Maharashtra
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| Date of formation | May 1, 1960 |
| Capital | Mumbai |
| Auxiliary Capital | Nagpur |
| Largest City | Mumbai |
| Governor | Mohammad Fazal |
| Chief Minister | Sushil Kumar Shinde |
| Area | 308,000 kmÃÂò |
| Population - Total - Density | Ranked 2nd in India
96,752,247 (2001) 322.5/km² |
| Literacy rate: - Total - Male - Female | 77.27% 86.27% 67.51% |
| Urbanization: | 42.11% |
| GSDP growth rate: | 4.0% (2002-03) |
Maharashtra is a state in western India. The basis for creation (demarcation) of the state in its present form on May 1, 1960 was linguistic majority (Marathi). Its population was 96,752,247 (2nd most populous state in India) as per provisional results of Census of India, 2001. Its capital is Mumbai, the economic powerhouse of India.
Only eleven countries of the world have a population greater than Maharashtra.
Maharashtra is the number one state in India in terms of getting foreign investment getting 17% of all foreign direct investment in India. 32% of all exports from India are from the state of Maharashtra as per economic survey of Government of Maharashtra in 2002-03.
| Table of contents |
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2 Geography 3 Economy 4 Demographics 5 Culture 6 Transport and communications 7 Tourism 8 Miscellaneous |
Timeline
See also: Shivaji, Social reform movement in Maharashtra
Geography
Maharashtra borders Goa and Karnataka on its south, Andhra Pradesh on its southeast, Gujarat, Dadra & Nagar Haveli, Daman and Madhya Pradesh on its north, Chhattisgarh on its east, and the Arabian Sea on its west.
Other cities include:
- Ahmednagar
- Aurangabad
- Chiplun
- Jalgaon
- Kolhapur
- Nagpur
- Nasik
- Pune
- Sholapur
- Thane
- The Krishna River originates at Mahabaleswar, Maharashtra and joins the sea in the Bay of Bengal at Hamasaladeevi, Andhra Pradesh.
- The Godavari River rises at Trimbak, near Nasik and Mumbai in Maharashtra.
Economy
Maharashtra is one of the most advanced states in India, with a strong industrialized economy, and the largest power production and consumption in the nation.
Main items of export from Maharashtra
Demographics
See: Konkani, Marathi language
Culture
The Indian film industry, commonly called Bollywood (the largest film industry in the world), is centered here.
It has a rich history, and has given birth to great warriors, like Shivaji, and Bajirao, and to national leaders, including M. G. Ranade and Lokamanya Tilak.
Transport and communications
Total road length: 266,000 km.
Total railroad length: 5,459 km. (8.6% of total railroad length in India)
Number of telephone lines: 6.074 millionTourism
List of prominent shrines in Maharashtra
List of hill stations
Miscellaneous
Government resources
Colleges and universities
AIDS
16.7% of AIDS cases in India are from Maharashtra. This means that incidence of AIDS in Maharashtra is 67% higher the average prevalence in India.