Mumbai, April 21 (IANS) Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Tuesday called for a paradigm shift in governance, asking the state administration to function like a “startup” to achieve the goal of Zero Bureaucracy.​

Speaking at the Civil Service Day 2026 awards ceremony, the Chief Minister emphasised that a transparent, dynamic, and citizen-centric administration is the bedrock of a developed Maharashtra.

The event, held under the ‘Rajiv Gandhi Administrative Dynamism (Pragati) Campaign and Competition 2025–26’, awarded prizes to officials for innovative administrative practices.​

CM Fadnavis clarified that “Zero Bureaucracy” does not imply the absence of officials, but rather the re-engineering of processes to make them simpler and more predictable.

He stated that services should be provided based on eligibility, not personal preferences, adding that by reducing human intervention and simplifying procedures, direct service delivery to eligible citizens can be ensured.​

He further highlighted the success of the government’s 100-day and 150-day action plans, noting that 85 per cent of the targets for administrative efficiency have already been met.​

The Chief Minister outlined a roadmap for the state’s future to achieve the Viksit Maharashtra mission, dividing it into three strategic milestones: 2029, 2035, and 2047.

He noted that Maharashtra’s economy currently ranks 30th globally and is poised to further strengthen as it competes on the international stage.​

To improve service delivery, the government has identified 20 key services for immediate optimisation via the upcoming ‘Aaple Sarkar 2.0’ platform.​

Chief Secretary Rajesh Agrawal reinforced the government’s commitment to “speed and sensitivity”.

He noted that the administration is focused on repealing obsolete laws and introducing modern legislation, decentralising power to ensure efficient local service delivery, and balancing infrastructure development with civil service reforms.​

Agrawal praised the inclusive nature of the ‘Pragati’ campaign, which encourages innovation across all ranks, from Indian Administrative Service officers to Kotwals and teachers.​

–IANS

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