Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar met Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday, 7 July 2026 to discuss a broad agenda covering energy infrastructure, central urban development schemes, electric bus services, and metro network expansion in the state.

Context

Khattar posted on X that the meeting took place at the Chief Minister's residence. He described the discussions as 'sarthak evam sakaratmak' (meaningful and positive), covering strengthening of the energy sector in Rajasthan, progress of various central projects related to housing and urban development, and key subjects such as e-bus services and metro network expansion.

The meeting brings together two of the most consequential central-government portfolios — Power and Housing and Urban Affairs — with a BJP-governed state that has significant unfinished business on each front.

Policy Backdrop

Rajasthan is among India's most important states for renewable energy, with vast solar and wind potential. Coordination between the Union Ministry of Power and the state government is critical for grid upgrades, distribution reforms, and meeting renewable capacity targets under national energy transition goals.

On the urban side, Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Urban), launched in 2015, remains the flagship scheme for affordable housing delivery, and Rajasthan's utilisation of central funds under the programme has been a recurring point of review. The Smart Cities Mission and AMRUT scheme, both initiated in 2015, have also channelled central resources into Jaipur and other Rajasthan cities for urban services and infrastructure.

The PM e-Bus Sewa scheme, approved in 2023, supports electric bus deployment in cities to cut urban emissions and modernise public transport. Rajasthan's cities are among the beneficiaries, making the rollout of e-bus fleets a live operational agenda between the Centre and the state.

Stakeholders and Impact

Urban residents across Rajasthan stand to benefit most directly from faster execution of metro expansion and e-bus deployment. Jaipur Metro, the state capital's operational rail network, has planned expansion phases that depend on central approvals and funding coordination — both of which involve Khattar's ministry.

State power utilities and distribution companies are key stakeholders in the energy segment, as improved grid infrastructure and distribution reforms directly affect electricity access, tariff stability, and the integration of renewable capacity into the state grid.

Affordable housing beneficiaries — particularly lower-income urban households — remain central to the PMAY-Urban agenda, with fund releases and project completion rates closely tracked by the Union ministry.

What's Next

The immediate milestones to watch include fund releases for Jaipur Metro expansion phases, tender awards for e-bus fleet procurement under PM e-Bus Sewa, and progress reviews on PMAY-Urban housing unit completions in Rajasthan. Such centre-state engagements between BJP-led governments have intensified since the December 2023 state elections, with a stated focus on accelerating project implementation and improving central fund utilisation. The outcomes of this meeting are likely to feed into upcoming scheme review cycles at the Union ministry level.