Sector wise most improved districts in Rajasthan :

Most improved districts :

To arrive at the most improved ranking, we considered the percentage change in values over the past 10 years. Irrespective of the level of development, the district that achieves a higher level of change in a decade was adjudged the most improved .

State study of Rajasthan is aimed at figuring out broad trends of economic development in the state and a district-wise ranking of performance. The evaluation has two segments: best performing district at a particular time and the most improved district over time (say, the past decade). The data was collected by research agency Nielsen from sources such as the Census and National Sample Survey and standardised. 

Agriculture-Sawai Madhopur (2001-11) : Sawai Madhopur made the highest improvement in grain yield (maize and wheat) and the sixth best improvement in agricultural GDP per capita. In the remaining parameters, it ranked between 10 and 15. There seems to be no distinct regional pattern, except that Sawai Madhopur, Tonk and Karauli lie adjacent to each other and are all in the top five.

Education-Sri Ganganagar (2006-16) : Sri Ganganagar registered the largest fall in the dropout rate between 2006 and 2016, the third highest increase in the number of schools per 1,000 population and the fifth highest increase in the teacher to pupil ratio. The stupendous performance in these three parameters pushed the district to the top spot. Jaipur, Tonk and Ajmer, which are ranked second, fourth and fifth, form an education cluster in the centre of Rajasthan.

Health-Jaisalmer (2002-13) : A mild regional pattern emerges here. The districts of Rajasthan in the north and east seem to be improving more than those in the west. Jaisalmer saw the highest improvement in the percentage of women's awareness on HIV/AIDS, the highest percentage use of contraception by modern methods and the highest percentage of women with awareness of the signs of pneumonia. It registered the second highest improvement in the percentage of children aged 12-23 months having an immunisation card and the fourth highest improvement in the percentage of deliveries by skilled personnel.

Industry-Nagaur (2005-16) : Nagaur was followed by the southern districts of Pratapgarh and Dholpur. Nagaur has the third highest improvement in the industry to GDP ratio, the ninth highest improvement in the percentage of workers employed in industry and the third highest improvement in industry GDP per capita.

Infrastructure-Tonk (2001-11) : The southeastern districts are ranked higher in terms of improvement in infrastructure, with Tonk at the top. Tonk gets the honours mainly due to improvement in two parameters-the highest percentage of households with a landline and the second highest percentage of pucca houses.

Law and order-Bhilwara (2005-14) : Except for Bikaner, the top five most improved districts in this category lie in the southeastern part of Rajasthan. Bhilwara saw the highest drop in kidnapping and abduction cases as a percentage of the total cognisable crimes and the third highest drop in cases of rapes as a percentage of the total cognisable crimes. It is ranked seventh in terms of the total cognisable crimes per 1,000 population and the percentage of petty crimes.

Prosperity-Churu (2005-16) : There seems to be no regional pattern except that Sawai Madhopur (third), Karauli (fifth) and Tonk (second) are located next to each other. Churu (ranked first) and Sri Ganganagar (ranked fourth) are the northern districts in this category. Churu is the sixth most improved in terms of per capita spending, the second most improved in employment rate, the seventh most improved in bank credit per person and saw the highest reduction in the percentage of households with an annual income of less than Rs 75,000.

Services-Churu (2005-06 to 2015-16) : Churu saw the highest improvement in services primarily due to two parameters-services to GDP ratio and services to GDP per capita (the fourth most improved) and the percentage of workers employed in services (the second most improved). Barmer, a western district, and Chittorgarh, Jhalawar and Bundi, all southern districts, complete the top five.

Water and sanitation-Alwar (2001-2011) : Alwar, the manufacturing hub, stands out among the eastern districts. The other top five districts are concentrated in the state's west. Alwar saw the eighth highest improvement in the percentage of households with tap water supply, the fourth highest improvement in the percentage of households with toilets and the ninth highest improvement in the percentage of households with waste water outlet connected to closed drainage.

Overall most improved-Churu : Churu (north), Tonk (centre) and Jhalawar (south) are the top three most improved districts. Churu manages to secure the top spot mainly due to its performance in three categories-the highest improvement in prosperity, the highest improvement in services and the third highest improvement in water and sanitation.

 However, the fact is that despite having 10.4 per cent of India's landmass and a seventh of the country's population, Rajasthan contributes only 5 per cent of India's GDP. Rajasthan might have improved over its past performance, but given its potential it still has a long way to go when compared to neighbours Gujarat, Punjab and Haryana. Any roadmap for its future must give top priority to agriculture. Rajasthan must try and replicate the great successes of its northern districts, such as Sri Ganganagar, Hanumangarh in agriculture and prosperity.