Rajasthan is likely to be happy with optimum gains from Union Budget 2026-27 to cater to the needs of development even as economists and political leadership air divergent views.
The fact is that the budget speech delivered by the Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman in the Lok Sabha did not announce any big infrastructure, railway, metro-rail, irrigation or road projects for the state. However, the state is expected to get indirect advantages from the proposed high speed railways corridors, strengthening of mega textile parks, khadi – handicrafts hubs and mega tourism initiatives at the national level.
In the direct benefits, Rajasthan will get one exclusive girls’ hostel each in the 41 districts of the state, 27 new roads at an investment of Rs 1,154.47 crore (from the Centre) that would strengthen the connectivity and approach to the industrial hubs and tourism centers.
Besides, the state will get Rs 7,000 crore more from the Centre as its share in the Central tax revenue. Had the rate of granting shares not lowered from the present 6.026 per cent to 5.926 per cent in the new budget, this amount could have been even bigger.
The authorities in the finance, statistics, and economic planning departments are largely optimistic that the announcement of the high-speed rail network at Delhi would be most beneficial to Rajasthan as it would surely strengthen connectivity with the national capital region in its neighbourhood and would reduce journey time and costs.
Big announcements for the tourism sector will also be beneficial in generating additional employment; it would also facilitate desired global projection (and promotion) of new heritage and cultural tourism circuits.
Likewise, proposals of major boosts to the big textile parks and khadi and handicrafts will transform business and development scenarios at state’s textiles and handloom hubs including Bhilwara, Pali, Barmer and Sanganer – Bagru (Jaipur).
Shradha Agarwal, An economist and budget analyst, was not off the mark when she said the overall proposals in the budget at the national level would give resources to the state in education, particularly girls’ education, infrastructure, tourism, and green energy sectors.
The ruling BJP, including state Chief Minister Bhajan Sharma and ex-CM Vasundhara Raje, was all praise for the budget terming it a progressive, inclusive and economy booster, while Opposition Congress leaders, including former chief minister Ashok Gehlot and state president Govind Singh Dotasra, called it a disappointing drill that proved to be “damp squib”.
Chief Minister Sharma patiently listened to Finance Minister Sitharaman’s budget address at his official residence here along with State Finance Commission Chairman Arun Chaturvedi and former Minister Rajendra Rathore. In his initial reaction, he expressed gratitude to the FM for presenting a visionary, inclusive and progressive budget that forms a distinct roadmap for Viksit Bharat that will take care of everything from infrastructure to artificial intelligence (AI), rural prosperity to tourism, youth affairs, economy to health
care.
His senior party colleague and former chief minister Raje viewed the new budget as a progressive budget that would strengthen the economy and boost up employment generation. This will further the motu of sabka saath; sabka vikas and enable the youth power to live up and realise their dream.
However, Congress leader and three-time ex-chief minister Gehlot was disappointed over the want of the big and mega projects to the state, lack of even a reference about ERCP, the Rail or the Metro Rail projects and even no relief to the poor.
Congress state president Dotasra said, “There is an atmosphere of disappointment among people in the country, particularly in Rajasthan.” This is because of the big gap between the promises made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ground reality about failure in keeping the promise, he added.