Rajasthan Assembly Passes Bill to Repeal Two-Child Norm for Urban Local Body Elections

In a significant policy shift, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly has passed a Bill repealing the controversial two-child norm that previously disqualified individuals with more than two children from contesting elections to urban local bodies (ULBs) in the state.

The amendment removes a long-standing restriction under the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009, which had barred candidates with more than two children from participating in municipal elections. With the passage of the new Bill, aspiring candidates will now be eligible to contest elections to municipal bodies regardless of the number of children they have.

Change in Eligibility Rules

The two-child norm had been introduced as part of population control measures and was applicable to elections for municipal corporations, municipal councils and municipal boards across Rajasthan. Under the rule, candidates who had more than two children after a specified cut-off date were considered ineligible to run for office.

However, the state government argued that the provision was discriminatory and prevented many individuals—particularly women—from participating in local governance.

Government’s Rationale

While presenting the Bill, the state government said the rule often resulted in unintended consequences, including discouraging political participation and affecting families where the number of children increased due to factors beyond an individual’s control.

Officials also pointed out that similar restrictions have been debated across different states, with critics arguing that such norms may violate principles of equality and democratic participation.

Impact on Local Governance

The repeal is expected to expand the pool of candidates eligible to contest elections for urban local bodies across Rajasthan. Supporters of the move believe it will encourage greater participation in grassroots democracy and remove barriers that prevented many citizens from entering public life.

Local bodies such as municipal corporations and councils play a crucial role in managing urban services, including sanitation, water supply, urban planning and local infrastructure.

Political Debate

The decision sparked debate among political parties in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly, with some lawmakers supporting the move as a step toward inclusive governance while others raised concerns that removing the rule might weaken efforts to promote population control.

Despite the differences of opinion, the Bill was eventually passed by the House.

Looking Ahead

With the repeal of the two-child norm, election rules for urban local bodies in Rajasthan will now focus on broader democratic participation rather than family size restrictions.

Observers say the change could influence discussions in other states that have adopted similar eligibility rules for local elections, potentially shaping future debates on governance, population policy and electoral participation.