Rajasthan

Appearance

Census 2011 Highlights ​

  • Historical Context:

    • First Census: 1872, during Viceroy Mayo's tenure.
    • First Decennial (Scientific) Census: 1881, during Viceroy Ripon's tenure (set the 10-year interval).
    • First Census Commissioner of India: W.C. Plowden.
    • Great Divide Year: 1921 (1911-21 decade saw population decrease due to famines and epidemics).

  • 2011 Census Specifics:

    • Overall Rank: 15th census of India.
    • Post-Independence Rank: 7th census since 1951.
    • Decennial Series Rank: 14th decennial census.
    • Census Commissioner (2011): C. Chandramouli.
    • Motto: "Our Census, Our Future."
    • Total Population: 121.09 crore (second globally in 2011, now India is first).
    • Decadal Growth (2001-2011): 17.7%.
    • Gender Distribution: Males 51.47%, Females 48.53%.

  • Geographical Data (States & UTs):

    • Area:
      • Largest State: Rajasthan.
      • Smallest State: Goa.
      • Largest Union Territory: Ladakh.
      • Smallest Union Territory: Lakshadweep.
    • Population:
      • Highest Population State: Uttar Pradesh (16.51% of India's population).
      • Lowest Population State: Sikkim (0.05% of India's population).
    • Decadal Growth Rate:
      • Highest Growth Rate State: Meghalaya (27.9%).
      • Lowest Growth Rate State (Negative): Nagaland (-0.6%).
    • Population Density (Persons per sq. km.):
      • Highest Density State: Bihar (1106).
      • Lowest Density State: Arunachal Pradesh (17).
      • Highest Density Union Territory: Delhi.
    • Sex Ratio (Females per 1000 Males):
      • India's Sex Ratio: 943.
      • Highest Sex Ratio State: Kerala (1084 - only state above 1000).
      • Lowest Sex Ratio State: Haryana (879).
    • Child Sex Ratio (0-6 years):
      • Highest Child Sex Ratio State: Arunachal Pradesh (972).
      • Lowest Child Sex Ratio State: Haryana (834).

  • Socio-Economic Data:

    • Literacy Rate:
      • India's Literacy Rate: 73%.
      • Male Literacy: 80.09%.
      • Female Literacy: 64.60%.
      • Highest Literacy State: Kerala (94%).
      • Lowest Literacy State: Bihar (61.80%).
    • Rural Population (% of state's population):
      • Highest Rural Population State: Himachal Pradesh (90%).
    • Urban Population (% of state's population):
      • Highest Urban Population (percentage-wise): Goa (62.2%).
      • Highest Urban Population (number-wise): Maharashtra (5.08 crore).
    • Scheduled Caste (SC) Population:
      • Highest SC Population (number-wise): Uttar Pradesh.
      • Highest SC Population (percentage-wise): Punjab (31.9%).
    • Scheduled Tribe (ST) Population:
      • Highest ST Population (number-wise): Madhya Pradesh.
      • Highest ST Population (percentage-wise): Mizoram (94%).

Current Affairs ​

Space & Technology ​

  • ISRO's Hope Mission:
    • Launched by ISRO in Ladakh's Soaker Valley (August 1-10).
    • Full Form: Himalayan Outpost for Planetary Exploration.
    • Purpose: Analog simulation to prepare for future human missions to Moon/Mars. Ladakh chosen due to high altitude, low pressure, cold desert, and high UV radiation, mimicking extraterrestrial environments.
    • ISRO: Established August 15, 1969; Headquarters in Bengaluru.
    • Chandrayaan-3: India's third lunar mission, launched July 14, 2023, landed on Moon's South Pole August 23, 2023. The landing site is named 'Shiv Shakti Point'. August 23 is observed as National Space Day.
    • Nissar: Joint mission by NASA and ISRO (Synthetic Aperture Radar), launched by GSLV F16.

Geography & Environment ​

  • Volcanic Eruptions:
    • Krashinikob Volcano (Russia): Located on the Kamchatka Peninsula, erupted after 600 years. This eruption followed a powerful 8.8 magnitude earthquake in the region, which also caused tsunamis. Ash plume reached 4 km high.
    • Mount Lewotobi Laki-laki (Indonesia): Another recent volcanic eruption.
    • Volcanic activity creates igneous rocks.
    • Mount Taal: A prominent volcano in the Philippines.
  • Green GDP Model: Chhattisgarh is the first Indian state to adopt a Green GDP model.
  • Matru Van Initiative:
    • Launched by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav and Manohar Lal Khattar in Gurugram, Haryana.
    • Aim: Develop 750 acres of urban forest in the Aravalli hills.
    • Will replace Kabuli Keekar trees with native species like Dhak and Amaltas.
    • Aravalli Range: World's oldest fold mountain range, spanning Gujarat, Rajasthan, Haryana, and Delhi (approx. 690 km). Highest peak: Guru Shikhar (Rajasthan).

International Relations & Conferences ​

  • Third UN Conference on Landlocked Developing Countries (LLDC3):
    • Location: Ashgabat, Turkmenistan (August 5-8).
    • Theme: "Progress through Partnership".
    • First LLDC conference: Almaty, Kazakhstan.
    • There are 32 landlocked developing countries globally.
    • Largest Landlocked Country: Kazakhstan.
    • Turkmenistan shares a border with the Caspian Sea (the world's largest lake).
    • Caspian Sea Bordering Countries: Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Azerbaijan, Russia.
  • Slovenia's Arms Ban: Slovenia became the first European Union nation to ban all arms trade with Israel.
  • Future Minerals Forum 2025: Held in Riyadh.

Defense & Security ​

  • Indian Navy - Project 17A:
    • Aim: Develop seven stealth frigates for the Indian Navy.
    • "Stealth" means undetectable by enemy radar. "Frigate" is a small warship.
    • Latest inducted frigate: INS Himgiri.
    • First of the series: INS Nilgiri.
    • Construction: Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, and Mazagon Dock Limited (MDL).
    • Project 17A (Alpha) Frigate launched in 2019.
    • Naval Vice Chief: Vice Admiral Sanjay Vatsayan (47th), replaced Krishna Swaminathan.
    • Chief of Naval Staff: Admiral Dinesh Tripathi.
    • Navy Day: Celebrated on December 4, commemorating Operation Trident during the 1971 Indo-Pak War (attack on Karachi).
    • Indian Navy Flag: Inspired by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj's navy.
  • L&T Shipyard: Launched second multipurpose vessel Utkarsh in Chennai for the Indian Navy.

Awards & Events ​

  • 71st National Film Awards (for 2023 films):
    • Committee Head: Ashutosh Gowariker.
    • Awards started: 1954.
    • Best Feature Film: 12th Fail (Director: Vidhu Vinod Chopra).
    • Best Director: Sudipto Sen (for The Kerala Story).
    • Best Actor: Shah Rukh Khan (for Jawan - his first National Film Award in this category) and Vikram Massey (for 12th Fail).
    • Best Actress: Rani Mukerji (for Mrs. Chatterjee vs Norway).
    • Most Popular Entertainment Film: Rocky Aur Rani Kii Prem Kahaani.
    • Best Film on Environment Conservation: Sam Bahadur.
    • Best Children's Film: Naal 2 (Marathi).
    • Best Hindi Film (under 8th Schedule languages): Kathal.
  • 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2025 (Best Motion Picture): The Brutalist.

Health & Social Initiatives ​

  • Organ Transplant (India):
    • India ranks 3rd globally in organ transplants (as of 2024), behind USA and China.
    • Approximately 18,900 organ transplants were performed in India in 2024.
    • Information provided by Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda.
    • National Organ Transplant Day: Celebrated on August 3.
  • Road Accident Victim Scheme: Nation-wide cashless treatment scheme offers ₹1.5 lakh financial assistance.
  • Operation Muskaan 11:
    • Launched by Telangana Police.
    • Aim: Rescued 7600 children from exploitative activities (child labor, begging) within a month.
  • Operation Trace: Launched by Andhra Pradesh Police to identify missing and kidnapped girls.
  • Nimesulide Ban: Central government banned the animal painkiller Nimesulide due to its adverse effects on vultures.
  • First Cloud Chamber: Established in Pune under Mission Mausam.

Other Miscellaneous News ​

  • Generation Beta: Refers to the new generation of children born between 2025 and 2039.
  • 31st National Children Science Congress: Held in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Lionel Messi: Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by the USA.
  • GDP Calculation Base Year (India): Fixed at 2022-23.
  • ISRO's Space Seeds: Lobia seeds were sent to space for germination under Poise For Science.
  • Aero India 2025 (Asia's Largest): Held in Bengaluru.
  • Jallikattu, Pongal, Thaipusam Festivals: Celebrated in Tamil Nadu.
  • 18th Pravasi Bhartiya Divas 2025: Chief Guest from Trinidad and Tobago (Capital: Port of Spain).
  • First Organic Fisheries Cluster: Inaugurated in Sikkim.
  • South Coastal Railway Headquarters: Started in Visakhapatnam.
  • Cyber Attacks (Cloud X Report): India ranks 2nd globally in cyber attack cases.
  • Anahat Singh (Under-17 Junior Squash Open 2025): Won in Britain.
  • U19 Cricket Record (346 runs): Set by Tilak.
  • Him Kavach: Developed by DRDO for temperatures ranging from +20 to -60 degrees Celsius.
  • Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant (Tamil Nadu): Russia is setting up 1000 MW nuclear reactors (six in total).
  • Atomic Energy Commission Head: A.K. Mohanty.
  • Matru Van Initiative: (Details mentioned in Geography & Environment).
  • Book Launch: "Parliament: Power, Function & Privilege" by Dr. K.S. Chauhan, launched by Jagdeep Dhankhar.
  • IndChip Semiconductors: India's first private semiconductor manufacturing facility to be set up in Andhra Pradesh.
  • Firefly: India's first private satellite constellation, launched by Pixxel and SpaceX.
  • Makaravilakku Festival: Celebrated in Kerala.
  • Big Boy Spider Species: Discovered in Australia.
  • 21st Third Eye Asian Film Festival: Held in Mumbai.
  • First 300 MW Compressed Air Energy Storage Plant (Nagchu First): Started in China.
  • SVAMITVA Yojana: By Ministry of Panchayati Raj, related to property ownership.