Jaipur, Feb 11 The formation of the Rajasthan State Testing Agency (RSTA) to ensure transparency in competitive exams, a pilot project to provide carbon credits to farmers, and the formation of a high-level committee to address the demands of government employees were among the key announcements in the 2026-27 Rajasthan budget, presented by Deputy Chief Minister Diya Kumari on Wednesday.
Diya Kumari, who also holds the finance portfolio, presented the budget, which has a total outlay of Rs 6.10 lakh crore.
The estimated revenue receipts are Rs 3.25 lakh crore, while the estimated revenue expenditure is Rs 3.50 lakh crore. The revenue deficit is estimated at Rs 24,313 crore, and the fiscal deficit is estimated at Rs 79,492 crore, which is 3.69% of the state's Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
Responding to the budget, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma stated that the budget is designed as an action plan to implement the state's vision for "Viksit Rajasthan 2047," which aims for a per capita income of over Rs 2 lakh.
"Today, we have presented the 2026-27 budget in the Assembly as a plan to realize our 'Viksit Rajasthan 2047' vision," Sharma said at a press conference in the Assembly.
Diya Kumari announced the establishment of the RSTA, modeled after the National Testing Agency, during the budget speech.
She stated that this move would further enhance transparency in recruitment examinations. She also announced the construction of online testing centers to conduct large-scale recruitment exams throughout the week.
To promote innovation among students, the government will launch the "VIBRANT" (Value-driven Innovation and Business Research for Aspiration and Nurturing Talent) program in selected colleges across districts, supported by knowledge partners to provide mentorship, incubation, and entrepreneurship support for startups.
The "Raj-SAVERA" (Statewide Anti-Drugs Vigilance, Enforcement, Rehabilitation and Awareness) program will be launched to combat drug abuse.
Online portals will be developed to monitor the sale of psychotropic drugs at the chemist level, and de-addiction wards will be established in district hospitals, along with strengthened anti-narcotic enforcement. De-addiction centers will also be expanded to universities and select colleges.
To provide career guidance and skill development, the "DREAM" (Digital Readiness and Empowerment through Assisted Mentoring) program will be launched, benefiting approximately 50,000 students in the first phase.
One thousand youths will be trained in foreign languages, including English, Japanese, French, German, and Korean, to enhance global employment opportunities in sectors like hospitality, IT, and healthcare.
The "Raj PAHAL" (Portable Access for Holistic and Assisted Learning) program will be launched for children from nomadic and migrant families. In the first phase, one "School on Wheels" will be established in each district, and temporary education camps will be organized in areas prone to migration.
A pilot project to provide carbon credits to farmers will be launched to encourage the adoption of practices such as micro-irrigation and agro-forestry. Farmers will be supported in earning carbon credits based on climate-positive agricultural practices.
In the education sector, 400 schools will be upgraded in a phased manner into "CM-RISE" (Rajasthan Innovative School of Excellence) schools, with an investment of Rs 1,000 crore.
Space galleries will be developed at the State Remote Sensing Application Centre in Jodhpur and at the Science Park in Jaipur to promote interest in STEM subjects.
In the health sector, the government announced "RAJ-SURAKSHA" (Rajasthan System for Urgent Response, Accident Stabilisation and Hospital Access) for emergency response in cases such as road accidents, childbirth, and heart attacks.
Under the "Raj-MAMTA" (Rajasthan Mental Health) program, a Centre of Excellence in Mental Health will be established at SMS Medical College in Jaipur, and mental health care cells will be established at district headquarters.
A 500-bed IPD tower will be set up at JK Lon Hospital in Jaipur, with a cost of Rs 75 crore, along with a paediatric neurology department. A 200-bed paediatric IPD with neonatal ICU will be developed at RUHS Hospital. Modern rest houses for patients' attendants will be constructed at major medical colleges, with a cost of Rs 500 crore.
To promote women empowerment, Rural Women BPOs will be established at the district level, with an estimated investment of Rs 100 crore.
The loan limit under the "Mukhyamantri Lakhpati Didi Yojana" will be increased from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 1.5 lakh, while under the "Mukhyamantri Nari Shakti Udyam Protsahan Yojana," the loan limit for women and self-help groups will be raised from Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore.
In tourism, an ultra-luxury Special Tourism Zone will be developed in Khuri, Jaisalmer, and a tourist facility centre will be set up in Kuldhara. A "Thar Cultural Circuit" covering Jaisalmer, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Barmer, and Jalore will be developed. A war museum will be set up in Jhunjhunu.
Under the Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme, 6,000 senior citizens will be taken to Pashupatinath in Kathmandu by air, and 50,000 will travel to various pilgrimage sites by AC train.
To boost digital governance, a new IT policy will be introduced, and a Rajasthan Cyber Crime Control Centre will be established to combat cyber crimes.
A high-level committee will be constituted to examine demands of employee organisations regarding promotions and pay revisions, and to make recommendations, including on the implementation of the Eighth Pay Commission report in the state.
Work will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 32,000 crore under the Yamuna water project in the Shekhawati region.
Under the Digital Agriculture Mission, "Raj-AIMS" (Rajasthan Agriculture Information and Management System) will be developed with an investment of Rs 77 crore to provide AI and satellite-based support to farmers.
The "Mission Raj GIFT" will also be launched to promote geographical indication tagging and better market access for agro products.
For wildlife conservation and to address man-animal conflict, the "PRITHWI" (Project for Resilient and Integrated Terrestrial Habitats and Wildlife Valorization Initiative) project will be launched with an estimated investment of Rs 1,500 crore for habitat development, conflict mitigation, and eco-tourism initiatives.