National Critical Minerals Mission

• Rajasthan has been designated as the Mineral Center for the National Critical Minerals Mission by the Central Government.
• Rajasthan is known as the 'Museum of Minerals', possessing 81 types of minerals, with 58 types currently under production.
• Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024:
  • Came into effect on December 4, 2024, with an validity period until March 31, 2029.
  • Objectives by 2047:
    • Increase mineral production from 58 to 70 types.
    • Raise the contribution to the state's GDP to 8%.
• Reserves of Rare Earth Metals have been discovered in Bhati (Siwana, Balotra) in Rajasthan.
• The Indian government's mission aims to achieve self-reliance in Rare Earth Metals, with Rajasthan as a key hub.

Rajasthan Gaurav Samman & Other Awards

• The Rajasthan Gaurav Samman 2025 was awarded to 28 individuals by the Sanskriti Evam Yuva Sansthan in Jaipur. Recipients included Dr. Manish Arora, Sangati Ali Ghani, and Padma Shri Ustad Moin Khan.
• Padma Shri Award 2025 (from Rajasthan):
  • Batul Begum (Jaipur): Mand singer
  • Baijnath Maharaj (Sikar): For contributions to Spirituality and Education
  • Seen Kaf Nizam (Jodhpur): For Literature
• Literary Awards:
  • Indian Sahitya Akademi Yuva Puraskar: Poonamchand Godara
  • Indian Sahitya Akademi Bal Sahitya Puraskar: Bhogilal Patidar
  • Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi (Udaipur) Mira Award 2024: Ratan Kumar Sanwariya (for his work 'Saap').
    • Rajasthan Sahitya Akademi was established on January 28, 1958.
• Cricket Awards in Rajasthan:
  • Mathura Das Mathur Award (Men):
    • Senior Category: Mahipal Lamror
    • Junior Category: Kartik Sharma
    • Sub-Junior Category: Yatharth Bhardwaj
  • Sundarkant Joshi Award (Women):
    • Senior Category: Kaushalya Chaudhary
    • Junior Category: Maina Siyol
    • Sub-Junior Category: Dhriti Mathur
    • Lifetime Achievement Award: Sonia Bijawat

AI Technology for Cultural Heritage

• Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Jodhpur has developed an indigenous AI technology to preserve cultural heritage.
• This AI technology will translate and conserve Indian cultural texts in 13 Indian languages.
• The initiative is part of the Indian Government's 'Bhashini' project, a language translation platform aiming to translate 22 languages across India.
• Other IIT Jodhpur initiatives:
  • Hosts Centers of Excellence for Renewable Energy, AI, and Army collaboration with DRDO.
  • Developed alternatives for Lithium batteries.
  • Runs the Artificial Intelligence of Things (AIoT) initiative.
  • Its extension campus is established in Pratap Nagar, Jaipur.

Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme

• The Revamped Distribution Sector Scheme will be implemented in Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Ajmer Discoms under the Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan.
• Dharti Aaba Janjatiya Gram Utkarsh Abhiyan:
  • Objective: To foster the development of villages where over 50% of the population is tribal.
  • Launch: October 2, 2024, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi from Hazaribagh, Jharkhand.
  • Scope: Integrates 25 schemes from 17 government departments.
  • Budget: ₹79,156 crore.
  • Coverage: Operates in 26 states and 4 Union Territories, spanning approximately 549 districts, 2,911 blocks, and 63,843 villages.
  • In Rajasthan: The Abhiyan is operational in 619 villages across 207 blocks in 37 districts.
• The scheme mandates Jaipur, Jodhpur, and Ajmer Discoms to ensure electricity supply to all identified tribal villages within their operational areas.

Langdi Express Race

• The Langdi Express Race was held on August 30, 2025, at the Railway Stadium in Jodhpur, with over 600 participants.
• The race was inaugurated by Diya Kumari.
• It has been recorded in both the India Book of Records and the Asia Book of Records.

Other Current Affairs Updates

• Dr. Manju Sharma resigned from the Rajasthan Public Service Commission.
• A helicopter service trial for the Khatu Shyam Ji temple was conducted from Delhi.
• Lorena Ruiz won the Miss Teen International 2025 title in Jaipur.
• A two-day fair for Savitri Mata (the first wife of Brahma Ji) was organized in Pushkar, Ajmer.
• The second Vande Bharat train in Rajasthan will operate from Jodhpur.
• A book detailing the Rajasthan Governor's one-year tenure was launched by Somati Devi.
• Dhanaram Godara and Shyam Sunder Godara from Rajasthan won gold medals in the World Para World Ranking Tendji Tournament held in Europe.