Maharashtra poised to become India’s first trillion-dollar sub-national economy: CM Fadnavis
Acknowledging that social media poses various challenges, he said the state currently has no plans to ban it for those under the age of 16.
The Prime Minister made these remarks during his on-stage meeting with actor Aamir Khan at the ‘Lokmat Maharashtrian Awards 2026’ organized by Lokmat Media Group at Gateway of India on Tuesday.
Also Read: Toing: Mumbai gets a new food delivery app
Fadnavis said Maharashtra currently holds the position of India’s largest domestic economy and continues to strengthen its global economic standing.
“If Maharashtra were an independent country, it would be among the 30 largest economies in the world. With its sustainable growth momentum, Maharashtra is on its way to becoming India’s first trillion-dollar sub-national economy in the coming years,” he said.
The Prime Minister also spoke about the management challenges associated with rapid technological changes, particularly the impact of social media on young users.Also Read: Maharashtra govt cancels temporary license of bike taxi aggregators: Transport minister
He said concerns about excessive social media use among children are growing globally, but the state government is not currently considering legislation banning social media use for those under 16.
“Most social media platforms rely heavily on AI-driven algorithms designed to maximize engagement, which has significantly reduced attention spans, especially among children. It is important to protect young minds from this challenge,” Fadnavis said. he said.
“At this stage we are not planning a law banning the use of social media by children under 16, but the government is examining the issue closely and will take appropriate measures to mitigate its impact,” he added.
On technological disruption, Fadnavis said the rise of artificial intelligence (AI) presents both opportunities and challenges for governance and economy.
“The AI wave is unstoppable and we must proactively prepare ourselves for it,” he said, referring to the Mahavistaar app, an AI-powered platform that provides real-time agricultural information in regional languages and is currently used by nearly three million farmers.
He also pointed out the importance of sustainable development and climate resilience, stating that Maharashtra plans to plant three billion trees in the next seven years and aims to provide 16,000 MW of solar energy to farmers.
Speaking at the event, Rishi Darda, joint managing director and editor-in-chief of Lokmat Media Group, said the awards are given to individuals whose achievements reflect the progressive spirit of Maharashtra.
Among those honored at the ceremony were veteran actor Ashok Saraf and actor Vicky Kaushal, who received the Jeevan Gaurav Award. Among those congratulated were philanthropist Abhay Bhutada, businessman MP Ahammed, doctors Gyandev Chopra and Gautam Bhansali, athlete Sarvesh Kushare, BJP leader Chandrashekhar Bawankule and MLA Amit Satam.
Deputy Prime Minister Eknath Shinde was also present at the ceremony.
