Published: 25 February 2026Social News XYZ / The Wire / Hans India / ProKeralaRajasthan
Rajasthan Cabinet Scraps Three-Decade-Old Two-Child Norm for Panchayat and Municipal Elections
On February 25, 2026, the Rajasthan Cabinet under Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma approved the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2026 and the Rajasthan Municipal (Amendment) Bill, 2026, formally scrapping the decades-old two-child norm that had barred candidates with more than two children from contesting panchayat and municipal elections in the state.
Law Minister Jogaram Patel announced the Cabinet's decision, noting that the provision was originally introduced in 1995 under former Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat as a population control measure. With these amendments, candidates with more than two children will now be eligible to contest local body elections across Rajasthan.
The move reverses a 31-year-old restriction and responds to long-standing demands from legislators across party lines who questioned the asymmetry — the norm applied only to Panchayat and municipal elections, not to Assembly or Lok Sabha polls. The decision also comes in the context of national discourse on population demographics following RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's call for Hindu families to have at least three children. The two-child norm removal is significant for Rajasthan governance as it directly affects candidate eligibility for over 11,000 gram panchayats and approximately 200 urban local bodies across the state.
0
6-axis classification
CoverageRajasthanSubjectRajasthanExamBasic Computer Instructor · CET Graduation · CET Senior Secondary · EO/RO · LDC · Mahila Supervisor · Patwar · PTI · RAS · REET · RPSC SI · School Lecturer · Senior Computer Instructor · Senior Teacher · UPSC · Vanpal · BothSourceSocial News XYZ / The Wire / Hans India / ProKerala
Practice MCQ from this story
SolveTap an option below. Correct or incorrect feedback appears instantly.
Linked questionMedium
On which date did the Rajasthan Cabinet approve bills to remove the two-child disqualification norm for panchayat and municipal elections?
Explanation · Correct answer AOn 25 February 2026, the Rajasthan Cabinet approved amendment bills to remove the two-child disqualification linked to contesting Panchayati Raj and municipal elections. The change affected provisions in the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 and the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009, making candidates with more than two children eligible to contest local-body polls.
Frequently asked questions
When was the two-child norm originally introduced in Rajasthan and by which Chief Minister?
The two-child norm was introduced in 1995 under Chief Minister Bhairon Singh Shekhawat through the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act 1994 (as amended). It disqualified candidates with more than two children from contesting panchayat and municipal elections.
What did the Rajasthan Cabinet decide on February 25, 2026 regarding the two-child norm?
On February 25, 2026, the Rajasthan Cabinet approved bills to scrap the 31-year-old two-child norm for panchayat and municipal elections. This means candidates with more than two children can now contest across 11,000+ gram panchayats and approximately 200 urban local bodies.
Why was the two-child norm criticised, particularly regarding SC/ST communities?
The two-child norm was criticised for disproportionately excluding women from Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, who traditionally had larger families due to socio-economic and cultural factors. Critics argued it violated the constitutional right to equality and unfairly restricted political participation of marginalised groups.
Which other states had already scrapped similar two-child norms before Rajasthan?
Several states including Himachal Pradesh had already scrapped similar two-child norm disqualifications, particularly following increased judicial scrutiny. The Supreme Court of India had examined the constitutionality of such norms, and many states moved to repeal them to align with evolving legal standards.
How does scrapping the two-child norm relate to the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act 1994?
The two-child norm was embedded in the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act 1994 as an eligibility criterion for contesting elections. Scrapping the norm requires amending this Act as well as the corresponding urban local body election laws. The February 2026 Cabinet approval cleared the bills to amend both sets of legislation.
