Maharashtra Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana

Scheme Introduction: A Brief Overview

The Government of Maharashtra announced the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana 2026 during the presentation of the Maharashtra Budget 2026-27 on 6 March 2026 as a major Maharashtra farmer loan waiver scheme aimed at reducing the debt burden of farmers. Following the budget announcement, the Maharashtra Cabinet approved the scheme on 2 June 2026, after which the government issued a detailed resolution outlining the eligibility criteria, benefits, and implementation process. Through this Maharashtra Karjmafi Yojana, the state government seeks to provide immediate relief to farmers struggling with overdue agricultural loans and improve their long-term financial stability.

Under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana, eligible farmers can receive a crop loan waiver of up to Rs. 2 lakh. The scheme covers eligible short-term crop loans disbursed between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2025 that remained overdue as of 30 September 2025 and were not repaid by 31 March 2026. The government has also included certain restructured and re-restructured agricultural loans, ensuring that more farmers can benefit from this Maharashtra loan waiver scheme.

Besides providing crop loan waiver benefits, the Maharashtra Government has recently relaxed the eligibility conditions for the incentive benefit available to farmers who regularly repaid their crop loans. The earlier Rs. 50,000 ceiling on the incentive has been removed, allowing eligible farmers to receive the full incentive benefit as per the revised government decision. The government has also withdrawn certain repayment conditions, enabling around 9.3 lakh regular repayment farmers to receive the benefit and extending eligibility to nearly 23 lakh additional farmers. The One Time Settlement (OTS) facility for eligible loans above the waiver limit will continue to remain available under the scheme.

The implementation of the Maharashtra Karjmukti Yojana 2026 will be carried out completely online through the Cooperation Department. Farmers seeking benefits must complete Aadhaar authentication and register on the Agristack Farmer Registry Platform. The government has clarified that eligibility will be determined on an individual farmer basis and that landholding size will not affect eligibility for the Rs. 2 lakh crop loan waiver scheme.

The Department of Agriculture and the Cooperation Department will jointly oversee implementation. Along with providing immediate debt relief through the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana, the Maharashtra Government has also announced long-term reforms aimed at preventing repeated farmer indebtedness and strengthening the agricultural credit system.

Apart from this Maharashtra farmer debt relief scheme, eligible farmers may also continue receiving annual financial assistance under the Namo Shetkari Maha Samman Nidhi Yojana. Together, these initiatives are expected to provide stronger financial security and sustainable support to farmers across Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Government has also started releasing beneficiary lists under the scheme. Farmers whose names appear in the list must complete Aadhaar biometric e-KYC through the authorised centres before the eligible loan waiver amount is credited directly to their crop loan account.

Scheme Benefits

• Eligible farmers can receive a crop loan waiver of up to Rs. 2,00,000 under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana.
• The loan waiver benefit covers eligible outstanding crop loan principal and interest amounts.
• Eligible farmers who regularly repaid their crop loans will receive the full incentive benefit under the scheme.
• Around 9.3 lakh farmers who regularly repaid crop loans are expected to receive the revised incentive benefit under the relaxed eligibility conditions.
• The relaxation of eligibility conditions will improve farmers' access to institutional crop loans and provide greater financial relief.
• Farmers whose eligible outstanding loan amount exceeds Rs. 2 lakh can avail benefits through the One Time Settlement (OTS) facility.
• The scheme aims to reduce the debt burden on farmers and improve their financial stability.

One Time Settlement (OTS) for Loans Above Rs. 2 Lakh

The Maharashtra Government has also introduced a One Time Settlement (OTS) facility for eligible farmers whose outstanding crop loan exceeds the loan waiver limit prescribed under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana.

• If the total eligible overdue crop loan is up to Rs. 2 lakh, the farmer can receive loan waiver benefits as per the scheme provisions.
• If the outstanding eligible loan amount exceeds Rs. 2 lakh, the farmer must first deposit the amount exceeding Rs. 2 lakh with the concerned bank.
• After payment of the excess outstanding amount, the farmer can receive loan waiver benefits of up to Rs. 2 lakh under the One Time Settlement (OTS) mechanism.
• The same provision applies to eligible restructured or re-restructured crop loans covered under the scheme.
• The Government of Maharashtra has allowed eligible farmers time until 31 March 2027 to deposit their share of the amount exceeding the prescribed limit and avail OTS benefits.

Eligibility Requirements

Farmers must satisfy the eligibility conditions prescribed under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana 2026. The eligibility requirements for loan waiver and incentive benefits are provided below.

For Loan Waiver Benefits

• The benefit will be provided on an individual farmer basis.
• Short-term crop loans must have been disbursed between 01 April 2019 and 31 March 2025.
• The loan must have remained overdue as on 30 September 2025.
• The overdue amount should not have been repaid by 31 March 2026.
• Farmers having one or multiple eligible loan accounts can receive benefits subject to the maximum limit prescribed under the scheme.
• Aadhaar authentication of the farmer is mandatory.
• Registration on the Agristack Farmer Registry Platform is mandatory.

For Incentive Benefit to Regular Loan Repayment Farmers

The Maharashtra Government has relaxed the eligibility conditions for incentive benefits available to farmers who regularly repaid their crop loans.

• The farmer must have availed crop loans in any two financial years out of FY 2022-23, FY 2023-24, and FY 2024-25.
• The earlier Rs. 50,000 ceiling on the incentive benefit has been removed.
• The crop loans must have been repaid on or before 30 June of the following year or within the repayment period prescribed by the lending bank.
• Eligible farmers who regularly repaid their crop loans will receive the incentive benefit.
• The revised eligibility criteria notified by the Government will apply while determining the incentive amount.
• Aadhaar authentication and registration on the Agristack Farmer Registry Platform remain mandatory.

Who is Not Eligible?

While the Maharashtra farmer loan waiver scheme covers a large number of eligible farmers, the government has excluded certain categories of individuals from receiving benefits. Applicants falling under any of the following categories will not be eligible for benefits under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana.

• Present or former Ministers, Ministers of State, Members of Parliament, Members of Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council.
• Members of Zilla Parishads, Panchayat Samitis and Urban Local Bodies.
• Central or State Government employees whose gross monthly salary exceeds Rs. 25,000.
• Employees of State Public Sector Undertakings and aided institutions drawing more than Rs. 25,000 per month.
• Persons paying income tax from non-agricultural income sources.
• Pensioners receiving monthly pension above Rs. 25,000, except ex-servicemen.
• Office bearers, directors, officers and employees of cooperative sugar factories, cooperative spinning mills, cooperative banks, milk unions and other specified cooperative institutions receiving salary above Rs. 25,000 per month.

Required Documents

• Aadhaar Card.
• Mobile Number linked with Aadhaar.
• Agristack Farmer Registry Number.
• Crop Loan Account Details.
• Bank Account Details.
• Land Record Details, if required during verification.
• Any additional documents prescribed by the implementing authority.

How to Register on Maharashtra Agristack Farmer Registry?

Registration on the Agristack Farmer Registry Platform is mandatory for farmers seeking benefits under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana. Farmers who have not yet registered can follow the steps below to create their Farmer Registry ID.

• Visit the official Maharashtra Agristack Farmer Registry Portal.
• Click on the option to register as a farmer.
• Enter your Aadhaar Number and complete Aadhaar-based authentication.
• Provide your mobile number linked with Aadhaar and verify it through OTP.
• Fill in the required personal details such as name, address, and other information as displayed on the portal.
• Select and verify your agricultural land details from the available land records.
• Review all the information carefully and submit the registration form.
• After successful verification, a unique Farmer Registry ID (FR ID) will be generated.
• Keep the Farmer Registry ID safe as it may be required while applying for benefits under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana and other government schemes.
• If you face any difficulty during registration, you can visit the nearest Common Service Centre (CSC), Setu Suvidha Kendra, or designated government service centre for assistance.

How to Check Beneficiary List?

The Maharashtra Government has started releasing beneficiary lists under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmukti Yojana. Farmers whose names appear in the beneficiary list will become eligible to complete Aadhaar biometric e-KYC for receiving the loan waiver benefit. At present, the beneficiary list is not available for public search through the Karjmukti portal.

• Visit your concerned bank branch where you have taken the eligible crop loan.
• You can also check the beneficiary list at your Gram Panchayat Office.
• The beneficiary list is also displayed at the concerned Cooperative Society, where applicable.
• If your name appears in the beneficiary list, visit an Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra (CSC/VLE) or the authorised bank branch to complete Aadhaar biometric e-KYC.

How to avail scheme benefits?

Farmers whose names appear in the beneficiary list must complete Aadhaar biometric e-KYC to receive the loan waiver benefit under the scheme.

• Visit an authorised Aaple Sarkar Seva Kendra (CSC/VLE), the Gram Panchayat Office, or the concerned bank branch where Aadhaar biometric e-KYC facility is available.
• Provide your Aadhaar Number or Vishisht Kramank (Unique ID), if available, so that the authorised operator can search your beneficiary record on the official Karjmukti portal.
• After your record is retrieved, carefully verify your beneficiary details, Aadhaar details, crop loan account details, and the eligible loan waiver amount displayed on the portal.
• If any information is incorrect, inform the authorised operator immediately. The operator can submit an objection through the portal before completing the Aadhaar authentication process.
• Provide your consent and complete Aadhaar biometric authentication using the biometric device available at the authorised centre.
• After successful Aadhaar authentication and verification, the eligible loan waiver amount will be credited directly to your eligible crop loan account.

Banks Covered Under the Scheme

• Nationalized Banks.
• Private Sector Banks.
• Regional Rural Banks.
• District Central Cooperative Banks.
• Primary Agricultural Credit Societies that provide loans from their own funds.

Relevant Links

• Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana Notification
• Maharashtra Aaple Sarkar Portal
• Maharashtra Agristack Farmer ID Registration link
• Maharashtra Agristack Farmer ID Status
• Maharashtra Department of Agriculture Website.
• Maharashtra Commissioner for Cooperation and Registrar

Contact Information

• Maharashtra Department of Agriculture Number:- 020 26123648.
• Maharashtra Department of Agriculture Email:- [email protected].