NITI Aayog and Tourism Innovation

• NITI Aayog:
  • Established: January 1, 2015.
  • Role: Think Tank.
  • Chairman: Prime Minister of India.
  • Current Vice Chairman: Shri Suman Bery.
  • Current CEO: B.V.R. Subrahmanyam.
• Tourism Sector Focus: NITI Aayog is working on plans to boost tourism.
• Rajasthan IAS Officer Invited: Dr. Lalit K. Panwar was invited by NITI Aayog as an advisor for innovation in the tourism sector.
  • Background: He served as the Secretary of Tourism in Rajasthan and coined the slogan "Padharo Mhare Desh."
  • Other Roles: First Vice-Chancellor of Vishwakarma Skill University, former Chairman of RPSC, and headed the committee for the formation of new districts (related to administrative changes).
• Aspirational Districts Program:
  • Launched: January 2018.
  • Includes 112 districts across 27 states.
  • Rajasthan's included districts (5): Baran, Jaisalmer, Karauli, Dholpur, Sirohi.
• Tina Dabi (Collector, Barmer):
  • Initiatives: 'Navo Barmer' (cleanliness drive) and 'Maru Udan Program' (women empowerment).

Archaeological Excavation in Deeg

• Location: Bahaj village, Deeg (Bharatpur district, Rajasthan).
• Conducted by: Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
• Significance: Stated to be ASI's largest excavation project in Rajasthan.
• Dating: Discovered artifacts are claimed to be from 3500 to 1000 BCE.
• Key Discoveries:
  • Channel of the ancient Saraswati River (as mentioned in Rigveda).
  • Gold and silver coins.
  • Remains of buildings and furnaces.
  • Copper and iron artifacts.
  • Bone tools.
  • A 'Shrungkaalin Matri Devi' (Mother Goddess) idol.

Hall of Fame Award

• Award: Hall of Fame Award.
• Recipient: Dr. Neeraj Sarswat (Jaipur-based dentist).
• Event Location: Goa.
• Reason: Contribution to the field of medicine (dentistry).

Bhamashah Samman Samaroh (2025)

• Bhamashah: An individual in Rajasthan who provides financial assistance for school development.
• Award Categories for Contributions:
  • Shikshamitra: ₹5,000 - ₹25,000
  • Shiksha Saathi: ₹25,000 - ₹1,00,000
  • Shiksha Shri: ₹1,00,000 - ₹15,00,000
  • Shiksha Bhushan: ₹15,00,000 - ₹1,00,00,000
  • Shiksha Vibhushan: Above ₹1,00,00,000
• State-Level Ceremony:
  • Date: June 28, 2025.
  • Location: Jaipur.
  • Total Honorees: 135 Bhamashahs.
  • Award Distribution: 99 to receive Shiksha Bhushan, 36 to receive Shiksha Vibhushan.

Harit Bharat Expo 2025

• Harit Urja (Green Energy): Energy production that does not cause environmental pollution.
• Green Justice Conference: Held in Rajsamand.
• Green Energy Corridor:
  • Connects Banaskantha (Gujarat) to Moga (Punjab).
  • Rajasthan districts included: Ajmer, Nagaur, Chittorgarh, Bikaner, Hanumangarh, Jodhpur (6 districts).
• Harit Bharat Expo 2025:
  • Location: Kota.
  • Date: July 25-27, 2025.
  • Note: This is distinct from the 'Solar Bharat Expo' previously held in Udaipur.

Water Supply Department and Pipeline Coating

• Jal Jeevan Mission:
  • Objective: Provide tap water to every household ("Har Ghar Nal se Jal").
  • Launch: August 15, 2019.
  • Initial Target: 2024.
  • Revised Target: 2028.
  • Rajasthan Progress:
    • Initial tap connections (at mission start): 10.85% of households.
    • Current tap connections: 56.67% of households.
    • First block to achieve 100% target: Mandal Block (Bhilwara).
• Polyurethane Coating Technology:
  • Rajasthan's Water Supply Department signed an MoU for this technology.
  • Purpose: To coat pipelines to extend their lifespan from 15 to 30 years.
  • Partner Country: Malaysia.

9th National Senior Blind Powerlifting Championship

• Event: 9th National Senior Blind Powerlifting Championship.
• Location: Karnataka.
• Rajasthan's Performance: Won 3 medals.
  • 1 Gold Medal (won by Devansh).
  • 2 Bronze Medals.

Additional Current Affairs Points

• AFRI (Arid Forest Research Institute): Organized a three-day training program on "Rejuvenation of Degraded Arid Lands" in Jodhpur.
• Indian Army's Konark Corps: Conducted an exercise in Jaisalmer to test cannon firing range.
• Child Labor Liberation: Rajasthan ranks third nationally in efforts to free child laborers.
• Residential Girls Sports Institutes: To be established by the state government in various locations.
• Dr. Chakit Sharma: His research paper was published in the international journal IJCPSR.
• Khelo India University Games:
  • Will be held for the first time in Rajasthan.
  • Location: Jaipur (specifically Rajasthan University, and potentially Poornima University).