New Delhi: Free electricity of up to 150 units for consumers, nine greenfield expressways, 1.25 lakh government jobs, 15 ring roads to decongest major cities, 35 Guru Golwalkar aspirational blocks in line with PM’s aspirational districts, ‘Yuva Saathi Kendras’ to address the issues of suicides and stress among students, a Rs 3,500-crore health fund (MAA) to set up free medical treatment and diagnostics, and free medicine for elders at home—these are among the highlights of the 2025-2026 budget tabled by Rajasthan’s Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari Wednesday.
Presenting the Rs. 5.37-lakh crore budget in the state assembly—her third—Kumari announced the government’s commitment to take the state towards a $350 billion economy by 2030. In her 138-minute budget speech, peppered with quotes by B.R. Ambedkar, Mahatma Gandhi and Swami Vivekananda, Kumari also recited a couplet indicating her government’s commitment to growth. “I erase myself in my worry/care for you, I fulfil all my promises to you with all my heart,” she began.
The Rs 27,854 crore “green budget” proposes establishment of an utensil bank to stop use of plastic in every panchayat, training for 25,000 women as ‘solar didis’ through self-help groups, building waste-to-wealth parks under its Rs 100 cr green challenge fund, and a new scrap policy to stop use of 15-year-old vehicles.
On the lines of the smart city scheme, the urban areas of Bundi, Nathdwara, Khatushyamji, Mount Abu, Bhilwara, Balotra, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Sawai Madhopur, Alwar, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Mandawa, Kishangarh, Bhiwari, Pushkar will be developed as a clean and green eco city for which Rs 900 crore has been set aside.
Kumari announced Rs 60,000 crore for nine greenfield expressways to connect Rajasthan with other states. She also announced Rs 50 crore to prepare a DPR for construction of ring roads to connect 15 cities, including Balotra, Jaisalmer, Jalore, Sikar, and Banswara. This is apart from a Rs 5,000-crore allocation on other road infrastructure work and Rs 6,000 crore for the construction of 21,000 km new roads.
Focus on youths, jobs, students
Since Rajasthan has faced several protests over paper leak and unemployment during the previous Ashok Gehlot government, Kumari has proposed 1.25 jobs in government departments and 1.5 lakh jobs in the private sector, establishing 1,500 Atal Tinkering Labs in schools, Viswakarma skill institutes for the youth, and developing Bharatpur, Kota, Ajmer, and Bikaner as science innovation hubs. There is a separate package to establish ‘Yuva Saathi Kendras’ in Kota for counselling of young students coping with the stress of clearing competitive exams.
Under the Chief Minister’s Free Electricity Scheme, Kumari increased free electricity for beneficiaries from 100 units to 150 units. This scheme will be linked to the PM Surya Ghar Free Electricity Scheme. The budget also sets a target for 50,000 new agricultural connections.
MAA fund, doorstep delivery of medicines
As part of its health commitment, the state announced Rs 3,500 crore for the Mukhyamantri Ayushman Arogya (MAA) Yojana free treatment for elders, free delivery of medicine at their doorstep, and setting up diabetic clinics at all district hospitals.
To promote women’s empowerment, the state announced a loan of Rs 1 lakh at an interest rate of 1.5 percent for girls, distribution of 35,000 scooties for girl students, a 20 lakh target for the Lakhpati didi scheme and Atal Gyan Kendras at every panchayat to promote digital education.
In a first, Rs 10 lakh has been allocated for MLA Jan Sunwai Centres in areas with a population of more than 3,000 people in every assembly constituency to address the people’s grievances. Other announcements include a new laptop for every MLA, Rs 1,000 crore for new districts announced by the previous Congress government, Sardar Patel Cyber Control Room to tackle rising cyber crimes, and the setting up of a war room at the police headquarters.
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River linking project
The government has kept its focus on the river linking project to tackle eastern Rajasthan’s water scarcity problem. Kumari said works worth Rs 9,400 crore have given a boost to the Ram Jal Setu Link Project.
The Rajasthan Water Grid Corporation will be established by upgrading ERCP Corporation. The budget has announced a subsidy for setting up drip and sprinkler irrigation systems in 3,50,000 hectares and allocated Rs 1,250 crore for this. A subsidy of Rs 900 crore will be given for a 20,000 km irrigation pipeline, which is expected to benefit more than four lakh farmers.
Under the Jal Jeevan Mission, works worth more than Rs 400 crore will be carried out to provide drinking water in two lakh houses. The Finance Minister thanked the PM for extending this mission till 2028.
50 percent promises fulfilled, says CM
Later, addressing the media, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal said, “The BJP govt has been working step-by-step to fulfil promises made in its election manifesto. The Rajasthan government has already completed 50 percent promises made in the manifesto in the last one year. Our focus has been to make Rajasthan a $350 billion. Since water was a key concern,we are working on a war footing to complete the river linking project and address the water problem.”
Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot said the state has failed the Modi guarantee. He said the Prime Minister had promised in Rajasthan on 18 November 2023 that as soon as the BJP government came to power farmers would start getting Rs 12,000 under PM Kisan Samman Nidhi. But the government has been able to give only Rs 9,000.
He further said, “An announcement of 1.25 lakh government jobs for the youth has been made in the budget, but what happened to the promise of giving one lakh government jobs made in last year’s budget? The government should present the real figures,” he said in a statement.
(Edited by Sudha V)