Bhajan Lal Sharma’s 2-year report card

The more one examines the governance of the Rajasthan government since it unseated the Congress administration more than two years ago, the more it appears that the five-year rule of Ashok Gehlot (2018–2023) was a wasted period for the state. Internal rifts within the party, particularly between the chief minister and the deputy chief minister, often kept Gehlot preoccupied with holding on to his position rather than governing effectively. A sense of drift set in, and the electorate eventually voted his government out in the 2023 elections. The current BJP government appears to have learnt the lesson from the Gehlot government’s mistakes.

Rajasthan, over the past two years, offers an interesting case of a quieter, steadier form of governance, one that is less about spectacle and more about accumulation, with a sharper focus on the execution of projects and speed of delivery. At first glance, the numbers are striking. Investments promised, kilometres built, megawatts added, crores spent. But numbers alone can often feel abstract, detached from lived reality. The more telling story lies in how these figures translate into everyday life and whether they signal a broader shift in the state’s administrative intent.

Water: A civilisational priority addressed

Take water, for instance. In a state where water scarcity has shaped both history and habit, water management is not just a policy area, it is a civilisational concern. The push towards large-scale projects like the Ram Jal Setu Link, with work orders worth Rs 26,000 crore issued, alongside efforts to tap into Yamuna waters (MoU signed and DPR work in progress), suggests a long-term approach rather than a patchwork response. Meanwhile, the steady expansion of tap water connections under the Jal Jeevan Mission has provided household tap connections to over 14 lakh families, hinting at something more immediate: the slow but meaningful easing of a burden that has traditionally fallen on women walking long distances with metal or earthen pots balanced on their heads.

Infrastructure: Building economic arteries

Infrastructure tells a similar story. The expansion and upgrading of over 42,000 kilometres of roads, with Rs 29,333 crore spent on construction and upgradation, is not merely about connectivity in the abstract. In a state as geographically vast as Rajasthan, roads are economic arteries. They determine how quickly goods move, how easily children reach schools, and how connected remote communities feel to the rest of the state. There is a certain old-world logic here – build the roads, and development will follow. It is a belief as old as the empire, but one that still holds weight.

Energy revolution: Powering farms and futures

Energy, too, has seen a noticeable push. Generation capacity has increased by 8,261 MW. Ensuring that electricity reaches farms during the day reshapes routines, reduces uncertainty, and improves productivity for farmers. Under the PM-KUSUM scheme, 2,884 MW capacity has been installed, and 2.10 lakh agricultural connections issued; day-time power supply is now available in 22 districts. The parallel emphasis on solar energy is evident through 59,000 solar pumps installed for farmers (with Rs 921 crore in subsidies) and 1.31 lakh rooftop solar plants under the PM Surya Ghar scheme, suggesting an awareness of where the future lies. Rajasthan, with its relentless sun, has always been a natural candidate for solar expansion. The question has never been about potential, but about execution. The Gehlot government was slow to tap into the state’s vast potential. The early signs indicate that the current state government is beginning to lean into that advantage.

Agriculture: Layered safety net for farmers

There is no disputing the fact that agriculture remains, as ever, at the heart of Rajasthan’s economy. Here, the government’s approach appears layered. Under Kisan Samman Nidhi, over 76 lakh farmers have received more than Rs 11,000 crore directly transferred to their accounts. Interest-free crop loans worth Rs 50,802 crore have been distributed, and under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana, claims worth Rs 6,473 crore have been paid to farmers. These measures, along with electricity subsidies of Rs 48,591 crore and over 2 lakh new agricultural connections, form a kind of safety net.

Imperfect, no doubt, but still significant. These measures do not eliminate risk; farming in India will likely always carry an element of unpredictability. But they do, at the very least, cushion the blow when things go wrong.

Equally noteworthy is the attempt to extend this support system beyond crops to livestock, though specific data on livestock insurance is not detailed here. In a rural economy where cattle and other animals are often as valuable as land, such nuanced understanding of rural livelihoods is evident in the broader fiscal support.

Scale as the defining theme

If there is a theme that runs consistently through these efforts, it is scale. In tree plantation drives under the Mukhyamantri Vriksharopan Mahabhiyan, over 19 crore saplings have been planted (with claims in some reports reaching 20 crore), advancing environmental conservation. In the distribution of bicycles and scooters to students, over 11 lakh bicycles and more than 43,000 scooters have been distributed to schoolgirls.

Empowering women

The social sector initiatives, particularly those focused on women, offer another dimension to this story. Under the Ladli Protsahan Yojana, the amount given to girls has been increased to Rs 1.50 lakh. Over 20 lakh women have been trained, and more than 16 lakh have become “Lakhpati Didis.” Under the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana, the amount has been increased from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,500. The Ma Voucher Yojana provides free sonography to pregnant women, benefiting over 2.26 lakh women so far. Crimes against women have reportedly declined by 10%. Pensions for the elderly, widows, single women, disabled persons, and small/marginal farmers have been increased to Rs 1,250 per month.

Under Mukhyamantri Mangal Shishu Bima Yojana, over 14 lakh children have received free insurance policies.

Law, order, and social security

There are also quieter indicators of change. A reported overall decline in crimes (around 14% average reduction), including those against women, suggests improvements in law and order, though such claims always invite scrutiny and demand sustained consistency. Similarly, the expansion of pensions for vulnerable groups reflects a recognition of the state’s responsibility towards those who fall outside the margins of economic growth.

Housing, jobs, and industrial push

Housing and employment, perennial challenges for any government, have also seen movement. Under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, over 2 lakh houses have been completed and handed over to the needy. Nearly 1.25 lakh appointments have been made, with recruitment processes underway for about 1.33 lakh posts in various stages. In the private sector, around 3 lakh jobs have been provided so far. A “Sawa Lakh Naukri” calendar for 2026 has been released. To boost industry, over 34 sector-specific policies have been issued in the last two years.

Economic milestones and global ambition

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect of Rajasthan’s recent trajectory lies in its economic indicators. Per capita income has crossed the Rs 2 lakh mark for the first time, reaching Rs 2,02,349. With economic reforms and ease of doing business efforts, the average GSDP growth rate has increased to 12.25%. The Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024 saw MoUs worth Rs 35 lakh crore signed, with projects worth over Rs 8 lakh crore already grounded and work begun.

Under central schemes, Rajasthan ranks first in 11, second in 5, and third in 7 (with some reports citing third in 9). It holds first position in PM-KUSUM components A and C.

In all this what stands out is a certain consistency of intent. The policies, taken together, suggest a government attempting to balance immediate relief with long-term planning by addressing present needs while laying the groundwork for future growth. It is not a loud model of showmanship but a steady of governance. It does not rely on grand gestures or sweeping declarations. Instead, it works through accumulation, scheme by scheme, sector by sector.

In many ways, it is reminiscent of an older style of administration, where progress was measured less by sudden leaps and more by steady, incremental gains. There is something almost unfashionable about it in an age that often rewards spectacle. But there is also a quiet confidence in such an approach, a belief that durable change is rarely built overnight.

Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma today appears to be navigating that path. Not perfectly, not without challenges, but with a certain grounded pragmatism. And in the end, that may well be its most understated achievement: the ability to move forward without needing to constantly announce that it is doing so.

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