Kamal Ghorui
Water security has always been one of the key challenges for state governments in Rajasthan. For a region historically constrained by scarcity, reliable access to clean water is both an economic necessity and a moral imperative. So, when Rajasthan won national recognition in water conservation and a third-place national ranking last year, it was an occasion to celebrate for the Bhajan Lal-led BJP government in the state.
Rajasthan’s political and administrative history has always demanded resilience – from its people, its institutions and its leadership. Vast geography, fragile ecology and deep social diversity have long tested the limits of governance and development. In such a landscape, progress is neither automatic nor assured; it must be shaped deliberately, through clarity of intent, discipline in execution and a consistent focus on outcomes.
The state has seen a lot of progress over the years under different governments. Chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma has ensured continuity in governance while focussing on giving a strong impetus to outcome-oriented interventions for delivery.
When the BJP assumed office, expectations were high. Operating within the governance framework articulated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the state government gave a major thrust to restoring institutional trust and administrative credibility with a series of interconnected moves shaped by policy continuity and administrative coordination.
Water first
Water security was a defining priority for the administration. The Ram Jal Setu Link Project represents a significant structural intervention, with work orders worth Rs 26,000 crore already issued. Closely monitored at the state level, the project is expected to alter long-term water availability and agricultural prospects across multiple regions. Progress under the Jal Jeevan Mission has also accelerated, with over 14 lakh rural families receiving tap water connections through investments exceeding Rs 10,700 crore.
Complementing these efforts, the Karmbhoomi Se Matrubhoomi Abhiyan has mobilised the diaspora in the state, resulting in more than 16,000 groundwater recharge structures through NRI contributions. This standout movement earned Rajasthan national recognition in water conservation and a third-place national ranking, with the award being presented by President Droupadi Murmu in November 2025.
Empowering farmers
Agriculture remains central to Rajasthan’s economy and social fabric, and farmers’ welfare has been positioned as a core governance priority. Working in coordination with the central government, the state leadership has focused on reducing risk and enhancing income stability for cultivators.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi, 76 lakh farmers in Rajasthan have received assistance exceeding Rs 10,500 crore, with individual annual funding increasing from Rs 6,000 to Rs 9,000 to reflect rising input costs. Interest-free crop loans amounting to more than Rs 48,300 crore have also been extended, while insurance claims more than worth Rs 6,400 crore have been settled under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana.
Rajasthan’s emergence as a national leader in the PM-KUSUM scheme, with 59,000 solar pumps installed, has been particularly noteworthy. Farmers across 22 districts now benefit from daytime electricity supply, a shift that improves safety, productivity and quality of life.
Women at the core
The government’s development approach has consistently foregrounded women’s dignity, mobility and economic independence. Welfare schemes have been aligned with direct benefit delivery and measurable outcomes.
Through the Mukhyamantri Rasoi Gas Subsidy Yojana, LPG cylinders are being provided at Rs 450, with subsidies of over Rs 1066 crore being transferred directly to the beneficiaries. The Lakhpati Didi programme has trained more than 16 lakh women, enabling more than 12 lakh of them to achieve sustainable incomes and economic self-reliance.
Building foundations
Infrastructure investment has expanded in a big way. Nearly Rs 29,000 crore has been spent on close to 43,000 kilometres of roads, which is more than double the expenditure under the previous government. Further, over 1,700 remote habitations have been connected to the road network, strengthening access to markets, healthcare, education and essential services.
In the energy space too, Rajasthan has consolidated its leadership position. The state has added 7,300 megawatts of capacity and advanced rapidly in renewable energy deployment. Under the PM Surya Ghar Yojana, more than 1 lakh rooftop solar systems have been installed.
Jobs and industry
Rajasthan has led the field in linking economic expansion to employment generation. The Rising Rajasthan Summit reflected strong investor confidence, with memoranda of understanding worth Rs 35 lakh crore signed and projects worth Rs 8 lakh crore already under implementation. In all, 16 new industrial areas have been operationalised in the past year alone, while the Pachpadra Refinery – 90 per cent complete with an investment of Rs 62,000 crore – stands out as a landmark industrial project overseen by the current administration.
Employment creation has gained momentum as well, with over 1 lakh government jobs already provided and recruitment underway for an additional 1.54 lakh positions.
As India advances towards the goal of Viksit Bharat 2047, Rajasthan is seeking to align ambition with administrative discipline. It has worked to create a development model rooted in inclusion, infrastructure and institutional credibility.
The road ahead remains long, but the direction is increasingly defined; towards a Rajasthan where growth is broad-based, governance is transparent and progress is measured not in promises, but in outcomes that touch lives across villages, families and generations.
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