Pre-Budget Consultation Meeting Ahead of Union Budget 2026-27

New Delhi: Ahead of the **Union Budget 2026-27**, **Rajasthan Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Diya Kumari** presented the state’s developmental needs and financial priorities in detail during a pre-budget consultation meeting with the central government.

The meeting, held on Saturday in **New Delhi** and chaired by **Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman**, saw Diya Kumari reaffirm Rajasthan’s commitment to **Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Developed India-2047** and the goal of a **$5 trillion economy**, emphasizing the state’s active participation in achieving these national objectives.

**Key Requests Made by Rajasthan:**

1. **Water Resources:**

   * Declaration of the **Parvati-Kalisindh-Chambal Link Project** as a national project with a proposed **₹5,000 crore allocation**.
   * Inclusion of the **Yamuna Water Conveyance Project** for the Shekhawati region in national projects with **₹200 crore provision**.
   * Expansion of micro-irrigation initiatives under the **“Drop More Crop” scheme** with **₹900 crore central assistance**.

2. **Energy Sector:**

   * Support for **transmission projects, grid stability, battery energy storage**, and additional targets under the **Kusum scheme**.
   * Request for **restructuring high-interest loans** of state electricity utilities.

3. **Road Infrastructure:**

   * Notification of **50 proposed National Highways** declared in 2018.
   * Provision of **Viability Gap Funding (VGF)** for Greenfield Expressway projects.

4. **Urban and Rural Development:**

   * Extension of **AMRUT 2.0 mission** until March 2028.

5. **Health Sector:**

   * Establishment of **AIIMS in Jaipur**.
   * Extension of the **PM-ABHIM scheme**.
   * Continued central support for **salaries and establishment costs of long-serving contractual employees** under the **National Health Mission and Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan** even after regularization.

6. **Tourism:**

   * Budgetary support for **heritage tourism circuits, international promotions**, and **enhanced air connectivity**.

7. **Capital and Financial Management:**

   * Doubling **untied fund allocation under Part-1 of the SASCi scheme** to increase capital expenditure.
   * Extension of timelines for **Part-2 projects**.
   * Enhancement of **financial credit limits** considering liquidity management after **SNA-SPARSH implementation**.

Concluding the meeting, **Diya Kumari expressed confidence** that the upcoming Union Budget would accelerate **inclusive economic development** and assured that the Rajasthan government would continue its close cooperation with the central government to achieve the **Developed India-2047 vision**.