Rajasthan Current Affairs (July 29, 2025)

State-level Forest Festival & Awards

• State-level Van Mahotsav:
  • Organized on July 27, 2025 (Hariyali Teej) at Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Sanskrit University.
  • Chief Guest: CM Bhajan Lal Sharma.
  • CM mentioned the "Hariyalo Rajasthan" program, launched on August 7, 2024, from Jaipur, with a target of planting 10 crore trees in 2025 (2.5 crore planted on Hariyali Teej) and 50 crore trees over the next 5 years. The aim is to increase forest cover by 20 hectares by 2027-28.
• Amrita Devi Smriti Van Award 2023:
  • Initiated in 1994, first awarded to Gangaram Bishnoi.
  • Categories & Recipients:
    • Forest Development Category: Upkar Sansthan, Alwar (₹1 lakh).
    • Forest Protection & Security Category: Murari Dan Barath (Jalore) and Ajit Singh (Sikar).
    • Wildlife Conservation Category: Dr. Gauri Shankar Sharma (Jaipur) and Govind Bhardwaj (Jaipur).
• Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 (Rajasthani Language):
  • Bal Puraskar: Bhogilal Patidar for "Pankheruri Peeda".
  • Yuva Award: Poonamchand Godara for "Antasre Angane".

Energy Projects

• Gorbiya Solar Energy Project:
  • Inaugurated at Bap (Big Seed) in Phalodi.
  • Capacity: 435 MW.
  • Developed by Jelestra Company.
• Other Solar & Water Projects:
  • Bhadla Solar Park (Phalodi): World's largest solar park (2245 MW), developed in four phases.
  • Khichan Village (Phalodi): Famous for Kurja birds, declared a Ramsar site on June 4, 2025.
  • Bap Village (Phalodi): Features Bap Lake (Phalodi Lake) known for salt production (saline). Contains Bap Boulder (Permo-Carboniferous era glacial deposits of smooth, round stones).
  • Kukas Village (Jaipur): Construction of ponds for 10 crore liters of rainwater harvesting.
  • Bhinajpura (Jaisalmer): Inauguration of a 975 MW solar power project by Union Energy Minister Prahlad Joshi.

Education & Health Initiatives

• Digital Health Foundation Course MoU:
  • Signed on July 24, 2025, between Kota Foundation (Mumbai) and Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), Jaipur.
  • Purpose: To launch a Digital Health Foundation Course.
• Rajasthan University (Jaipur):
  • Established: January 8, 1947.
  • Vice-Chancellor: Alpana Kateja.
  • NAAC Grade: A+.
  • Magazine: "The Economist".
• Rajasthan University of Health Sciences (RUHS), Jaipur:
  • Established: 2005.
  • Developing the state's first RIMS (Rajasthan Institute of Medical Sciences) on the lines of AIIMS.
• Mohanlal Sukhadia University:
  • Established: 1962.
  • Vice-Chancellor: Sunita Mishra (First female VC).
  • Features a Constitution Park and Sant Peepa Adhyayan Kendra.
• Jai Narayan Vyas University:
  • Location: Jodhpur.
  • Established: 1962.

Economic Development & Trade

• India-United Kingdom Free Trade Agreement (FTA):
  • Rajasthan industries expected to gain new international market recognition.
  • Beneficiary Sectors: Gems and Jewelry, Textiles and Garments, Marble Stone and Handicrafts.
• Industry Context:
  • Gems & Jewelry: Jaipur is known as the "Gem Market" (Ratan Mandi) and houses the Gems & Jewelry SEZ.
  • Textiles: Cotton textile industry is Rajasthan's oldest and most traditional industry.
  • Marble Stone & Handicrafts:
    • Stone is Rajasthan's highest mineral production and export (by weight).
    • CEDOS (Centre for Development of Stones): Located in Jaipur, established in 1998 with RIICO's support, focuses on stone processing and value addition.
    • India Stone Mart: 13th edition will be held from February 5-8, 2026, in Jaipur. The 12th edition was held from February 1-4, 2024.

Infrastructure

• New Rail Project Survey:
  • Railway Ministry approved budget for a survey of a new rail line from Jaisalmer to Barmer and Bhabhar.
  • This project will connect Rajasthan and Gujarat/South India.
  • Length: 380 km.
  • Budget for survey: ₹10 crore.

Wildlife & Conservation

• Tiger Reserves in Rajasthan: Five operational tiger projects.
  • Ranthambore (1973, first in Rajasthan).
  • Sariska (1978).
  • Mukundra Hills (2013).
  • Ramgarh Vishdhari (2022).
  • Dholpur-Karauli (2023).
• Tigress Machhli (T16) Memorial:
  • Constructed at Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (Sawai Madhopur).
  • Inaugurated on July 29, 2025 (International Tiger Day) by Forest Minister Sanjay Sharma.
  • Ranthambore was the site of the first tiger translocation in June 2008.
  • An Over and Under Bridge is also being constructed in the area.
• Tigress Rajmata (ST2) Memorial:
  • Constructed at Sariska Tiger Reserve.

Sports

• 7th Indian Open Para Athletics International Championship:
  • Held in Bengaluru.
  • Rajasthan's Sunil Kumar Sahu won a silver medal in the long jump.

Revision of Past Current Affairs

• 14th Joint Military Exercise "Bold Kurukshetra 2025" (India & Singapore Armies): Held in Jodhpur.
• Chairman, Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority: Justice Sanjeev Prakash Sharma.
• Temple Corridor Project Budget Sanctioned: Mathuradheesh Ji Temple.
• Statues Unveiled by Governor (Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan & Swami Vivekananda): Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Ayurveda University.
• International Earth Science Olympiad (China) - Rajasthan Representative from India: Apamnidhi Pandey.
• Union Finance Ministry - State's Average Per Capita Income (2024-25): ₹96,638.
• Under-19 All India IPSC Chess Competition (Indore) - Medals: Aasi Upadhyay (Gold) and Nandini Sharma (Silver).