The office of the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India has set a Dec 31 deadline for any change in boundaries of administrative units, which allows the Bhajan Lal Sharma govt to dissolve new districts created under the previous Cong govt. It lifted the freezing of administrative unit boundaries up to Dec 31.

In a letter issued to chief secretaries or administrators of states and UTs, the census office said that boundaries of administrative units for the ensuing census will now be frozen with effect from Jan 1, 2025. Earlier, the freezing of boundaries was extended up to June 6. "Kindly issue necessary instructions to all concerned in state or UT to give effect to changes in administrative boundaries, if any, latest by Dec 31, and send copies of notification on jurisdictional changes to Directorate of Census Operations in state/UT with endorsement to this office," the letter says.

Following this letter, it is believed that the Bhajan Lal govt may dissolve some smaller districts established during the Gehlot govt. The govt is considering the merger of smaller districts with nearby districts, which may include Dudu, Khairthal-Tijara, Kekri, Salumber, Sanchore, and Shahpura.

A cabinet sub-committee, headed by Madan Dilawar, has been reviewing the creation of 17 districts by the Ashok Gehlot-led govt. The committee is expected to finalise its report soon and submit it to CM Sharma. Earlier, an expert committee, headed by retired IAS Lalit K Panwar, submitted its report to the state govt on Aug 30. According to sources, the committee found several smaller districts to be unsuitable.