Rajasthan Water Assessment: Potential for Private Sector Interventions

The northwestern state of Rajasthan, with a land area of 34.3 million hectares or 10.4 percent of India’s total area, is the largest Indian state. 5.6 percent of the country’s total population or 68.6 million live in the state, of which over 75 percent live in rural areas. The state has experienced a decadal population growth rate of 21.44 percent, which is among the highest in the country. An estimated 24.8 percent of the population lives below poverty line (BPL). The gross state domestic product (GSDP) in 2011-12 was $76.8 billion. Current per capita income is $1,122. Tertiary sector contributes 44.6 percent to GSDP, followed by primary sector at 29.2 and secondary sector at 26.2 percent. Agriculture/allied employ two-thirds of the state labor force and contribute roughly 26 percent of the GSDP.