Surendra P Gangan is Senior Assistant Editor with political bureau of Hindustan Times’ Mumbai Edition. He covers state politics and Maharashtra government’s administrative stories. Reports on the developments in finances, agriculture, social sectors among others.
Articles by Surendra P Gangan
‘SC-ST funds are never released in full by the finance department’
MUMBAI: ₹746 crore meant for SCs and STs diverted to the Ladki Bahin scheme sparks controversy; spending on welfare has consistently fallen below 75%.
Published on May 06, 2025 07:02 AM IST
Maha legislative panel receives record 12k objections to Public Security Bill
MUMBAI: The Special Public Security Bill, 2024, faces 12,750 objections, with over 90% opposing it. Critics call it anti-democratic and a threat to dissent.
Published on May 04, 2025 07:40 AM IST
Pawar stays away from former CMs felicitation, 5 NCP (SP) MLAs jump ship
Fadnavis said that he would have liked to see all the former CMs on the same dais. “The opposition leaders should have come as it was not a political event but a festival of Maharashtra,” he said. “Every former CM has contributed to the development of the state
Published on May 04, 2025 06:52 AM IST
State diverts SC/ST funds for Ladki Bahin scheme
Maharashtra diverts ₹746 crore from SC/ST funds to its women’s welfare scheme, raising legal concerns amid fiscal strain, officials report.
Published on May 03, 2025 08:18 AM IST
Toll waiver for EVs on Bandra-Worli Sea Link too
Maharashtra adds Bandra-Worli Sea Link to its EV toll waiver list, alongside major expressways, promoting EV use and costing ₹3,000 crore over five years.
Published on May 03, 2025 08:12 AM IST
‘Caste census data could open Pandora’s Box in Maha’
Petitioners fighting for Maratha reservation said it will not help weed out backwardness as there is no room for more reservation
Published on May 02, 2025 07:54 AM IST
State to withdraw 2021 Crimes Against Women bill, bring it back in new avatar
An officer said apart from more police power and more stringent penalties, Shakti had a provision for dedicated courts at the state and district level
Published on May 01, 2025 07:50 AM IST
Sops drive state’s 2025-30 EV policy
Maharashtra's new EV policy, effective May 1, aims to boost electric vehicle use and infrastructure, with incentives costing ₹1993 crore over five years.
Published on Apr 30, 2025 09:04 AM IST
Policy on app cabs moots penalties, price caps
Mumbai's new policy for app-based taxi aggregators includes ride cancellation penalties, surge pricing caps, and mandates for driver training and insurance.
Published on Apr 30, 2025 08:30 AM IST
Mumbai to get Anand Gurukul for financial services edu
Maharashtra plans eight sector-specific residential schools, including one for financial services in Mumbai, starting June 2026, to enhance student skills.
Published on Apr 29, 2025 08:58 AM IST
No missing Pakistanis on list of those set to leave: CM
Data from the department, meanwhile, clarified that there are 5,023 Pakistanis living in various parts of the state (excluding Mumbai), with 2,740 here on long-term visas and 2,088 here on extensions to long-term visas
Published on Apr 29, 2025 08:44 AM IST
State nod for rules on code on wages, industrial relations
“Most of the rules are along lines finalised by the centre and they will be enforced as soon as the central government ascertains the date of implementation,” an official from the labour department told Hindustan Times
Published on Apr 28, 2025 07:18 AM IST
‘Vadhavan, data hub will help boost MMR’s growth’
Praveen Pardeshi threw light on key sectors, automobile and software development, that generate revenue and employment; and also the growth in artificial intelligence
Published on Apr 26, 2025 09:52 AM IST
Ramp up growth to achieve $1-trillion goal, state told
The Maharashtra Institute for Transformation (Mitra), a government think tank, suggested leveraging available capital expenditure space, off-budget funding and boosting the growth of backward districts
Published on Apr 25, 2025 08:52 AM IST
1,582 tourists from Maharashtra in J&K as state government plans special flights
A special flight carrying 65 stranded people arranged by the Shiv Sena landed in Mumbai at midnight on Wednesday
Updated on Apr 24, 2025 01:04 PM IST
Govt to clip wings of coaching classes with proposed new law
The school education department is studying the laws enacted by a few other states including Karnataka, Goa, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. It is expected to bring in the bill to regulate coaching classes in the forthcoming monsoon session of the state legislature
Published on Apr 24, 2025 08:32 AM IST
Backlash effect: CM doubles down, says Hindi is not compulsory from Class 1-5
Maharashtra CM Fadnavis confirmed Hindi will be optional as a third language in schools, following public backlash and aligning with NEP 2020.
Published on Apr 23, 2025 08:58 AM IST
Darekar accused of halting work, harassing colleagues
Devang Dave, a member of BJP’s state election election management committee who levelled the allegation, has urged for stern action against him
Published on Apr 23, 2025 07:54 AM IST
State goes all out to promote EVs in new policy
The EV policy that was announced in 2021 fell short of its three-year target on all counts. EV four-wheeler registration till January 31 was just 2.73% against a target of 5%, the two-wheeler registration was 8.33 against a target of 10%
Published on Apr 22, 2025 07:48 AM IST
BJP plans Pasmanda Muslim outreach amid Waqf Act row
Union Minister for Minority Affairs Kiran Rijiju will lead a strategy workshop in Mumbai on Tuesday, aimed at sensitising the party’s state leadership and office-bearers about the campaign. The workshop will be attended by MPs, MLAs, district and taluka-level party presidents, and general secretaries
Published on Apr 21, 2025 08:24 AM IST
New bldg for ministers to be ready in 100 days
The state government is constructing the new building within the state secretariat premises owing to space crunch in the Mantralaya and its annex
Published on Apr 20, 2025 08:06 AM IST
Developers demand incentives in housing policy
The policy, drafted in October 2024, after the gap of over a decade, focuses on affordable housing, slum free cities, rental housing, dedicated homes for the elderly, and aims to boost the concept of ‘walk to work’
Published on Apr 19, 2025 08:24 AM IST
EVs may be exempt from toll on Samruddhi, Mum-Pune highways
A new EV policy is likely to receive the nod of the state cabinet after it is cleared by the finance and other departments
Published on Apr 18, 2025 08:56 AM IST
BJP inducts key PWP leaders before local body elections
BJP expands its base in Mumbai and MMR ahead of local polls by inducting PWP leaders, aiming for stronger representation and youth involvement.
Published on Apr 17, 2025 09:22 AM IST
State govt to buy 15 electric boats for Mumbai ferry services
Unlike the existing services, which are largely operated by private players, the new electric ferry services will be operated by the state-run Maharashtra Maritime Board
Published on Apr 16, 2025 08:58 AM IST
Maharashtra: Policy lays down compensation for custodial deaths
The move follows directions from the State Human Rights Commission.
Updated on Apr 16, 2025 06:11 AM IST
From relief to resilience: State rethinks farm policies
Have state and central governments done more harm than good by failing to promote self-reliance among farmers?
Updated on Apr 15, 2025 02:38 PM IST
In rare order, AMC fined ₹1 lakh for withholding RTI info
MUMBAI: RTI commissioner fines Mira-Bhayandar AMC Kanchan Gaikwad ₹1 lakh for misleading the commission and failing to provide requested information.
Published on Apr 15, 2025 07:36 AM IST
After meeting Amit Shah, Eknath Shinde denies buzz of Mahayuti rift
Shinde reportedly met Shah to complain about how he and his party were being sidelined by leaders of two other parties in the Mahayuti government
Updated on Apr 14, 2025 05:03 AM IST
Beed cashes in on ash as govt reins in mafia
Maharashtra's Beed district sees a crackdown on the ash mafia, allowing contractors to legally lift fly ash from the Parli Thermal Power Project.
Published on Apr 12, 2025 08:24 AM IST