Maharashtra: India’s Economic Powerhouse

1.1 What was Bombay State?

Before 1960, Marathi speakers and Gujarati speakers shared one state. It was called Bombay State. Mumbai was its capital from 1950. People in Marathi areas wanted a state of their own.

1.2 How was the new state created?

The demand was called the Samyukta Maharashtra movement. The struggle was led by the Samyukta Maharashtra Samiti. A total of 105 martyrs gave their lives for it.

On 21 April 1960 the Lok Sabha passed the bill to divide Bombay State. The Bombay Reorganisation Act was published on 25 April. Maharashtra and Gujarat were formed on 1 May 1960.

Both states celebrate 1 May each year. In Maharashtra it is Maharashtra Day.

2.1 Where does it rank?

Maharashtra covers about 3.08 lakh sq km. A lakh is one hundred thousand. The exact figure is 3,07,713 sq km, or 307,713 sq km in Western style. This makes it India’s third-largest state by area. It is second by population.

2.2 What are its coast and hills?

The state has a 720 km coastline on the Arabian Sea. The Sahyadri range lies to the west. The Satpura hills lie to the north.

The climate is tropical monsoon. Summer runs from March to June. Monsoon runs from June to September. Winter runs from November to January.

2.3 Who are its neighbours?

Six states touch Maharashtra. The table lists each one by direction.

The Arabian Sea lies to the west.

2.4 How is the state divided?

The state has 36 districts. They are grouped into six revenue divisions. A revenue division is a large unit made of several districts.

3.1 Which city is the capital?

Mumbai is the capital city of Maharashtra.

Remember: the winter session is in Nagpur.

3.2 What is special about Nagpur?

Nagpur is the winter capital. The annual winter session of the state assembly is held there. Nagpur lies at the centre of India. A Zero Mile Marker shows the geographical centre of the country.

A Gond prince named Bhakt Buland founded the city in the first half of the 18th century. Nagpur is also called the Orange City because it is a major trade centre for oranges.

4.1 Who ruled the seven islands?

Mumbai began as seven islands. Koli fishing communities lived on them. The Portuguese took the islands in 1534. They called the place Bombaim.

In 1661 the Portuguese gave the islands to Britain. They were part of a royal dowry when Catherine of Braganza married King Charles II. In 1668 the British Crown leased them to the East India Company.

4.2 How did the islands become one city?

Land reclamation joined the islands between 1817 and 1845. This raised the city’s area to 438 sq km. Asia’s first railway line opened in Mumbai in 1853.

Today Mumbai district covers 603 sq km.

5.1 How large is the state economy?

Maharashtra’s Gross State Domestic Product, or GSDP, is the total value of goods and services made in the state. In 2021-22 it was about 13.1 percent of India’s GDP.

Mumbai is called the financial capital of India.

5.2 What is the BSE?

The BSE is Asia’s oldest stock exchange. A group of brokers began trading in 1875 as the Native Share and Stock Brokers’ Association.

Earlier, in the 1850s, brokers met under a banyan tree near the Town Hall. In 1874 they settled on Dalal Street. In 2005 the BSE became a corporate entity. Ownership was separated from trading rights.

The 1874 move to Dalal Street came before the 1875 association.

6.1 Where are Hindi films made?

Mumbai is the heart of Indian cinema. It makes nearly 200 Hindi films a year.

A large share of Hindi films made in Mumbai are usually called Bollywood. The word is a label for a style of cinema.

6.2 Are only Hindi films made there?

No. Mumbai and Pune also make films in Marathi. Marathi films have a long history, from the silent era.

7.1 Which butterfly was chosen?

The Blue Mormon is the state butterfly of Maharashtra. It was declared in June 2015. Maharashtra was the first state in India to have a state butterfly.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the Maharashtra State Wildlife Board.

7.2 Why does the choice matter?

Maharashtra has 225 varieties of butterflies. That is about 15 percent of the country’s estimated butterfly population.

The state also holds 61,952 sq km of recorded forest area.

8.1 Who were B.G. Kher and Morarji Desai?

B.G. Kher headed the Congress ministry in the old Bombay Province. Morarji Desai served in it as Minister for Revenue, Agriculture, Forest and Co-operatives. The Congress ministries left office in 1939.

Desai later became Prime Minister of India. He served from 24 March 1977 to 28 July 1979.

9.1 Which facts get confused?

• Formation: 1 May 1960, the same day as Gujarat.
• Capitals: Mumbai is the capital. Nagpur is the winter capital.
• Rank: third by area, second by population.
• Divisions: 36 districts and six revenue divisions.
• BSE: trading began in 1875. Asia’s oldest exchange.