In a decisive move to overhaul its underperforming lottery sector and address the growing fiscal deficit, the Maharashtra Finance Department has constituted a 10-member high-level committee to study the successful Kerala lottery model. The panel will be chaired by senior BJP leader and former Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar, and its formation was formalized through a Government Resolution (GR) issued on Monday.
The committee includes a cross-section of political representatives: BJP MLA Amit Satam, Shiv Sena (Shinde faction) MLAs Chandrakant Narke and Vitthal Lange, NCP (Ajit Pawar faction) MLA Chetan Tupe, NCP MLA Shekhar Nikam, NCP (Sharad Pawar faction) MLA Rohit Patil, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sunil Prabhu, Congress MLA Amit Deshmukh, and Lottery Commissioner Prerana Deshbhratar.
According to the resolution, the committee will visit Kerala to closely examine its lottery operations and is expected to submit a detailed report with recommendations tailored to Maharashtra within a month.
The move follows a strong intervention by Mungantiwar during the recent Budget session of the State Assembly, where he sharply criticized the Finance Department’s handling of the state-run lottery system. Citing Kerala as a model, Mungantiwar highlighted startling revenue disparities, noting that Maharashtra’s lottery income significantly lags despite its much larger population.
In FY 2023–24, Maharashtra earned Rs 24.43 crore in lottery sales, but net revenue after deductions was only Rs 3.52 crore. In contrast, Kerala generated a staggering Rs 12,529 crore in the same period, despite having a population of just 3 crore.
Mungantiwar estimated that Maharashtra, with a population exceeding 11 crore, could potentially generate up to Rs 25,000 crore annually by adopting a similar model.
He also raised concerns about the unequal treatment of lottery operations across states. While Maharashtra does not allow online lotteries, states like Kerala and Sikkim continue to sell online lotteries in Maharashtra, drawing significant revenue without offering reciprocal access to Maharashtra’s paper lotteries.
Calling for a level playing field through central guidelines, Mungantiwar argued that if Maharashtra permits other states to operate within its territory, those states must reciprocate. He criticized the lack of regulatory enforcement that allows non-local lotteries to flourish unchecked in Maharashtra.
Mungantiwar also took aim at the state’s financial condition, pointing out a budgetary deficit of Rs 45,000 crore. He lambasted the Finance Department, led by Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, for failing to pursue viable revenue-generating avenues like lottery reform. “Instead of rejecting funding proposals from various departments, the Finance Ministry should focus on innovative ways to boost revenue,” he said.
In a sarcastic remark, Mungantiwar suggested that the government consult MLAs who have declared assets worth billions in their election affidavits on how to generate income.
Underscoring the social impact, he added that lottery participation is highest among the poor and middle class, and stressed that revenues should be directed toward welfare schemes, as done in Kerala. He maintained that a properly regulated lottery system can be a vital tool for inclusive growth and public welfare.
Kerala’s lottery revenue has witnessed consistent growth in recent years:
FY 2020–21: Rs 4,500 crore
FY 2021–22: Rs 7,144 crore
FY 2022–23: Rs 11,890 crore
FY 2023–24: Rs 12,529 crore
