UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — Maharashtra Budget announces loan waiver of ₹2 lakh to farmers

Q1. In the current cycle of State farm-loan waivers culminating in Maharashtra's 2026 Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana, which State was the FIRST to announce such a waiver, making Maharashtra the third?

  • A. Tamil Nadu
  • B. Telangana
  • C. Karnataka
  • D. Punjab

Q2. Under the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana (2026), short-term crop loans availed from which of the following lenders are eligible for the waiver? 1. Nationalised (public sector) banks 2. Primary Agricultural Credit Societies 3. Microfinance institutions / NBFC-MFIs 4. Regional Rural Banks Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Nationalised (public sector) banks
  2. Primary Agricultural Credit Societies
  3. Microfinance institutions / NBFC-MFIs
  4. Regional Rural Banks
  • A. 1, 2 and 4
  • B. 1 and 3
  • C. 2, 3 and 4
  • D. 1, 2, 3 and 4

Q3. Which department of the Government of Maharashtra is designated as responsible for implementing the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana (2026)?

  • A. State Cooperation Department
  • B. State Department of Agriculture
  • C. State Revenue and Forest Department
  • D. State Finance Department

Q4. Consider the following statements about the design of the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana (2026): 1. It provides a complete waiver of outstanding short-term crop loans up to ₹2 lakh. 2. It includes a one-time settlement (OTS) component. 3. It provides incentive benefits to farmers who repaid their loans on time. 4. Eligibility is restricted to farmers holding not more than 2 hectares of land. Which of the above is/are NOT correct?

  1. It provides a complete waiver of outstanding short-term crop loans up to ₹2 lakh.
  2. It includes a one-time settlement (OTS) component.
  3. It provides incentive benefits to farmers who repaid their loans on time.
  4. Eligibility is restricted to farmers holding not more than 2 hectares of land.
  • A. 4 only
  • B. 1 and 4
  • C. 3 only
  • D. 2 and 3

Q5. As per the Maharashtra Cabinet's 2026 approval, approximately how many farmers are expected to benefit from the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Shetkari Karjmafi Yojana?

  • A. About 55.72 lakh
  • B. About 28 lakh
  • C. About 40.21 lakh
  • D. About 71 lakh