Wed Feb 19 08:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Rajasthan Unveils Budget 2025: Free Electricity, Pension Hikes, and Job Creation Dominate
**Jaipur, [Date]** – Rajasthan’s Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, Diya Kumari, today presented the state’s budget for the fiscal year 2025-26. The budget, the second full budget of the Bhajanlal Sharma government, focuses heavily on social welfare schemes, infrastructure development, and job creation.
Key highlights include significant increases in pensions for senior citizens, widows, and the disabled, raising the monthly amount to ₹1250. A substantial investment in infrastructure is planned, with ₹900 crore allocated for a “Clean and Green Eco City” initiative and ₹60,000 crore earmarked for the construction of 9 greenfield expressways spanning 2750 kilometers. Further investment will go towards repairing non-paved roads and improving rural connectivity.
The budget promises a major boost to employment, with 125,000 government jobs to be created in the next year, supplemented by an additional 150,000 jobs in the private sector through job fairs and investment promotion. A new Rajasthan Employment Policy 2025 is also announced.
Farmers will also benefit from increased support. The PM Kisan scheme’s contribution will be increased to ₹9,000 annually from next year, and 75,000 farmers will receive subsidies for fencing. Additionally, ₹1350 crore will be allocated for agricultural development schemes.
Other key announcements include:
* **Expansion of gas pipelines:** Reaching 1.25 lakh homes.
* **Vehicle scrap policy:** Introduction of a new policy to address vehicle scrapping.
* **Enhanced support for self-help groups:** Loans up to ₹1 lakh at a reduced interest rate of 1.5% for members.
* **Improved healthcare:** Development of trauma centers on highways (₹50 crore allocation) and the addition of 25 new ambulances.
* **Free electricity expansion:** The existing free electricity scheme will be expanded with the addition of free solar plants providing 150 units of electricity to beneficiaries. Community solar plants will be installed for those without space for individual installations.
* **Improved water infrastructure:** The launch of the Chief Minister Jal Jeevan Mission (Urban) with a ₹5830 crore investment, along with the installation of 1000 tubewells and 1500 hand pumps to address water scarcity.
* **Religious site development:** ₹101 crore allocated for the development of temples in the state.
The budget projects a Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of ₹19,000 crore for 2025-26. While lauded by the government for its focus on social welfare and infrastructure, the budget’s long-term fiscal sustainability and the feasibility of its ambitious targets remain to be seen.
First Piper 