Rajasthan and national news for RAS, Patwari, VDO and other exams42 itemseach with its sourcepublished 6 October 2026
In Time Out's World's Happiest Cities 2026 survey, published in July 2026, Jaipur was placed 6th and was the only Indian city in the top 10. Bath (England) was ranked first. The survey was based on responses from more than 24,000 people.
Exam angleJaipur's rank; top-ranked city
K.C. Maloo, the music archivist who founded Veena Music (Veena Cassettes), died in Jaipur at the age of 80; his death was reported on 14 July 2026. He documented more than 5,000 Rajasthani folk songs. The state government honoured him with the Rajasthan Ratna in 2022.
Exam anglePerson in news: Rajasthan Ratna, Rajasthani folk music
Sources:Deccan Chronicle (opens in a new tab)The Week (opens in a new tab)
The 29th National Conference on e-Governance was held at the Rajasthan International Centre, Jaipur, on 1–2 July 2026. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma inaugurated it. It was organised by DARPG, the Ministry of Electronics and IT and the Government of Rajasthan, and the National e-Governance Awards were presented on the second day.
Exam angleVenue and organisers of the 29th NCeG
On 4 July 2026, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery at Pachpadra in Balotra district. It is a greenfield refinery-cum-petrochemical complex with a refining capacity of 9 million tonnes per annum and petrochemical capacity of 2.4 MMTPA. It is a joint venture of HPCL (74%) and the Government of Rajasthan (26%), and India's first greenfield refinery in about a decade, after Paradip (2016).
Exam angleDistrict, capacity and JV shares of the refinery
Sources:ThePrint (opens in a new tab)Indian Infrastructure (opens in a new tab)
On 4 July 2026, the Prime Minister inaugurated the new terminal building of Jodhpur airport, built at a cost of ₹480 crore. It covers more than 23,000 square metres and can handle up to 20 lakh passengers a year. Its design uses Rajasthani elements such as arches and jharokhas.
Exam angleCost and passenger capacity of Jodhpur's new terminal
On 4 July 2026, the Prime Minister virtually laid the foundation stone of Jaipur Metro Phase-2 during the refinery event at Pachpadra. The ₹13,037-crore north–south corridor will run about 41 km from Prahladpura to Todi Mod with 36 stations.
Exam angleLength, stations and cost of Jaipur Metro Phase-2
Sources:Telangana Today (opens in a new tab)The Statesman (opens in a new tab)
On 7 July 2026, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra signed a one-time settlement in New Delhi, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah, to end long-pending payment disputes under the Narmada Award. The disputes concerned cost-sharing for the Sardar Sarovar Project and compensation for displaced people; Madhya Pradesh will pay ₹217 crore to Gujarat. The Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal gave its award in 1979.
Exam angleFour Narmada states; year of the Narmada Award
Sources:Free Press Journal (opens in a new tab)DeshGujarat (opens in a new tab)
On 8 July 2026, Rajasthan became the first Indian state to sign a 'Framework for Action – Advance Clean Energy, Driven Sustainable Development' with the International Solar Alliance (ISA) in Jaipur. ISA will help the state prepare an Energy Transition Plan for 2030–35. A Digital Twin pilot will be run at Ajmer Vidyut Vitran Nigam for better demand forecasting.
Exam angleFirst state to sign ISA's Framework for Action
Sources:Energetica India (opens in a new tab)The Statesman (opens in a new tab)
On 15 July 2026, the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly held the 'Vidhayi Gaurav Yatra', bringing together former and current MLAs to mark 75 years of the Assembly. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated it and Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan attended the valedictory session. 26 former and sitting legislators elected six or more times were honoured.
Exam angleEvent name and occasion (75 years of the Assembly)
Sources:Vice-President of India (opens in a new tab)ETV Bharat (opens in a new tab)LatestLY (ANI) (opens in a new tab)
On 17 July 2026, the Prime Minister inaugurated 75 stations redeveloped under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme. Eight were in Rajasthan: Barmer, Dausa, Deeg, Gangapur City, Gotan, Jaisalmer, Khairthal and Somesar.
Exam angleNames of Rajasthan's eight Amrit Bharat stations
Sources:Indian Infrastructure (opens in a new tab)Akashvani News (opens in a new tab)
On 23 July 2026, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari told the Rajya Sabha that 10,389 km of high-speed corridors and greenfield expressways have been awarded in India, of which 4,809 km are complete. Rajasthan has the highest awarded length (1,340 km) and the most completed length (1,192 km), about a quarter of the national total.
Exam angleRajasthan's completed expressway length and rank
Sources:PIB (opens in a new tab)Telangana Today (opens in a new tab)
In July 2026, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma launched Bharat Taxi in Jaipur in the presence of Union Minister of State for Cooperation Murlidhar Mohol. It is a cooperative ride-hailing platform in which drivers, called 'Sarathis', are member-owners. After Delhi, Gujarat and Maharashtra, Rajasthan is the next state to get the service.
Exam angleCooperative model: drivers ('Sarathis') as owners
Sources:PIB (opens in a new tab)Swarajya (opens in a new tab)
On 29 July 2026, Rajasthan's Department of Mines and Geology executed an exploration licence for rare earth elements (REEs), making Rajasthan the first state in India to do so. The licence, awarded through auction to CMPDI, covers 207.63 sq km in the Navatala-Devigarh area of Pachpadra tehsil (Balotra) and Shergarh tehsil (Jodhpur). Lanthanum, cerium, praseodymium and neodymium have been indicated there.
Exam angleFirst state to execute an REE exploration licence; licensee, area
Sources:IANS (via NewKerala) (opens in a new tab)Free Press Journal (opens in a new tab)
The Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) Act, 2025 came into force on 1 July 2026, replacing the MGNREGA framework. It guarantees 125 days of wage employment a year to every eligible rural household, up from 100 days. The Centre made an interim allocation of ₹95,692.31 crore to states and UTs for the rollout.
Exam angleDays of guaranteed work; Act it replaced
Source:DD News (opens in a new tab)
On 17 July 2026, the Prime Minister inaugurated India's first hydrogen fuel-cell passenger train, Namo Green Rail, at Jind in Haryana. It runs on the Jind–Sonipat section of about 89–90 km. The train has two power cars and eight passenger cars.
Exam angleFirst hydrogen train: name and route
Sources:Onmanorama (opens in a new tab)Al Jazeera (opens in a new tab)
On 22 July 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh flagged in 'Samudra Pradakshina' at Mumbai, India's first tri-service all-women sailing circumnavigation. Nine women officers of the Army, Navy and Air Force sailed the Indian Army Sailing Vessel Triveni for 314 days, covering nearly 25,500 nautical miles. The voyage had been flagged off on 11 September 2025.
Exam angleExpedition name, vessel and number of officers
Source:DD News (opens in a new tab)
On 25 July 2026, the 48th session of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee at Busan, South Korea, inscribed the 'Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath' (Uttar Pradesh) on the World Heritage List. It is India's 45th World Heritage property. Sarnath is where the Buddha gave his first sermon.
Exam angleIndia's World Heritage count; venue of 48th WHC session
Sources:Free Press Journal (opens in a new tab)Outlook Traveller (opens in a new tab)
The Prevention of Insults to National Honour (Amendment) Bill, 2026 was passed by the Rajya Sabha on 29 July and the Lok Sabha on 30 July 2026. It amends the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 so that deliberately insulting or obstructing the singing of the national song 'Vande Mataram' becomes punishable, as already applies to the national anthem.
Exam angleAct amended (1971) and what it now protects
Source:DD News (opens in a new tab)
The Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Amendment Bill, 2026 was passed by the Lok Sabha on 29 July and the Rajya Sabha on 30 July 2026. It amends the 2024 Act and provides imprisonment of up to 10 years and a fine of up to ₹10 crore for paper leaks and malpractice. Investigation must finish within two months and trial within three months of the chargesheet, and every State/UT must set up Special Fast Track Courts.
Exam angleMaximum punishment and trial timelines
Japan's Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi visited India from 1 to 3 July 2026 for the 16th India–Japan Annual Summit in New Delhi. The two sides agreed to celebrate 2027, the 75th year of diplomatic ties, as the 'India–Japan Year of Shared Horizons'. A Joint Declaration on Economic Security and Joint Statements on Artificial Intelligence and on Energy Resilience were adopted.
Exam angleSummit number; theme year for 2027
Sources:Telangana Today (IANS) (opens in a new tab)The Tribune (ANI) (opens in a new tab)
Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Auckland on 10–11 July 2026 at the invitation of New Zealand PM Christopher Luxon, the first visit by an Indian Prime Minister to New Zealand in 40 years. The two countries raised their ties to a Strategic Partnership with a 'Roadmap to 2030'. They aim to double bilateral trade to NZ$7 billion by 2030.
Exam angleNew level of ties; trade target
Sources:New Zealand MFAT (opens in a new tab)PM India (opens in a new tab)Akashvani News (opens in a new tab)
On 20 July 2026, Andy Burnham became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom after Sir Keir Starmer resigned. Burnham had been elected Leader of the Labour Party a few days earlier. He was Mayor of Greater Manchester from 2017 and returned to Parliament from Makerfield in June 2026.
Exam angleNew UK PM and his party
Sources:OPB (NPR) (opens in a new tab)Open Access Government (opens in a new tab)
President Droupadi Murmu made a state visit to Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania from 19 to 25 July 2026. Her visit to Moldova on 20 July, where she met President Maia Sandu, was the first by an Indian President. Her visit to North Macedonia on 21–22 July was also the first ever by an Indian President.
Exam angleCountries visited for the first time by an Indian President
Sources:President of India (opens in a new tab)Akashvani News (opens in a new tab)Embassy of India, Sofia (opens in a new tab)
On 28 July 2026, Keiko Fujimori was sworn in as President of Peru for the 2026–2031 term at the Congress in Lima. She had won the June run-off by fewer than 50,000 votes. She is the country's ninth president in a decade.
Exam angleNew head of state: Peru
Sources:Andina (opens in a new tab)Las Vegas Sun (AP) (opens in a new tab)
On 4 July 2026 at Jodhpur, the Prime Minister launched the Modified UDAN (regional connectivity) Scheme with an outlay of ₹28,840 crore over the next 10 years. It plans 100 aerodromes from existing unserved airstrips, about 200 helipads, operations and maintenance support and viability gap funding for regional flights. The Union Cabinet had approved it on 25 March 2026.
Exam angleOutlay and duration of Modified UDAN; launch city
Sources:Business Today (opens in a new tab)NBM&CW (opens in a new tab)
The India–UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) and the Double Contribution Convention came into force on 15 July 2026. The UK gives zero-duty access to about 99% of India's exports. Under the convention, eligible Indian professionals on temporary assignments in the UK are exempt from paying social security there for up to five years. CETA was signed in London in July 2025.
Exam angleDate of entry into force; DCC exemption period
On 15 July 2026, the Union Cabinet approved the Mobile Phone Manufacturing Scheme with an outlay of ₹62,500 crore for five years (2026-27 to 2030-31). It gives an incentive of 2.25% to 5% on eligible sales, up to 1.5% extra for domestic sourcing of components and an additional 3% for Indian brands' design and R&D. It targets about 60,000 direct jobs.
Exam angleScheme outlay and incentive range
Source:DD News (opens in a new tab)
On 20 July 2026, India deposited its instrument of acceptance of the WTO Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, becoming the 123rd WTO member to accept it. The agreement was adopted at the 12th Ministerial Conference (MC12) in Geneva in June 2022 and entered into force on 15 September 2025. It bans subsidies for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and for fishing overfished stocks.
Exam angleIndia's position (123rd); where the agreement was adopted
On 24 July 2026, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs approved the BHAVYA-Rasayan scheme, announced in the Union Budget 2026-27, to set up three dedicated chemical parks. The outlay is ₹3,030 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31. The Centre will give up to ₹1,000 crore per park, and each state must contribute at least ₹500 crore.
Exam angleNumber of parks and Centre's grant per park
The 7th Governing Body meeting of National CAMPA, chaired by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav at Coimbatore in July 2026, approved the Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana. With an initial corpus of ₹3,000 crore for 2026-27 to 2030-31, it aims to protect and restore about 15,000 sacred groves ('Aastha Vans'). The meeting also extended the MISHTI mangrove programme till 2029.
Exam angleScheme for sacred groves: name and target
Sources:The Pioneer (opens in a new tab)The Statesman (opens in a new tab)
On 11 July 2026, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh commissioned INS Mahendragiri into the Indian Navy at Visakhapatnam. It is the sixth stealth frigate built under Project 17A and has over 75% indigenous content. It carries BrahMos supersonic cruise missiles.
Exam angleProject 17A; ship's place in the class
On 18 July 2026, Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-1 from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota, under 'Mission Aagaman', and placed payloads in orbit. It is India's first privately developed orbital rocket, making India the third country with private orbital launch capability. The rocket is named after Vikram Sarabhai.
Exam angleFirst private orbital rocket: company and name
Spain won the FIFA World Cup 2026, held in the USA, Canada and Mexico, by beating defending champions Argentina 1-0 after extra time in the final in New Jersey. Ferran Torres scored the winning goal. It was Spain's second men's World Cup title, after 2010.
Exam angleWinner, runner-up and title count
Source:DD News (opens in a new tab)
Anahat Singh won the girls' singles title at the World Junior Squash Championships at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada, beating Egypt's Ruqayya Salem 11-3, 11-7, 11-9 in the final. She is the first Indian squash player to win the junior world title. The win ended Egypt's 16-year hold on the girls' title.
Exam angleFirst Indian junior world squash champion
Italy's Jannik Sinner beat Germany's Alexander Zverev in the Wimbledon 2026 men's singles final for his second straight Wimbledon title and fifth Grand Slam singles title. On 11 July, Czech player Linda Nosková beat compatriot Karolína Muchová 6-2, 5-7, 6-3 to win her first Grand Slam title.
Exam angleWimbledon singles champions and runners-up
Sources:Akashvani News (opens in a new tab)Akashvani News (opens in a new tab)
On 19 July 2026, P.V. Sindhu beat Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the women's singles final of the Japan Open. She became the first Indian to win this BWF Super 750 title. It was her first title in over two years.
Exam angleFirst Indian Japan Open champion; final opponent
All five Indian students won gold medals at the 56th International Physics Olympiad, held at Bucaramanga, Colombia, from 4 to 12 July 2026. The winners were Kanishk Jain, Riddhesh Anant Bendale, Rishit Garg, Shresth Suraiya and Svarit Joshi. India shared the top position with Russia, China, Kazakhstan, South Korea and Taiwan.
Exam angleIPhO 2026 venue and India's gold count
The 72nd National Film Awards (for 2024) were announced on 18 July 2026. 'Article 370' won the best feature film award and Yami Gautam won best actress for it. Mammootty ('Bramayugam') and Kartik Aaryan ('Chandu Champion') shared the best actor award.
Exam angleBest film, actor and actress of the 72nd awards
On 22 July 2026, the Centre appointed Anurag Jain, a 1989-batch IAS officer of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, as Chief Executive Officer of NITI Aayog. The appointment is for two years or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Exam angleNew NITI Aayog CEO and his cadre
On 24 July 2026, five-time world chess champion Viswanathan Anand took charge as interim President of FIDE, the International Chess Federation. This followed the inclusion of FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich of Russia in the European Union's sanctions list. Anand will serve while Dvorkovich remains under these restrictions.
Exam angleIndian heading a world sports body (FIDE)
In mid-July 2026, the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation released India's first (trial) Index of Services Production, a monthly measure of activity in the formal services sector. It has base year 2024-25, covers 19 sub-sectors (nearly 60% of the services sector) and starts with April 2026 data. It is built from administrative data, including GST records.
Exam angleNew index: releasing ministry, base year, sub-sectors
Sources:Akashvani News (opens in a new tab)Akashvani News (opens in a new tab)
On 17 July 2026, NITI Aayog released the Investment Friendliness Index 2026, assessing all 28 states and 8 UTs on 84 indicators under eight pillars, with infrastructure carrying the highest weight (25%). Among large states, Gujarat ranked first (56.6), followed by Maharashtra (53.7) and Tamil Nadu (53.3). Uttarakhand led the hilly and north-eastern states and Goa topped the group of UTs and city-states.
Exam angleIndex publisher and top-ranked states
Sources:ThePrint (opens in a new tab)Akashvani News (opens in a new tab)
15 questions on this news. Think of your answer, then press “Show answer”.
The HPCL Rajasthan Refinery, inaugurated by the Prime Minister on 4 July 2026 at Pachpadra, is located in which district?
Answer: (1) Balotra
Explanation
Pachpadra is in Balotra district. The 9 MMTPA refinery is a joint venture of HPCL (74%) and the Rajasthan government (26%).
The foundation stone of Jaipur Metro Phase-2 was laid on 4 July 2026. How many stations will this corridor have?
Answer: (3) 36
Explanation
Phase-2 is a ₹13,037-crore, roughly 41 km corridor with 36 stations.
In July 2026, Rajasthan became the first Indian state to sign a 'Framework for Action' on clean energy with which organisation?
Answer: (2) International Solar Alliance
Explanation
The framework was signed with the International Solar Alliance on 8 July 2026; ISA will help prepare an Energy Transition Plan for 2030–35.
In July 2026, Rajasthan and three other states signed a one-time settlement of payment disputes under the Narmada Award. Which of the following was NOT one of those states?
Answer: (4) Chhattisgarh
Explanation
The four parties were Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, the states covered by the 1979 Narmada Award.
Consider the following statements based on a reply in the Rajya Sabha on 23 July 2026: 1. Rajasthan has the highest completed length of high-speed corridors and greenfield expressways, at 1,192 km. 2. Across India, 4,809 km of such corridors had been completed out of 10,389 km awarded. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: (3) Both 1 and 2
Explanation
Both are correct: Rajasthan leads with 1,192 km completed (1,340 km awarded), about a quarter of the national 4,809 km.
On 17 July 2026, eight redeveloped Amrit Bharat stations of Rajasthan were inaugurated. Which of the following was NOT among them?
Answer: (3) Phulera
Explanation
The eight were Barmer, Dausa, Deeg, Gangapur City, Gotan, Jaisalmer, Khairthal and Somesar; Phulera was not on the list.
Under the VB-G RAM G Act, which came into force on 1 July 2026, how many days of wage employment are guaranteed to each eligible rural household in a financial year?
Answer: (2) 125 days
Explanation
The Act raised the guarantee from 100 days under the MGNREGA framework to 125 days.
The 'Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath' was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in July 2026 at the 48th session of the World Heritage Committee held in:
Answer: (4) Busan, South Korea
Explanation
The 48th session met in Busan, South Korea; Sarnath became India's 45th World Heritage property on 25 July 2026.
'Samudra Pradakshina', India's first tri-service all-women circumnavigation, which ended in July 2026, was sailed on which vessel?
Answer: (1) IASV Triveni
Explanation
Nine women officers sailed the Indian Army Sailing Vessel Triveni for 314 days; it was flagged in at Mumbai on 22 July 2026.
During the Prime Minister's visit to New Zealand on 10–11 July 2026, India–New Zealand relations were elevated to:
Answer: (3) Strategic Partnership
Explanation
Ties were raised to a Strategic Partnership with a 'Roadmap to 2030' and a target to double trade to NZ$7 billion by 2030.
In July 2026, President Droupadi Murmu became the first Indian President to visit Moldova. Which other country on the same tour was also visited by an Indian President for the first time?
Answer: (2) North Macedonia
Explanation
The 19–25 July tour covered Moldova, North Macedonia and Romania; the Moldova and North Macedonia visits were both firsts.
Vikram-1, launched from Sriharikota on 18 July 2026 as India's first privately developed orbital rocket, was built by:
Answer: (4) Skyroot Aerospace
Explanation
Hyderabad-based Skyroot Aerospace launched Vikram-1 under 'Mission Aagaman', making India the third country with private orbital launch capability.
The 'Aastha Van Sanrakshan Yojana', approved by the National CAMPA Governing Body in July 2026, is meant for the conservation of:
Answer: (1) Sacred groves
Explanation
With a ₹3,000-crore corpus for 2026-27 to 2030-31, it aims to protect about 15,000 sacred groves; mangroves are covered separately by MISHTI.
In July 2026, P.V. Sindhu became the first Indian to win which BWF Super 750 women's singles title?
Answer: (2) Japan Open
Explanation
Sindhu beat Japan's Akane Yamaguchi 21-17, 21-17 in the Japan Open final on 19 July 2026.
Who took charge as interim President of FIDE, the International Chess Federation, in July 2026?
Answer: (3) Viswanathan Anand
Explanation
Viswanathan Anand took charge on 24 July 2026 after FIDE President Arkady Dvorkovich was placed on the EU sanctions list.