Mumbai, Aug 14 — In a major push towards leveraging information technology and artificial intelligence (AI) to deliver fast, seamless, and transparent public services, the Maharashtra state government will issue an integrated digital identification number called the ‘Maha-ID’ to every citizen. This will not be an entirely separate identity document, but an integrated identifier linked directly to the individual's Aadhaar card.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has directed all government departments to harness AI and IT solutions to ensure citizens can access public services directly from their homes. The Maha-ID serves as a central component of this digital governance initiative.
By providing just their Maha-ID, residents will be able to access schemes, information, subsidies, and services across various state departments. Since government databases already hold key records -- such as domicile certificates, income certificates, and ration card details -- citizens will no longer need to resubmit physical documents for every application. The initiative is expected to be outlined by the Chief Minister around Independence Day, with an official project launch following shortly after.
The unified system is set to directly benefit students, farmers, senior citizens, women entrepreneurs, and economically weaker sections. Currently, students applying for state scholarships must register separately on education portals. Farmers applying for subsidies are repeatedly required to submit identity, land, and bank details. Similarly, beneficiaries of social welfare schemes often have to resubmit certificates that are already present in other department records.
By eliminating the hassle of creating multiple accounts, remembering various usernames and passwords, and undergoing repeated identity verification, the initiative aims to drastically simplify citizen interactions with the state administration. Through the combined integration of the Maha-ID and the ‘Maha-Sarathi’ portal, various government departments and digital platforms will be interlinked, creating a highly interoperable digital governance network. As state departments synchronise their data, information required by one department can automatically be fetched from another, eliminating operational silos.
The government sources said, "The platform will be executed through the ‘Maha-Sarathi’ platform under the Electronics, Information Technology, and Artificial Intelligence Department. Citizens will register and submit the necessary details on the designated portal. A digital Maha-ID incorporating the citizen's Aadhaar framework will be generated. Citizens can use this single ID to apply for various government services."
Sources added that previously verified data will be reused automatically across eligible services, doing away with redundant document submissions.