Govt mulls 4-day workweek as part of austerity, fuel-saving measures

Jaipur: The state govt is planning to reduce the number of working days for non-emergency departments as part of a broader austerity and resource conservation initiative being shaped by the administration of chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

According to sources, the govt is planning a structured plan to gradually shift selected departments from the existing five-day workweek to a four-day workweek model. The move is aimed at reducing govt expenditure, fuel consumption and carbon emissions while maintaining administrative efficiency.

A govt source said Rajasthan is also closely monitoring similar experiments in other states before taking a final decision on implementation.

“The state is waiting to see how other states implement the four-day workweek model before rolling it out here,” the source said.

Officials believe the four-day workweek could reduce daily commuting by nearly 20%, resulting in significant savings in fuel consumption for both govt vehicles and private transport. The move is also expected to lower electricity consumption in govt offices by reducing the use of lighting, air conditioning and office equipment for one additional day every week.

Sources said the proposal is part of Rajasthan’s larger austerity and conservation measures following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s seven-point public appeal issued on May 10, urging citizens and institutions to conserve fuel and resources amid rising global energy prices and economic uncertainty.

Govt sources confirmed that district administrations have been instructed to actively implement measures aligned with the Prime Minister’s appeal. “The local administration has been asked to ensure these measures are implemented in campaign mode, including fuel conservation, carpooling, use of public transport and reduction of unnecessary travel,” a senior official said.

The Rajasthan govt has already initiated several austerity measures, including reducing the size of ministers’ and senior officials’ convoys, limiting non-essential travel, promoting video conferencing for official meetings and encouraging carpooling among govt officials.

The Rajasthan govt has already initiated several austerity measures, including reducing the size of ministers’ and senior officials’ convoys, limiting non-essential travel, promoting video conferencing for official meetings and encouraging carpooling among govt officials.

The Rajasthan government has already initiated several austerity measures, including reducing the size of ministers’ and senior officials’ convoys, limiting non-essential travel, promoting video conferencing for official meetings and encouraging carpooling among government officials.