Rajasthan Current Affairs (November 17, 2025)

Appointments & Governance

• New Chief Secretary: V. Srinivas (1989 batch IAS officer, Rajasthan cadre) appointed as the 46th Chief Secretary of Rajasthan.
  • The Chief Secretary is the state's highest administrative officer and the highest authority during crises.
  • The Secretariat in Jaipur was established in 1949 based on the Shankar Rao Committee recommendations.
  • Historical Chief Secretaries:
    • First: K. Radhakrishnan.
    • First Woman: Kushal Singh.
    • Second Woman: Usha Sharma.
    • Longest Tenure: B.S. Mehta.
    • Shortest Tenure: H.M. Mathur.
    • 45th: Sudhansh Pant.
• Lalit K. Pawar:
  • Served as Chairman of RPSC.
  • First Vice-Chancellor of Vishwakarma Skill University, Jaipur.
  • Associated with the tourism slogan "Padharo Mhare Des".
  • Headed the committee for the formation of 50 to 41 districts in Rajasthan.

Defense & Security

• Joint Military Exercises (2025) in Rajasthan:
  • Ajay Warrior VIII: Between India and UK, held at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Bikaner (November 8-17).
  • Other exercises at Mahajan Field Firing Range, Bikaner:
    • Cyclone III: India and Egypt.
    • Amogh Fury: Indian Army.
    • Indra 2025: India and Russia.
  • Jaisalmer:
    • Trishul (Maha Gujraj): Largest exercise with 30,000 soldiers.
    • Maru Jwala: Conducted in Pokhran as part of Maha Gujraj.
  • Jodhpur (Ratandada Military Airbase):
    • Bold Kurukshetra.

Sports & Awards

• International Scouting: Shubham Sharma (Rajasthan) represented India at the International Scouting event in Taiwan.
  • President's Scout Award:
    • Anika Ansari and Mahrook Arzoo (August 2025).
    • Dinesh Kumar (July 2025).
• Asia Rugby Under 18 Championship (China): Vijay Shri Rathore (Kishangarh, Ajmer) captained the Indian team.
• Other Sportspersons:
  • Avni Rathore: Badminton.
  • Rinku Kumari (Jhunjhunu): Baseball.
  • Manin Kaushik: Shooting (50-meter rifle).

Pilgrimage & Social Schemes

• Devsthan Vibhag Schemes:
  • Sindhu Darshan Pilgrimage Scheme:
    • Provides financial assistance of 50% of travel cost or a maximum of ₹15,000 to pilgrims.
    • Forms accepted until December 31.
    • Launched on April 1, 2016.
    • Benefits 200 pilgrims annually.
  • Senior Citizen Pilgrimage Scheme:
    • Launched in 2013 (train) and 2016 (air).
    • Free travel.
    • Budget 2025-26 announced an increase to 56,000 pilgrims (6,000 by air, 50,000 by rail).
  • Kailash Mansarovar Pilgrimage Scheme:
    • Launched on April 1, 2011.
    • Benefits 100 pilgrims annually.
    • Provides ₹1 lakh assistance per pilgrim.
  • Apna Dham Apna Kaam Scheme: Launched in 2008 (promotes community participation in religious place development).
  • Kalash Moksha Yatra Scheme: Launched in 2020 (for immersion of ashes, especially during COVID).
• Budget 2025-26: Priests' honorarium increased to ₹7,500.

Infrastructure & Development

• Wax Museum: A Wax Museum, modeled after Madame Tussauds in London, will be built in Jaisalmer.
  • Jaipur already has a Wax Museum, with a recent announcement for a statue of Harmanpreet Kaur.
• North India's First Robotic Implant Hub: To be established in Jaipur.
  • Jaipur is being developed as a Medical Tourism Hub.
  • SMS Hospital, Jaipur, already houses the state's first Robotic Lab.
  • The announcement was made during "Oceanacon 2025," a dental medical festival in Jaipur, indicating a focus on robotic dental surgery.
• Jaisalmer Current Affairs:
  • Mega Village: Discovery of "flying dinosaurs."
  • Ratadiyara Dera: Discovery of an ancient civilization.
  • Koodi Village: Hosted the State-level Yoga Day on June 21, 2025.
  • Bhadariya: Identified as the largest Oran (sacred grove).
  • Longewala: Rajnath Singh inaugurated a Light and Sound show at the War Museum.
  • Bodana: Site of a 2000 MW Solar Park.

Economic Indicators (Economic Review 2024-25)

• Urban Land Allotment Policy 2025: Approved on August 23, 2025.
• Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) Growth Rate (2023-24 estimates):
  • At Current Prices: 12.17%
  • At Constant Prices (2011-12 base): 7.88%
• Contribution to Gross State Value Added (GSVA) at Current Prices (2024-25 estimates):
  • Service Sector: 45.92%
  • Agriculture Sector: 26.92%
  • Industry Sector: 27.16%

Recent News

• Morel Dam: Asia's largest raw dam, recently in news due to chemical waste.
• Patrika National Book Fair: Held at Jawahar Kala Kendra, Jaipur.
• "Rajasthan Ka Samajik Sanskritik Itihas" book: Released by Ghanshyam Tiwari.
• Cannes Bank International Film Festival: Nidhi Saxena received the New Voice Award.
• 44th North Zone Rifle Shooting Championship (Dehradun): Vaibhav Pratap Singh Chauhan (Rajasthan) won a bronze medal.