Maharashtra to equip police with body cameras in major tech governance push

The Maharashtra government has announced a major push towards technology driven governance in its 2026 to 27 state budget, with plans to equip police personnel with body worn cameras to improve transparency and accountability in policing.

Presenting the budget vision, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the cameras will be introduced in phases over the next three years. The move is part of the state’s broader Viksit Maharashtra 2047 initiative, which aims to modernise administration and strengthen public trust in governance systems.

Body worn cameras are expected to record police interactions during duty, helping improve evidence collection and providing clarity in cases involving disputes or complaints. Experts believe such technology can help bring greater transparency to everyday policing, particularly during traffic enforcement, public order situations and investigations.

However, experts also point out that technology alone cannot completely eliminate misconduct. In short, body cameras are not a magic solution to corruption, but when combined with strong oversight, they can become a powerful tool for transparency and public trust in policing.

Beyond policing reforms, the state government has also proposed the Maharashtra Land Title Bill , also known as the Hakkadhari Bill , aimed at reducing property ownership disputes and preventing irregularities in land transactions.

The government also plans to accelerate digital governance by computerising all land transactions and implementing a full e office system across departments to move towards paperless administration.

To strengthen digital security, an advanced State Data Centre will be established in Nagpur to safeguard government data and digital services. The state will also introduce a comprehensive cybersecurity policy to support its long term development vision.

With reforms spanning policing, digital governance and cybersecurity, the Maharashtra government is positioning the new budget as a step towards building a more transparent, technology enabled and future ready administration.