Pravasi Rajasthani Meet and Investment Initiatives

• Pravasi Rajasthani Meet 2025:
  • Held on October 28, 2025, in Kolkata.
  • Part of efforts to connect Rajasthanis living outside the state.
  • Previous meets: Hyderabad (September 26, 2025), Surat (October 8, 2025).
• "Rising India" Program (2024):
  • Dates: December 9-11, 2024.
  • Venue: JECC, Sitapura, Jaipur.
  • December 9, 2024:
    • Inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi (presented a sandalwood sword by architect Vinod Jangid).
    • Tourism event also organized.
  • December 10, 2024:
    • Rajasthan CM Bhajanlal Sharma announced:
      • Rajasthan's economy to reach $350 billion in the next 5 years.
      • "Pravasi Rajasthani Divas" to be celebrated annually on December 10, aiming to attract investment and create employment opportunities in Rajasthan.
• "Rising Rajasthan" (related to Rising India summit):
  • Partner Countries: 17
  • Participating Countries: 15
  • MoUs Signed: 10,640, totaling ₹35,617 crore in investment.
  • Sector with Most MoUs (by number): Industry (3,675 MoUs, aiming for ₹3,28,151 crore investment).
  • Sector with Most Investment (by value): Energy.

National Service Scheme (NSS)

• NSS Youth Icon: Ankit Sharma appointed as the new youth icon.
• National NSS Award Recipients (Rajasthan):
  • Bulbul Pathak (first from Rajasthan).
  • Lalit Tiwari (awarded by the President).
  • Dr. Saroj Meena (awarded by the President).

Special Intensive Revision Process for Voters

• Indian Election Commission:
  • Establishment: January 25, 1950.
  • Nature: Autonomous constitutional body.
  • Chief Election Commissioner (at time of lecture): Gyanesh Kumar.
  • Functions: Conducts elections for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha, Vidhan Sabha, President, and Vice-President.
• Special Intensive Revision (SIR) Process:
  • Announced for 12 states, including Rajasthan.
  • Purpose: Verification of voter lists (adding new voters, removing deceased/migrated ones).
  • Rajasthan Dates: October 28, 2025, to February 7, 2026.
  • Implications: Voter lists frozen, transfers of officials restricted.
  • Door-to-door Verification: November 4 to December 4.
• Rajasthan Election Commission:
  • Establishment: July 1994, under Article 243K.
  • Chief Electoral Officer (Rajasthan): Naveen Mahajan.
  • Chief Election Commissioner (Rajasthan): Rajeshwar Singh.
  • Functions: Conducts elections for local bodies.

Smart City Development in Rajasthan

• National Smart City Project:
  • Launch: June 25, 2015.
  • First Smart City: Bhubaneswar.
  • Rajasthan's Smart Cities: Jaipur, Udaipur, Ajmer, Kota.
• Rajasthan Budget 2025-26 (Green Budget):
  • Initiative: Development of "Clean and Green Eco-Cities."
  • Target: 16 cities.
  • Budget: ₹900 crore.
  • Funding: Assistance from World Bank and Asian Development Bank (ADB).
• Jaipur Smart City Limited (JSCL):
  • Initially established for Jaipur's smart city development.
  • Now tasked with developing six more cities as smart cities.
  • Six Cities: Mandaawa (known as "Open Art Gallery"), Khatushyam Ji, Bhiwadi, Alwar, Bikaner, and Bharatpur.

Recognition of Fennel Variety and Crop Development

• Plant Variety and Farmers' Rights Protection Authority:
  • Recognized "Aabu Fennel 440" (Aabu Saunf 440), a fennel variety primarily grown in the Mount Abu-Sirohi region.
• Recent Crop Varieties Developed in Rajasthan:
  • CAZRI (Central Arid Zone Research Institute):
    • Pomegranate: Kajri Vishal
    • Fig: Diana
    • Gunda: Maru Samriddhi
  • Jodhpur Agricultural University:
    • Cumin: Jodhpur Jeera One (JC1)
    • Nutritious Cereal: Rajgira 0.2
  • Sri Narendra Karnika Agricultural University, Jobner:
    • Fennel: RF 290
  • Mustard Research Center, Sevwar Bharatpur:
    • Mustard: Bharat Sarson 7, Bharat Sarson 8
  • Maharana Pratap University of Agriculture and Technology:
    • Maize: Pratap Shankar Six
    • Opium: Chetak

Railway Services

• New Blanket Cover Service:
  • Union Railway Minister Ashwini Singh launched a blanket cover service with "Sanganeri Print" at Khatipura Railway Station, Jaipur.
  • Sanganeri Print is famous in Sanganer, Jaipur, and has a GI tag.

Sports Achievements

• 3rd Youth Asian Games (Bahrain):
  • Handball: Rajasthan's Mamta (from Sikar) selected for the Indian Handball team. (North Mewara also associated with handball).
  • Kabaddi: India won Gold.
    • Male Team (Rajasthan Player): Sachin Chaudhary.
    • Female Team (Rajasthan Players): Akshita, Lakshita, Nikita, Krishna.

Other Recent Current Affairs (Quick Recap)

• National Nutrition Month 2025: Rajasthan secured the second position nationally.
• Rajasthan's First Vrasjan Atal Club: Inaugurated in Jaipur.
• Scramjet Engine and Space Robot Retrieval Technology: Developed by IIT Jodhpur.
• Vande Bharat Sleeper Coach Maintenance Depot Workshop and Training Center Expansion: Bhagat Ki Kothi Station.
• Consumer Care Campaign: Operated by the Consumer Affairs Department, Government of Rajasthan.
• Miss Teen Universe 2025 Grand Finale: Organized in Jaipur.
• Asian Cup Indian Baseball Team (China): Rajasthan's Rinku Kumari selected.
• Rajasthan's 13th Lokayukta (appointed Oct 2023): Pratap Krishna Lohra.