Rajasthan Scraps Two-Child Norm for Local Polls
Cabinet Clears Amendment Bills, Ends 30-Year-Old Restriction on Panchayat, Municipal Candidates
- Rajasthan Cabinet removes two-child norm for local body elections
- Restriction was in place since 1995 under Bhairon Singh Shekhawat government
- Amendment Bills to be passed in current Assembly session
- Cabinet also clears Ayurveda University, economic offences body
GG News Bureau
Jaipur, 26th Feb: In a significant policy shift, the Rajasthan Cabinet on Wednesday approved the removal of the decades-old two-child norm for contesting Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections, ending a restriction that had been in force for nearly three decades.
The decision clears the way for candidates with more than two children to contest panchayat and municipal elections. The rule was introduced in 1995 during the tenure of former Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as a population control measure.
Amendment Bills Cleared
Law Minister Jogaram Patel said the Cabinet approved the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Rajasthan Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2026 to remove the restriction. He stated that both Bills would be passed during the ongoing Assembly session.
Patel noted that the socio-political context has evolved, making the provision outdated.
The norm had drawn criticism across party lines, with legislators questioning why it applied only to local body elections and not to Assembly or Lok Sabha polls.
Wider Political Impact Expected
Political observers believe the move could widen participation and intensify competition in upcoming Panchayati Raj and municipal elections. Many grassroots leaders previously disqualified under the rule will now be eligible to contest.
The scrapping of the norm is being viewed as a landmark electoral reform in the state.
Other Key Cabinet Decisions
The Cabinet also approved the Ayurveda and Naturopathy University Bill to establish a new Ayurveda University in Ajmer aimed at promoting traditional medicine education and research.
Deputy Chief Minister Premchand Bairwa announced the creation of a Directorate of Revenue Intelligence and Economic Offences in Jodhpur to tackle financial fraud and economic crimes.
Industry Minister Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore said the estimated cost of the Bharat Mandapam project in Jaipur has been revised to ₹5,800 crore, asserting it would generate revenue beyond the investment.
Additionally, the Cabinet approved allocation of 53 acres of land for a ₹500 crore iron ore mining project in Udaipur, expected to boost industrial activity and employment in the region.
