The Cabinet and Council of Ministers meeting chaired by Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Sunday approved several major decisions, including the expansion of the free electricity scheme, amendments to the sewerage policy, the introduction of a new Bill for prohibition of unlawful religious conversion, and recruitment in government colleges under the Rajasthan College Education Society.
The state will implement the PM Suryaghar 150 Units Free Electricity Scheme for 1.04 crore registered domestic consumers under which beneficiaries will now receive up to 150 units of free electricity per month instead of the existing 100 units. Families consuming over 150 units will be provided free 1.1 kW rooftop solar panels, with the cost shared between Centre and state governments.
Families consuming less than 150 units will also be covered, either through rooftop installations or through community solar plants in cases where rooftop space is unavailable. The first 10 lakh consumers to join will receive ₹1,100 directly into their bank accounts from discoms.
In urban infrastructure, the earlier Budget announcement of installing one lakh LED streetlights has been revised to two lakh lights, with an estimated expenditure of ₹160 crore.
In the education sector, the Cabinet approved recruitment in Rajasthan College Education Society institutions. The society manages 374 colleges, where over 10,000 posts are vacant. To improve staffing, 4,724 contractual positions will be filled, including academic posts under UGC norms, with appointments for a five-year term.
The Cabinet also approved amendments to the Sewerage and Wastewater Policy-2016. The revised policy aims to establish proper sewerage systems in all urban bodies, ensure connections to households, and promote reuse of treated water, fertilizers, and gas. The projects will follow the Hybrid Annuity Model, with payments split between completion and operation phases.
The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Bill-2025 will be reintroduced in the Assembly with stricter provisions. The Bill defines unlawful conversions by misrepresentation, fraud, coercion or inducement as non-bailable and cognizable offences. It proposes penalties ranging from seven years to life imprisonment along with significant fines, with harsher punishments for offences against minors, women, persons with disabilities, and members of SC/ST communities.
Repeat offences might attract life imprisonment and a minimum fine of ₹50 lakh. Property used for unlawful conversions may be confiscated or demolished. Returning to one’s original faith will not be considered conversion, and the burden of proof will lie on the accused.
The Cabinet also approved new service rules for the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board, including rules for gazetted staff, ministerial and subordinate services, and amendments to the Common Eligibility Test Rules, 2022. These will enable regular recruitment of staff and improve board operations.
Other approvals included changes in designations and pay levels in the Economic and Statistics Department, upgradation of Class-IV posts, abolition of the Senior Warden post in the Prisons Department, inclusion of the Additional Director post in the Agricultural Marketing Service Rules, withdrawal of direct recruitment provisions for certain posts now to be filled through promotion, and creation of new posts in the Ground Water Department.
