Maharastra is located in West-Central India. Mumbai is the capital and the economic powerhouse of India. Mumbai is the most affluent city in India and the other urban areas in the state have a large upper middle class population who have taste for goods and services from abroad. The other large cities include Pune, Thane, Nasik, Ahmednagar, Ulhasnagar, Bhiwandi, Ratnagiri and Sanghli. The main regional language is Marathi.

This state has a strong industrial economy. It is a major producer and consumer of power, there is petroleum offshore in Bombay High which is refined inland. It is also a financial centre. The maximum amount of foreign direct investment is in this region and the state also provides 32% of all exports in terms of gems, jewellery, garments, sugar, cotton yarn, spices, made up fabrics, machinery and instruments, metal products, agro-based good and wine. It has several specialised industrial parks for food and wine, and InfoTech and IT parks. Maharastra is also the home of the largest film industry in the world, popularly known as Bollywood.

The state has top medical colleges and institutes of engineering and technology, which is internationally renowned.

Mumbai has the major stock exchanges where securities are listed and traded. Both Indian and foreign institutional investors and public invest in them with the help of various financial advisers and intermediaries. The regulatory authorities such as the Securities and Exchange Board of India and the Reserve Bank of India has its head office there. The main trade mark registry is also located here along with the headquarters of the large public sector undertakings and private Indian companies. The major international and local banks and insurance companies have their main offices there. The city is cosmopolitan and the people are very businesslike and efficient. Property or real estate is very expensive and in short supply, and therefore the buildings are mostly high rise. Many from the countryside are drawn to Mumbai to make their dream but many end in shanty towns in an impoverished state. There are many chain hotels, bars, restaurants, casinos and nightlife like in any other major city in the world