Maharashtra Govt edits online-only order, allows Ministers to opt for print newspapers

The July 30 Government Resolution had, however, made an exception for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, allowing the continued supply of printed newspapers and magazines to his office and official residence. File | Photo Credit: ANI The Maharashtra government on Friday (July 31, 2026) partially rolled back its decision to discontinue print newspapers and magazines to deputy Chief Ministers and Ministers, allowing them to opt for either online or physical subscriptions.The General Administration Department (GAD) revised a day after announcing that, from September 1, Ministers would have to rely only on online subscriptions for newspapers and periodicals, with the expenditure to be borne by their respective administrative departments.The revision said that paragraph 3 of the Government Resolution (GR) issued on July 30 has been modified. It said that instead of requiring deputy CMs, Ministers and Ministers of State to obtain “online subscriptions” for newspapers and magazines at their offices and official residences, they may now obtain newspapers and periodicals through “online or printed subscriptions, or whichever is convenient”.The correction effectively restores the option of receiving physical newspapers for deputy CMs, Ministers and Ministers of State, reversing the online-only arrangement introduced through Thursday’s (July 30, 2026) GR.Under the original decision, the GAD had said the existing system of centrally procuring and supplying printed newspapers and magazines to the offices and official residences of deputy Chief Ministers, Ministers and Ministers of State would end from September 1. It had directed Ministers to obtain online subscriptions instead, with the cost to be met by their respective administrative departments from office expenditure after submission of bills.The July 30 GR had, however, made an exception for Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, allowing the continued supply of printed newspapers and magazines to his office and official residence, with the expenditure to be borne by the GAD.A GAD official had on Thursday (July 30, 2026) said that the annual expenditure on newspapers and periodicals was around ₹22 lakh, of which the CM’s Office accounted for about ₹12,000 to ₹15,000 per month. The official had said Ministers were being given a month’s time before the new system came into effect. Published - July 31, 2026 03:58 pm IST