Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma used the first Pravasi Rajasthani Divas (PRD) in Jaipur to present his two-year tenure as a phase of administrative stability, faster policy execution and investment-led development, while inviting domestic and overseas Rajasthanis to strengthen their economic and cultural ties with the state.
Last year, at the Rising Rajasthan summit, the state signed MoUs worth ₹35 lakh crore to boost the economy and promote Rajasthan’s advantages, including land availability and improving infrastructure. Building on that momentum, the government is now courting wealthy Rajasthani business families to invest back in the state. The phrase “Jahan na pahunche bailgadi, wahan pahunche Marwari” (Marwaris reach places where even the old bullock cart could not) was used several times, including by Union Minister Piyush Goyal, to describe the community’s resilience and business reach.
The government’s pitch is based on the emotional connection that NRRs retain with their ancestral land. The event, held at the JECC complex, brought together Union ministers, governors, industrial leaders and hundreds of overseas Rajasthanis, who were offered discussions, local cuisine and cultural performances.
Urging NRRs to reconnect with the state, Sharma said: “I request you to visit your homeland at least twice a year to remain connected with your roots.” He added that “regardless of where they reside in the world, Pravasi Rajasthanis remain deeply connected to their roots and have brought immense pride to Rajasthan nationally and internationally.”
Sharma completes two years in office on December 15, which is also his birthday.
The CM said the state had made progress in several sectors over the past two years, with water security being one of his key achievements. “We raised the issue of water scarcity and assured that Rajasthan will not face any further problems. Works worth ₹26,000 crore have been launched in the Ramjal Setu link project,” he said.
He said farmers in 22 districts were now receiving daytime electricity, supported by rising power generation. “We have taken several steps to support the farming community,” he said, adding that generation capacity had increased by 6,363 MW. Ensuring uninterrupted power for industries was also a priority, he added.
Responding to a frequent Opposition allegation, Sharma highlighted improvements in law and order. He claimed a “20 per cent reduction in crime rates” and a 10 per cent fall in crimes against women. On recruitment reforms, he said, “In the past two years, not a single paper leak has occurred, a promise we had made to the youths of the state.”
He said the government had delivered on its employment promises by providing more than 90,000 government jobs, with recruitment underway for 1.53 lakh posts and 20,000 more to be announced. He added that one million women had benefited from the PM Matru Vandana Yojana, two million had received skill training, and more than 1.2 million had become “Lakhpati Didis.”
Rajasthan’s development pitch
Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said Rajasthan had combined administrative decisiveness and social cohesion under Sharma’s leadership. He said investors trusted the state because “every promise is honoured.” He added that “no power in the world can stop Rajasthan becoming India’s number one state,” citing the demographic dividend and the pace of industrial project execution.
Sharma said more than Rs 8 lakh crore worth of projects had become operational in the last two years. He said Rajasthan had launched “over 24 new policies” and was emerging as “the most preferred state for investment in the country.” He pointed to the development of a Rs 23,000-crore transmission network, a solar capacity of 22,860 MW and progress on the Mahi-Banswara nuclear project.
Infrastructure expansion has been central to the state’s plans. Sharma said more than 36,000 kilometres of roads had been built in two years, a new phase of Jaipur Metro was progressing, the greenfield airport in Kota was advancing and airport expansion was underway elsewhere. New container depots and logistics facilities were being developed across several cities. He also said 20 crore trees had been planted, with nurseries planned in every panchayat.
To deepen engagement with NRRs, Sharma announced 14 new chapters of the Rajasthan Foundation, including nine overseas. He said the newly created Department of Domestic and Overseas Rajasthani Affairs (DORA) would act as a platform for cooperation, cultural exchange and investment. A new Non-Resident Rajasthani Policy was launched to provide a structured roadmap for identity, facilitation and investment.
Vedanta founder Anil Agarwal announced major future investments and backed the state’s development pitch. “Just as Punjab feeds the nation, Rajasthan has the capacity to supply the world with minerals and natural resources in the years to come,” he said. Agarwal said Vedanta would double its production in zinc, lead, silver, oil and gas and renewable energy with an investment of Rs 1 lakh crore.
He said the group was establishing a Zinc International Industrial Park that could host 200 industries, offering electricity, water, raw materials and infrastructure to support MSMEs and downstream sectors. Vedanta is also setting up north India’s first phosphate fertiliser plant in Rajasthan.
Sharma announced that the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit would return in 2026.
Across the day’s addresses, the focus on dependability, water security, infrastructure, renewable capacity, investment pipelines and diaspora outreach highlighted the state’s attempt to present Rajasthan as stable, responsive and ready for large-scale capital.
