Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot presented a populist budget on Wednesday that included a pension system for state government employees, a job guarantee scheme for urban areas, free power for household users up to 50 units, and free treatment at government hospitals, among other ideas.

In the budget submitted to the Assembly by Gehlot, no new taxes were levied, and relief worth Rs 1,500 crore was provided to all sectors.

Gehlot also introduced the Indira Gandhi Urban Employment Guarantee Scheme, which will offer families in urban areas 100 days of work.

During his budget speech, he added, “Like usual, we have taken care of every part of society in the budget.”

Gehlot announced the restoration of the former pension scheme for personnel hired on or after January 1, 2004, in response to a large and long-standing demand among state employees.

He claimed that in 2004, a contributory pension was made available under the national pension scheme, but that this had produced a sense of insecurity among state employees over their post-retirement lives.

“We all know that public personnel can contribute significantly to excellent governance when they are confident in their future. From time to time, the staff has informed me of their suffering. As a result, beginning next year, I will implement the previous pension scheme for all employees hired on or after January 1, 2004,” he stated.

He also declared that employees of firms, boards, and colleges will get the 7th pay commission.

He promised 50 units of free electricity for those who use 100 units per month, a Rs 3/per unit award for all home consumers up to 150 units, and a Rs 2/unit grant for those who use 150 to 300 units and above, according to the slab.

Aside from increasing the Chiranjeevi Health Insurance cover from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh, the chief minister also announced that the Chiranjeevi scheme will cover cochlear implants, bone marrow transplants, organ transplants, blood/platelets/plasma transfusions, and limb prosthesis (bone cancer).

The chief minister announced recruitment for 1 lakh posts, a separate cadre of English medium teachers for Mahatma Gandhi English Medium schools, 200 primary schools in desert districts, smartphones for 1.33 crore women with a 3-year internet connection, and the upgrade of all 3820 government secondary schools to senior secondary level in his nearly three-hour budget speech.

This time, the CM submitted a separate agriculture budget, allocating Rs 5,000 crore for the CM Krishak Saathi Yojna, up from Rs 2,000 crore in the previous budget, 11 Missions, and daytime power for irrigation in 17 districts where daytime energy was not available for irrigation.

Gehlot announced the Rajasthan Smart City Scheme for the integrated development of Jodhpur, Bikaner, Bharatpur, Alwar, Bhilwara, and Chittorgarh, in line with the central government’s Smart City Mission, which covers four cities in Rajasthan.

The CM declared that every assembly constituency would receive an increase in funding from Rs 5 crore to Rs 10 crore for road improvement. He also stated that the Jaipur Metro would be extended from Badi Chaupad to Transport Nagar, as well as from Mansarover to a 200-foot bypass on Ajmer Road.

Gehlot also announced plans to build 36 women’s colleges in 19 districts, a residential parasports academy in Jaipur and Jodhpur, and a Nehru Youth Transit Hostel and Facility Centre in Udaipur House in New Delhi with 250 rooms to accommodate 500 youths.

CM said that the SC and ST development budget will be increased from Rs 100 crore to Rs 500 crore and that a Rs 100 crore EWS (Economically Weaker Section) fund would be established.

He gave the tourism and hospitality sector industry status, extended the period of freedom for MSMEs from sanctions and inspection from three to five years, and exempted MSMEs from paying motor vehicle tax for four vehicles with automatic transmission costing up to Rs ten lakh.

On unoccupied or completed residential plots of up to 100 square yards, the CM offered a 1% stamp duty discount.

The revenue deficit in the budget year 2022-23 is anticipated to be Rs 23,488.56 crore, with a fiscal deficit of Rs 58,211.55 crore, or 4.36 percent of GDP.