Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma hosted candidates selected for the Civil Services Examination and Indian Forest Service Examination 2025 at the Chief Minister's residence in Jaipur on Sunday, 28 June 2026, where the group collectively listened to the 135th episode of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's monthly radio programme Mann Ki Baat. The session underscored the state government's effort to connect newly inducted civil servants with the Prime Minister's vision of national development.

Context

In his post on X, CM Sharma described the gathering as an occasion where the brightest new entrants to the civil and forest services were brought together to hear the Prime Minister's address first-hand. He wrote that the programme called upon every citizen to make water conservation a part of their lifestyle through the 'Catch the Rain' campaign, urging that rainwater harvesting be turned into a jan andolan — a people's movement. The Chief Minister characterised the episode as an inspiring platform for positive social change and nation-building awareness.

The 135th episode of Mann Ki Baat, broadcast on 29 June 2026, covered a range of themes including India's growing self-reliance in the defence sector, the adoption of eco-friendly clay idols during Ganesh Utsav for environmental conservation, and various issues of public interest. PM Modi specifically highlighted the 'Catch the Rain' campaign as a vehicle to mainstream rainwater harvesting across the country.

Policy Backdrop

The 'Catch the Rain' initiative, run under the Jal Shakti Ministry, urges communities and institutions to build water-harvesting structures before and during the monsoon season. Rajasthan, as one of India's most water-scarce states, has particular stakes in rainwater harvesting — the state receives erratic monsoon rainfall and depends heavily on groundwater, making conservation campaigns especially relevant to its population.

The Prime Minister's emphasis on defence self-reliance aligns with the broader Aatmanirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) policy push, which has seen a significant rise in domestic defence production and export targets over recent years. The call to use clay idols during Ganesh Utsav echoes longstanding environmental advisories aimed at reducing chemical pollution in water bodies from plaster-of-Paris statues.

Stakeholders and Impact

By bringing 2025 Civil Services and Indian Forest Service selectees together for the broadcast, CM Sharma signalled an intent to orient incoming administrators towards the Centre's flagship campaigns from the outset of their careers. Officers from the Indian Administrative Service, Indian Police Service, and Indian Forest Service cadres allocated to Rajasthan are among those who would be expected to implement schemes such as Catch the Rain at the district level.

The event also carries a symbolic dimension: senior state leadership publicly affirming alignment with the Prime Minister's messaging reinforces a unified governance narrative between Jaipur and New Delhi, both governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party.

What's Next

CM Sharma stated that the Prime Minister's thoughts inspire active participation in nation-building, suggesting the Rajasthan government may amplify the 'Catch the Rain' message through state-level outreach ahead of the monsoon season. With the monsoon typically arriving in Rajasthan between late June and early July, the timing of the episode and the state-level gathering points toward imminent ground-level mobilisation on water conservation. The newly selected civil servants, who will soon join their respective services, are likely to carry these priorities into their postings across the state.