Thu Dec 25 14:47:37 UTC 2025: News Article:

Rajasthan Considers Reinstating Educational Qualifications for Local Elections

Jaipur, Rajasthan – December 25, 2025 – The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government in Rajasthan is contemplating reintroducing educational qualifications for candidates contesting Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections slated for 2026. This move reverses the decision made by the previous Congress government in 2019, which had waived the educational requirement.

The proposal, spearheaded by Minister of State for Local Self Government Jhabar Singh Kharra, has been submitted to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma for approval. Kharra stated that the government has received numerous requests from various groups and political workers advocating for the reinstatement of these qualifications.

Under the proposed regulations, candidates vying for the position of Sarpanch would need a minimum of a secondary education, while those seeking to become ward councillors would require either a secondary or senior secondary education.

The implementation of these educational qualifications necessitates amendments to the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, and the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009. These Amendment Bills are expected to be tabled during the upcoming budget session of the State Assembly, pending Chief Minister Sharma’s approval.

A similar provision requiring minimum education levels was introduced in 2015 during the tenure of then-Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. At that time, a minimum of Class 8 pass was required for Sarpanch candidates (with a Class 5 pass accepted in Tribal Sub-Plan areas), and a Class 10 pass was mandated for Zila Parishad and Panchayat Samiti members, as well as ward councillors and urban local body heads. It was believed that the BJP benefited from this provision, securing a higher number of representatives compared to the opposition Congress.

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