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Recently, India secured the position of being the 4th largest economy in the world, with a nominal GDP of $4.19 trillion. This achievement is attributed to strong economic and structural reforms domestically and an increasing global influence under the Atmanirbhar and Viksit Bharat vision of 2047.
The vision of an inclusive and developed Bharat still requires significant hard work, reform, discipline, a targeted approach, and a substantial focus on research and development. This is a giant but achievable target—if all states and UTs work collectively, exhibit fiscal prudence, and effectively utilize their rich demography. One such state is Rajasthan.
Rajasthan, India’s largest state by area (approximately 1/10th of the country), is a land of contrasts—vast deserts and bustling towns, age-old traditions and modern aspirations. With a substantial portion of its population below 30, it carries the demographic weight of a youthful surge yearning for security, status, and stability. For many, that pursuit leads to one destination—a government job.
According to a report, the youth of Rajasthan find government jobs so lucrative that they are willing to sacrifice well-paid private jobs. Among them, the youths of the Shekhawati region—Jhunjhunu, Sikar, and Churu—are particularly determined.
What could be the possible reasons? Handicapped policies, maladministration, ineffective governance, harsh geography, and negligent or populist leadership willing to sacrifice long-term sustainable development for short-sighted political gains.
Unfortunately, all of the above have played a role—leading to a fiscal deficit that has risen over 20% in absolute terms within a year: from ₹70,090 crore in 2024–2025 to ₹84,640 crore in 2025–2026 (budget estimates). Over 83% of total budget expenditure (2025–2026) is allocated towards revenue needs such as salaries, pensions, and subsidies, while only around 17% is earmarked for capital expenditure—the kind that builds long-term assets and fuels future economic growth. This skewed spending pattern reflects the structural challenges Rajasthan faces: balancing welfare obligations with developmental ambitions.
For a youth-heavy state with rising unemployment, this over-dependence on revenue expenditure limits the scope for new job-creating infrastructure projects, innovation hubs, or skilling programs.
While government initiatives like the Rajasthan Employment Policy 2025 aim to offer employment-oriented training, internships, and apprenticeships to the youth—and the Vivekanand Employment Assistance Fund with ₹500 crore has been set up to provide counseling and build employer–employee linkages—these policies and funds require strong and active vigilance to deliver effective results on the ground.
Yet these initiatives only reach a certain section of youth. The majority remain fixated on government jobs—a major reason for the ineffectiveness of governmental actions in this regard. Moreover, the role of Rajasthan’s harsh geography in shaping youth mindset cannot be ignored.
More than 60% of Rajasthan is desert. The highly arid soil prevents agriculture and other economic activity. People may own large tracts of land, yet remain helpless due to its unproductivity, poor infrastructure that fails to attract private investment, and harsh climatic conditions—with temperatures ranging from below 0°C in winter to over 50°C in summer—all of which worsen living conditions.
These challenges, combined with self-serving governments over the years, have created a mindset where people lose hope in the state—and seek security through a government job. It’s not just about income but about social respect, matrimonial value, and identity. This societal fixation needs soft reform. Career counseling at the school level, promotion of local role models in entrepreneurship, and community-level success stories should be integrated into education and public dialogue.
Moreover, fiscal policy must be visionary, not merely reactive. Rajasthan needs to invest in long-term sectors like clean energy, tourism infrastructure, desert agriculture innovation, and MSMEs. With the right push, even the Thar Desert can become a hub for solar farms, agro-tech experimentation, and renewable battery storage. But that requires vision—and, more importantly, budgetary courage.
It’s not that the youth lack capability or ambition. On the contrary, Rajasthan’s students are topping UPSC, SSC, and defense exams—often competing nationally with limited resources. What they lack is a supportive ecosystem that encourages risk-taking, enterprise, and economic creativity.
For such reforms, the government must collaborate with and support private corporations and firms—which are innovative and willing to take risks, unlike bureaucracies that are often risk-averse, status-quoist, and self-centered.
In a world driven by agility and innovation, nations and states that invest in technology and bold infrastructure outperform those stuck in red tape and routine.
The strength of innovation and tech-driven planning was evident in India’s swift and decisive response during Operation Sindoor. Powered by advanced technology and coordinated infrastructure, India was able to turn a conflict situation into a strategic victory within four days. This was not just a military success but a reminder of what focused investment in capacity-building and technology can achieve.
In the aftermath of the Pahalgam attack, India withdrew from the Indus Water Treaty and initiated plans to divert Chenab’s water towards Jammu, Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan—by connecting it to the Indira Gandhi Canal. This reallocation of natural resources could carry far-reaching consequences, especially for water-scarce states.
One major beneficiary could be the Indira Gandhi Canal, which currently traverses seven districts in Rajasthan—Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh, Bikaner, Jodhpur, Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Phalodi.
If India can turn water into a weapon diplomatically, Rajasthan must learn to turn water into an opportunity—economically.
The Rajasthan government must now seize this opportunity to propose an extension of the canal system toward the Shekhawati region of Churu, Sikar, and Jhunjhunu. This region contains sandy and loamy soils—with loamy soil being naturally fertile. If provided with reliable irrigation infrastructure, this land holds strong agricultural potential. In turn, this could discourage youth migration to urban centers for government exam coaching, encouraging them instead to contribute to agriculture and rural enterprises.
If well planned and executed, this initiative could yield multiple benefits and create multiplier effects across the state economy. It would boost public morale and help rebuild confidence in the state and the political system.
The future of Rajasthan doesn’t lie in how many government jobs it can create, but in how many dreams it can enable. The youth must be seen not as applicants, but as architects of a new economy.
Let not the winds of the desert bury aspirations—let them carry seeds of bold ambition across the sands. Rajasthan’s budget must become more than a ledger—it must become a launchpad.
By Ayush Kumar Sen
(Youth Commentator & Governance Policy Analyst – Aspiring)