In a significant move aimed at steering Maharashtra’s economy towards long-term stability and growth, the state government has appointed retired IAS officer Praveen Pardeshi as the Chief Economic Advisor to the Chief Minister. He will hold the Minister of State (MoS) rank and will play a pivotal role in shaping the state’s economic future.
According to a government resolution (GR) issued late Saturday, Pardeshi will advise on key policy matters and develop mechanisms to optimize the state’s financial resources. A 1985-batch IAS officer, Pardeshi previously served as Principal and Additional Chief Secretary to then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis from 2014 to 2019.
Pardeshi will now lead the Department of Finance and Statistics. His administrative base will be the Maharashtra Institution of Transformation (MITRA), a state-level think tank modeled on the lines of NITI Aayog. He will also act as the de facto head of the Maharashtra Remote Sensing Applications Centre (MRSAC), which provides critical data and insights to support policy decisions.
His appointment comes at a time when Maharashtra is grappling with financial strain due to rising expenditure on populist schemes and large-scale infrastructure projects. With his experience and strategic insight, Pardeshi is expected to play a key role in navigating the fiscal challenges.
He will spearhead the formulation of Vision 2047, a comprehensive roadmap for the state’s long-term economic development. His responsibilities will include advising on taxation, land and labour policies, as well as fiscal reforms. He is expected to present his policy recommendations to the state cabinet on a quarterly basis.
Additionally, Pardeshi will evaluate and guide reforms in agriculture, industry, and green energy—especially with regard to electric mobility. He will also coordinate with international institutions to bring in global expertise and investment to the state.
