The Rajasthan government has officially opened the Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme 2025 for online applications. The senior citizens are free to apply online from July 18 on the Devasthan Department website, and the application can be made up to August 10, 2025. Through the scheme, senior citizens will get an opportunity to go on spiritual pilgrims in India without having to pay even a single rupee.
Who Is Eligible to Apply under the Scheme?
To avail this scheme, the following criteria need to be fulfilled:
Must be a permanent resident of Rajasthan
Must be above 60 years in age
Should not be an income tax payer
Application is possible only for those who fulfill all the above three conditions. Those who have been waiting for more than one year now can apply.
Travel arrangements: 50,000 by train, 6,000 by air
In announcing the Budget 2025–26, the state launched proposals of transporting 6,000 pilgrims by air and 50,000 old pilgrims on religious pilgrimages by rail. This is the biggest spiritual tourism program carried out by any state in India.
The whole process of the selection will be completed by lottery, and this will be done at district level. The government will make all the arrangements for the trip itself for the person selected upon his/her selection.
Rajasthani Culture Will Shine on Train Coaches
To impart a more meaningful touch to this journey, the government has decided to infuse the trains with some culture. There would be the grace of Rajasthani culture on board each coach from folk dance and fairs to local painting and temples. The tourists would feel as if they were in Rajasthan even while crossing the length and breadth of the nation.
Forts, monuments, and other heritage points of different parts of Rajasthan will be embellished and painted on the buses. It’s not a pilgrimage, it’s a heritage and prideful journey.
Visit to Wagah Border Included This Time
Second, the Wagah Border will be included in this year’s tour itinerary by the government. This patriotic landmark will be one of the highlights of the tour. It will give senior citizens nostalgia and patriotic sentiments during the tour.
How to Apply Online
Interested applicants can visit the official website of the Devasthan Department at: https://devasthan.rajasthan.gov.in
Here, one can fill the application form, verify the eligibility, and get all the information regarding the rules and jurisdiction under the scheme. It is better to apply in time before the deadline so as not to miss the chance.
This is not just a ride, it’s an effort by the government to pay homage to the elderly, to bring them back to their religious heritage, and to celebrate the cultural diversity of Rajasthan.