Bikaner, Oct. 1 -- Rajasthan will present its first Youth Budget as part of the state Budget for 2027-28, with the Finance Department directing administrative departments to identify and consolidate expenditure on programmes aimed at the 15-29 age group. The finance department issued detailed guidelines on September 28, asking departments across the state to identify and consolidate youth-related expenditure for inclusion in the Youth Budget. The move comes days after chief minister Bhajan Lal Sharma announced on September 18 that the state would introduce a dedicated Youth Budget for the next financial year. During the consultation process, young participants shared suggestions on employment, education and technical knowledge, skill development, youth welfare and opportunities for overall development. The government said these inputs would be considered while framing initiatives for the upcoming budget year. According to the Finance Department's guidelines, the Youth Budget will cover government programmes and activities related to youth development, employment generation, skill enhancement and youth welfare. The department has also invited public suggestions for the Youth Budget through a dedicated portal. The exercise follows the Rajasthan Youth Policy, 2026, which seeks to place youth development within the state's broader development strategy. The Finance Department has identified 11 areas for the Youth Budget, including education, training and skill development, employment and livelihood promotion, entrepreneurship and startups, scholarships and financial assistance, sports, research and technology, art and culture, and health and social development. The guidelines direct administrative departments to review their schemes and budget heads during the Budget Finalisation Committee process for 2027-28 and identify expenditure eligible for inclusion in the Youth Budget. The expenditure will be classified in Budget Volume 4-F into two categories. Category A will comprise schemes in which 70% or more of the total provision is proposed for youth welfare or all-round development. Category B will comprise schemes where the youth component is below 70%. The Youth Affairs and Sports Department has been designated as the nodal department for preparing the Youth Budget and monitoring expenditure and progress. A dedicated Youth Budget Cell will also be constituted, while each administrative department will nominate a nodal officer for the exercise....