Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma attended the state-level launch of the Viksit Bharat Ji Ram Ji Yojana in Beawar, Ajmer district, on 2 July 2026, as the scheme was simultaneously rolled out nationally from Tirupati by Union Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan via virtual address. The Chief Minister distributed benefit cheques to welfare scheme beneficiaries and laid the foundation stone for development works worth ₹425 crore.

Context

Sharma participated in the programme alongside an exhibition showcasing various public welfare schemes, where he interacted with beneficiaries receiving direct financial assistance. In his remarks, he described the initiative as a milestone rooted in the philosophy of Antyodaya — reaching the last person in the queue — under the Viksit Bharat vision championed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The scheme promises 125 days of guaranteed employment to rural households, along with livelihood improvement, skill development, and transparent delivery of benefits. Sharma said the government is 'continuously working to take the fruits of development to the person standing in the last row through good governance and participation of every citizen.'

Policy Backdrop

The new scheme builds on the foundation laid by the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA), enacted in 2005, which guarantees at least 100 days of wage employment per year to rural households. The Viksit Bharat Ji Ram Ji Yojana extends that floor to 125 days while adding skill development and livelihood diversification components, reflecting successive NDA administrations' efforts to layer additional support on existing rural safety nets.

The launch is part of the broader Viksit Bharat 2047 agenda, which aims to raise rural incomes, reduce distress migration, and build self-reliant village economies by the centenary of Indian independence. Chouhan's virtual address from Tirupati signalled a pan-India rollout coordinated across states simultaneously.

Stakeholders and Impact

The primary beneficiaries are rural households and agricultural labourers across Rajasthan, a state with a large agrarian population and significant dependence on seasonal employment. The ₹425 crore in infrastructure works inaugurated at Beawar is expected to generate local construction employment in addition to the scheme's direct wage component.

Skill development provisions within the scheme target younger rural workers, aiming to reduce dependence on unskilled labour and improve long-term earning capacity. Transparent delivery mechanisms — likely leveraging direct benefit transfer infrastructure — are positioned as a safeguard against leakage, a persistent challenge in rural employment programmes.

What's Next

Implementation will depend on state-level guidelines, district-wise allocation of funds, and enrolment of eligible households under the 125-day employment guarantee. Analysts will watch whether Rajasthan moves quickly to notify operational rules and whether the expanded employment norm receives a formal legislative or budgetary backing in the next parliamentary session.

If the scheme achieves its stated targets, it could serve as a template for other BJP-governed states looking to align rural welfare delivery with the Viksit Bharat narrative ahead of future electoral cycles.