The BJP government in Rajasthan is planning to bring back educational qualifications for candidates in Panchayati Raj and urban local body elections slated for 2026. This rule was removed by the previous Congress government in 2019. The education requirement was first introduced in 2015 under then Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje. On December 25, 2025, Minister of State for Local Self Government Jhabar Singh Kharra said a proposal has been sent to Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma to reinstate the rule. "We have received representations from several groups and political party workers, who feel that such a provision needs to be made again," Kharra stated. The proposal suggests candidates for Sarpanch should have at least secondary school education. For ward councillors, the minimum qualification would be secondary or senior secondary education. Restoring this rule will require changes to the Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994, and the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009. These amendments will be introduced in the next state assembly budget session after the Chief Minister’s approval, said Kharra. In 2015, the rule required Sarpanch candidates to have passed Class 8, with a relaxation to Class 5 for Tribal Sub-Plan areas. Candidates for Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, and urban local body heads needed to have passed Class 10. The BJP had benefited from this rule in rural elections, winning more seats than Congress at that time.