During a high-level review meeting held at the Government Secretariat on Wednesday, Devasthan Minister Shri Joram Kumaawat issued strict guidelines to officials to ensure smooth execution of the scheme.

56,000 Senior Citizens to Benefit This Year

In line with the budget announcements made by Chief Minister Shri Bhajan Lal Sharma, the scope of the scheme has been expanded this year. During 2026-27, a total of 56,000 senior citizens will be taken on free pilgrimages. Out of these:

• 50,000 Pilgrims: Will travel via special trains.
• 6,000 Pilgrims: Will be provided the benefit of air travel.

“Somnath Swabhimaan Parva Yatra” Special Train to Depart on June 5

The meeting also thoroughly reviewed the preparations for the special religious tourist train starting from June 5, 2026. Operating under the “Somnath Swabhimaan Parva Yatra,” this train will depart from Jaipur’s Durgapura Railway Station at around 3:00 PM.

Complete Travel Schedule and Route (June 5 to 10)

• Route and Boarding: Departing from Jaipur, the special train will halt for about 20 minutes each at Ajmer and Abu Road stations, allowing senior citizens from other districts to board.
• June 6 (Arrival in Somnath): The train will reach Somnath at around 11:30 AM. Passengers will be accommodated in hotels, and local sightseeing of religious places will begin after some rest.
• June 7 (Departure for Dwarka): After the remaining sightseeing at Somnath and Nageshwar, the train will leave for Dwarka at around 11:30 PM.
• June 8 & 9 (Dwarka Dhish Darshan): Upon reaching Dwarka around 6:00 AM on June 8, passengers will be transferred to hotels. After resting, they will visit the historic Dwarkadhish Temple and other local shrines. Following a full day of sightseeing on June 9, the return journey to Jaipur will commence at 6:00 PM.
• June 10 (Return to Jaipur): The train will arrive back at Jaipur at around 4:00 PM. Provision for passengers to deboard at Abu Road and Ajmer stations has also been made during the return journey.

World-Class Safety and Comfort Arrangements

Devasthan Minister Shri Joraram Kumaawat emphasized that no negligence regarding the safety, catering, and medical care of the elderly during the journey would be tolerated.

“Our senior citizens must feel a homely environment and receive utmost respect throughout the journey. Devasthan Department and IRCTC officials must work in seamless coordination.” — Shri Joraram Kumaawat, Devasthan Minister

Special Facilities On Board:

• Comfortable Coaches: The train will consist of 14 Air-Conditioned (AC) coaches, 2 power cars, and 1 pantry car.
• All-Inclusive Free Package: Catering, hotel stays, local transport, and temple entry arrangements will be fully managed and funded by the Devasthan Department.
• Medical Team: To handle any medical emergencies, one doctor and two nursing staff members will be deployed on the train.
• Support Staff: One train in-charge and two instructors (guides) per coach will be present to assist the elderly passengers.

Other Key Decisions

During the review meeting, the Minister also directed officials to accelerate the renovation of heritage temples across the state, fast-track the Sindhu Darshan Scheme, execute the department’s cadre review, and speed up new recruitment processes. Furthermore, instructions were given to expedite trust registration work and ensure swift resolution of pending court cases.

The meeting was attended virtually by Shuchi Tyagi (Secretary, Devasthan Department), Gitesh Malviya (Additional Commissioner), along with assistant commissioners from across the state.

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. For official rules, eligibility criteria, and precise guidelines regarding the ‘Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme 2026-27’, please refer to the official portal or notifications issued by the Devasthan Department, Government of Rajasthan.

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The Devasthan Department of the Government of Rajasthan has finalized operational preparations for its highly popular and ambitious welfare initiative, the ‘Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme-2026’. Expanding the operational scope of the welfare program this year, a total of 56,000 senior citizens will be provided completely free travel and guided visits to renowned domestic and international spiritual hubs.

Mr. Laxmi Narayan Mantri, Commissioner of the Devasthan Department, announced official updates on Monday, May 18, 2026, confirming that the digital application gateway for the program is scheduled to open shortly. The precise timeline, application windows, and detailed operational guidelines will be hosted live on the department’s authorized web portal: [http://devasthan.rajasthan.gov.in](http://devasthan.rajasthan.gov.in).

Travel Routes and Structural Seat Allocation Matrix

Authorized under recent budgetary declarations, the transport framework for pilgrims this year has been structured into two distinct operational corridors:

• Rail Route Pilgrimages (50,000 Seats): The largest segment of the scheme will allocate 50,000 seats to senior citizens, charting dedicated pilgrim trains across a network of 15 highly revered domestic faith centers across the country.
• Air Route Pilgrimages (6,000 Seats): A specialized allocation of 6,000 seats has been reserved for flight-based itineraries. Notably, the international pilgrimage route to the revered Pashupatinath Temple (Kathmandu, Nepal) will be operated exclusively via air transit.

Eligibility Criteria and Mandatory Documentation Framework

Clarifying the regulatory checks of the scheme, Additional Commissioner of Devasthan, Gitesh Shri Malviya, stated that strict screening protocols have been deployed to ensure that the welfare benefits reach eligible elderly residents.

Mandatory Eligibility Requirements:

1. Domicile Status: The applicant must be a certified, permanent resident of the state of Rajasthan.
2. Age Threshold: The senior citizen must have attained the age of 60 years or above as of the official date of application.

Required Documentation Portfolio:

• Jan Aadhaar Card: Utilized as the primary instrument for identity and structural address verification.
• Voter ID Card: Required as secondary proof of citizenship and chronological age.
• Medical Fitness Certificate: A compulsory health clearance validating that the applicant is physically fit to undertake long-distance travel.
• Income & Utilization Self-Declaration: Applicants must submit a formal, signed affidavit affirming that they do not fall under the active income-tax-paying brackets and have never previously availed themselves of the financial benefits of this state-sponsored pilgrimage scheme.

Transparent Selection via a Computerized Lottery System

According to departmental directives, eligible residents can submit their registrations online either independently through the unified state portal or by visiting their nearest authorized E-Mitra service kiosks once the submission dates are formally published.

Following the closure of the application window, all digital forms will undergo rigorous verification processing. The final selection of the 56,000 travelers will be executed through a highly transparent, automated Computerized Lottery System. Administrative officials have advised all prospective applicants to securely retain the digital acknowledgment receipts generated upon form submission for future reference and real-time tracking of the lottery results.

Disclaimer: This social welfare, public policy, and religious tourism dispatch is compiled directly from authorized administrative circulars, press updates, and executive briefings released by the Devasthan Department, Government of Rajasthan, on May 18, 2026. The precise launch dates for online forms, the definitive itinerary of the 15 selected destination circuits, and localized E-Mitra processing fees remain subject to standard statutory notices issued by the state administration. For certified tracking, please refer to the official portals of the Rajasthan Devasthan Department.

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