India, Oct. 12 -- The 11-member inter-ministerial team comprising central government officials, which toured drought-affected areas in Maharashtra last week, was convinced about the severity of the situation and the plight facing farmers this year, officials familiar with the matter told Hindustan Times.

The team has assured Maharashtra of maximum possible financial assistance from the central government, and the state government will soon submit a fresh proposal seeking drought relief at rates higher than existing norms under the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF), the officials said.

On Sunday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis met the central team, led by joint secretary Muktanand Agrawal, at his official residence, Varsha, in Mum...