The Rajasthan government is reportedly planning on providing horoscopes, cast by professional astrologers, to all newborns in the state’s public and private hospitals. The move is being seen as an extension of the pre-poll promise made by Congress to set up a Vedic rituals and education board in the state.

In the first phase of the scheme that will be launched in Jaipur with the official title of ‘Rajiv Gandhi Janmapatri Yojana’, the horoscopes will be provided for free. In the second phase, government hospitals will charge Rs 51 per forecast, and private hospitals will charge Rs 101 for the service.

People who consider astrology to be superstitious might look sceptically at the scheme, but the state government believes that it will help generate around 3,000 jobs for government-certified astrologers who will be licensed to practice their calling.