Published: 6 March 2026ProKerala / Social News XYZ / NewKeralaRajasthan
Rajasthan Assembly Scraps 30-Year-Old Two-Child Norm for Local Body Elections
The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly passed the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Rajasthan Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2026, repealing a provision introduced in 1995 under Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat's government that barred candidates with more than two children from contesting Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections.
The amendment removes the disqualification for ward panch, sarpanch, panchayat samiti member, zila parishad member, pradhan, and district head posts based on family size. Simultaneously, the bills also removed a clause disqualifying persons affected by leprosy from contesting elections, aligning Rajasthan's election laws with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and modern public health standards.
State officials argued the three-decade-old norm was discriminatory, outdated, and ineffective as a population control tool given Rajasthan's Total Fertility Rate (TFR) has already declined significantly. The amendments have since been listed by the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly as Act No. 6/2026 and Act No. 7/2026; the Panchayati Raj amendment states that it comes into force at once. This reform broadens democratic participation in grassroots governance and is directly relevant to RPSC RAS Paper-III topics on Rajasthan Polity, Panchayati Raj, and Local Self-Government.
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The Rajasthan Assembly scrapped the two-child norm that was in force for how many years?
Explanation · Correct answer DRajasthan scrapped the 30-year-old two-child norm for local body elections.
Frequently asked questions
What was the two-child norm for local body elections in Rajasthan and why was it controversial?
The two-child norm, enacted in 1995, barred candidates with more than two children from contesting Panchayati Raj and municipal elections in Rajasthan. Critics argued it disproportionately excluded poorer and rural candidates, violated reproductive rights, and disenfranchised voters in communities where larger families are common.
Which laws were amended to scrap the two-child norm in Rajasthan?
The Rajasthan Assembly passed amendment bills to the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act and the Rajasthan Municipal laws, removing the two-child norm clause that had been in force since 1995. The amendments simultaneously removed the disqualification for persons affected by leprosy from contesting local body elections.
What did the Supreme Court say about two-child norms for elections?
The Supreme Court of India had previously upheld state-level two-child norms for local body elections as constitutionally valid, ruling that states have the right to prescribe qualifications for candidates. However, the Court's ruling did not prevent states from voluntarily scrapping such norms through legislative amendment, as Rajasthan has now done.
Why is the removal of the leprosy-based disqualification significant?
Disqualifying persons affected by leprosy from contesting elections was seen as discriminatory and based on outdated social stigma, since leprosy is now curable and no longer a public health threat. The amendment aligns Rajasthan's local body laws with constitutional guarantees of equality and dignity for all citizens.
How does scrapping the two-child norm affect democratic participation at the grassroots level?
Removing the two-child norm widens the pool of eligible candidates, particularly among rural and tribal communities where larger family sizes are common. This deepens democratic representation in Panchayati Raj institutions and urban local bodies, ensuring more voices can participate in grassroots governance without facing discriminatory eligibility bars.
