Project description:We report the 5.8-Mb genome sequence of Rhodococcus qingshengii strain BKS 20-40, isolated from a palm tree rhizosphere soil sample from Bhitarkanika National Park, Odisha, India. The strain is capable of degrading cholesterol moiety. The draft genome of strain BKS 20-40 consists of 6,601,618 bp, with 62.4% G+C content.