west India
Maharashtra
Maharashtra is a major western Indian state with Mumbai as capital. It is central to UPSC and PCS preparation for Deccan history, the Satavahanas, Maratha state formation, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Peshwa period, colonial Bombay, linguistic state formation, Mumbai financial services, Pune industry and education, cooperative politics, drought-prone interiors, Western Ghats ecology, Konkan coast, Vidarbha and Marathwada regional development debates.
Capital
Mumbai
Population
11.24 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
3,07,713 sq km
Census of India 2011
Literacy
82.3%
Census of India 2011
Districts
36
State Profile
Maharashtra overview
Maharashtra is one of India’s most influential states in history, economy, culture and governance. Mumbai gives it a national financial and media profile, while Pune, Nashik, Nagpur, Aurangabad/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Kolhapur, Solapur, Amravati, Nanded and coastal-Konkan centres reveal a much wider state shaped by the Sahyadri, Deccan plateau, Maratha history, social reform, cooperatives, agriculture, industry and regional imbalance.
Capital
Mumbai
Region
west
Population
11.24 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
3,07,713 sq km
Census of India 2011
Snapshot
Quick facts
Core facts useful for prelims, maps, and state comparison.
- Capital
- Mumbai
- Largest city
- Mumbai
- Region
- west
- Population
- 11.24 CrCensus of India 2011
- Area
- 3,07,713 sq kmCensus of India 2011
- Languages
- Marathi, Hindi, English, Urdu, Gujarati, Konkani, Kannada, Telugu, Gondi, Korku, Warli
Snapshot
Economy snapshot
A quick view of source-backed output, income, growth, and major sectors.
- Industries
- Finance, Banking, Services, Film and media
UPSC Focus
Why it matters
Important UPSC-relevant themes connected with this state.
- It is essential for GS1 history: Satavahanas, Deccan cave architecture, Ajanta-Ellora-Elephanta, Maratha state formation, Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Peshwa politics, colonial Bombay, social reform, anti-caste movements and linguistic state formation.
- It links geography and governance through the Western Ghats/Sahyadri, Konkan coast, drought-prone rain-shadow areas, Godavari-Krishna-Bhima-Tapi systems, urban flooding, irrigation politics and watershed management.
- Its economy provides case studies in finance, banking, capital markets, ports, film and media, IT, automobile manufacturing, education, wine/grapes, sugar cooperatives, cotton-soybean farming, logistics and regional development.
- Its society is important for urbanisation, migration, Mumbai metropolitan governance, Marathi linguistic identity, tribal communities, cooperative institutions, labour politics and social justice debates.
UPSC Focus
Identity markers
Cultural, historical, geographical, or economic identifiers.
- Capital and largest city: Mumbai.
- Maharashtra was formed on 1 May 1960 after the bilingual Bombay State was reorganised into Maharashtra and Gujarat.
- Maharashtra Day is observed on 1 May.
- The Bombay High Court is located at Mumbai and has benches outside Mumbai; the High Court also has jurisdiction over Goa and the Union Territories of Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu.
- The state has a bicameral legislature: Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
- Major regions include Konkan, Western Maharashtra/Desh, Khandesh/North Maharashtra, Marathwada, Vidarbha and the Mumbai Metropolitan Region.
- Important centres include Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad/Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Kolhapur, Solapur, Amravati, Nanded, Jalgaon, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Kalyan-Dombivli, Pimpri-Chinchwad, Satara, Sangli, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg and Chandrapur.
- Major heritage markers include Ajanta Caves, Ellora Caves, Elephanta Caves, Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus, the Victorian Gothic and Art Deco Ensembles of Mumbai, Maratha forts and Deccan Sultanate sites such as Daulatabad.