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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