In a crucial pre-Budget meeting held in the national capital, Rajasthan's Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister, Diya Kumari, presented a comprehensive list of the state's development and funding priorities to the Union government. The consultation, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Saturday, focused on shaping the upcoming Union Budget for the financial year 2026-27.
Water Security and Irrigation Top the Agenda
Diya Kumari placed significant emphasis on water resources, urging the Centre to grant national importance status to the ambitious Parvati–Kalisindh–Chambal (PKC) river interlinking project. For its implementation, she sought a substantial allocation of Rs 5,000 crore from the central government. Additionally, the minister pushed for the inclusion of the Yamuna water conveyance project designed for the arid Shekhawati region under the national projects umbrella, requesting a provision of Rs 200 crore.
Recognising the state's vast potential for efficient water use, Kumari also asked for enhanced central assistance of Rs 900 crore under the 'Per Drop More Crop' component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana (PMKSY) to boost micro-irrigation coverage across Rajasthan.
Demands Spanning Energy, Roads, and Urban Development
The state's presentation covered critical infrastructure gaps. In the power sector, the Finance Minister highlighted the urgent need for investment in transmission projects, grid stability, and battery energy storage systems. She requested additional targets under the KUSUM (Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan) scheme and sought restructuring of high-interest loans that are burdening the state's power distribution companies.
On road connectivity, a long-pending issue was brought to the fore. Kumari asked for the official notification of 50 proposed national highways that were announced back in 2018. For new expressway projects, she sought financial support through Viability Gap Funding (VGF). Furthermore, the Deputy CM proposed an extension of the tenure of the AMRUT 2.0 Mission, which focuses on urban transformation, until March 2028.
Healthcare, Education, and Social Sector Proposals
The social welfare segment saw two major demands. First, the state proposed the establishment of a premier All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Jaipur to boost healthcare infrastructure. Second, Kumari sought an extension of the Pradhan Mantri Ayushman Bharat Health Infrastructure Mission (PM-ABHIM).
Addressing human resource concerns, she urged the Centre to continue supporting the salary and establishment costs of long-serving contractual employees working under the National Health Mission (NHM) and the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. This support, she clarified, should persist even after the regularisation of their services to ensure smooth functioning of these critical schemes.
The detailed submission by Rajasthan outlines a multi-sectoral approach to development, focusing on water scarcity, infrastructure modernization, and social welfare. The central government's response to these demands will be closely watched when the full Union Budget for 2026-27 is presented next year.
