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Rajasthan Current Affairs - January 2017

9th Jaipur International Film Festival begins in Jaipur

i. The 9th edition of the world’s fastest growing film festival, Jaipur International Film
Festival (JIFF) began on 7 January 2017 and will conclude on January 11, 2017 at the Golcha
Cinema in Jaipur, Rajasthan. The two other venue were the festival would take place are the
Manipal University, Jaipur and the Rajasthan PraudhShikshanSamiti (Rajasthan Adult Education
Association).
ii. The five-day event aims to promote emerging directors, as well as encourage the exchange
of knowledge, information, ideas and culture between India and the participating nations..

Annual Two day Camel Festival Held in Bikaner

i. The annual camel festival was held in Bikaner, Rajasthan from January 14-January 15, 2017
in the presence of domestic as well as foreign tourists.
ii. The two-day festival was organised by the Rajasthan Tourism Department and the Bikaner
district administration. The District Collector, VedPrakash flagged off a procession from
Junagarh which ended at Karni Singh Stadium in Bikaner, Rajasthan.

10th Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) Begins in Jaipur

i. The 10th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival (JLF) was inaugurated on January 19,
2017 at the historic Diggi Palace, Jaipur, Rajasthan jointly by Chief Minister VasundharaRaje,
veteran lyricist Gulzar, American poet Anne Waldman and spiritual writer SadhguruJaggiVasudev.
ii. The theme of the 10th edition of JLF is The Freedom to Dream: India at 70. JLF is considered
as the ‘Greatest Literary Show on Earth’

HZL gets green nod for Rs 1,200 crZawar Mines expansion project
i. Vedanta Resources subsidiary firm Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL) has received environment
clearance for its Rs. 1,200 crore Zawar Mines expansion project in Rajasthan.
ii. The Jaipur based firm which is the world’s second largest zinc producer is mulling to
expand the production capacity of Lead-Zinc and ore beneficiation at its Zawar Group of
underground mines located in Sarada district.

Rajasthan Cricket Association adopts Lodha Committee reforms at EGM

i. Rajasthan Cricket Association in an Emergent General Meeting (EGM) accepted all the

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reforms recommended by the Lodha Committee as per Supreme Court directive.

ii. The Lodha committee was constituted by Supreme Court in January 2016 and had accepted its
major recommendations in July 2016
iii. The Supreme court had given six months deadline to BCCI to implement the
recommendations.

Rajasthan Current Affairs - February 2017

Rajasthan Inaugurates Medical Project RAHAT for Prompt Treatment of Heart Disease
i. Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje inaugurated a medical project Rajasthan Heart
Attack Treatment programme (RAHAT) on February 25, 2017 at the Eternal Heart Care
Center Hospital in Jaipur.
ii. Raje also flagged off an ambulance fitted with equipment and trained paramedical staff
required for treatment of heart disease.
iii. RAHAT programme aims to provide people in remote and rural areas with timely treatment
during heart attacks. It has been launched by the private hospitals in the state.
iv. Under the programme, the patients facing heart attack would be provided with emergency
ambulance service and telemedicine service through Eternal Heart Care Centre Hospital.
v. Patient would be given the basic treatment in the ambulance on the way to the nearest Heart
Hospital and the same would be shared with the Hospital’s Command centre through GPS.
vi. Rajasthan has become the second state in India after Tamil Nadu to launch proragmmes
against Heart Diseases.

2017 Desert Festival Begins in Jaisalmer

i .The three day long International Desert Festival 2017 started with great enthusiasm on 8
February 2017 in Jaisalmer, Rajasthan.
ii .The festival was inaugurated by Jaisalmer MLA Chhotu Singh Bhati and district
collector Matadin Sharma by flagging-off the shobha yatra. The procession traveled from
Gadisar Lake to Shaheed Poonam Singh Stadium.
iii. Famous folk artists coming from different parts of the country performed as the procession
moved further. A cavalcade of 48 camels of Border Security Force (BSF) was the major attraction
on first day of the festival.

Rajasthan Becomes 2nd Largest Crude Oil Producer in India

i. Rajasthan Governor Kalyan Singh announced on February 23, 2017 that Rajasthan has
become the second largest crude oil producer in India.
ii .The oilfields in the state were producing nearly 90 lakh tones oil annually which accounted for

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24 percent of the total domestic crude oil production.

iii. On the other hand, the Bombay High, an offshore oilfield of Mumbai is the largest producer of
crude oil in India which accounts for half of the domestic oil production.

Rajasthan, Telangana bag eGov awards

i. Rajasthan and Telangana are bagged the eGovernance awards for Excellence under the
state category at the CSI –Nihilente Governance Awards held in Coimbatore on January 31, 2017.
ii. Odisha and Nagaland bagged the Award of Recognition for the year 2016
iii. eGovernance Awards are Instituted by the Computer Society of India’s (CSI) Special Interest
Group with sponsorship from Nihilent Technologie

Rajasthan Current Affairs - March 2017

Vasundhara Raje Presented Rs.1,66,000-crore Rajasthan Budget 2017-18

Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje who also holds the Finance portfolio,
presented Rs.1,66,000-crore state budget for 2017-18 in the Legislative Assembly on March 8,
2017 with focus on aiding farmers and promoting tourism in the state.
♦ The Budget is based on the government’s vision document mission 2020. It aims at a happy
Rajasthan and a happy Rajasthani.
Salient Features of the State Budget 2017-18
i. Estimated Revenue Deficit for 2017-18 without effect of UDAY is Rs. 1528 crore. And with effect
of UDAY is Rs. 13528 crore.
ii. Estimated Fiscal Deficit for 2017-18 is Rs. 24753.53 crore which is 2.99% of GSDP.
iii. Estimated total revenue receipts for 2017-18 Rs. 130162 crore.
iv. Estimated own tax revenue for 2017-18 Rs. 59455 crore which is higher by 16.16%
v. Estimated own tax revenue for 2017-18 was 8.34% of GSDP.
Important Allocations
Public Works Department (PWD) for Infrastructure Development: Rs 6,657.32 crore
• Water Resources Department: Rs. 3313.08 crore which is 11.14% higher than the RE of
2016-17.
• Tourism: Rs 88 crore
• Art, Culture And Archaeology Department: Rs 156.83 crore an increase of 49%.
• Agricultural Department: Rs. 3156.61 crore

• Social Justice And Empowerment Department: Rs. 5596.80 crore

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• Medical and Health Department: Rs. 6,315.38 Crore which is 8.21 % higher than 2016-
17.
• Medical Education Department: Rs. 2,574.86 Crore which is 33.40% higher than 2016-
17
• Women and Child Development Department: 17.06% higher allocation in 2017-18
• Sports Sector: 24.30% higher outlay in 2017-18
• Higher Education: 11.01% higher outlay in 2017-18
• Computerization of PDS: Rs. 18.51 Crore
• Skill Development Department: Rs 1,007 crore which is 31% more than 2016-17.
Labour And Employment Department: Rs. 1007.44 Crore which is 21.32% higher than
2016-17
• Allocation for providing food grain on concessional rates under National Food Security
Schemes: Rs. 397.91 Crore.
• Home Department: Rs. 5,600 crore
Schemes
• 15% increase in the value added tax (VAT) on tobacco products to make them costlier
• VAT on ATF reduced to 1% under Regional Connectivity Scheme of Government of India to
promote tourism in the State.
• Provide Wi-Fi facilities in 190 cities in 2017-18 to deepen digital penetration in the state.
• Double the subsidy and incentive amount for the marriage of a daughter under Sahyog and
Uphar Yojana.
• Pension under Mukhyamantri Specially-abled Samman Pension Scheme (Rs 750 per month)
would be applicable to all eligible without age criteria.
• Mukhyamantri Ekal Nari Samman Pension Yojana- widow pensioners elder than 60 years will
get Rs.1000 p.m. and widow pensioners of more than 75 years will get Rs.1500 p.m
• Deemed Assessment Scheme has been introduced for VAT, Entry Tax, Luxury Tax and
Entertainment Tax in the state.
• Mukhaya Mantri Beej Swavlamban Yozna for Kota, Bhilwara and Udaipur agricultural division.
• Aanganwadi workers will be given incentive of Rs. 250-500 p.m. based on work
performance.
• A composition scheme with the rate of composition fee at 2% for micro and small enterprises
having turnover up to Rs. 50 lakh.

NTPC commissions 45 MW of Bhadla solar plant

i. Indian Public Sector Undertaking company National Thermal Power Corporation Limited (NTPC)
has commissioned of 45 MW solar capacity at Bhadla in Rajasthan
ii. Now the the total installed capacity of the project is increased to 160 MW.

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NTPC Installs 55 MW Bhadla Solar Power Project in Rajasthan

i. The state owned National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) Limited commissioned a 55
Mega Watt (MW) Bhadla Solar Power Project in Rajasthan on March 27, 2017.
ii. The power generating giant has planned a capacity addition of about 1,000 MW through
renewable resources by 2017.

NTPC Commissions 260 MW Bhadla Solar Project In Rajasthan

i. State-run power generator NTPC Ltd commissioned another 260 MW Bhadla Solar PV
Project in Rajasthan on March 25, 2017.
ii .With this commissioning, the total installed capacity of NTPC has become 40,522 MW while that
of NTPC has become 47,293 MW.
iii. Earlier, NTPC commissioned 55 MW Bhadla Solar PV Project in Rajasthan.

Inclusion Of Five Indian Cities In World Heritage Site

i. In recent news, UNESCO ( UNITED NATIONS EDUCATIONAL SCIENTIFIC and CULTURAL
ORGANISATION ) has added five Indian cities in its list of tentative world heritage site.
ii. These cities include
1.Historic City of Ahmedabad,
2.Delhi – A Heritage City,
3.Jaipur City, Rajasthan,
4.Ekamra Kshetra- The Temple City, Bhubaneswar and
5.The Victorian & Art Deco Ensemble of Mumbai.

Rajasthan Current Affairs - April 2017

Barmer Munawab and Pipad Road-Bilara rail routes – New Green Corridors in India
Indian railways has announced the 5 Green Corridors under which Barmer Munawab and
Pipad Road-Bilara rail routes in Rajasthan have been declared by North Western Railways as
Green Corridors. This initiative is taken under “Swachh Rail- Swachh Bharat” mission.
i. The five green corridors are
1.Manamadurai– Rameswaram corridor,
2.Okha-Kanalus corridor,
3.Porbandar-Wasjaliya corridor,
4.Barmer-Munawab corridor and
5.Pipad Road-Bilara corridor.

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ii. Among these corridors Manamadurai – Rameswaram is India’s first green corridor.

HPCL and Rajasthan Govt. sign revised Rs 43129 crore Mou for Barmer refinery
HPCL oil firm and Rajasthan government has signed a MoU for Rs 43,129 crore.
i. Memorandum of association is signed for oil refinery in Barmer district which will produce BS-VI
fuel.
ii. The state government will have 26 per cent stake in the refinery project while HPCL will
have the rest shareholding.

Rajasthan Current Affairs - June 2017

Insurance up for crop loan in Rajasthan
The Rajasthan government has raised the insurance cover by 1 lakh to 6 lakh for
farmers who avail crop loan from cooperative banks in the State.
i. It aims to bring around 25 lakh peasants under the scheme.
ii. The Rajasthan government has raised the insurance amount by 1 lakh in the present fiscal
year in the ‘Raj Sahakar Personal Accident Insurance Scheme’ targeted to cover more than 25
lakh farmers.

DRDO successfully test fires anti-tank guided missile 'Nag' in desert ranges of
Rajasthan
The Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO) has successfully test fired anti-
tank missile 'Nag' in a desert in the western sector of Rajasthan.
i. According to the defence sources the missile successfully has destroyed the target in today's
mission.
ii. The tests, which were witnessed by scientists from the DRDO, Defence Lab, Jodhpur, senior
officials from armed forces among others has concluded on 14th of June.
iii. The "fire and forget" third generation anti-tank guided missile 'Nag' is equipped with the
highly advanced Imaging Infrared Radar (IRR) seeker with integrated avionics, technology which
is possessed by very few nations

Rajasthan Current Affairs - July 2017

Environment Ministry approves Projects in 3 States under NAFCC
On July 19, 2017, National Steering Committee on Climate Change (NSCCC), under
the Chairmanship of Secretary Environment Ministry, Mr Ajay Narayan Jha, approved the
Detailed Project Reports (DPRs) submitted by Governments of Rajasthan, Gujarat and

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Sikkim for funding under the National Adaptation Fund for Climate Change (NAFCC).
• Gujarat: The project seeks to enhance the adaptive capacity of natural resource
dependent communities to climate change in targeted villages of Kachchh district.
• Rajasthan: The project builds on work carried out under Phase I of the Mukhya Mantri
Jal Swavlamban Abhiyan to enhance the adaptive capacity of villages by making
them self-reliant in terms of water requirement.
• Sikkim: The project aims to address the issue of water security which are directly
identified as climate resilience building interventions under the State Action Plans on
Climate Change (SAPCC).

Rajasthan become the first State to fix Minimum qualifications for coop. societies’ polls
Rajasthan is the first state of our country has set minimum educational qualification to candidates
for elections to village cooperative societies and various other cooperative bodies.
Qualification needed to become a member of contesting election
i. The minimum educational qualification from class 5 to class 8 is must for members of dairy
societies, farming societies, consumer societies, weavers' societies, urban banks, housing
construction societies, primary land development banks, credit societies and cooperative unions.
ii. The minimum educational qualification of primary committee members is of class 8.
iii. The minimum qualification required is class 10 for district level members
iv. A member of State level committee must be a graduate.

Gadkari inaugurate Road Congress Meet in Udaipur

Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways NitinGadkari will inaugurate the 212th
meeting of Indian Road Congress (IRC) in Udaipur, Rajasthan
i. The Indian Road Congress is the apex body of highway engineers in the country.
ii. During his one-day visit, he will also attend a discussion by Udaipur chamber of commerce on
economic growth of Rajasthan with development of roads and infrastructure.

Rajasthan Current Affairs - August 2017

Narendra Modi’s visit in Rajasthan – August 2017

On 29th august,2017 Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Rajasthan to inaugurate few highway
projects and to dedicate some to our nation along with road transport and highways minister
Nithin Gadkari. He informed that his government is setting in a culture of completion of projects
unlike previous governments. The assembly polls in Rajasthan is going to take place next year.

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PM Modi will also visit Pratap Gaurav Kendra which exhibits the valour and achievements of
Maharana Pratap and pay his homage to the famous King of Mewar.
Highlights of his visit :
1. He laid foundation stone and inaugurated national highway projects worth Rs 15,000 crore.
2. He dedicated 11 national highways to the nation. These highways cover a total length of 873
kms and inaugurated a suspension bridge built across the Chambal river at Kota, making it
the first 6-lane cable suspended bridge in the Rajasthan. The bridge, 1.4 km in length, is
constructed at a cost of Rs 278 crore at Kota. PM added that he is happy that his government is
able to complete the dream project of AtalBihariVaipaiyee ,” Golden Quadrilateral”.
3. The PM also performed bhoomipujan for 6 NH projects of approximately 556 kms.
4. The list of completed projects include laning of Gomati Chauraha-Udaipur section of NH-8 at
total capital cost of around Rs 1,120 crore and laning of Rajsamand-Bhilwara section of NH-75
with total capital cost of over Rs 1,350 crore.
5. PM Modi will perform bhoomipujan of 6 laning of Chittorgarh to Udaipur section of NH-76 at a
total capital cost of around Rs 1,220 crore and 6 laning of the new Udaipur bypass on NH-8.
6. The completed projects include 11 districts of Rajasthan: Kota, Rajsamand, Udaipur, Bhilwara,
Pali, Nagaur, Barmer, Sikar, Churu, Jodhpur and Jaisalmer whereas, the awarded projects for
which the PM will perform bhoomipujan are expected to benefit people in Jodhpur, Pali, Ajmer,
Bhilwara, Chittorgarh, Udaipur and Dungarpur.
These highways will help farmers, boost tourism and open up economic opportunities for the local
people. They would not only help link Rajasthan more efficiently but also be gateways to progress.

NABARD Approves Rs 1,350-cr Loan to Rajasthan Government

The National Bank of Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) has sanctioned a loan
assistance of Rs 1,349.55 crore to the Rajasthan government announced on 20th Aug 2017.
Key Points:
i.The loan has been approved for creation of rural infrastructure in the state under the
Rural Infrastructure Development Fund (RIDF).
ii.The sanction includes assistance for construction of two rural drinking water supply projects,
strengthening and rehabilitation of 1,614 rural roads and modernisation of three major irrigation
projects.
iii.An amount of Rs 599.84 crore has been sanctioned for rehabilitation of 1,614 roads.
iv.It will cover all 33 districts of Rajasthan, Rs 469.54 crore for providing potable water to
population of 419 villages of Jalore district and Rs 280.17 crore for rehabilitation and

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modernisation of 3 major irrigation projects located in Udaipur, Banswara and Dungarpur districts.

Rajasthan govt signed JV agreement for refinery project with HPCL

On August 17, 2017, Rajasthan State Government and public sector oil firm Hindustan
Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) inked an agreement to form a joint venture company
for Barmer petroleum refinery and petrochemical complex.
Background Information:
• On April 19, 2017, after prolonged negotiations that lasted over three years, Rajasthan
State Government signed a revised MoU with HPCL for a 9 million metric tonne crude
oil refinery at Barmer that would require investments of Rs 43,129 crore and
produce fuels meeting BS-VI specifications.
• As per the claims made by the present Rajasthan Government, revised deal will save
the state Rs 40,000 crore with annual viability gap funding of Rs 1,123 crore for 15
years instead of Rs 3,736 crore as per the previous MoU that former CM Ashok Gehlot
signed with HPCL.
• Principal Secretary Mines and Petroleum, Aparna Arora and Director (Finance)
of HPCL, J. Ramaswami signed the JV agreement respectively on behalf of the
Rajasthan State Government and the HPCL.
• As per the proposed plan, the refinery project would be established in 4,813
acres of land area

No Gandhi Jayanti holiday this year in Rajasthan varsities

All state-run universities in Rajasthan will not observe a holiday on October 2 on
the occasion of Gandhi Jayanti this year announced on 11th of August 2017.
Key Points:
i.Only 24 holidays have been listed for the academic year 2017-18, in the calendar issued by the
office of Rajasthan governor Kalyan Singh and by the Chancellor of all state universities.
ii.The changes in the new holiday calendar for the academic year 2017-18 have been issued in
which the amendment has been made.
iii.The list has been circulated to all the 12 state-run universities two months ago.
iv.Some have already adopted it and the rest will follow the same after their respective governing
body’s next meeting.
About Rajasthan Forts
Chittorgarh Fort, Kumbhalgarh Fort, Ranthambore Fort, Gagron Fort, Amber Fort, Jaisalmer Fort

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Rajasthan govt accords OBC status to Jats of Bharatpur and Dholpur

Jats of Dholpur and Bharatpur districts have been given reservation under the Other
Backward Class (OBC) category in Rajasthan on August 24,2017.
Key Points:
i.The state social justice and empowerment department has issued a notification
after approval from the cabinet.
ii.Jat community people demanded for a long time to residing in both the districts to include them
in the OBC list.
iii.Jats residing in districts except for Dholpur and Bharatpur were getting benefit of the OBC
quota.

Rajasthan Current Affairs - September 2017

Rajasthan announces farm loan waiver of up to Rs 50,000
After a two-week-long protest by farmers the Rajasthan government has announced a Rs
20,000 crore farm-loan waiver.
Key Points:
i.The government has agreed to waive loans for farmers up to Rs 50,000.
ii.The farmers were demanding waiver of all loans amounting to Rs49,500 crore but the
government was firm that as per records, the loans amounted to Rs19,700 crore.

VASTRA 2017: An International Textile and Apparel Fair 2017

On 21st – 24th September 2017, VASTRA 2017 – International Textile and Apparel Fair was held
at the Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre in Jaipur, Rajasthan.
VASTRA 2017:
i. This is the 6th edition of VASTRA.
ii. VASTRA was started in 2012.
iii. The fair was organised by Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment
Corporation Ltd. (RIICO) and co-organised by Federation of Indian Chambers of
Commerce and Industry (FICCI).

BJP MP Mr.MahantChandnath dies of cancer at 61

On 17th September 2017, BJP MP, Mr.Mahant Chandnath, from Alwar, passed away at a hospital
in Delhi.

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MP Mahant Chandnath’s demise:

i. Mr.Mahanth Chandnath won the Alwar seat in Rajasthan in 2014 parliamentary elections by
defeating Congress candidate and former Union Minister Mr.Jitendra Singh.
ii. He was suffering from cancer.

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