In a significant move aimed at administrative reform and economic growth, the Rajasthan Cabinet, under the leadership of Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, convened a high-level meeting on the late evening of Friday, May 22. The session resulted in several landmark decisions that are expected to streamline governance and provide substantial relief to various sections of society. The primary focus of the meeting remained on amending pension regulations, launching a comprehensive industrial development strategy, and addressing the pressing issues of water and energy security in the state.
Major Reforms in Pension Rules 1996
The state government has introduced three pivotal changes to the Rajasthan Pension Rules 1996, designed to simplify procedures for pensioners and their families. One of the most compassionate decisions involves differently-abled children. Previously, these children were required to submit a disability certificate every 3 years to continue receiving benefits. The Cabinet has now abolished this mandatory periodic submission, decreeing that a disability certificate needs to be submitted only once in a lifetime. This move is expected to reduce the bureaucratic hurdles faced by families of specially-abled individuals.
Also, the process of submitting the annual Life Certificate has been modernized. Pensioners will now have the convenience of providing their Life Certificate through a mobile application utilizing Face Authentication Technology. This digital shift eliminates the need for elderly pensioners to physically visit government offices. In another administrative easing, the Cabinet has empowered non-gazetted officers to issue life certificates. By signing in through their SSO ID, these officers can now verify a pensioner's status. On top of that, while previously the signatures of two gazetted officers were mandatory for certain pension-related validations, the requirement has been reduced to the signature of only one gazetted officer, Notably speeding up the verification process.
Industrial Development Policy 2026 and Economic Vision
With an ambitious vision to transform Rajasthan into a 30 lakh crore economy, the Cabinet has officially approved the New Industrial Development Policy 2026. This policy is designed with a long-term perspective of 25 years, focusing on generating employment for the youth and fostering rapid industrialization across all districts. The policy broadens the definition of industry by including sectors such as warehousing, IT services, Global Capacity Centers (GCC), and logistics. This inclusion will allow these sectors to avail themselves of industrial benefits and incentives.
The 2026 policy also places a strong emphasis on future-ready sectors. It incorporates frameworks for the semiconductor ecosystem, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), AVGC (Animation, Visual Effects, Gaming, and Comics), and the aerospace industry. To support traditional crafts and local economies, the government will provide cluster and digital support to Jaipur Jewelry, Barmer Handicrafts, and the textile hubs of Bagru and Sanganer, while in terms of infrastructure and investment, the Cabinet approved the allocation of 71 hectares of land to JK Cement for the construction of a railway track, a project valued at 212 crore. Similarly, Dalmia Cement has been granted 121 hectares of land for its plant at double the DLC rates.
Water Conservation and Environmental Initiatives
Addressing the environmental challenges, the state will observe the Bandhe Ganga Jal Sanrakshan Jan Abhiyan from May 25 to June 5. Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma will personally inaugurate this campaign from the Ganga Mata Temple in Bharatpur. The initiative focuses on the construction of new water harvesting structures and the cleaning of existing water sources and drains. Complementing this, the Hariyalo Rajasthan Abhiyan has set a massive target of planting over 19 crore trees across the state to increase green cover. On top of that, the Cabinet approved amendments to the service rules of the Agricultural Service.
Energy Security and Crisis Management
To bolster the renewable energy sector, the Cabinet approved large-scale land allocations in Jaisalmer (Fatehgarh and Ghata Rupo), Barmer (Mungeria village in Shiv Tehsil), and Bikaner (Karnisar Bhatiyan and Bajju villages in Pugal Tehsil). These lands will be utilized for major solar and wind energy projects, while amidst the rising temperatures, the Council of Ministers also reviewed the current supply of water and electricity. The Chief Minister was briefed on the requirements for diesel and other resources. CM Sharma has directed all ministers to visit their respective districts of charge to review the situation and take necessary steps for better management of essential services.