Overview
The Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Farmer Debt Relief Scheme is a farm loan-waiver scheme of the Government of Maharashtra, approved by the state Cabinet on 2 June 2026 under Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. It provides a crop loan waiver of up to ₹2 lakh per farmer — including principal and interest — with no landholding criterion. The scheme has three components: Debt Relief, One-Time Settlement (OTS) and Incentive Benefits, and is expected to benefit a large number of farmers across Maharashtra.
Benefits
- Loan waiver up to ₹2 lakh (principal + interest) on eligible short-term crop loans.
- Farmers with outstanding dues below ₹2 lakh become completely debt-free after the waiver.
- One-Time Settlement (OTS): farmers whose dues exceed ₹2 lakh first repay the amount above ₹2 lakh; the government then credits ₹2 lakh into their loan account.
- Incentive Benefit: farmers who repaid their crop loans on time in any two of the three financial years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 receive ₹50,000 per farmer.
- Defaulters under the earlier Mahatma Jyotirao Phule Farmer Loan Waiver Scheme (2019) can get relief of up to ₹50,000, subject to conditions.
- No landholding limit — both small and large farmers are covered.
Eligibility
- Farmer resident of Maharashtra with a short-term crop loan.
- Loan taken between 1 April 2019 and 31 March 2025.
- Dues outstanding as of 30 September 2025 and unpaid by 31 March 2026.
- Loans from nationalised banks, private banks, regional rural banks, District Central Cooperative Banks (DCCBs) and Primary Agricultural Credit Cooperative Societies (PACS) are covered, including restructured/re-restructured crop loans.
- Aadhaar authentication and AgriStack farmer registration are mandatory.
Not eligible: political office-bearers, government employees, income-tax payers, and officers/employees of cooperative institutions earning more than ₹25,000 per month.
Required Documents
- Aadhaar card (for Aadhaar authentication)
- AgriStack Farmer ID / registration
- Bank passbook and crop-loan account details
- 7/12 land extract (satbara), where applicable
- Loan sanction / restructuring documents
Application Process
- Complete Aadhaar authentication and register on the AgriStack farmer registry.
- Eligible loan accounts are identified from bank/cooperative society data; the waiver of up to ₹2 lakh is credited directly to the loan account.
- For dues above ₹2 lakh (OTS): deposit the amount exceeding ₹2 lakh with your bank/society by 31 March 2027; the government then credits ₹2 lakh to your account.
- Verify your status at your bank branch / DCCB / PACS. A dedicated digital portal is being developed for online tracking and grievance redressal.
Important Dates
- Cabinet approval: 2 June 2026
- Eligible loan period: 1 April 2019 – 31 March 2025
- Outstanding dues cut-off: 30 September 2025
- Waiver applies if unpaid by: 31 March 2026
- OTS excess-amount repayment deadline: 31 March 2027
Official Website
Government of Maharashtra: maharashtra.gov.in (implemented by the Cooperation, Marketing & Textiles Department). Farmer registration is done through the AgriStack farmer registry. A dedicated scheme portal will be announced by the state government.
Helpline
For scheme queries, contact your bank branch, District Central Cooperative Bank (DCCB) or local PACS, or the office of the District Deputy Registrar, Cooperative Societies. A dedicated helpline number will be published along with the official portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. How much loan is waived?
Up to ₹2 lakh (principal + interest) on eligible short-term crop loans.
Q. Is there a landholding limit?
No. There is no landholding criterion — all eligible farmers qualify irrespective of land size.
Q. What if my loan is more than ₹2 lakh?
You must first repay the amount above ₹2 lakh (by 31 March 2027) under the One-Time Settlement; the government then credits ₹2 lakh to your loan account.
Q. Do I need to register on AgriStack?
Yes. Aadhaar authentication and AgriStack farmer registration are mandatory to receive the benefit.
Q. Who is not eligible?
Political office-bearers, government employees, income-tax payers, and cooperative-institution staff earning over ₹25,000 per month.