiking, and [[heritage tourism]] related to [[Chhatrapati Shivaji]]. Notable forts popular with tourists include [[Shivneri Fort|Shivaneri]], [[Rajgad Fort|Rajgad]], [[Sinhagad]], [[Raigad Fort|Raigad]], and [[Pratapgad Fort|Pratapgad]].<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kohli |first1=M. S. |title=Mountains of India : tourism, adventure and pilgrimage |date=2002 |publisher=Indus Publ. Co. |location=New Delhi |isbn=9788173871351 |pages=263–266}}</ref>

A number of temples such as [[Trimbakeshwar Shiva Temple|Trimbakeshwar]], [[Tulja Bhavani Temple|Bhavani]] of [[Tuljapur]], [[Shani Shingnapur]], [[Jyotiba Temple]], [[Ashtavinayaka]] [[Ganesha|Ganapati]] temples, [[Vithoba|Lord Pandurang]] temple at [[Pandharpur]] attract a huge number of Hindu devotees every year. [[Khandoba Temple, Jejuri|Khandoba temple]] of God [[Khandoba]] at [[Jejuri]] in the Pune district attract pilgrims from all over the Maharashtra where worshipers shower each other with ''Bhandar'' (turmaric powder).<ref>{{cite book |last1=Singh |first1=K. |last2=Bhanu |first2=B.V. |title=People of India |date=2004 |publisher=Anthropological Survey of India |location=Mumbai |isbn=9788179911013 |page=LIX |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BsBEgVa804IC&q=Khandoba+god&pg=PR59 |access-date=11 April 2018 |url-status=live |archive-date=7 January 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107124906/https://books.google.com/books?id=BsBEgVa804IC&pg=PR59&dq=Khandoba+god#v=snippet&q=Khandoba%20&f=false}}</ref> [[Sai Baba of Shirdi|Saibaba]] temple at [[Shirdi]] is visited by an average of 25,000 pilgrims a day and during religious festivals, this number can reach up to 300,000.<ref>{{cite journal|journal= International Journal of Religious Tourism and Pilgrimage|last1=Shinde |first1=Kiran |title=Governance and Management of Religious Tourism in India |date=2018 |volume=6 |issue=1 |doi=10.21427/D7K42M }}</ref> The places associated with the [[Varkari|Warkari]] sect such as [[Pandharpur]], [[Dehu]], and [[Alandi]] remain popular throughout the year, and attract huge number of people from all over the state during religious observations.<ref>Patange, P., Srinithivihahshini, N.D. and Mahajan, D.M., 2013. "Pilgrimage and the environment: Challenges in a pilgrimage centre in Maharashtra, India". ''International Journal of Environmental Sciences'', 3(6), pp. 2269–2277.</ref> Situated in Nanded, Sikh Gurudwara of [[Hazur Sahib Nanded|Hazur Sahib]], also known as Takht Sachkhand Sri Hazur Abchalnagar Sahib, is one of the [[Panj Takht|five takhts]] in [[Sikhism]]. The area around the city of Aurangabad has many ancient and medieval sites including the UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]s of [[Ajanta Caves|Ajanta]] and [[Ellora Caves|Ellora]] caves, the [[Daulatabad Fort]], and the [[Bibi Ka Maqbara]].<ref>Shukla, A.V. and Badwaik, H.B., 2008. Tourist Satisfaction-A study of Tourist destinations in Maharastra.[https://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/document?repid=rep1&type=pdf&doi=484108d0dd5cd621cf77a2740459d8b8f0052f37]</ref>

The Vidarbha region of Maharashtra has numerous nature reserve parks. These include [[Melghat Tiger Reserve]] in Amravati district, [[Tadoba]]-Andhari Tiger Reserve in Chandrapur district,<ref>{{cite web |last1=Mhatre |first1=Shridhar |title=Amazing Maharashtra: Tadoba National Park |website=Amazing Maharashtra |url=http://www.amazingmaharashtra.com/2012/10/tadoba-national-park.html |access-date=9 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180210180146/http://www.amazingmaharashtra.com/2012/10/tadoba-national-park.html |archive-date=10 February 2018 |url-status=live}}</ref> Umred Karhandla Wildlife Sanctuary in Nagpur district, the [[Nagzira]] wildlife sanctuary, and [[Navegaon National Park]] (bird sanctuary) of Gondia District.

According to a survey by the government of Maharashtra, in 2009-10, domestic tourists accounted for 98% of the total number of visitors to Maharashtra and the remaining were foreign.<ref name="auto2">{{cite web |title=Tourism Survey for State of Maharashtra |url=http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/Maharashtra_0.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215071824/http://tourism.gov.in/sites/default/files/Other/Maharashtra_0.pdf |archive-date=15 February 2017 |access-date=2 February 2018}}</ref> Visitors from the US, UK, Germany, and UAE each form a significant percentage of the foreign tourists.<ref name="auto2"/> The state government has established the [[Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation]] (MTDC) for the systematic development and promotion of tourism in the state. MTDC owns and maintains resorts at all key tourist centers.<ref>{{cite web |title=About MTDC |url=https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/about |website=Maharashtratourism.gov.in |access-date=5 November 2017 |url-status=live |archive-date=23 June 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170623032828/https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/mtdc/about}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed">
File:Mumbai Downtown.jpg|Night-time skyline of Downtown Mumbai at [[Nariman Point]]
File:Dagdushet Halwai Ganpati 2005.jpg|[[Ganeshotsav]] festival in Pune
File:Khandoba temple Pune.jpg|[[Khandoba Temple, Jejuri|Khandoba mandir]] of Lord [[Khandoba]] in [[Jejuri]]
File:Venna Lake, Mahabaleshwar.jpg|Venna Lake at [[Mahabaleshwar]]
File:TigresswithCubs.jpg|[[Indian Tigers]] at [[Tadoba Andhari Tiger Project|Tadoba Tiger reserve]]
File:Pandharpur Vithoba temple.jpg|[[Pandharpur]], a Hindu pilgrimage centre in the state
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of Maratha dynasties and states]]
*[[List of people from Maharashtra]]
*[[List of districts of Maharashtra]]
*[[:Category:Lists of villages in Maharashtra|List of villages of Maharashtra]]
*[[List of synagogues in Maharashtra]]
*[[List of cities in Maharashtra]]
*[[Make in Maharashtra]]
*[[Religion in Maharashtra]]

==Footnotes==
{{notelist}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
; Government
* {{official website}}
* [https://www.maharashtratourism.gov.in/ Official tourism site]
; General information
* {{GovPubs|Maharashtra}}
* {{Britannica|357937|Maharashtra}}
* {{curlie|Regional/Asia/India/Maharashtra|Maharashtra}}
* {{osmrelation-inline|1950884}}

{{Maharashtra|logo=yes}}
{{States and territories of India}}

[[Category:Maharashtra| ]]
[[Category:1960 establishments in India]]
[[Category:States and territories established in 1960]]
[[Category:States and union territories of India]]

George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston

2023-03-11T14:45:06Z

Nileshkale230:

{{Short description|British Viceroy of India and Foreign Secretary (1859–1925)}}
{{Use dmy dates}}
{{Use British English}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[His Excellency]] [[The Most Honourable]]
| name = The Marquess Curzon of Kedleston
| honorific-suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=|KG|GCSI|GCIE|PC|FBA}}
| image = George Curzon2.jpg
| caption = Lord Curzon, as Viceroy of India
| order1 = [[Leader of the House of Lords]]
| term_start1 = 3 November 1924
| term_end1 = 20 March 1925
| monarch1 = [[George V]]
| primeminister1 = [[Stanley Baldwin]]
| predecessor1 = [[Richard Burdon Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane|The Viscount Haldane]]
| successor1 = [[James Gascoyne-Cecil, 4th Marquess of Salisbury|The Marquess of Salisbury]]
| term_start2 = 10 December 1916
| term_end2 = 22 January 1924
| monarch2 = [[George V of the United Kingdom|George V]]
| primeminister2 = {{plainlist|
*[[David Lloyd George]]
*[[Bonar Law]]
*[[Stanley Baldwin]]}}
| predecessor2 = [[Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe|The Marquess of Crewe]]
| successor2 = [[Richard Haldane, 1st Viscount Haldane|The Viscount Haldane]]
| order3 = [[Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]]
| term_start3 = 23 October 1919
| term_end3 = 22 January 1924
| monarch3 = [[George V of the United Kingdom|George V]]
| primeminister3 = {{plainlist|
*[[David Lloyd George]]
*[[Bonar Law]]
*[[Stanley Baldwin]]}}
| predecessor3 = [[Arthur Balfour]]
| successor3 = [[Ramsay MacDonald]]
| order5 = [[Lord President of the Council]]
| term_start5 = 3 November 1924
| term_end5 = 20 March 1925
| monarch5 = [[George V]]
| primeminister5 = [[Stanley Baldwin]]
| predecessor5 = [[Charles Cripps, 1st Baron Parmoor|The Lord Parmoor]]
| successor5 = [[Arthur Balfour|The Earl of Balfour]]
| term_start6 = 10 December 1916
| term_end6 = 23 October 1919
| monarch6 = [[George V]]
| primeminister6 = [[David Lloyd George]]
| predecessor6 = [[Robert Crewe-Milnes, 1st Marquess of Crewe|The Marquess of Crewe]]
| successor6 = [[Arthur Balfour]]
| order7 = [[Secretary of State for Air|President of the Air Board]]
| term_start7 = 15 May 1916
| term_end7 = 3 January 1917
| monarch7 = [[George V]]
| primeminister7 = {{plainlist|
*[[H. H. Asquith]]
*[[David Lloyd George]]}}
| predecessor7 = [[Edward Stanley, 17th Earl of Derby|The Earl of Derby]]
| successor7 = [[Weetman Pearson, 1st Viscount Cowdray|The Viscount Cowdray]]
| order8 = [[Viceroy of India|Viceroy and Governor-General of India]]
| term_start8 = 6 January 1899
| term_end8 = 18 November 1905
| monarch8 = {{plainlist|
*[[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Victoria]]
*[[Edward VII]]}}
| predecessor8 = [[Victor Bruce, 9th Earl of Elgin|The Earl of Elgin]]
| successor8 = [[Gilbert Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto|The Earl of Minto]]
| deputy8 = [[Oliver Russell, 2nd Baron Ampthill|The Lord Ampthill]]
| order9 = [[Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]]
| term_start9 = 20 June 1895
| term_end9 = 15 October 1898
| monarch9 = [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Victoria]]
| primeminister9 = [[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury|The Marquess of Salisbury]]
| predecessor9 = [[Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon|Sir Edward Grey]]
| successor9 = [[St John Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton|St John Brodrick]]
| order10 = [[Under-Secretary of State for India|Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for India]]
| term_start10 = 9 November 1891
| term_end10 = 11 August 1892
| monarch10 = [[Victoria of the United Kingdom|Victoria]]
| primeminister10 = [[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury|The Marquess of Salisbury]]
| predecessor10 = [[John Eldon Gorst|Sir John Eldon Gorst]]
| successor10 = [[George W. E. Russell]]
| office14 = [[Member of the House of Lords]] [[Lords Temporal|Lord Temporal]]
| term_start14 = 21 January 1908
| term_end14 = 20 March 1925 [[Hereditary Peerage]]
| predecessor14 = [[Francis Browne, 4th Baron Kilmaine|The 4th Lord Kilmaine]] ''(as Representative peer)''
| successor14 = [[Irene Curzon, 2nd Baroness Ravensdale|The 2nd Baroness Ravensdale]] ''(in Barony)'' [[Richard Curzon, 2nd Viscount Scarsdale|The 2nd Viscount Scarsdale]] ''(in Viscountcy)''
| office15 = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] for [[Southport (UK Parliament constituency)|Southport]]
| term_start15 = 27 July 1886
| term_end15 = 24 August 1898
| predecessor15 = [[George Augustus Pilkington]]
| successor15 = [[Herbert Naylor-Leyland|Sir Herbert Naylor-Leyland]]
| birth_name = George Nathaniel Curzon
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1859|1|11}}
| birth_place = [[Kedleston]], [[Derbyshire]], England
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=yes|1925|3|20|1859|1|11}}
| death_place = [[London]], England
| spouse = {{plainlist|
*{{marriage|[[Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston|Mary Leiter]]|1895|1906|end=died}}
*{{marriage|[[Grace Curzon, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston|Grace Duggan]] |1917}}}}
| children = {{plainlist|
*[[Mary Curzon, 2nd Baroness Ravensdale]]
*[[Lady Cynthia Mosley]]
*[[Lady Alexandra Curzon]]}}
| alma_mater = [[Balliol College, Oxford]]
| party = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
}}
'''George Nathaniel Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|KG|GCSI|GCIE|PC|FRS|FBA}} (11 January 1859 – 20 March 1925), styled '''Lord Curzon of Kedleston''' between 1898 and 1911 and then '''Earl Curzon of Kedleston''' between 1911 and 1921, was a British statesman, [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] politician and writer who served as [[Viceroy of India]] from 1899 to 1905.

During the [[First World War]], Curzon was [[Leader of the House of Lords]] and from December 1916 served in the small [[War Cabinet]] of Prime Minister [[David Lloyd George]] and in the War Policy Committee. He went on to serve as [[Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]] at the [[Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office|Foreign Office]] from 1919 to 1924.

In 1923, Curzon was a contender for the office of Prime Minister, but [[Bonar Law]] and some other leading Conservatives preferred [[Stanley Baldwin]] for the office.

== Early life ==

[[File:UK-2014-Oxford-All Souls College 03.jpg|thumb|Curzon was educated at [[Balliol College, Oxford]] and was later a Prize Fellow of [[All Souls College, Oxford]]]]

Curzon was the eldest son and the second of the eleven children of [[Alfred Curzon, 4th Baron Scarsdale]] (1831–1916), who was the [[Rector (ecclesiastical)|Rector]] of [[Kedleston]] in Derbyshire. George Curzon's mother was Blanche (1837–1875), the daughter of Joseph Pocklington Senhouse of Netherhall in Cumberland. He was born at [[Kedleston Hall]], built on the site where his family, who were clergyman and priests, had lived since the 12th century. His mother, exhausted by childbirth, died when George was 16; her husband survived her by 41 years. Neither parent exerted a major influence on Curzon's life. Scarsdale was an austere and unindulgent father who believed that landowners should stay on their land and not indefinitely tour the world for pleasure. He disapproved of the journeys across Asia between 1887 and 1895 which made his son one of the most travelled men to be a member of any British cabinet. An influential presence in Curzon's childhood was that of his brutal, sadistic governess, [[Ellen Mary Paraman]], whose tyranny in the nursery stimulated his combative qualities and encouraged the obsessional side of his nature. Paraman used to beat him and periodically forced him to parade through the village wearing a conical hat bearing the words ''liar'', ''sneak'', and ''coward''. Curzon later noted, "No children well born and well-placed ever cried so much and so justly."<ref>{{cite book |last1=Ferguson |first1=Niall |title=Empire : the rise and demise of the British world order and the lessons for global power |publisher=New York : Basic Books |isbn=978-0-465-02329-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/empire00nial/page/n4/mode/2up}}</ref>{{page needed}}
[[File:George Curzon.jpg|thumb|175px|left|Curzon at Eton, 1870s]]
He was educated at [[Wixenford School]],<ref>Philip Holden, ''Autobiography and Decolonization: Modernity, Masculinity, and the Nation-state'' (2008), p. 46.</ref> [[Eton College]],<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4309213.stm Eton, the Raj and modern India]; By Alastair Lawson; 9 March 2005; BBC News.</ref> and [[Balliol College, Oxford]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} His over-intimate relationship at Eton College with [[Oscar Browning]] led to the latter's dismissal.<ref>{{Cite ODNB|id=32128|title=Browning, Oscar|first = Richard|last = Davenport-Hines|author-link = Richard Davenport-Hines|date = 3 January 2008|quote = His intimate, indiscreet friendship with a boy in another boarding-house, G. N. Curzon [...] provoked a crisis with [Headmaster] Hornby [….] Amid national controversy he was dismissed in 1875 on the pretext of administrative inefficiency but actually because his influence was thought to be sexually contagious}}</ref><ref>"... Oscar Browning (1837–1923), who had been sacked from Eton in September 1875 under suspicion of paederasty, partly because of his involvement with young George Nathaniel Curzon" in Michael Kaylor, ''Secreted Desires'' (2006), p. 98.</ref> A [[spinal injury]] incurred while riding during his adolescence was a lifelong impediment to Curzon that required him to wear a metal corset for the remainder of his life.<ref>{{cite book |last=Mosley |first= Leonard |author-link = Leonard Mosley|title= Curzon: The End of an Epoch |url=https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl |url-access=registration |publisher= Longmans, Green, and Co. |year=1961 |page= }}</ref>{{page needed}}

Curzon was President of the [[Oxford Union|Union]]{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} and Secretary of the Oxford Canning Club (a Tory political club named for [[George Canning]]), but as a consequence of the extent of his time-expenditure on political and social societies, he failed to achieve a [[first class degree]] in [[Greats]], although he subsequently won both the [[Lothian Prize Essay]] and the Arnold Prize, the latter for an essay on [[Thomas More|Sir Thomas More]], about whom he knew little. In 1883, Curzon received the most prestigious fellowship at the university, a Prize Fellowship at [[All Souls College]]. While at Eton and at Oxford, Curzon was a contemporary and close friend of [[Cecil Spring Rice]] and [[Edward Grey, 1st Viscount Grey of Fallodon|Edward Grey]].<ref name=burton>{{cite book|last=Burton|first=David Henry|title=Cecil Spring Rice: A Diplomat's Life|year=1990|page=22|publisher=Fairleigh Dickinson Univ Press|isbn=978-0-8386-3395-3|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kCGKtLkHnxAC}}</ref> However, Spring Rice contributed, alongside [[John William Mackail]], to the composition of a famous sardonic doggerel about Curzon that was published as part of ''[[Balliol rhyme|The Balliol Masque]]'', about which Curzon wrote in later life "never has more harm been done to one single individual than that accursed doggerel has done to me."<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=Lord Curzon {{!}} Biography & Facts|url=https://www.britannica.com/biography/Lord-Curzon|website=Encyclopedia Britannica|language=en|access-date=2020-06-02}}</ref> It read:
:My name is George Nathaniel Curzon,
:I am a most superior person.
:My cheek is pink, my hair is sleek,
:I dine at [[Blenheim Palace|Blenheim]] once a week.<ref name=":0" />

When Spring-Rice was assigned to the British Embassy to the United States in 1894–1895, he was suspected by Curzon of trying to prevent Curzon's engagement to the American Mary Leiter, whom Curzon nevertheless married.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mosley|first=Leonard|title=Curzon: The End of an Epoch|url=https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl|url-access=registration|publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co.|year=1961|page=[https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl/page/26 26]}}</ref> However, Spring Rice assumed for a certainty, like many of Curzon's other friends, that Curzon would inevitably become [[Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs|Foreign Secretary]]: he wrote to Curzon in 1891, 'When you are Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs I hope you will restore the vanished glory of England, lead the European concert, decide the fate of nations, and give me three months' leave instead of two'.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mosley|first=Leonard|title=Curzon: The End of an Epoch|url=https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl|url-access=registration|publisher=Longmans, Green, and Co.|year=1961|page=[https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl/page/43 43]}}</ref>

As per old texts,he spent few months in a cottage in Dehradun(town in north india).Though exact records aren't available there is a road named after him there(probably near his erstwhile cottage.)

== Early political career ==
Curzon became Assistant Private Secretary to the [[Robert Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury|Marquess of Salisbury]] in 1885, and in 1886 entered [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|Parliament]] as Member for [[Southport (UK Parliament constituency)|Southport]] in south-west [[Lancashire]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} His [[maiden speech]], which was chiefly an attack on [[home rule]] and [[Irish nationalism]], was regarded in much the same way as his oratory at the [[Oxford Union]]: brilliant and eloquent but also presumptuous and rather too self-assured.{{citation needed}} Subsequent performances in the Commons, often dealing with Ireland or reform of the House of Lords (which he supported), received similar verdicts. He was [[Under-Secretary of State for India]] in 1891–92 and [[Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs]] in 1895–98.<ref name="Mosley">{{cite book|last=Mosley|first=Leonard|title=''Curzon: The End of an Epoch''|url=https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl|url-access=registration|year=1961}}</ref>{{page needed}}

==Asian travels and writings==

In the meantime he had travelled around the world: [[Russian Empire|Russia]] and [[Central Asia]] (1888–89), a long tour of [[Iran|Persia]] (September 1889 – January 1890), [[Rattanakosin Kingdom|Siam]], [[French Indochina]] and [[Korea]] (1892), and a daring foray into [[Afghanistan]] and the [[Pamirs]] (1894). He published several books describing central and eastern Asia and related policy issues.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} A bold and compulsive traveller, [[Orientalism|fascinated by oriental life]] and geography, he was awarded the [[Patron's Medal]] of the [[Royal Geographical Society]] for his exploration of the source of the [[Amu Darya]] (Oxus). His journeys allowed him to study the problems of Asia and their implications for [[British India]], while reinforcing his pride in his nation and her imperial mission.

Curzon believed Russia to be the most likely threat to [[British India]], Britain's most valuable possession, from the 19th century through the early 20th century.<ref>Curzon, ''Russia in Central Asia'' (1967), p. 314.</ref> In 1879 Russia had begun construction of the [[Transcaspian Railway]] along the [[Silk Road]], officially solely to enforce local control. The line starts from the city of Kyzyl-Su, formerly Krasnovodsk (nowadays [[Türkmenbaşy, Turkmenistan|Turkmenbashi]]) (on the [[Caspian Sea]]), travels southeast along the [[Karakum Desert]], through [[Ashgabat]], continues along the [[Kopet Dagh]] Mountains until it reaches [[Tejen]]. Curzon dedicated an entire chapter in his book ''Russia in Central Asia'' to discussing the perceived threat to British control of India.<ref>Curzon, ''Russia in Central Asia'' (1967), p. 272.</ref> This railway connected Russia with the most wealthy and influential cities in Central Asia at the time, including the Persian province of [[Khorasan Province|Khorasan]],<ref>[[Denis Wright]], "Curzon and Persia," ''The Geographical Journal'' 153#3 (November 1987): 343.</ref> and would allow the rapid deployment of [[Russian Empire|Russian]] supplies and troops into the area. Curzon also believed that the resulting greater economic interdependence between [[Russia]] and Central Asia would be damaging to British interests.<ref>Curzon, ''Russia in Central Asia'' p. 277.</ref>

''Persia and the Persian Question'', written in 1892, has been considered Curzon's ''magnum opus'' and can be seen as a sequel to ''Russia in Central Asia.''<ref>Denis Wright, "Curzon and Persia," ''The Geographical Journal'' 153#3 (November 1987):346.</ref> Curzon was commissioned by ''The Times'' to write several articles on the Persian political environment, but while there he decided to write a book on the country as whole. This two-volume work covers Persia's history and governmental structure, as well as graphics, maps and pictures (some taken by Curzon himself). Curzon was aided by General [[Albert Houtum-Schindler]] and the [[Royal Geographical Society]] (RGS), both of which helped him gain access to material to which as a foreigner he would not have been entitled to have access. General Schindler provided Curzon with information regarding Persia's geography and resources, as well as serving as an unofficial editor.<ref>Wright, "Curzon and Persia," pp 346–7</ref>
[[File:Lord and Lady Curzon and staff on tour of Persian Gulf 1903.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Curzon and his wife and staff on a tour of the Persian Gulf in 1903]]
Curzon was appalled by his government's apathy towards Persia as a valuable defensive buffer to India from Russian encroachment.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Brockway | first1 = Thomas P | year = 1941 | title = Britain and the Persian Bubble, 1888–1892 | doi = 10.1086/243919 | journal = The Journal of Modern History | volume = 13 | issue = 1| page = 46 | s2cid = 144405914 }}</ref> Years later Curzon would lament that "Persia has alternatively advanced and receded in the estimation of British statesmen, occupying now a position of extravagant prominence, anon one of unmerited obscurity."<ref>George N. Curzon, ''Persia and the Persian Question'' (Volume 1). New York: Barnes & Noble, 1966, p 605.</ref>

== First marriage (1895–1906) ==

[[File:Mary Victoria Leiter 1887 Cabanel-C.jpg|thumb|[[Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston|Mary Victoria Leiter]] by [[Alexandre Cabanel]], 1887]]
In 1895 he married [[Mary Curzon, Baroness Curzon of Kedleston|Mary Victoria Leiter]], the daughter of [[Levi Leiter|Levi Ziegler Leiter]], an American [[millionaire]]{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} of German [[Mennonite]] origin and co-founder of the Chicago department store Field & Leiter (later [[Marshall Field and Company|Marshall Field]]). Initially, he had just married her for her money so he could save his estate but subsequently developing feelings for her. Mary had a long and nearly fatal illness near the end of summer 1904, from which she never really recovered. Falling ill again in July 1906, she died on the 18th of that month in her husband's arms, at the age of 36.<ref>[http://www.peterwestern.f9.co.uk/maximilia/pafg1237.htm Maximilian Genealogy Master Database, Mary Victoria LEITER, 2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080306052857/http://www.peterwestern.f9.co.uk/maximilia/pafg1237.htm }}</ref> It was the greatest personal loss of his life.

She was buried in the church at Kedleston, where Curzon designed his memorial for her, a Gothic chapel added to the north side of the nave. Although he was neither a devout nor a conventional churchman, Curzon retained a simple religious faith; in later years he sometimes said that he was not afraid of death because it would enable him to join Mary in heaven.

They had three daughters during a firm and happy marriage: [[Mary Curzon, 2nd Baroness Ravensdale|Mary Irene]], who inherited her father's [[Baron Ravensdale|Barony of Ravensdale]] and was created a [[life peer]] in her own right; [[Lady Cynthia Mosley|Cynthia]], who became the first wife of the fascist politician [[Oswald Mosley|Sir Oswald Mosley]]; and [[Alexandra Naldera Curzon|Alexandra Naldera]] ("Baba"), who married [[Fruity Metcalfe|Edward "Fruity" Metcalfe]], the best friend, best man and [[equerry]] of [[Edward VIII of the United Kingdom|Edward VIII]]. Mosley exercised a strange fascination for the Curzon women: Irene had a brief romance with him before either were married; Baba became his mistress; and Curzon's second wife, [[Grace Curzon, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston|Grace]], had a long affair with him.

== Viceroy of India (1899–1905) ==
{{blockquote|Curzon, in 1901, had famously said, "As long as we rule India we are the greatest power in the world. If we lose it, we shall drop straightaway to a third-rate power."<ref>{{Cite news|title=(Catalogue ref: COPY 1/59 f.371)|url=https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/empire/usefulnotes/g2cs4s6u.htm|publisher=National Archives}}</ref>}}

[[File:Curzon-Sanchi.jpg|252x252px|thumb|right|Curzon—procession to [[Sanchi]] [[Stupa|Tope]], 28 November 1899.]]

[[File:Lord Curzon Hunting 1901.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Curzon and [[Madho Rao Scindia]], [[Maharaja]] of [[Gwalior]], pose with [[Tiger hunting|hunted tigers]], 1901.]]

In January 1899 Curzon was appointed as [[Governor-General of India|Viceroy of India]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} He was created a baron in the [[peerage of Ireland]] as '''[[Baron Curzon of Kedleston]]''', in the County of Derby,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27016 |page=6140 }}</ref> on his appointment. As Viceroy, he was ''ex officio'' Grand Master of the [[Order of the Indian Empire]] and [[Order of the Star of India]]. This peerage was created in the Peerage of Ireland (the last so created) so that he would be free, until his father's death, to re-enter the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] on his return to Britain.

Reaching India shortly after the suppression of the frontier risings of 1897–98, he paid special attention to the independent tribes of the north-west frontier, inaugurated a new province called the [[North-West Frontier Province (1901–55)|North West Frontier Province]], and pursued a policy of forceful control mingled with conciliation. In response to what he called "a number of murderous attacks upon Englishmen and Europeans", Curzon advocated at the Quetta Durbar extremely draconian punishments which he believed would stop what he viewed as such especially abominable crimes. In his own private correspondence, Curzon pondered "Is it possible, under the law, to flog these horrible scoundrels before we execute them? Supposing we remove them for execution to another and distant jail, could we flog them in the first jail before removal? I believe that if we could postpone the execution for a few weeks and give the criminal a few good public floggings - or even one, were more not possible - it would act as a real deterrent. But I have a suspicion that British law does not smile upon anything so eminently practical."<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Kolsky |first1=Elizabeth |title=The Colonial Rule of Law and the Legal Regime of Exception: Frontier "Fanaticism" and State Violence in British India |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/43696899 |journal=The American Historical Review |volume=120 |issue=4 |pages=1218–1246 |doi=10.1093/ahr/120.4.1218 |jstor=43696899 |access-date=30 April 2022}}</ref> The only major armed outbreak on this frontier during the period of his administration was the [[Mahsud]]–[[Wazir (tribe)|Waziri]] campaign of 1901.

In the context of the [[Great Game]] between the British and [[Russian Empire]]s for control of Central Asia, he held deep mistrust of Russian intentions. This led him to encourage British trade in [[Persia]], and he paid a visit to the [[Persian Gulf]] in 1903. Curzon argued for an exclusive British presence in the Gulf, a policy originally proposed by [[John Malcolm]]. The British government was already making agreements with local sheiks/tribal leaders along the Persian Gulf coast to this end. Curzon had convinced his government to establish Britain as the unofficial protector of Kuwait with the Anglo-Kuwaiti Agreement of 1899. The Lansdowne Declaration in 1903 stated that the British would counter any other European power's attempt to establish a military presence in the Gulf.<ref>[[M. E. Yapp]], "British Perceptions of the Russian Threat to India," ''Modern Asian Studies'' 21#4 (1987): 655.</ref> Only four years later this position was abandoned and the Persian Gulf declared a neutral zone in the Anglo-Russian Agreement of 1907, prompted in part by the high economic cost of defending India from Russian advances.<ref>Yapp, pp 655, 664.</ref>

At the end of 1903, Curzon sent a [[British expedition to Tibet]] under [[Francis Younghusband]], ostensibly to forestall a Russian advance. After bloody conflicts with [[Tibet]]'s poorly armed defenders, the mission penetrated to [[Lhasa]], where the [[Treaty of Lhasa]] was signed in September 1904.<ref name = "ODNBYounghusband">{{Cite ODNB|id=37084|title=Younghusband, Sir Francis Edward|first = David|last = Matless|date = 28 September 2006}}</ref>

During his tenure, Curzon undertook the restoration of the [[Taj Mahal]] and expressed satisfaction that he had done so. Curzon was influenced by Hindu philosophy and quoted:
{{blockquote|India has left a deeper mark upon the history the philosophy and the religion of mankind than any other terrestrial unit in the universe.<ref>{{Cite web|title=George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston Quotes|url=https://www.azquotes.com/author/61636-George_Curzon_1st_Marquess_Curzon_of_Kedleston}}</ref>}}
Within India, Curzon appointed a number of commissions to inquire into education, irrigation, police and other branches of administration, on whose reports legislation was based during his second term of office as viceroy. Reappointed Governor-General in August 1904, he presided over the [[Partition of Bengal (1905)|1905 partition of Bengal]].
{{blockquote|In ‘Lion and the Tiger : The Rise and Fall of the British Raj, 1600-1947’, Denis Judd wrote: "Curzon had hoped… to bind India permanently to the Raj. Ironically, his partition of Bengal, and the bitter controversy that followed, did much to revitalize Congress. Curzon, typically, had dismissed the Congress in 1900 as ‘tottering to its fall’. But he left India with Congress more active and effective than at any time in its history."<ref>{{Cite book|title=Lion and Tiger:The Rise and fall of British Empire 1600 to 1947|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=mitiTQZ1qu4C|first=Dennis|last=Judd|year=2004|isbn=0192803581}}</ref>}}Curzon was determined to address the British maltreatment of Indians. In particular, he incurred the displeasure of many in the European community in India by pressing for severe punishment for Europeans who had attacked Indians. On two occasions, he imposed collective punishment on British Army units which had attacked Indians: when soldiers of the [[Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment|West Kent Regiment]] raped a Burmese woman, he had the whole regiment exiled to [[Aden]] without leave. He later imposed similar punishment on the [[9th Queen's Royal Lancers]] for the murder of an Indian cook.<ref name="ODNBCurzon" />

Curzon proposed the [[Partition of Bengal (1905)|Partition of Bengal]] and put it into effect on 16 October 1905 creating the new province of [[Eastern Bengal and Assam]].

=== Indian Army ===
Curzon also took an active interest in military matters. In 1901, he founded the [[Imperial Cadet Corps]], or ICC. The ICC was a corps d'elite, designed to give Indian princes and aristocrats military training, after which a few would be given officer commissions in the Indian Army. But these commissions were "special commissions" which did not empower their holders to command any troops. Predictably, this was a major stumbling block to the ICC's success, as it caused much resentment among former cadets. Though the ICC closed in 1914, it was a crucial stage in the drive to Indianise the Indian Army's officer Corps, which was haltingly begun in 1917.

Military organisation proved to be the final issue faced by Curzon in India. It often involved petty issues that had much to do with clashes of personality: Curzon once wrote on a document "I rise from the perusal of these papers filled with the sense of the ineptitude of my military advisers", and once wrote to the Commander-in-Chief in India, [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Kitchener]], advising him that signing himself "Kitchener of Khartoum" took up too much time and space, which Kitchener thought petty (Curzon simply signed himself "Curzon" as if he were a hereditary peer, although he later took to signing himself "Curzon of Kedleston").<ref>Reid 2006, p116</ref> A difference of opinion with Kitchener, regarding the status of the military member of the council in India (who controlled army supply and logistics, which Kitchener wanted under his own control), led to a controversy in which Curzon failed to obtain the support of the home government. He resigned in August 1905 and returned to England.

== Return to Britain ==
[[Arthur Balfour]]'s refusal to recommend an earldom for Curzon in 1905 was repeated by [[Sir Henry Campbell-Bannerman]], the Liberal Prime Minister, who formed his government the day after Curzon returned to England. In deference to the wishes of the King and the advice of his doctors, Curzon did not stand in the general election of 1906 and thus found himself excluded from public life for the first time in twenty years. It was at this time, the nadir of his career, that he suffered the greatest personal loss of his life.

Mary died in 1906 and Curzon devoted himself to private matters, including establishing a new home.

After the death of [[George Goschen, 1st Viscount Goschen|Lord Goschen]] in 1907, the post of Chancellor of Oxford University fell vacant. Curzon successfully became elected as [[University of Oxford#Chancellor of the University of Oxford|Chancellor of Oxford]] after he won by 1,001 votes to 440 against Lord Rosebery.<ref>{{cite book|last1=The Rt. Hon. The Earl of Ronaldshay|title=The Life of Curszon Vol.3}}</ref> He proved to be quite an active chancellor – "[he] threw himself so energetically into the cause of university reform that critics complained he was ruling Oxford like an Indian province."<ref name = "ODNBCurzon"/>

==House of Lords==
In 1908, Curzon was elected a [[representative peer]] for Ireland, and thus relinquished any idea of returning to the House of Commons. In 1909–1910 he took an active part in opposing the Liberal government's{{sfn|Chisholm|1911}} proposal to abolish the legislative veto of the House of Lords, and in 1911 was created '''Baron Ravensdale''', of Ravensdale in the County of Derby, with remainder (in default of heirs male) to his daughters, '''Viscount Scarsdale''', of Scarsdale in the County of Derby, with remainder (in default of heirs male) to the heirs male of his father, and '''Earl Curzon of Kedleston''', in the County of Derby, with the normal remainder, all in the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28547 |page=7951 }}</ref>

He became involved with saving [[Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire]], from destruction. This experience strengthened his resolve for heritage protection. He was one of the sponsors of the [[Ancient Monuments Consolidation and Amendment Act 1913]].<ref>{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-21587468 | title=The man who demolished Shakespeare's house| work=BBC News| date=7 March 2013| last1=Winterman| first1=Denise}}</ref> He served as President of the Committee commissioning the [[Survey of London]] which documented the capital's principal buildings and public art.<ref>{{cite web |title=Members of the Survey Committee Pages 4-7 Survey of London Monograph 12 |url=https://www.british-history.ac.uk/survey-london/bk12/pp4-7 |website=British History Online |publisher=Guild & School of Handicraft, London, 1926 |access-date=30 December 2022}}</ref>

On 5 May 1914, he spoke out against a bill in the House of Lords that would have permitted women who already had the right to vote in local elections the right to vote for members of Parliament.

== First World War ==
[[File:George Nathaniel Curzon, Marquess Curzon of Kedleston by John Cooke.jpg|thumb|200px|Lord Curzon of Kedleston by [[John Singer Sargent]], 1914. [[Royal Geographical Society]]]]
Curzon joined the Cabinet, as [[Lord Privy Seal]], when Asquith formed [[Asquith coalition ministry|his coalition]] in May 1915. Like other politicians (e.g. [[Austen Chamberlain]], [[Arthur Balfour]]) Curzon favoured British Empire efforts in [[Mesopotamian campaign|Mesopotamia]], believing that the increase in British prestige would discourage a German-inspired Muslim revolt in India.<ref>Woodward, 1998, pp113, 118–9</ref> Curzon was a member of the Dardanelles Committee and told that body (October 1915) that the recent [[Macedonian front|Salonika]] expedition was "quixotic chivalry".<ref>Woodward, 1998, p.16</ref> Early in 1916 Curzon visited Sir [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|Douglas Haig]] (newly appointed Commander-in-Chief of British forces in France) at his headquarters in France. Haig was impressed by Curzon's brains and decisiveness, and considered that he had mellowed since his days as Viceroy (Major-General Haig had been Inspector-General of Cavalry, India, at the time) and had lost "his old pompous ways".<ref>Groot 1988, p.226–7</ref> Curzon served in [[David Lloyd George|Lloyd George]]'s small War Cabinet as [[Leader of the House of Lords]] from December 1916, and he also served on the [[War Policy Committee]]. With Allied victory over Germany far from certain, Curzon wrote a paper (12 May 1917) for the War Cabinet urging that Britain seize Palestine and possibly Syria.<ref>Woodward, 1998, pp.155–7</ref> Like other members of the War Cabinet, Curzon supported further Western Front offensives lest, with Russian commitment to the war wavering, France and Italy be tempted to make a separate peace.

[[File:Imperial War Cabinet.jpg|left|thumb|Imperial War Cabinet (1917) Lord Curzon seated, third from the left]]
At the War Policy Committee (3 October 1917) Curzon objected in vain to plans to redeploy two divisions to Palestine, with a view to advancing into Syria and knocking Turkey out of the war altogether. Curzon's commitment wavered somewhat as the losses of the [[Third Battle of Ypres]] mounted.<ref>Woodward, 1998, pp134, 159–61,</ref> In the summer of 1917 the [[Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] (CIGS) General [[William Robertson (British Army officer)|William Robertson]] sent Haig a biting description of the members of the War Cabinet, who he said were all frightened of Lloyd George; he described Curzon as "a gasbag". During the crisis of February 1918, Curzon was one of the few members of the government to support Robertson, threatening in vain to resign if he were removed.<ref>Woodward, 1998, p.200</ref> Despite his opposition to [[women's suffrage]] (he had been co-president of the [[National League for Opposing Woman Suffrage]]), the House of Lords voted conclusively in its favour.

== Second marriage (1917) ==
[[File:Grace Elvina, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston.jpg|thumb|Grace Elvina, second wife]]
After a long affair with the romantic novelist [[Elinor Glyn]], Curzon married the former [[Grace Curzon, Marchioness Curzon of Kedleston|Grace Elvina Hinds]] in January 1917. She was the wealthy [[Alabama]]-born widow of Alfredo Huberto Duggan (died 1915), a first-generation [[Irish Argentinian]] appointed to the Argentine Legation in London in 1905. Elinor Glyn was staying with Curzon at the time of the engagement and read about it in the morning newspapers.

Grace had three children from her first marriage, two sons, [[Alfred Duggan|Alfred]] and [[Hubert Duggan|Hubert]], and a daughter, Grace Lucille. Alfred and Hubert, as Curzon's step-sons, grew up within his influential circle. Curzon had three daughters from his first marriage, but he and Grace (despite fertility-related operations and several miscarriages) did not have any children together, which put a strain on their marriage. Letters written between them in the early 1920s imply that they still lived together, and remained devoted to each other. In 1923, Curzon was passed over for the office of Prime Minister partly on the advice of [[Arthur Balfour]], who joked that Curzon "has lost the hope of glory but he still possesses the means of Grace" (a humorous allusion to the well known "General Thanksgiving" prayer of the Church of England, which thanks God for "the means of grace, and for the hope of glory").<ref>{{cite web |last1=The Church of England |title=Prayers and Thanksgivings |url=https://www.churchofengland.org/prayer-and-worship/worship-texts-and-resources/book-common-prayer/prayers-and-thanksgivings |website=The Book of Common Prayer (1662) |access-date=29 May 2020}}</ref>

In 1917, Curzon bought [[Bodiam Castle]] in East Sussex, a 14th-century building that had been gutted during the [[English Civil War]]. He restored it extensively, and then bequeathed it to the [[National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty|National Trust]].<ref name="bodiam-c42">[[Channel 4]] history microsites: [http://www.channel4.com/history/microsites/C/castle/bod_main.html Bodiam Castle]</ref>

== Foreign Secretary (1919–24) ==
[[File:Curzon fronting Victoria Memorial.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Statue of Curzon in front of the Calcutta Victoria Memorial]]

===Relations with Lloyd George===
Curzon did not have [[David Lloyd George]]'s support. Curzon and Lloyd George had disliked one another since the [[Parliament Act 1911|1911 Parliament Crisis]]. The Prime Minister thought him overly pompous and self-important, and it was said that he used him as if he were using a Rolls-Royce to deliver a parcel to the station; Lloyd George said much later that Churchill treated his Ministers in a way that Lloyd George would never have treated his: "They were all men of substance — well, except Curzon."<ref>Michael Foot: ''Aneurin Bevan''</ref>{{page needed}} Multiple drafts of resignation letters written at this time were found upon Curzon's death. Despite their antagonism, the two were often in agreement on government policy.<ref>Johnson, Gaynor "Preparing for Office: Lord Curzon as Acting Foreign Secretary, January- October 1919." Contemporary British History 18.3 (2004): 56.</ref> Lloyd George needed the wealth of knowledge Curzon possessed so was both his biggest critic and, simultaneously, his largest supporter. Likewise, Curzon was grateful for the leeway he was allowed by Lloyd George when it came to handling affairs in the Middle East.<ref>G.H. Bennett, "Lloyd George, Curzon and the Control of British Foreign Policy 1919–22," ''Australian Journal of Politics & History'' 45#4 (1999): 479.</ref>

Other cabinet ministers also respected his vast knowledge of Central Asia but disliked his arrogance and often blunt criticism. Believing that the Foreign Secretary should be non-partisan, he would objectively present all the information on a subject to the Cabinet, as if placing faith in his colleagues to reach the appropriate decision. Conversely, Curzon would take personally and respond aggressively to any criticism.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Bennett | first1 = G.H. | year = 1999 | title = Lloyd George, Curzon and the Control of British Foreign Policy 1919–22 | journal = Australian Journal of Politics & History | volume = 45 | issue = 4| page = 472 | doi = 10.1111/1467-8497.00076 }}</ref>

It has been suggested that Curzon's defensiveness reflected institutional insecurity by the Foreign Office as a whole. During the 1920s the Foreign Office was often a passive participant in decisions which were mainly reactive and dominated by the Prime Minister.<ref>Sharp, Alan "Adapting to a New World? British Foreign Policy in the 1920s." Contemporary British History 18.3 (2004): 76.
</ref> The creation of the job of Colonial Secretary, the Cabinet Secretariat and the League of Nations added to the Foreign Office's insecurity.<ref>{{cite journal | last1 = Bennett | first1 = G.H. | year = 1999 | title = Lloyd George, Curzon and the Control of British Foreign Policy 1919–22 | journal = Australian Journal of Politics & History | volume = 45 | issue = 4| page = 473 | doi = 10.1111/1467-8497.00076 }}</ref>

===Policy under Lloyd George===
[[File:Curzon line en.svg|thumb|right|330px|The territorial changes of Poland. ''Light blue line'': Curzon Line "B" as proposed by Lord Curzon in 1919. ''Dark blue line'': "Curzon" Line "A" as proposed by the Soviet Union in 1940. ''Pink'': [[Recovered Territories|Formerly German provinces annexed by Poland after World War II]]. ''Grey'': Pre–World War II Polish territory east of the Curzon Line annexed by the Soviet Union after the war.]]
{{Territorial evolution of Poland}}

After nine months as acting Secretary while Balfour was at the [[Paris Peace Conference, 1919|Paris Peace Conference]],<ref>Gaynor Johnson, "Preparing for Office: Lord Curzon as Acting Foreign Secretary, January–October 1919", ''Contemporary British History'', vol. 18, n°3, 2004, pp. 53–73.</ref> Curzon was appointed Foreign Secretary in October 1919. He gave his name to the British government's proposed Soviet-Polish boundary, the [[Curzon Line]] of December 1919. Although during the subsequent [[Russo-Polish War]], Poland conquered ground in the east, after [[World War II]], Poland was shifted westwards, leaving the border between Poland and its eastern neighbours today approximately at the Curzon Line.<ref name="Sarah Meiklejohn Terry 1983 121">{{cite book|author=Sarah Meiklejohn Terry|title=Poland's Place in Europe: General Sikorski and the Origin of the Oder-Neisse Line, 1939–1943|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zOL_AwAAQBAJ&pg=PA121|year=1983|publisher=Princeton University Press|page=121|isbn=9781400857173}}</ref>

Curzon was largely responsible for the Peace Day ceremonies on 19 July 1919. These included the plaster [[The Cenotaph|Cenotaph]], designed by the noted architect [[Edwin Lutyens|Sir Edwin Lutyens]], for the Allied Victory parade in London. It was so successful that it was reproduced in stone, and still stands.

In 1918, during World War I, as [[Mesopotamian campaign|Britain occupied Mesopotamia]], Curzon tried to convince the Indian government to reconsider his scheme for [[Qajar Iran|Persia]] to be a buffer against Russian advances.<ref>Yapp, p. 654.</ref> British and Indian troops were in Persia protecting the oilfields at [[Abadan]] and watching the Afghan frontier – Curzon believed that British economic and military aid, sent via India, could prop up the Persian government and make her a British client state. However, the agreement of August 1919 was never ratified and the British government rejected the plan as Russia had the geographical advantage and the defensive benefits would not justify the high economic cost.<ref>Yapp, p. 653.</ref>

Small British forces had twice occupied [[Baku]] on the Caspian in 1918, while an entire British division had occupied [[Batumi|Batum]] on the Black Sea, supervising German and Turkish withdrawal. Against Curzon's wishes, but on the advice of Sir [[George Milne]], the commander on the spot, the [[Chief of the Imperial General Staff|CIGS]] [[Henry Hughes Wilson|Sir Henry Wilson]], who wanted to concentrate troops in Britain, Ireland, India, and Egypt,<ref>Jeffery 2006, pp. 251–252.</ref> and of Churchill (Secretary of State for War), the British withdrew from Baku (the small British naval presence was also withdrawn from the Caspian Sea), at the end of August 1919 leaving only three battalions at Batum.

In January 1920 Curzon insisted that British troops remain in Batum, against the wishes of Wilson and the Prime Minister. In February, while Curzon was on holiday, Wilson persuaded the Cabinet to allow withdrawal, but Curzon had the decision reversed on his return, although to Curzon's fury (he thought it "abuse of authority") Wilson gave Milne permission to withdraw if he deemed it necessary. At Cabinet on 5 May 1920 Curzon "by a long-winded jaw" (in Wilson's description) argued for a stay in Batum. After a British garrison at [[Bandar-e Anzali|Enzeli]] (on the Persian Caspian coast) was taken prisoner by Bolshevik forces on 19 May 1920, Lloyd George finally insisted on a withdrawal from Batum early in June 1920. For the rest of 1920 Curzon, supported by [[Alfred Milner, 1st Viscount Milner|Milner]] (Colonial Secretary), argued that Britain should retain control of Persia. When Wilson asked (15 July 1920) to pull troops out of Persia to put down the rebellion in Mesopotamia and Ireland, Lloyd George blocked the move, saying that Curzon "would not stand it". In the end, financial retrenchment forced a British withdrawal from Persia in the spring of 1921.<ref>Jeffery 2006, pp. 233–234, 247–251.</ref>

Curzon worked on several Middle Eastern problems. He designed the [[Treaty of Sèvres]] (August 10, 1920) between the victorious Allies and Ottoman Turkey. The treaty abolished the Ottoman Empire and obliged Turkey to renounce all rights over Arab Asia and North Africa. However a new government in Turkey under [[Kemal Atatürk]] rejected the treaty. The Greeks invaded Turkey. Curzon tried and failed to induce the Greeks to accept a compromise on the status of Smyrna and failed to force the Turks to renounce their nationalist program. Lloyd George tried to use force at Chanak but lost support and was forced to step down as prime minister. Curzon remained as foreign minister and helped tie down loose ends in the Middle East at the peace conference at Lausanne.<ref>Domna Visvizi-Dontas, "The Allied powers and the Eastern Question 1921-1923." ''Balkan Studies'' 17.2 (1976): 331-357 [https://ojs.lib.uom.gr/index.php/BalkanStudies/article/viewFile/1284/1305 online].</ref>

Curzon helped to negotiate Egyptian independence ([[Unilateral Declaration of Egyptian Independence|agreed in 1922]]) and the division of the [[Mandatory Palestine|British Mandate of Palestine]], despite the strong disagreement he held with the policy of his predecessor Arthur Balfour,<ref name=UnregardedProphet>{{cite journal|author-link=Sir David Gilmour, 4th Baronet|first=David|last=Gilmour|title=The Unregarded Prophet: Lord Curzon and the Palestine Question|journal=Journal of Palestine Studies|volume=25|issue=3|pages=60–68|jstor=2538259|doi=10.2307/2538259}}</ref> and helped create the [[Emirate of Transjordan]] for Faisal's brother, which may also have delayed the problems there. According to [[Sir David Gilmour, 4th Baronet|Sir David Gilmour]], Curzon "was the only senior figure in the British government at the time who foresaw that its policy would lead to decades of Arab–Jewish hostility".<ref name=UnregardedProphet/>

During the [[Irish War of Independence]], but before the introduction of martial law in December 1920, Curzon suggested the "Indian" solution of blockading villages and imposing collective fines for attacks on the police and army.<ref>Jeffery 2006, pp. 266–267.</ref>

In 1921 Curzon was created '''Earl of Kedleston''', in the County of Derby, and '''Marquess Curzon of Kedleston'''.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32376 |page=5243 }}</ref>

In 1922, he was the chief negotiator for the Allies of the [[Treaty of Lausanne]], which officially ended the war with the [[Ottoman Empire]] and defined the borders of [[Turkey]].{{citation needed}}

Curzon defended the geopolitical talent of [[Eyre Crowe]], who served as [[Permanent Under-Secretary at the Foreign Office]] from 1920 until his death in 1925.{{citation needed}}

===Under Bonar Law===
Unlike many leading Conservative members of Lloyd George's Coalition Cabinet, Curzon ceased to support Lloyd George over the [[Chanak Crisis]] and had just resigned when Conservative backbenchers voted at [[Carlton Club meeting, 19 October 1922|the Carlton Club meeting]] to end the Coalition in October 1922. Curzon was thus able to remain Foreign Secretary when [[Bonar Law]] formed a purely Conservative ministry.

In 1922–23 Curzon had to negotiate with France after French troops [[Occupation of the Ruhr|occupied the Ruhr]] to enforce the payment of German reparations; he described the French Prime Minister (and former president) [[Raymond Poincaré]] as a "horrid little man". Curzon had expansive ambitions and was not much happier with Bonar Law, whose foreign policy was based on "retrenchment and withdrawal", than he had been with Lloyd George. However he provided invaluable insight into the Middle East and was instrumental in shaping British foreign policy in that region.<ref>Bennett, "Lloyd George, Curzon and the Control of British Foreign Policy 1919–22," p. 477.</ref>

==Passed over for the premiership, 1923==
[[File:Curzon GGBain.jpg|thumb|Curzon {{circa|1920–1925}}]]
On [[Bonar Law]]'s retirement as prime minister in May 1923, Curzon was passed over for the job in favour of [[Stanley Baldwin]], despite his eagerness for the job.

This decision was taken on the private advice of leading members of the party including former Prime Minister Arthur Balfour. Balfour advised the monarch that in a democratic age it was inappropriate for the prime minister to be a member of the [[House of Lords]], especially when the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]], which had few peers, had become the main opposition party in the Commons. In private Balfour admitted that he was prejudiced against Curzon, whose character was objectionable to some. [[George V]] shared this prejudice. A letter purporting to detail the opinions of Bonar Law but actually written by Baldwin sympathisers was delivered to the King's Private Secretary [[Arthur John Bigge, 1st Baron Stamfordham|Lord Stamfordham]], though it is unclear how much impact this had in the outcome. Curzon felt he was cheated because [[J. C. C. Davidson]]—to whom Baldwin was loyal—and Sir Charles Waterhouse{{Disputed inline|Error in Mosley re Waterhouse|for=Mosley has the name wrong}} falsely claimed to Stamfordham that Law had recommended that George V appoint Stanley Baldwin, not Curzon, as his successor.<ref>{{cite book|last=Mosley|first=Leonard|title=''Curzon: The End of an Epoch''|url=https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl|url-access=registration|year=1961|pages=[https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl/page/264 264–275]}}</ref> Harry Bennett says Curzon's arrogance and unpopularity probably prevented him from becoming prime minister despite his brilliance, great capacity for work and accomplishments.<ref>Harry Bennett, "Lord Curzon of Kedleston: 'Easily misunderstood' and 'Easily misrepresented'," ''The Historian'', No. 49, 1996. pp. 17-19.</ref>

[[Winston Churchill]], one of Curzon's main rivals, accurately contended that Curzon "sow[ed] gratitude and resentment along his path with equally lavish hands".<ref>Winston S. Churchill, ''Great Contemporaries,''</ref> Even contemporaries who envied Curzon, such as Baldwin, conceded that Curzon was, in the words of his biographer [[Leonard Mosley]], "a devoted and indefatigable public servant, dedicated to the idea of Empire".<ref name="Mosley288">{{cite book|last=Mosley|first=Leonard|title=''Curzon: The End of an Epoch''|url=https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl|url-access=registration|year=1961|page=[https://archive.org/details/curzonendofepoch0000mosl/page/288 288]}}</ref>

Curzon, summoned by Stamfordham, rushed to London assuming he was to be appointed. He burst into tears when told the truth. He later ridiculed Baldwin as "a man of the utmost insignificance", although he served under Baldwin and proposed him for the leadership of the Conservative Party. Curzon remained foreign secretary under Baldwin until the government fell in January 1924. When Baldwin formed a new government in November 1924 he appointed Curzon [[Lord President of the Council]].

Curzon's rejection was a turning point in the nation's political history. Henceforth, by convention peers were deemed to be barred from being leaders of major political parties and from becoming prime minister. In an age of democracy, it was no longer acceptable for the prime minister to be based in an unelected and largely powerless chamber.<ref>Chris Cooper, "Heir not Apparent: Douglas Hailsham, the role of the House of Lords, and the Succession to the Conservative Leadership 1928–31." ''Parliamentary History'' 31.2 (2012): 206-229.</ref>

==Death==
[[File:Curzon-last-pic.jpg|thumb|upright|The last photograph taken of Curzon on his way to attend a cabinet meeting (1925)]]
In March 1925 Curzon suffered a severe haemorrhage of the bladder. Surgery was unsuccessful and he died in London on 20 March 1925 at the age of 66. His coffin, made from the same tree at Kedleston that had encased his first wife, Mary, was taken to [[Westminster Abbey]] and from there to his ancestral home in [[Derbyshire]], where he was interred beside Mary in the family vault at [[All Saints Church, Kedleston|All Saints Church]] on 26 March. In his will, proven on 22 July, Curzon bequeathed his estate to his wife and his brother Francis; his estate was valued for probate at £343,279 10s. 4d. (roughly equivalent to £{{formatnum:{{Inflation|UK|0.343279|1925|r=-0}}}} million in {{Inflation-year|UK}}){{Inflation-fn|UK|df=y}}.<ref name="probate">{{cite web |url=https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/Calendar?surname=Curzon&yearOfDeath=1925&page=3#calendar |title=Curzon of Kedleston |author= |website=probatesearchservice.gov |publisher=UK Government |access-date=7 August 2019 }}</ref>

Upon his death the barony, earldom and marquessate of Curzon of Kedleston and the earldom of Kedleston became extinct, while the viscountcy and barony of Scarsdale were inherited by a nephew. The barony of Ravensdale was inherited by his eldest daughter [[Irene Curzon, 2nd Baroness Ravensdale|Mary]] and is today held by his second daughter [[Lady Cynthia Mosley|Cynthia's]] great-grandson, [[Daniel Mosley, 4th Baron Ravensdale|Daniel Nicholas Mosley, 4th Baron Ravensdale]].

There is a [[blue plaque]] on the house in London where Curzon lived and died, No. 1 [[Carlton House Terrace]], [[City of Westminster|Westminster]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://openplaques.org/plaques/6258|title=George Nathaniel Curzon blue plaque|publisher=openplaques.org|access-date=13 May 2013}}</ref>

== Titles ==
On his appointment as [[Viceroy of India]] in 1898, he was created [[Baron Curzon of Kedleston]], in the County of Derby. This title was created in the [[Peerage of Ireland]] to enable him to potentially return to the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]], as Irish peers did not have an automatic right to sit in the [[House of Lords]]. His was the last title to be created in the Peerage of Ireland. In 1908, he was elected a representative of the Irish peerage in the British House of Lords, from which it followed that he would be a member of the House of Lords until death; indeed, his [[representative peer]]age would continue even if (as proved to be the case) he later received a United Kingdom peerage entitling him to a seat in the House of Lords in his own right.

In 1911 he was created [[Earl Curzon of Kedleston]], [[Viscount Scarsdale]], and [[Baron Ravensdale]]. All of these titles were in the [[Peerage of the United Kingdom]].

Upon his father's death in 1916, he also became 5th [[Baron Scarsdale]], in the [[Peerage of Great Britain]]. The title had been created in 1761.

In the [[1921 Birthday Honours]], he was created [[Marquess Curzon of Kedleston]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32346 |page=4529 |supp=y}}</ref> The title became extinct upon his death in 1925, as he was survived by three daughters and no sons.<ref name="timesobit">{{cite news |title=Lord Curzon: A Great Career |work=[[The Times]] |page=7 }}</ref>

== Assessment ==
Few statesmen have experienced such changes in fortune in both their public and their personal lives.
[[Sir David Gilmour, 4th Baronet|David Gilmour]] concludes:

<blockquote>Curzon's career was an almost unparalleled blend of triumph and disappointment. Although he was the last and in many ways the greatest of Victorian viceroys, his term of office ended in resignation, empty of recognition and barren of reward.... he was unable to assert himself fully as Foreign Secretary until the last weeks of Lloyd George's premiership. And finally, after he had restored his reputation at Lausanne, his last ambition was thwarted by George V.<ref name = "ODNBCurzon">{{Cite ODNB|id=32680|title=Curzon, George Nathaniel, Marquess Curzon of Kedleston|date = 6 January 2011|first = David|last = Gilmour|author-link = David Gilmour (historian)}}</ref></blockquote>

Critics generally agreed that Curzon never reached the heights that his youthful talents had seemed destined to reach. This sense of opportunities missed was summed up by [[Winston Churchill]] in his book ''Great Contemporaries'' (1937):<blockquote>The morning had been golden; the noontide was bronze; and the evening lead. But all were polished until it shone after its fashion.</blockquote>

Churchill also wrote there was certainly something lacking in Curzon:<blockquote>it was certainly not information nor application, nor power of speech nor attractiveness of manner and appearance. Everything was in his equipment. You could unpack his knapsack and take an inventory item by item. Nothing on the list was missing, yet somehow or other the total was incomplete.<ref>Churchill, ''Great Contemporaries'', Chapter on Curzon</ref></blockquote>

His Cabinet colleague [[David Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford|The Earl of Crawford]] provided a withering personal judgment in his diary; "I never knew a man less loved by his colleagues and more hated by his subordinates, never a man so bereft of conscience, of charity or of gratitude. On the other hand the combination of power, of industry, and of ambition with a mean personality is almost without parallel. I never attended a funeral ceremony at which the congregation was so dry-eyed!"{{sfn|Lindsay|p=507}}

The first leader of independent India, [[Jawaharlal Nehru]], paid Curzon a surprising tribute, referring to the fact that Curzon as Viceroy exhibited real love of Indian culture and ordered a restoration project for several historic monuments, including the [[Taj Mahal]]:<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/1481257/Reviled-Curzon-name-wins-new-respect-in-India.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/india/1481257/Reviled-Curzon-name-wins-new-respect-in-India.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|title=Reviled-Curzon-name-wins-new-respect-in-India|publisher=telegraph.co.uk|access-date=29 August 2017|last1=Roy|first1=Amit}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

<blockquote>After every other Viceroy has been forgotten, Curzon will be remembered because he restored all that was beautiful in India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/When-Curzon-rescued-Ahmedabads-icon/articleshow/13015110.cms|title=When Curzon rescued Ahmedabad's icon|newspaper=The Times of India |publisher=timesofindia.indiatimes.com|access-date=5 July 2017}}</ref></blockquote>

==Legacy==
By [[Remainder (law)|special remainders]], although he had no son, two of Curzon's peerages survive to the present day. His barony of Ravensdale went first to his eldest daughter, [[Irene Curzon, 2nd Baroness Ravensdale]], and then to his grandson [[Nicholas Mosley]], both of whom sat in the [[House of Lords]], while his [[Viscount Scarsdale]] title went to a nephew. His great-great-grandson [[Daniel Mosley, 4th Baron Ravensdale]], is a current member of the House of Lords, having been elected as a representative hereditary peer.

[[Curzon Hall]], the home of the faculty of science at the [[University of Dhaka]], is named after him. Lord Curzon himself inaugurated the building in 1904.

[[Curzon Gate, Bardhaman|Curzon Gate]], a ceremonial gate, was erected by Maharaja Bijay Chand Mahatab in the heart of Burdwan town and was renamed to commemorate Lord Curzon's visit to the town in 1904, which was renamed as Bijay Toran after the independence of India in 1947.

[[Curzon Road]], the road connecting India Gate, the memorial dedicated to the Indian fallen during the Great War of 1914–18, and Connaught Place, in New Delhi was named after him. It has since been renamed [[Kasturba Gandhi]] Marg. The apartment buildings on the same road are still named after him.
{{Clear|right}}

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
=== George Nathaniel Curzon's writings ===
* Curzon, ''Russia in Central Asia in 1889 and the Anglo-Russian Question'' (1889) Frank Cass & Co. Ltd., London (reprinted Cass, 1967), Adamant Media Corporation; {{ISBN|978-1-4021-7543-5}} (27 February 2001) Reprint (Paperback) [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1402175434 Details]
* Curzon, ''Persia and the Persian Question'' (1892) Longmans, Green, and Co., London and New York.; facsimile reprint:
** '''Volume 1''' (Paperback) by George Nathaniel Curzon, Adamant Media Corporation; {{ISBN|978-1-4021-6179-7}} (22 October 2001) [https://www.amazon.com/dp/1402161794 Abstract]
** '''Volume 2''' (Paperback) by George Nathaniel Curzon, Adamant Media Corporation; {{ISBN|978-1-4021-6178-0}} (22 October 2001) [https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1402161786 Abstract]
*Curzon, ''On the Indian Frontier'', Edited with an introduction by Dhara Anjaria; (Oxford U.P. 2011) 350 pages {{ISBN|978-0-19-906357-4}}
* Curzon, ''Problems of the Far East'' (1894; new ed., 1896) George Nathaniel Curzon ''Problems of the Far East. Japan -Korea – China'', reprint; {{ISBN|1-4021-8480-8}}, {{ISBN|978-1-4021-8480-2}} (25 December 2000) Adamant Media Corporation (Paperback)[https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1402184808 Abstract]
* Curzon, ''The Pamirs and the Source of the Oxus'', 1897, The Royal Geographical Society. ''Geographical Journal'' 8 (1896): 97–119, 239–63. A thorough study of the region's history and people and of the British–Russian conflict of interest in Turkestan based on Curzon's travels there in 1894. Reprint (paperback): Adamant Media Corporation, {{ISBN|978-1-4021-5983-1}} (22 April 2002) [https://www.amazon.com/gp/reader/1402159838 Abstract]. Unabridged reprint (2005): Elbiron Classics, Adamant Media Corporation; {{ISBN|1-4021-5983-8}} (pbk); {{ISBN|1-4021-3090-2}} (hardcover).
* Curzon, The Romanes Lecture 1907, ''FRONTIERS'' by the Right Hon Lord Curzon of Kedleston [[Order of the Star of India|G.C.S.I.]], [[Order of the Indian Empire|G.C.I.E.]], [[Her Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council|PC]], [[D.C.L.]], [[LL.D.]], [[Fellow of the Royal Society|F.R.S.]], All Souls College, Chancellor of the university, Delivered in the Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford, 2 November 1907 [[s:Frontiers|full text]].
* Curzon, ''Tales of Travel''. First published by Hodder & Stoughton 1923 (Century Classic Ser.) London, Century. 1989, Facsimile Reprint; {{ISBN|0-7126-2245-4}}; reprint with foreword by Lady Alexandra Metcalfe, Introduction by Peter King. A selection of Curzon's travel writing including essays on Egypt, Afghanistan, Persia, Iran, India, Iraq Waterfalls, etc. (includes the future viceroy's escapade into Afghanistan to meet the "Iron Emir", Abdu Rahman Khan, in 1894)
* Curzon, ''Bodiam Castle Sussex. A Historical & Descriptive Survey'' Jonathan Cape, London, (1926)<ref>{{cite web |title=George Nathaniel Curzon, Marquess of Curzon of Kedleston (1859-1925) - Bodiam Castle, Sussex : a historical and descriptive survey / by the Marquis Curzon of Kedleston. |url=https://www.rct.uk/collection/1140236/bodiam-castle-sussex-a-historical-and-descriptive-survey-by-the-marquis-curzon-of |website=www.rct.uk |access-date=24 April 2021 |language=en}}</ref>
* Curzon and H. Avray Tipping, '''Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire: A Historical & Descriptive Survey by the Late Marquis Curzon of Kedleston, K.G. and H. Avray Tipping'', 1929, Jonathan Cape, London, (Finished by [[Henry Avray Tipping]] after Curzon's death)<ref>Marquess George Nathaniel Curzon Curzon of Kedleston and Henry Avray Tipping {{google books|jkGAAAAAIAAJ|Tattershall Castle, Lincolnshire: A Historical & Descriptive Survey by the by the Late Marquis Curzon of Kedleston, K.G. and H. Avray Tipping (1929)}}</ref>
* Curzon, ''Travels with a Superior Person'', London, Sidgwick & Jackson. 1985, Reprint; {{ISBN|978-0-283-99294-0}}, Hardcover, illustrated with 90 contemporary photographs most of them from Curzon's own collection (includes ''Greece in the Eighties'', pp. 78–84; edited by Peter King; introduced by Elizabeth, Countess Longford)

=== Secondary sources ===
* Bennet, G. H. (1995). ''British Foreign Policy During the Curzon Period, 1919–1924''. New York: St. Martin's Press. {{ISBN|0-312-12650-6}}.
* Carrington, Michael. Officers, Gentlemen, and Murderers: Lord Curzon's campaign against ‘collisions’ between Indians and Europeans, 1899–1905,''Modern Asian Studies'' 47:03, May 2013, pp. 780–819.
* Carrington, Michael. A PhD thesis, ''Empire and authority: Curzon, collisions, character and the Raj, 1899–1905.'' Discusses a number of interesting issues raised during Curzon's Viceroyalty (available through British Library).
* {{EB1911 |wstitle=Curzon of Kedleston, George Nathaniel, 1st Baron |volume=7 |page=665}}
* De Groot, Gerard ''Douglas Haig 1861–1928'' (Larkfield, Maidstone: Unwin Hyman, 1988)
* Dilks, David; ''Curzon in India'' (2 volumes, 1970) [https://www.questia.com/PM.qst?a=o&d=59429856 online edition]
* Edwardes, Michael. "The Viceroyalty Of Lord Curzon" ''History Today'' (Dec 1962) 12#12 pp 833–844
* Edwardes, Michael. ''High Noon of Empire: India under Curzon'' (1965)
* Gilmour, David (1994). ''Curzon: Imperial Statesman''. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. [https://www.amazon.com/Curzon-David-Gilmour/dp/0333644069/ excerpt and text search]
* Gilmour, David. "Curzon, George Nathaniel, Marquess Curzon of Kedleston (1859–1925)" ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'' 2004; online edn, Jan 2011 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32680, accessed 30 Sept 2014] doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32680
* Goudie A. S. (1980). "George Nathaniel Curzon: Superior Geographer", ''The Geographical Journal'', 146, 2 (1980): 203–209, {{doi|10.2307/632861}} [https://www.jstor.org/pss/632861#abstract Abstract]
* Goradia, Nayana. ''Lord Curzon The Last of the British Moghuls'' (1993) [https://web.archive.org/web/20150923215426/http://www.dli.ernet.in/cgi-bin/metainfo.cgi?&title1=Lord%20Curzon%20The%20Last%20Of%20The%20British%20Moghuls&author1=Nayana%20Goradia&subject1=GEOGRAPHY.%20BIOGRAPHY.%20HISTORY&year=1993%20&language1=english&pages=342&barcode=2990100067864&author2=&identifier1=&publisher1=Oxford%20University%20Press%2C%20Delhi&contributor1=&vendor1=NONE&scanningcentre1=ttd%2C%20s.v%20digital%20library&slocation1=NONE&sourcelib1=SNL%20Vetapalem&scannerno1=0&digitalrepublisher1=Digital%20Library%20Of%20India&digitalpublicationdate1=2005-01-21&numberedpages1=&unnumberedpages1=&rights1=&copyrightowner1=&copyrightexpirydate1=&format1=Tagged%20Image%20File%20Format%20&url=%2Fdata_copy%2Fupload%2F0067%2F869 full text online free].
* {{cite book|last=Jeffery|first=Keith|title=PabloBoix Sir Henry Wilson: A Political Soldier|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2006|isbn=978-0-19-820358-2}}
* Katouzian, Homa. "The Campaign Against the Anglo-Iranian Agreement of 1919." ''British Journal of Middle Eastern Studies'' 25 (1) (1998): 5–46.
*Loades, David, ed. ''Reader's Guide to British History'' (2003) 1:324-25; historiography
* {{cite book | last = Lindsay | first = David |author-link = David Lindsay, 27th Earl of Crawford | editor = [[John Vincent (historian)|John Vincent]]| year = 1984 | title = The Crawford Papers: The journals of David Lindsay, twenty-seventh Earl of Crawford and tenth Earl of Balcarres 1871–1940 during the years 1892 to 1940 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=k81RAQAAIAAJ&q=the+crawford+papers | location = Manchester | publisher = Manchester University Press | isbn = 978-0-71900-948-8 | ref = {{sfnRef|Lindsay}}
}}
* McLane, John R. "The Decision to Partition Bengal in 1905", ''Indian Economic and Social History Review,'' July 1965, 2#3, pp 221–237
* Mosley, Leonard Oswald. ''The glorious fault: The life of Lord Curzon'' (1960)[https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.458978 online]
* Nicolson, Harold George (1934). ''Curzon: The Last Phase, 1919–1925: A Study in Post-war Diplomacy''. London: Constable. {{ISBN|9780571258925}}
* Reid, Walter. ''Architect of Victory: Douglas Haig'' (Birlinn Ltd, Edinburgh, 2006.) {{ISBN|1-84158-517-3}}
* Ronaldshay, Earl of (1927). ''The Life of Lord Curzon''. (Two volumes; London)
* Rose, Kenneth. ''Superior Person: A Portrait of Curzon and His Circle in Late Victorian England'', Weidenfeld & Nicolson History, {{ISBN|1842122339}}
* Ross, Christopher N. B. "Lord Curzon and E. G. Browne Confront the 'Persian Question{{'"}}, ''Historical Journal'', 52, 2 (2009): 385–411, {{doi|10.1017/S0018246X09007511}}
* Woodward, David R, ''Journal Mail Sir William Robertson'', Westport Connecticut & London: Praeger, 1998, {{ISBN|0-275-95422-6}}
* [[Denis Wright|Wright, Denis]]. "Curzon and Persia". ''The Geographical Journal'' 153 (3) (1987): 343–350.

== External links ==
{{wikisource author}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110911062951/http://www.britishempirehistory.com/pages/8.html ''Analysis of George Curzon as Viceroy'']
* {{Hansard-contribs | mr-george-curzon | the Marquess Curzon of Kedleston }}
* India under Curzon and after, By Lovat Fraser, Published by William Heinemann, London – 1911. [https://archive.org/stream/indiaundercurzon00frasuoft#page/n9/mode/2up Digital Rare Book] :
* [[iarchive:problemsoffareas00curziala|''Problems of the Far East: Japan – Korea – China'' by George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston at archive.org]]
* [[iarchive:modernparliament00curzuoft|''Modern parliamentary eloquence; the Rede lecture, delivered before the University of Cambridge, 6 November 1913'' by George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston at archive.org]]
* [https://archive.org/details/russiaincentrala032476mbp ''Russia In Central Asia In 1889'' by George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston at archive.org]
* {{Librivox author |id=16692}}
* [[iarchive:warpoemsandother00curzuoft|''War poems and other translations'' by George Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston at archive.org]]
* {{UK National Archives ID}}
* [http://www.maximiliangenealogy.co.uk/maximilia/pafg1237.htm ''George Nathaniel CURZON was born 11 Jan 1859. He died 20 Mar 1925. George married Mary Victoria LEITER on 22 Apr 1895'']
* {{PM20|FID=pe/003608}}

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| after=[[Gilbert John Elliot-Murray-Kynynmound, 4th Earl of Minto|The Earl of Minto]]
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| before=[[Henry Petty-Fitzmaurice, 5th Marquess of Lansdowne|The Marquess of Lansdowne]]
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| after=[[George V of the United Kingdom|The Prince of Wales]]
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Viscount Scarsdale]]|years=1911–1925}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Baron Ravensdale]] |years=1911–1925}}
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{{s-reg|ie}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Baron Curzon of Kedleston]]|years=1898–1925}}
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{{s-ttl | title = [[Representative peer]] for Ireland | years = 1908–1925 }}
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{{s-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Curzon Of Kedleston, George Curzon, 1st Marquess}}
[[Category:1859 births]]
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[[Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies|Curzon, George]]
[[Category:Curzon family|George]]
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Vishwa Hindu Parishad

2022-10-02T10:57:28Z

Nileshkale230: Page created.

#REDIRECT [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]]

Bavarian Senate

2022-01-18T20:52:34Z

Nileshkale230: Added a new contribution to the website.

{{unreferenced}}
{{inline}}

[[File:Senatsglocke.jpg|thumb|The Senate Bell]]
The '''Bavarian Senate''' (German ''Bayerischer Senat'') was the corporative [[upper house|upper chamber]] of [[Free State of Bavaria|Bavaria's]] parliamentary system from 1946 to 1999, when it was abolished by a [[Referendum|popular vote]] (referendum) changing the [[Constitution of Bavaria]].

== Composition ==
The 60 members of the Senate had to be at least 40 years of age and could not be a member of the [[Landtag of Bavaria|Landtag]] (the other and more important chamber of the Bavarian parliament). Every other year, a third of the Senate's members would be elected by corporations representing social, economic, municipal or cultural groups or appointed by religious denominations for a term of six years. The number of seats representing each group was fixed by the constitution of Bavaria:

* 11 representatives of [[agriculture]] or [[forestry]]
* 5 representatives of [[Industrial sector|industry]] and [[commerce]]
* 5 representatives of [[craft|craftsmen]]
* 11 representatives of [[trade union|unions]]
* 4 representatives of [[profession]]s
* 5 representatives of [[cooperatives]]
* 5 representatives of [[religious denomination]]s
* 5 representatives of [[social welfare]] organisations
* 3 representatives of [[university|universities]] and [[college]]s
* 6 representatives of [[municipality|municipal]]ities and municipal associations

Internationally, the Senate's composition was similar to the [[Vocational panel]]s in the [[Seanad Éireann|Irish senate]]. It also bore remnants of [[council democracy|council-democratic]] ideas.

== Role ==
The Senate's main role was consulting other state institutions and delivering legal opinion. It also had the power to delay state [[legislation]] passed by the Landtag within a month (one week for urgent acts). However, the Landtag could overturn the veto by a [[Plurality (voting)|simple majority]], the same majority required to pass a law in the first place.

== Criticism and dissolution ==
In the 1990s, public opinion in [[Germany]] turned towards [[lean Government|leaner government]]. The Senate, because it was essentially powerless, was regarded by many as an unnecessary expenditure.

In June 1997, a [[popular initiative]] petition sponsored by the [[Ecological Democratic Party]] gained 927,047 signatures (10.5% of those entitled to vote). In the following [[referendum]] on 8 February 1998, which yielded a turnout of 39.9%, a majority of 69.2% voted for the law amending the State Constitution to abolish the Senate. A counter-proposal by the ruling [[Christian Social Union of Bavaria|Christian Social Union]], which would have changed the composition of the Senate, only received 23.6%.

On 1 January 2000, the law abolishing the Senate came into effect.

==Presidents of the Senate of Bavaria==
{| class="wikitable"
! Name
! Period
|-
|Josef Singer
|1947–1967
|-
|[[Hippolyt Baron Poschinger of Frauenau]]
|1968–1982
|-
|Hans Weiß
|1982–1993
|-
|[[Walter Schmitt Glaeser]]
|1994–1996
|-
|[[Heribert Thallmair]]
|1996–1999
|}

== See also ==
* [[House of Councillors (Bavaria)]]
* [[Politics of Bavaria]]
* [[History of Bavaria]]

== External links ==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927194800/http://www.bayern.landtag.de/ElanTextAblage_WP13/Drucksachen/0000009000/13_09097.pdf Gegenentwurf des Landtags zum Volksentscheid am 8. Februar 1998 (Senatsreformgesetz) (pdf)] (34 kB) {{in lang|de}} The counter-proposal by the ''Christian Social Union''
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20091208112526/http://www.statistik.bayern.de/wahlen/VE/ve_l3-6d.html Amtliche Ergebnisse des Volksentscheids „Abschaffung des Senats“ am 8. Februar 1998] {{in lang|de}} Official voting results
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120401025428/http://www.bayern.verfassungsgerichtshof.de/12VIII98.htm Urteil des Bayerischen Verfassungsgerichtshofes nach dem Volksentscheid zur Abschaffung des Bayerischen Senats] {{in lang|de}} Court ruling on the abolishment of the Senate
[[Category:Politics of Bavaria]]
[[Category:1946 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:1999 disestablishments in Germany]]
[[Category:Defunct upper houses]]
[[Category:20th century in Bavaria]]
[[Category:Corporatism]]