Vijay Kelkar appointed head of Maharashtra panel on sustainable public finances

The Maharashtra government has announced that veteran economist and former Finance Secretary Vijay Kelkar will lead a high‑level panel tasked with formulating strategies for sustainable public finances. The panel is expected to examine the state’s fiscal health, debt management practices and revenue generation mechanisms, and to recommend reforms that align with long‑term fiscal prudence.

Kelkar, who has previously chaired several national committees on finance and economic reforms, brings decades of experience in public finance management. His appointment signals the state’s intent to adopt a more disciplined fiscal framework amid rising expenditure pressures.

The panel will work closely with the state finance department and will submit its findings and policy recommendations to the Chief Minister’s office within the next few months. Stakeholders, including industry bodies and civil society groups, have been invited to provide inputs during the consultation phase.

Analysts view the move as a proactive step to address fiscal imbalances and to improve Maharashtra’s credit profile, which could have implications for future borrowing costs and investment climate.