State Data Policy Gets Green Light: Maharashtra Moves Towards Digital Governance

The Maharashtra Cabinet gave a nod to the State Data Policy draft on February 25. This policy aims to improve the efficiency of government schemes and projects.

As per the statement released by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis’s office (CMO), this policy involves collecting data from all government departments to ensure that the execution of all welfare schemes is done efficiently.

This State Data Advisory will be a significant part of the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) and will be led by the chief data officer.

The CMO posted on social media platform X, “With the implementation of the State Data Policy, statistical information across all departments will become more accurate and consistent.

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Additionally, it will ease the burden of data collection on workers (nagari suvidha karmachari) operating in rural areas, such as Anganwadi sevak and krushi sahayaks, who often spend significant time collecting data manually. By leveraging digital platforms, including the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) system and Aadhaar-linked data from other government programs, information will be gathered seamlessly.”

Big update:
Maharashtra has approved the State Data Policy, under which a dedicated State Data Authority will be established. This authority will be an integral part of the Maharashtra Institution for Transformation (MITRA) which will be led by the Chief Data Officer.

With the…

— CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) February 25, 2025

The CMO also said that this transition will allow frontline workers to focus more on their core responsibilities while ensuring reliable data collection.

Mentioning financial aid for the initiative The CMO wrote on X,  “The financial support for this initiative will be provided through the World Bank-assisted MahaStride project.”