Cabinet Meeting Under Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma

Aug 2025 : Cabinet and Council of Ministers Meeting under the Leadership of Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma – Domestic Electricity Consumers in Rajasthan Become Energy Producers, 1 Crore 4 Lakh Registered Consumers to Receive 150 Units of Free Electricity Monthly, Stricter Provisions to Stop Illegal Religious Conversion, Religious Conversion Prohibition Bill-2025 to be Reintroduced in the Assembly – Policy Amendment for Better Sewage System in All Urban Bodies – 2 Lakh Street Lights to be Installed in Urban Areas – 4724 Recruitment in RajSES Colleges on 31 Aug 2025, 7:26 PM Jaipur, 31 August.

In the meeting of the Cabinet and Council of Ministers held at the Chief Minister’s office on Sunday under the chairmanship of Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma, many important decisions were made, including providing 150 units of free electricity to beneficiaries of the free electricity scheme by connecting them with solar energy, amending the Sewage and Wastewater Policy-2016 to create a systematic sewage system in all urban areas of the state, and bringing the Rajasthan Anti-Conversion Prohibition Bill-2025.

Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Premchand Bairhoa, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Shri Jogaram Patel, and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Shri Sumit Godara informed at a press conference that the state government has made a unique initiative in the direction of making electricity consumers of the state energy producers through cheap and accessible solar energy. Soon, the PM SuryaGhar 150 units Free Electricity Scheme will be implemented in the state. This ambitious scheme aims to make domestic electricity consumers energy producers and is the first of its kind in any state of the country.

Shri Godara reported that the beneficiaries of this decision would be 1 crore 4 lakh registered domestic consumers who would benefit from receiving 150 units of free electricity per month instead of the previous 100 units by connecting with solar energy. Notably, the state government had made a significant announcement in the budget for the year 2025-26 to augment the benefits of the registered beneficiaries of the Chief Minister’s free electricity scheme by leveraging the PM SuryaGhar free electricity scheme, providing 150 units of free electricity per month through rooftop solar panels. Additionally, for families that do not have sufficient roof space to install a solar plant, the budget also announced the installation of community solar plants.

For those with average monthly consumption exceeding 150 units – It was mentioned that 27 lakh beneficiary families registered under the Chief Minister’s free electricity scheme with an average monthly consumption exceeding 150 units would have free solar panels with a capacity of 1.1 kilowatts installed on their rooftops. For this, each consumer would receive financial assistance of Rs. 33,000 per unit from the Government of India under the Prime Minister SuryaGhar Free Electricity Scheme. Meanwhile, the state government would provide an additional financial assistance of Rs. 17,000 per unit. This would make the 1.1-kilowatt capacity panel completely free, and for monthly consumption up to 150 units, the consumer’s monthly electricity bill would be zero. Installing rooftop systems for about 27 lakh families would generate an additional capacity of 3,000 megawatts of solar energy.

For those with average monthly consumption below 150 units – It was highlighted that under the first category of those with average monthly consumption below 150 units, approximately 11 lakh beneficiary families registered under the Chief Minister’s free electricity scheme who have rooftop space available will receive free installation of 1.1-kilowatt solar units through distribution companies using selected vendors. The second category includes remaining registered consumers who do not have rooftop space to install solar systems, for whom the Discoms will set up community solar plants. Furthermore, these consumers will receive 150 units of free electricity per month through virtual net metering from the electricity generated by these community solar plants. The entire cost incurred for the establishment of community solar systems will be borne by the Discoms, allowing even those without rooftops to benefit from the free electricity scheme.

Initial 10 lakh consumers to receive Rs. 1100 each from Discoms – It was indicated that this scheme by the Rajasthan government would be a pioneering step in achieving the national commitment to zero carbon emissions. In this social and national concern, the first 5 lakh electricity consumers in both categories (those with consumption over and below 150 units) would receive Rs. 1100 transferred to their bank accounts via DBT from the Discoms.

2 Lakh street lights instead of 1 Lakh in urban bodies – The Food and Civil Supplies Minister mentioned that considering the increase in population and expansion of residential areas in urban regions, the budget for 2025-26 had initially announced the installation of one lakh LED streetlights on the roads. However, with the increase in the number of urban bodies from 282 to 312, and the necessity of replacing old lights in many urban bodies, this has now been revised to install 2 lakh street lights instead. The estimated expenditure for this revised budget announcement would be approximately Rs. 160 crore.

Recruitments in RajSES Colleges for Better Education for Students – Deputy Chief Minister Dr. Bairhoa stated that the Rajasthan College Education Society (RajSES) was established during the previous government in 2020, which currently operates 374 colleges. These colleges have a total of 10,594 positions, comprising 5,299 academic and 5,295 non-academic positions, all of which are currently vacant and teaching work is being conducted through Vidya Samble. He reported that to improve the teaching system in RajSES colleges, 4,724 academic and non-academic contract positions would be recruited. Recruitment on 3,540 academic positions is being considered based on UGC standards through NET/SLATE/SET/PhD. The tenure for personnel hired through these positions will be 5 years. Discussions are also underway for establishing the exam pattern and recruitment agency, as well as amendment to the RajSES Hiring of Manpower Rules 2023.

Amendment in Sewage and Wastewater Policy-2016 – Dr. Bairhoa explained that to prevent environmental pollution and health-related impacts caused by contaminated water, the Cabinet approved the amendment of the Sewage and Wastewater Policy-2016 in the state. This revised policy will assist in establishing a systematic sewage system linked to all homes, in accordance with the Swachh Bharat Mission concept. He indicated that it is the state’s intention that no water, other than rainwater, flows on streets or drains. Considering the issues arising from the old sewage network, the necessity for this policy’s amendment was felt. A revised draft of the state Sewage and Wastewater Policy-2016 has been prepared, including technical changes, innovations in wastewater management, and suggestions received from various departments. He stated that through this revised policy, a sewage system will be established in all urban bodies of the state, ensuring effective use and working on the principles of circular economy, reusing treated water, fertilizers, gas, etc. He noted that the revised policy incorporates the HAM model in line with the Namami Gange projects. In this model, 40% of the total project cost will be paid to the private partner after project completion, and the remaining 60% will be paid in equal installments during the operation-maintenance period.

Rajasthan Anti-Conversion Prohibition Bill-2025 – Law and Legal Affairs Minister Shri Jogaram Patel stated that to stop attempts at religious conversion through inducement or deceit, the Rajasthan Anti-Conversion Prohibition Bill-2025 will be introduced in the assembly. He mentioned that there is currently no specific law in the state to prevent illegal conversions, thus the previous session had seen the introduction of this bill. Now, this bill will be revised to include stricter provisions and presented in the upcoming assembly session. The cabinet meeting approved the new draft of this bill. He explained that after becoming law, no individual or institution will be able to convert someone through false representations, deceit, coercion, or undue influence. If any person or institution does so, they will face severe punishment. If a person marries solely for the purpose of illegal conversion, such marriage will be deemed null and void. In this law, the offenses will be non-bailable and cognizable. The proposed bill does not include the definition of religious conversion to include returning to one’s original faith. The punishment for illegal conversion is stipulated as a minimum of 7 years and a maximum of 14 years of imprisonment along with a minimum fine of 5 lakhs. In the case of offenses against minors, disabled individuals, women, or victims from SC/ST backgrounds, a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, with a minimum fine of 10 lakhs, is proposed. For collective conversions, a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, along with a minimum fine of 25 lakhs is suggested. For receiving funds from foreign institutions and illegal entities for conversion, a minimum of 10 years and a maximum of 20 years imprisonment, with a minimum fine of 20 lakhs, is proposed. The law proposes a minimum of 20 years and a maximum of life imprisonment, with a minimum fine of 30 lakhs for offenses involving threats, coercion, promises of marriage, marriage, working with minors, or illegal trafficking. He mentioned that the bill includes provisions for life imprisonment for repeat offenses, a minimum fine of 50 lakhs, cancellation of registration for organizations involved in illegal conversions, cessation of grants by the state government, and confiscation or demolition of properties where illegal conversions occurred after investigation. In this proposed law, the burden of proof will lie on the individual who facilitated the religious conversion.

Approval of Service Rules for Rajasthan Staff Selection Board – Shri Patel stated that the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board was established in 2014 for recruitment to the ministerial and subordinate service posts of various departments of the state government, but service rules had not yet been formulated. In the cabinet meeting, new service rules for the board’s officials and employees have been approved, specifically the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (Gazetted Staff) Service Rules, 2025, and the Rajasthan Staff Selection Board (Ministerial and Subordinate Services) Rules, 2025. Additionally, amendments to the Rajasthan Subordinate and Ministerial Services (Common Eligibility Test) Rules, 2022 have been sanctioned. With the implementation of these rules, the path for regular recruitment of personnel in the board will be paved, enabling the smooth and effective operation of the board.

Increase in Promotion Opportunities Across Various Groups – He mentioned that the designation of the Investigator (Statistical Assistant) post in the Rajasthan Public Service Commission would be aligned with the pay-level set according to the Department of Economics and Statistics for the post of Assistant Statistical Officer. The pay-level for the Fourth Class Employee post is being revised from previously established L-2 due to this designation, promoting positions such as Clerk, Record Lifter, and Laboratory Boy will be elevated to pay-level L-3, and the senior guard position in the prison department is proposed to be abolished. Necessary amendments will be made in Schedule-II of the Rajasthan Civil Service (Revised Pay) Rules-2017 for this purpose. He mentioned that due to the current schedule of the Rajasthan State Agricultural Marketing Service Rules, 1986 not including the position of Additional Director, the schedule will be amended to incorporate this position. Additionally, as the positions of Deputy Director and Assistant Director in this service are filled through 100% promotion, the entries for minimum eligibility and maximum age limits for direct recruitment in their schedule will be removed. He mentioned that to provide additional promotion opportunities in the groundwater department and considering departmental needs, one new position each for Supervisory Geophysicist and Supervisory Chemist has been created. A proposal for amendments in the Rajasthan Ground Water Service Rules, 1969 has been approved for this purpose.