The Rajasthan Cabinet, chaired by Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, has taken a landmark decision to remove the two-child restriction for candidates contesting local body and panchayat elections. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jogaram Patel announced that the Cabinet has approved the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act 2026 and the Rajasthan Municipal Act 2026. This move aims to simplify eligibility criteria for local governance. The state government plans to introduce a formal bill in the legislative assembly to implement these changes, effectively ending the long-standing disqualification rule for individuals with more than two children.
Legislative Amendments for Local Body Elections
According to the official briefing, the decision to scrap the two-child policy is intended to broaden the scope of democratic participation at the grassroots level. Previously, candidates with more than two children were barred from contesting local elections. In addition to this electoral reform, the Cabinet has approved the establishment of an Ayurveda and Naturopathy University in Ajmer. This educational initiative is part of the government's plan to strengthen the traditional medicine infrastructure in the state, providing specialized training and research facilities.
Establishment of Directorate of Revenue Intelligence
To combat financial irregularities and tax evasion, the Cabinet has sanctioned the formation of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Economic Offenses. Headquartered in Jaipur, this specialized agency will monitor banking frauds, land grabbing, registration forgeries, and tax-related offenses. According to government officials, the directorate will analyze data from the Commercial Tax, Excise, and Stamps departments to prevent revenue leakage. To ensure effective operations, the government has approved the recruitment of 107 personnel for various positions within this new department.
Investment in Mining and Industrial Infrastructure
Industry Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore shared details regarding a major investment in the mining sector. 5 million metric tons. This project is expected to generate employment for approximately 550 youth in the region. The land for this project will be allocated at double the DLC rates. Also, the Cabinet approved the Rajasthan Industrial Park Promotion Policy 2026, which introduces four distinct development models, including Public-Private Partnership (PPP) options.
Revised Model for Rajasthan Mandapam Project
The Cabinet has approved a revised financial model for the Rajasthan Mandapam project to ensure economic viability. The project cost, which was initially estimated at ₹30055 crore, has been Importantly reduced to ₹5815 crore. Under the new model, the estimated revenue generation is pegged at ₹5825 crore, eliminating the previous projected deficit that the state government would have had to cover. This adjustment is part of a broader strategy to optimize infrastructure spending while maintaining the project's core objectives.
Incentives for Industrial Parks and Regional Growth
To boost industrial growth, the state government has announced special incentives for the first ten industrial parks established under the new policy. According to the approved guidelines, investments up to ₹100 crore will receive a 20% subsidy, while investments between ₹100 crore and ₹250 crore will be eligible for ₹30 crore. For investments exceeding ₹250 crore, a subsidy of up to ₹40 crore will be provided. The government will also bear the cost of constructing approach roads and provide a 50% refund on Common Effluent Treatment Plants. Detailed information regarding industrial land availability will be hosted on the Raj Nivesh portal.