Rajasthan

Appearance

Current Affairs - 26 September 2025 (Rajasthan)

Ecology and Environment

  • Rare migratory White Stork spotted in Dholia village, Jaisalmer. A flock of 13 birds was observed.
  • Jaisalmer Ecosystem Highlights:
    • Dinosaur evidence found in Akal Wood Fossil Park (also marine plant fossils, 18-25 crore years old), declared a geo-monument in Rajasthan.
    • Dinosaur footprints found in Thaiyat hills.
    • Evidence of dinosaur extinction found in Fatehgarh.
    • Evidence of herbivorous dinosaurs found in Jethwai village (16.7 crore years old).
    • Evidence of flying dinosaurs found in Mega village (17-18 crore years old).
    • Desert National Park is Rajasthan's largest sanctuary (3162 sq km), home to the Great Indian Bustard.
    • Great Indian Bustard Project launched on June 5, 2013, for its conservation.
  • Other Environmental Notes:
    • Khichan (Phalodi) and Menar (Udaipur) declared Ram Sar Sites on June 4, 2025.
    • Aandhi village (Jaipur) is a Zero Waste Village.
    • Sorsen (Baran) has a Godawan Hatching Center.

Government Schemes and Initiatives

  • PM Kusum Yojana (Launched 2019):
    • Objective: To make farmers self-reliant in energy.
    • Component A: Farmers can install solar plants (0.5 MW to 2 MW) on barren land to produce and sell electricity to the power grid.
    • Component B: Installation of solar pump sets in fields.
      • First solar pump set: Bhaloji (Kotputli-Behror).
      • Second solar pump set: Sardarshahar (Churu).
    • Component C: Farmers can install solar plants for home use, pump sets, and sell surplus electricity.
    • Subsidy: 60% (30% by state, 30% by central government) for solar pump sets up to 7.5 HP (can install up to 10 HP).
  • Prime Minister's Interaction:
    • PM interacted with PM Kusum beneficiaries on September 25, 2025, in Napla, Banswara.
    • Beneficiaries included Prem Singh Kuntal, Dharmendra Kumar, Jagdish Meghwal, Pappu Devi, and Ramchandra.
    • During this visit, PM inaugurated the Mahi Atomic Power Plant in Napla, Banswara, which has 4 units of 700 MW each, totaling 2800 MW.

Education and Technology

  • Advanced Future Teacher Program:
    • Launched in Kota through an AI Lab.
  • AI Developments in Rajasthan:
    • AI Center of Excellence: IIT Jodhpur.
    • First AI Supercomputer: IIT Jodhpur.
    • Rajiv Gandhi Centre of Advanced Technology (R-CAT): Jaipur (first) and Jodhpur (second).
    • Rajiv Gandhi FinTech Digital University: Being established in Jodhpur.
    • IIT Jodhpur is becoming North India's first Green Hydrogen Hub.
  • Sanskrit Education Department:
    • Located in Jaipur, established in 1958.
    • Included Article 370 in its curriculum.
    • Associated Apps: Devvani App, Youth Pathshala.
    • Associated University: Jagadguru Ramanandacharya Sanskrit University, Jaipur.
  • Article 370 Context:
    • Related to Jammu & Kashmir.
    • Removed by Parliament on August 5, 2019.
    • Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh became Union Territories on October 31, 2019.
    • In Rajasthan, August 5 was observed as 'Swarn Mukut Diwas' (Golden Crown Day) by the Education Department.

Agriculture and Research

  • Thornless Cactus Variety:
    • Developed by CAZRI (Central Arid Zone Research Institute), Jodhpur.
    • CAZRI was initially Maru Vanikaran (1952), then Maru Vanikaran and Mrida Sanrakshan (1957), becoming CAZRI in 1959. It operates under ICAR.
  • AFRI (Arid Forest Research Institute):
    • Located in Jodhpur, established in 1988, under ICFRE.

Art, Culture, and Sports

  • Rajasthan Film Festival (RFF) 2025:
    • Held in Jaipur on September 20, 2025.
    • Best Rajasthani Film: "Hukum" (Director: Pankaj Singh Tanwar).
    • Best Director (Rajasthani): Pankaj Singh Tanwar.
    • Lifetime Achievement Award: Raja Murad and Dilip Sen.
  • Asian Under 17 Youth Boys Handball Championship:
    • Dushyant Sharma and Kartik from Rajasthan were selected for the Indian team.
  • Other Cultural Notes:
    • Rupayan Sansthan (Borunda): Established in 1960 by Komal Kothari, houses a Broom Museum.

Other Notable Points

  • Military Training: High-tech training for desert warfare soldiers (first time after Operation Sindoor) being conducted at Military Station Jodhpur.
  • International Earth Science Conference: Held at Banasthali Vidyapith.
  • Rajasthan Millets & Mustard Conclave 2025: Organized by FICCI and the Agriculture Department.
  • Paper from Stubble: A processing unit for making paper from farm stubble has started in Menar.
  • Para Badminton Tournament (China): Krishna Nagar won a silver medal.