Devendra Fadnavis says Maharashtra nearing trillion-dollar economy milestone

Maharashtra is on course to become Indiarsquos first trilliondollar subnational economy in the coming years driven by sustained industrial expansion infrastructure development and increased adoption of emerging technologies Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said on Tuesday reported news agency PTIFadnavis made the remarks during an onstage conversation with actor Aamir Khan at the lsquoLokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Awards 2026rsquo organised by Lokmat Media Group at the Gateway of IndiaMaharashtra among largest regional economiesHighlighting the statersquos economic progress Fadnavis said Maharashtra already holds the position of Indiarsquos largest subnational economy and continues to strengthen its global economic footprint reported PTIldquoIf Maharashtra were an independent country it would rank among the worldrsquos top 30 economies With sustained growth momentum Maharashtra is on track to become Indiarsquos first trilliondollar subnational economy in the coming yearsrdquo the chief minister said reported PTIHe attributed the statersquos growth trajectory to industrial development largescale infrastructure projects and technological innovation across multiple sectorsNo plan to ban social media for under16 usersFadnavis also addressed concerns regarding the growing influence of social media on younger users stating that although the issue is being closely monitored the government currently has no plans to introduce a law banning social media usage for individuals under the age of 16 reported PTIHe noted that the rapid growth of social media platforms has created new governance challenges particularly due to algorithmdriven systems designed to maximise user engagementldquoMost social media platforms rely heavily on AIdriven algorithms designed to maximise engagement which has significantly reduced attention spans especially among children Protecting young minds from this challenge is importantrdquo he said reported PTIThe chief minister added that while no legal restrictions are currently being considered the government is studying the issue and may introduce appropriate measures if necessaryAI revolution brings opportunities and challengesSpeaking about technological advancements Fadnavis said the rise of artificial intelligence presents both opportunities and challenges for governance public administration and economic growthldquoThe wave of AI is unstoppable and we must proactively prepare ourselves for itrdquo he said reported PTIAs an example he highlighted the Mahavistaar platform an AIenabled application that provides realtime agricultural insights to farmers in regional languagesAccording to the chief minister nearly three million farmers are currently using the platform to access information related to crop management and agricultural practicesFocus on climate resilience and renewable energyFadnavis also emphasised the state governmentrsquos commitment to sustainable development and climate resilienceHe said Maharashtra has set an ambitious target of planting three billion trees over the next seven years as part of environmental conservation effortsAdditionally the government plans to provide 16000 megawatts of solar power to farmers to support agricultural activities while promoting renewable energy adoptionWith inputs from PTI