At the Rajasthan International Centre (RIC) in Jhalana, Jaipur, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma convened a sweeping dialogue with non-resident Rajasthanis on Friday, October 16, 2026 — reaching diaspora leaders both in the room and across screens worldwide, in a deliberate bid to wire their enterprise and expertise directly into the state's growth engine.

Eleven new chapters and a coffee-table book mark the day

The centrepiece of the gathering was the announcement of 11 new Rajasthan Foundation chapters, expanding the state body's network for connecting with overseas Rajasthanis. CM Sharma also unveiled a coffee-table book titled 'Vikas ke Sahbhagi' — 'Partners in Progress' — documenting the diaspora's contribution to the state's development journey. The dual launch signals a deliberate effort to give institutional shape to what has largely been an informal relationship between the state and its far-flung communities.

Chapter presidents and executive committee members from existing chapters joined the session both physically and virtually, discussing how to deepen their participation in Rajasthan's development and sharing suggestions with the government. Deputy Chief Ministers Diya Kumari and Dr. Prem Bairwa were present alongside other elected representatives and dignitaries, underscoring the political weight the government is placing on diaspora engagement.

December 10 circled on every diaspora calendar

Sharma used the platform to formally invite all non-resident Rajasthanis to the upcoming Pravasi Rajasthani Divas on December 10, 2026 — the state's flagship annual diaspora event. The event is expected to be the moment where the connections forged in Friday's session translate into concrete investment and employment commitments. Watch that date: it is the real stress-test of whether today's enthusiasm converts into capital on the ground.

The 'Viksit Rajasthan, Viksit Bharat' frame

Sharma's message was clear and direct: 'Apni jadon se jude rahkar, apne samarthya aur sankalp se Rajasthan ki pragati ko nayi gati den' — 'Rooted in our origins, let us give new momentum to Rajasthan's progress through our collective resolve.' He called the experience, entrepreneurship, innovation and homeland dedication of non-resident Rajasthanis a force capable of lifting the state to new heights, and committed his government to channelling their global networks into investment and job creation.

The framing is deliberate: it threads Rajasthan's outreach directly into the national 'Viksit Bharat' vision for 2047, the BJP's overarching development narrative. States across India — Gujarat, Punjab, Kerala — have run similar diaspora foundations and summits since the early 2000s, following the template set by the national Pravasi Bharatiya Divas launched in 2003. Rajasthan's accelerated chapter expansion positions it as a serious competitor in the race to convert diaspora capital into domestic growth.

The Rajasthan Foundation was established precisely to serve as this institutional bridge — a mechanism to translate overseas Rajasthanis' goodwill, wealth, and professional networks into tangible projects back home. Friday's session adds structural muscle to that mission.

The December 10 Pravasi Rajasthani Divas will be the true measure of Friday's momentum — and whether the state's expanded diaspora machinery can deliver the investment and jobs its chief minister is promising.