The Maharashtra Cabinet on April 29 approved the state’s Artificial Intelligence Policy 2026, outlining an ambitious roadmap to attract ₹10,000 crore in investments and generate 1.5 lakh employment opportunities in the sector, as per reports.
The policy focuses on building a robust AI ecosystem through infrastructure, innovation, and skill development. As part of this, the government plans to establish six AI Centres of Excellence and five AI Innovation Cities across the state.
State Electronics, Information Technology and AI Minister Ashish Shelar said the primary objective of the policy is large-scale job creation, supported by targeted skilling initiatives. Around two lakh youth will be trained in AI technologies to create a workforce aligned with emerging industry demands.
To drive adoption, the policy aims to develop 50 AI tools and use cases across sectors, while supporting businesses in integrating AI into their operations. The state will provide 2,000 GPUs to strengthen the computing infrastructure critical for AI deployment. Moreover, 5,000 MSMEs will receive financial assistance to adopt AI technologies.
In a bid to boost innovation, the government will set up a ₹500 crore venture capital fund to support AI startups and potential unicorns, with the state contributing ₹250 crore. Subsidies for machinery purchases will also be extended to AI-driven industries.
The policy also includes plans to develop AI-based agents to simplify citizen-government interactions, as well as financial support for building datasets in Marathi and other regional languages.
Notably, Maharashtra aims to become the first state in India to introduce a dedicated framework for ethical AI.
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