.jpeg)
Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Ms. Diya Kumari presented the state’s key developmental needs and financial priorities to the Union Government during the pre-budget consultation meeting held ahead of the Union Budget 2026–27.
The meeting, chaired by Union Finance Minister Ms. Nirmala Sitharaman in New Delhi on Saturday, saw Ms. Diya Kumari reiterate the Rajasthan government’s commitment to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Viksit Bharat 2047 vision and the goal of building a USD 5 trillion economy, affirming the state’s active participation in achieving these national objectives.
Emphasising the importance of the Jal Shakti sector, the Deputy Chief Minister urged the Centre to accord national project status to the Parvati–Kalisindh–Chambal Link Project and sought a budgetary provision of ₹5,000 crore for the same. She also requested that the Yamuna Water Transfer Project for the Shekhawati region be included among national projects, along with a provision of ₹200 crore.
Highlighting the state’s potential in micro-irrigation, Ms. Diya Kumari sought central assistance of ₹900 crore under the Per Drop More Crop scheme. In the energy sector, she stressed the need for support towards transmission projects, grid stability, battery energy storage systems, additional targets under the KUSUM scheme, and the restructuring of high-interest loans burdening state power utilities.
In the infrastructure segment, she requested the notification of 50 proposed National Highways announced in 2018 and sought Viability Gap Funding (VGF) support for Greenfield Expressway projects. She also urged the extension of the AMRUT 2.0 Mission until March 2028.
On the healthcare front, the Deputy Chief Minister proposed the establishment of an AIIMS in Jaipur and sought an extension of the PM-ABHIM scheme. Identifying tourism as a key driver of economic growth, she also sought budgetary support for heritage tourism circuits, international promotion, and expansion of air connectivity.
Ms. Diya Kumari further requested continued central support towards salaries and establishment costs of long-serving contractual employees under the National Health Mission and the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan, even after the regularisation of their services.
