In a move that reinforces Centre–State collaboration on rural and agricultural development, Union Minister for Agriculture, Farmers Welfare, and Rural Development, Shivraj Singh Chouhan, today met with Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma at Krishi Bhawan in New Delhi. The high-level meeting was attended by Union Minister of State for Agriculture Bhagirath Choudhary, Agriculture Secretary Devesh Chaturvedi, Rural Development Secretary Shailesh Singh, ICAR Director General Dr. M.L. Jat, and senior officials from both governments.

At the heart of the discussion was the Centre’s release of Rs 4,384 crore to Rajasthan under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) for the current financial year. The allocation includes Rs 3,286 crore earmarked for wage disbursals, Rs 944 crore towards material components, and Rs 154 crore under administrative expenditure. Chief Minister Sharma expressed his gratitude, noting that the timely fund infusion would be critical in supporting employment and livelihood efforts across rural Rajasthan.

The meeting also addressed the progress of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (Gramin). Chouhan stated that Rajasthan’s implementation under PMAY has been commendable, with large-scale surveys already conducted. He assured that approvals for constructing an additional 7.46 lakh houses, including units under the PM-JANMAN scheme, would be fast-tracked once verification of the ongoing surveys is complete. This, he added, was in line with the government’s commitment to universal rural housing under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

On agricultural priorities, the leaders discussed progress under schemes such as ‘Per Drop More Crop’—a key component of the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchayee Yojana—along with initiatives to construct pond-like water harvesting structures and implement protective fencing around farmland. CM Sharma expressed keen interest in deploying agricultural supervisors at the Gram Panchayat level to enhance field-level support and improve delivery of agronomic advice. Minister Chouhan acknowledged the proposal positively, signalling the Centre’s intent to strengthen grassroots agricultural infrastructure and human capital.

The dialogue also touched on key trade and value chain opportunities, including the formal notification of Rajasthan’s high-quality peanut varieties and a renewed focus on promoting the state’s well-regarded castor oil in domestic and international markets. CM Sharma noted that Rajasthan has received a favourable monsoon so far in 2025, which, if sustained, is expected to significantly improve the Kharif crop outlook and rural incomes.

In addition to reviewing the National Rural Livelihoods Mission and its convergence with self-help group activities, both leaders reiterated the need for greater synergy between central funding and state implementation. Minister Chouhan emphasized that the Centre’s rural push is not limited to financing, but also includes robust institutional support, real-time monitoring, and innovation-driven execution frameworks.

The meeting marks a renewed phase of collaborative governance, with Rajasthan poised to benefit from both fiscal support and strategic alignment with central agricultural and rural missions. With strong monsoon forecasts, an expanded rural housing mandate, and deeper irrigation initiatives, the state is expected to lead the next wave of agrarian recovery and rural resilience.