Read or download the official PDF of this gazette notification issued by the Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare on 17th August 2026. Classified under Press Release.
Executive Summary
Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan announced several major initiatives for Rajasthan on 17 August 2026, focusing on rural housing, agricultural development, and women’s empowerment. Key highlights include the approval of ₹3,473 crore for 2.89 lakh pucca houses under PMAY-G and the release of ₹340.59 crore for agricultural schemes. The document also outlines significant eligibility reforms for housing and upcoming legislative changes to protect farmers from substandard agricultural inputs.
Key Points / Main Content
Housing Initiatives (PMAY-G)
Sanctioned 2,89,355 pucca houses with a total project outlay of ₹3,473 crore.
Completed surveys for 29.13 lakh new beneficiaries; remaining houses will be sanctioned following physical verification.
Directed the display of transparent beneficiary lists at district and panchayat levels to allow for objections and prevent wrongful exclusions.
Eligibility Reforms for Housing Support
Relaxed criteria to include families owning a two-wheeler.
Increased the monthly income ceiling for women beneficiaries from ₹10,000 to ₹15,000.
Extended eligibility to small farmers owning up to 5 acres of unirrigated land or 2.5 acres of irrigated land.
Agricultural Development and Support
Approved ₹340.59 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY) and other initiatives.
Maintained urea prices at ₹266 per bag despite an actual cost of ₹3,000, with the government bearing the subsidy.
Announced the development of a comprehensive agricultural roadmap for the Kota-Jhalawar region to increase farmers' incomes.
Rural Development and Empowerment
Doubled Rajasthan’s "Lakhpati Didi" target to 32 lakh women, with ₹13,400 crore already disbursed through banks to support female entrepreneurs.
Introduced the Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana, targeting ₹12,000 crore in investment for Rajasthan over the next nine months.
Allocated an annual goal of approximately ₹80 lakh per Gram Panchayat to allow local decision-making for development plans.
Legislative and Regulatory Action
Proposed new legislation for the next Parliament session to address fake pesticides and substandard seeds.
Introduced stringent punishments for those involved in the sale of substandard agricultural inputs and promised strict action against the black marketing of fertilizers.
Impact Analysis
Rural Families and PMAY-G BeneficiariesImpact: A significantly larger pool of rural residents will qualify for pucca houses due to relaxed income and asset ownership rules.
Action Required: Potential beneficiaries should monitor local panchayat/district lists and prepare for physical verification of their eligibility.
FarmersImpact: Farmers benefit from continued fertilizer subsidies and increased protection against fraudulent seeds and pesticides through new laws.
Action Required: Farmers in the Kota-Jhalawar region are encouraged to collaborate with scientists on the new agricultural roadmap.
Women EntrepreneursImpact: Sixteen lakh additional women will be targeted under the Lakhpati Didi mission, with increased access to bank-disbursed funds for business activities.
Action Required: Interested women should engage with relevant entrepreneurial support schemes and banks to access disbursed funds.
Gram PanchayatsImpact: Panchayats gain greater financial resources and autonomy, with an annual budget of ₹80 lakh to drive localized development.
Action Required: Local panchayat leaders must identify development priorities and formulate infrastructure plans at the village level.
Key Entities Referenced
Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin (PMAY-G): A rural housing scheme for which major eligibility reforms were announced, including higher income ceilings and inclusion of two-wheeler owners.
Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana: A newly introduced rural development initiative with a ₹12,000 crore investment target for Rajasthan, focused on panchayat-level planning.
Rajasthan: The central state for the policy implementation, where housing projects, agricultural funds, and women's empowerment targets are focused.
Lakhpati Didi Mission: A women's empowerment initiative with a doubled target of 32 lakh beneficiaries in Rajasthan to support entrepreneurial activities.
Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana (PM-RKVY): A central agricultural development scheme under which significant funds were approved for the state's development.
Ministry of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare
Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Delivers 2.89 Lakh
Pucca Houses Worth ₹3,473 Crore to Rajasthan
Under PMAY-G
340.59 Crore Approved for Agricultural Development and PM-
RKVY; Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan Hands Over Sanction
Letter to CM Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma
29.13 Lakh New Beneficiaries Surveyed Under PMAY-G; More
Houses to be Sanctioned After Physical Verification: Shri
Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Major PMAY-G Eligibility Reforms: Two-Wheeler Owners,
Women Earning Up to ₹15,000 and Small Farmers Now
Eligible for Housing Support
No Woman Should Remain Poor: Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
Doubles Rajasthan’s Lakhpati Didi Target to 32 Lakh
Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana: ₹12,000 Crore Target for
Rajasthan; Panchayats to Drive Development with Annual
Goal of ₹80 Lakh Each
Urea at ₹266 a Bag for Farmers Despite ₹3,000 Cost:
Government Continues to Bear the Burden, Says Shri Shivraj
Singh Chouhan
Tougher Laws Against Fake Pesticides and Substandard
Seeds: New Pesticide and Seed Legislation to be Introduced
in Parliament, Says Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan
प्रव तथ: 17 AUG 2026 9:15PM by PIB Delhi
Union Minister for Agriculture & Farmers Welfare and Rural Development Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan,
during his visit to Rajasthan today, participated in the state-level program of the Pradhan Mantri Awas
Yojana-Gramin in Baran along with Chief Minister Shri Bhajanlal Sharma. On the occasion, Shri Chouhanhanded over to the Chief Minister the approval letter for 2,89,355 houses under PMAY-G, involving a
project outlay of ₹3,473 crore. He also handed over an approval letter for ₹340.59 crore under agricultural
development initiatives and the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Krishi Vikas Yojana. The program was attended
by Members of Parliament, MLAs, ministers in charge, and a large number of local residents.
PM’s Commitment to Pucca Houses for the Poor Being Fulfilled
Addressing the gathering, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Prime Minister Shri
Narendra Modi’s commitment to providing pucca houses to poor families in Rajasthan is being fulfilled.
“Today, approval is being given for 2,89,355 houses at a cost of ₹3,473 crore and this gift is being
dedicated to Rajasthan. It will bring a positive transformation in the lives of families who have so far been
living in kutcha houses,” he said. He added that ₹340.59 crore under various agriculture-related schemes
has also been released for the development of the state.Survey Completed for 29.13 Lakh New Beneficiaries
Shri Chouhan informed that a survey of 29,13,749 new beneficiaries has been completed. After physical
verification, houses will also be sanctioned for the remaining eligible beneficiaries. He directed that
transparent beneficiary lists be displayed at the district and panchayat levels, objections be heard, and
wrongful exclusion of eligible beneficiaries be prevented so that deserving families do not lose their
benefits due to errors.
Three Major Changes in Eligibility Rules
Shri Chouhan announced three major changes in the eligibility criteria for housing assistance. Families
owning a two-wheeler will now also be eligible for a pucca house, removing the earlier restriction.
Women earning up to ₹15,000 per month will also be eligible for the benefit. The earlier income ceiling
was ₹10,000 per month. Small farmers owning up to 5 acres of unirrigated land or 2.5 acres of irrigated
land will also be eligible for housing assistance.
Women’s Empowerment and Lakhpati Didi Mission
The Union Minister said that women’s empowerment is one of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi’s key
priorities. He announced that 16 lakh women in Rajasthan have so far become Lakhpati Didis, and the
target will now be doubled to 32 lakh Lakhpati Didis. Shri Chouhan further said that ₹13,400 crore has so
far been disbursed to women through various banks to support their entrepreneurial activities.
Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana for Rural Development
Referring to the newly introduced Viksit Bharat-G RAM G Yojana, Shri Chouhan said that Rajasthan has
been given a target of ₹12,000 crore in investment over the next nine months. He said the impact of the
initiative would reach every gram panchayat, with a target of providing approximately ₹80 lakh annually
to each panchayat. The Union Minister made it clear that development priorities in villages would not be
decided in Delhi or Jaipur. “The people themselves will decide development plans at the panchayat level,”
he said.
Ensuring Fertiliser Availability and Protecting Farmers from High CostsOn the availability of urea, Shri Chouhan said the government was ensuring that farmers were not
burdened by international prices. He said that although a bag of urea costs around ₹3,000, arrangements
have been made to ensure that farmers receive it for only ₹266. He also assured farmers of strict action
against black marketing of fertilisers and other agricultural inputs.
Strict Action Against Fake Agricultural Inputs
Shri Chouhan said that the existing legal framework is not adequate to deal with the menace of fake
pesticides and substandard seeds. He announced that stronger legislation relating to pesticides and seeds
would be brought in the next session of Parliament, with provisions for stringent punishment for those
involved in such malpractice and stronger protection for farmers.
Agriculture Roadmap for the Kota-Jhalawar Region
Shri Chouhan said that he would work with scientists and local farmers to prepare a comprehensive
agricultural roadmap for the Kota-Jhalawar region. The roadmap, he said, would focus on the entire value
chain, including new crops, processing, marketing and exports, with the objective of increasing farmers’
incomes from the farm gate to global markets.
Call for Service and Collective Participation
The Union Minister praised the leadership of Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi and the state
government and called upon citizens to contribute to social causes, including serving society, planting
trees, educating daughters and promoting a drug-free society. He also administered a pledge to those
present and called upon everyone to work together towards building a Viksit Rajasthan and Viksit Gaon.
Vande Mataram is a symbol of India’s freedom struggle, sacrifice and patriotism: Shri Shivraj
Singh Chouhan
In his address, Union Minister Shri Shivraj Singh Chouhan said that Vande Mataram is a symbol of India’s
freedom struggle, sacrifice and patriotism, and that respecting it is the duty of every Indian.
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