Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma on Tuesday, 28 July reaffirmed his government's commitment to youth development at the 'Sapno ki Udaan' programme held at his official residence in Jaipur, highlighting record recruitment drives, anti-paper-leak measures, and startup support as pillars of the state's youth agenda. Sharma said the government has provided government employment to more than 1.78 lakh young people over the past two and a half years.

Recruitment Drive and Zero-Tolerance on Paper Leaks

Chief Minister Sharma said recruitment is currently underway for approximately 51,000 posts, with more than 80,000 vacancies already included in the recruitment calendar. Preparations are also in progress for an additional 70,000 posts. Beyond government jobs, around 4.5 lakh employment opportunities have been generated in the private sector.

On exam integrity, Sharma said the government has adopted a zero-tolerance approach towards paper leaks by strengthening laws and ensuring transparent recruitment processes. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe paper leak cases, resulting in the arrest of 569 individuals. The government has since conducted 410 examinations without a single paper leak, he stated.

Startup Ecosystem and Skill Development

Sharma said the government is actively promoting entrepreneurship so that Rajasthan's youth become job creators rather than job seekers. Under the Rajasthan Startup Programme, 4,623 startups have been registered so far. Under the iStart Fund, 1,062 startups have received financial assistance amounting to ₹34 crore. Nine startup programmes have been completed with the participation of 988 startups.

The state has also introduced the State Skill Policy-2025 and a dedicated Youth Policy to further institutionalise youth development.

Sports Infrastructure and Khelo India Push

Highlighting Rajasthan's growing sports profile, Sharma said the government is strengthening sports infrastructure, establishing academies, and encouraging emerging talent. The Rajasthan Target Olympic Podium Scheme is being implemented across the state, while Rajasthan is also hosting the Khelo India University Games. Additionally, 17 new Khelo India Centres are being established, and residential sports academies have been set up at 41 district headquarters.

Youth Voices at the Programme

Upalaksh Goyal, who secured All India Rank 3 in the NEET examination, said that hard work, dedication, discipline, and parental and teacher guidance inevitably lead to success. My Bharat volunteer Swaroopdan Charan said the My Bharat portal is playing a significant role in enhancing young people's skills. Postgraduate student Rashika Sharma thanked the Chief Minister for scholarship schemes that are enabling research opportunities, while B.Sc. student Rekha praised the government's decisive action against paper leaks.

The event was attended by Law and Justice Minister Jogaram Patel, students, athletes, young professionals, Sambal Sakhi volunteers, NCC cadets, and NSS volunteers. The Chief Minister also launched the Sapno ki Udaan Logo Design Competition on the occasion.

With youth suggestions reportedly being incorporated into the State Budget, Sharma signalled that the 'Sapno ki Udaan' platform is intended to be a recurring policy feedback loop — not a one-off event.