GRAM-2026 postponed: Rajasthan defers Jaipur agritech meet after Modi fuel appeal
Synopsis
Rajasthan has deferred its flagship GRAM-2026 agritech summit — expected to draw 75,000 farmers and 100-plus international companies — citing PM Modi's national fuel conservation appeal. The move signals how quickly state governments are recalibrating large-scale public events in response to central directives on energy restraint.
Key Takeaways
Rajasthan CM Bhajan Lal Sharma postponed GRAM-2026 on 15 May , days before its scheduled 23–25 May run at JECC, Jaipur .
The deferral follows PM Narendra Modi's national appeal for judicious use of petrol, diesel, and LPG.
Over 75,000 farmers , more than 250 exhibitors , and over 100 companies from India and abroad were expected to attend.
Delegations from South Asia, Europe, Australia , and the Americas had also been anticipated.
The state government is simultaneously promoting virtual meetings and reducing official vehicle use as part of the conservation drive.
Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma on Friday, 15 May announced the temporary postponement of the Global Rajasthan Agritech Meet (GRAM-2026), which was scheduled to take place at the Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre (JECC) from 23 to 25 May. The decision comes directly in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal to citizens across India for restraint in fuel consumption, including judicious use of petrol, diesel, and LPG.
Why GRAM-2026 Was Deferred
Prime Minister Modi had called on citizens to minimise fuel use, promote public transport, and adopt carpooling as part of a broader national energy conservation drive. Responding to this, Chief Minister Sharma determined that staging a large-scale event — one expected to draw thousands of participants from across the country and abroad — would be inconsistent with the spirit of the appeal.
According to the state government, the postponement is intended to conserve the significant volume of fuel that would have been consumed in travel and logistical arrangements for the three-day event. The Chief Minister stated that the state is also reducing the number of large-scale official gatherings and encouraging the use of virtual platforms for meetings, alongside greater economy in the use of official vehicles.
Scale of the Event
GRAM-2026 was conceived as a premier international agritech platform aimed at bringing together farmers, investors, entrepreneurs, innovators, and policy makers. Over 75,000 farmers from across Rajasthan, more than 250 exhibitors, and over 100 companies from India and abroad were expected to participate. Delegations from partner regions — including South Asia, Europe, Australia, and North and South America — were also anticipated.
What the Chief Minister Said
Chief Minister Sharma emphasised that 'every drop makes an ocean', underlining that even small individual efforts, when aggregated, can result in substantial national fuel savings. He framed the deferral not as a cancellation but as a temporary measure aligned with the Centre's energy conservation priorities.
Sharma had, just days before the postponement, addressed an Investors' Meet in Hyderabad as part of the GRAM-2026 outreach, extending invitations to agri-tech startups, investors, and industry leaders. He described Rajasthan as a rapidly emerging destination for agri-tech, food processing, and value-added agricultural industries, and positioned GRAM-2026 as a key platform for investment and partnerships.
Broader Context
The deferral reflects a broader pattern of state governments aligning policy decisions with central government directives on resource conservation, particularly in periods of heightened energy sensitivity. Rajasthan, one of India's largest states by area and a significant agricultural economy, has been actively pitching itself as an agri-tech investment hub. The postponement is not expected to affect the state's longer-term GRAM programme, with a new date likely to be announced in due course.
Point of View
With international delegations already lined up — underscores how potent a prime ministerial appeal can be as a policy instrument, even without a formal directive. Yet the optics raise a question mainstream coverage has largely skipped: if fuel conservation is the rationale, will the event be rescheduled with a lower carbon footprint by design, or simply restaged at full scale once the political moment passes? Rajasthan's agritech ambitions are real, but a postponement without a rethink of the event's logistics is a pause, not a pivot.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was GRAM-2026 postponed?
GRAM-2026 was postponed by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma in direct response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's appeal for national fuel conservation. The state government determined that holding a large-scale event drawing thousands of participants would conflict with the spirit of that appeal.
Who was expected to participate in GRAM-2026?
Over 75,000 farmers from across Rajasthan, more than 250 exhibitors, and over 100 companies from India and abroad were expected to attend. International delegations from South Asia, Europe, Australia, and North and South America had also been anticipated.
What else is Rajasthan doing to support the fuel conservation drive?
Beyond postponing GRAM-2026, the state government is reducing the number of large-scale official events, encouraging the use of virtual platforms for meetings, and promoting economy in the use of official vehicles, in line with PM Modi's energy restraint message.
Has a new date for GRAM-2026 been announced?
No new date has been announced as of 15 May. Chief Minister Sharma described the postponement as temporary, suggesting the event will be rescheduled, though a revised timeline has not yet been confirmed.
