Rajasthan Cabinet gives nod to removal of education criteria for local body polls

In a bid to do away with the criteria of minimum educational qualification for contesting local body polls, the Rajasthan cabinet on Thursday approved two amendments bills. Both the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2019, and the Rajasthan Municipalities (Amendment) Bill, 2019 will be introduced in state assembly during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament.

The education criteria was introduced by the previous Vasundhara Raje-led BJP government in 2015. Under this norm, a candidate had to pass Class X for contesting municipal, Zila parishad or Panchayat Samiti elections. However, a candidate contesting for the post of a sarpanch is required to have passed Class VIII or Class V in tribal-reserved areas.

The cabinet also decided to ask the state public service commission to extend the date of the RAS main examination. It also aims to conduct the exam in an organised manner in order to ensure aspirants are not affected. The development came after the aspirants for Rajasthan Administrative Service (RAS) staged a massive protest demanding the government to extend the exam. The decisions came during a meeting at Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot’s residence on Thursday.

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Briefing the media on the latest developments, state cabinet minister Parsadi Lal said a series of key issues, including farm-loan waiver and removing educational norms in local body and panchayat elections were discussed in the meeting.

The cabinet also discussed issues related to water, electricity and schemes for the unemployed youths, the party leaders said. However, the issue of 10-per cent reservation for "economically weaker" section in the general category is yet to be discussed.

(With inputs from agencies)

HIGHLIGHTS

• The two bills will be introduced during the ongoing Winter Session.
• The education criteria was introduced by the previous BJP government in 2015.
• Under the criteria, a candidate need to pass Class X for contesting local polls.