Bhajan Lal Government scrap newly created 9 districts and 3 division

The Bharatiya Janata Party government of Bhajan Lal Sharma in Rajasthan has reversed the decision of the previous Congress government of Ashok Gehlot to create 9 new districts and 3 administrative divisions.

In a cabinet meeting held on 28 December 2024, the government decided to abolish the newly created 9 districts out of the 17 announced and the three new divisions. 

After the issue of the official notification, the state will have  41 districts and 7 divisions. The decision of the Bhajan Lal Government is based on the recommendation of the  Cabinet Sub-Committee headed by Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa which was set up by the Sharma government to review the status of 17 new districts and three divisions established during the previous  Ashok Gehlot Government.

Prem Chand Bairwa Sub-Committee on New Districts and Division 

The Bhajan lal Government in June 2024 set up a five-member Cabinet Sub-Committee to review the status of 17 new districts and three divisions created during the previous Ashok Gehlot government. 

The Chairman of the committee was Deputy Chief Minister Prem Chand Bairwa. 

The other members were Ministers Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, Kanhaiya Lal Choudhary, Suresh Rawat, and Hemant Meena.

Districts that have been retained?

Boltora, Beawar, Khuchman, Salumber, Kotputli-Behror, Deedwana, Khairthal-Tijara, and Phalodi.

District which has been scrapped 

• Anupgarh, Jodhpur Rural, Jaipur Rural, Sanchore,  Dudu, Shahpura, Kekri, Neem Ka Thana, and Sangapur City.

Division which has been abolished 

• The three newly created divisions which have been abolished are Pali, Banswara, and Sikar.
• After the government notification, the seven divisions in Rajasthan will be: Ajmer, Bharatpur, Bikaner, Jaipur, Jodhpur, Kota, and Udaipur.

Government Reason for the abolition of new Districts and Divisions 

According to the Rajasthan government, the government took this decision on the following consideration;

• Newly created districts were not practical and not in the interest of the public.
• It was a wasteful expenditure that would increase public expenditure and create an additional burden on the government.
• It has no public utility and was done solely due to political considerations.

Creation of 17 districts and 3 Division during Ashok Gehlot Government 

• In August 2023 the then Congress government of Ashok Gehlot announced the creation of 17 new districts and three divisions. It raised the number of districts in the state to 50 and Division to 10.
• The decision of the Ashok Gehlot government was based on the recommendation of a high-level committee headed by former civil servant Ram Lubhaya. 
• The Ashok Gehlot also announced the creation of three new districts in October 203 before the assembly election. 
• However no notification was issued by the state government, thus the number of districts in the state was 50.