The Rajasthan government on 24 June 2026 placed industrial and urban infrastructure at the centre of the news cycle, with the Pachpadra Refinery declared commercially operational and the Chief Minister confirming a high profile Prime Ministerial visit on 4 July. This edition pulls together six verified leads for RAS and RPSC aspirants, covering the energy economy, Jaipur’s metro expansion, rural land titling, solar leadership and a Geographical Indication craft from Pratapgarh.
1. Pachpadra Refinery Declared Commercially Operational
Why in News: HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) declared its Pachpadra refinery commercially operational on 22 June 2026, around nine days ahead of the 1 July target. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to dedicate it to the nation on 4 July 2026, and CM Bhajan Lal Sharma chaired a high level review of the visit on 24 June.
Background: HRRL is a 9 MMTPA greenfield refinery cum petrochemical complex at Pachpadra in Balotra district (carved out of Barmer), with 2.4 MMTPA of petrochemical capacity. It is a joint venture in which HPCL holds 74 percent and the Government of Rajasthan 26 percent. The April inauguration was postponed after a fire in the Crude Distillation Unit. The project is expected to anchor employment, investment and downstream industry in western Rajasthan. This connects to Rajasthan industrial and energy economy.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims, ownership structure, location and capacity of HRRL. Mains GS3, role of a mega refinery in regional industrial transformation, downstream petrochemical clusters and employment.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project | HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Ltd (HRRL), Pachpadra |
| District | Balotra (earlier Barmer) |
| Capacity | 9 MMTPA refinery + 2.4 MMTPA petrochemicals |
| Equity | HPCL 74%, Rajasthan Govt 26% |
| Commercial operations | 22 June 2026 |
2. Jaipur Metro Phase-II Foundation on 4 July
Why in News: On 24 June 2026 CM Bhajan Lal Sharma announced that PM Modi will lay the foundation stone for Jaipur Metro Phase-II on 4 July. Work orders for the Prahladpura to Pinjrapole Gaushala corridor have already been issued.
Background: The 42.80 km Phase-II line, estimated at about Rs 13,037 crore, will connect Tonk Road to Sikar Road, expanding the existing Pink and orange corridors of Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation. The state expects it to ease congestion, cut travel time and give momentum to urban transit. This connects to Rajasthan urban infrastructure and transport.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims, length, cost and corridor of Phase-II. Mains GS3, urban mass transit, public transport and sustainable city growth.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Project | Jaipur Metro Phase-II |
| Length | 42.80 km |
| Estimated cost | About Rs 13,037 crore |
| Corridor | Tonk Road to Sikar Road |
| Foundation date | 4 July 2026 (by PM Modi) |
3. Sanganer Gets Rs 631 Crore Development Push
Why in News: On 24 June 2026 CM Bhajan Lal Sharma dedicated and laid foundation stones for 1,538 development works worth about Rs 631 crore at a ceremony at Sanganer Stadium in his home constituency.
Background: The works span roads, water supply and electricity, and include a flyover at Muhana Mod on the Jaipur to Bhilwara road, a sewerage treatment plant in Bambala costing over Rs 88 crore, a satellite hospital in Prithviraj Nagar, a trauma centre in Bhankrota, and restoration and beautification at 115 temples in Sanganer. The CM also flagged off mechanical garbage pickers and a Super Sucker sewer machine for Swachh Survekshan 2026. This connects to Rajasthan urban civic and constituency development.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims, constituency and headline figures. Mains GS2 and GS3, local infrastructure delivery, urban sanitation and Swachh Survekshan.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Constituency | Sanganer (Jaipur) |
| Works launched | 1,538 |
| Total value | About Rs 631 crore |
| STP at Bambala | Over Rs 88 crore |
| Sanitation drive | Swachh Survekshan 2026 |
4. SVAMITVA Ownership Cards from Drone Survey
Why in News: As part of the 24 June 2026 announcements, the state reported that nearly 14 lakh ownership cards have been distributed following drone surveys in more than 8,000 villages across Rajasthan.
Background: SVAMITVA (Survey of Villages and Mapping with Improvised Technology in Village Areas) is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj that gives a legal Record of Rights to rural household owners by mapping inhabited land with drones. The property card lets owners use land as bankable collateral and reduces disputes. This connects to Rajasthan rural governance and land records.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims, nodal ministry and full form of SVAMITVA. Mains GS2 and GS3, rural property rights, financial inclusion and use of geospatial technology in governance.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme | SVAMITVA |
| Nodal ministry | Panchayati Raj |
| Technology | Drone based survey |
| Cards distributed (Rajasthan) | Nearly 14 lakh |
| Villages surveyed | More than 8,000 |
5. Solar and Storage Expo Rajasthan 2026 at Jaipur
Why in News: The 6th Solar and Storage Expo Rajasthan 2026 is scheduled to open on 25 June 2026 at The Lalit, Jaipur, drawing renewable energy professionals, developers, investors and policymakers.
Background: Rajasthan leads India in installed solar capacity and hosts the Bhadla Solar Park, one of the largest solar parks in the country, in Jodhpur district. The state continues to push its power self reliance goal and has expanded daytime power supply for farmers. The expo positions Jaipur as a hub for clean energy investment and battery storage discussions. This connects to Rajasthan renewable energy leadership.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims, Bhadla Solar Park location and Rajasthan’s solar standing. Mains GS3, renewable energy, storage and energy security.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Event | Solar and Storage Expo Rajasthan 2026 (6th edition) |
| Venue and date | The Lalit, Jaipur, from 25 June 2026 |
| Solar rank | Rajasthan leads India in installed solar capacity |
| Flagship park | Bhadla Solar Park, Jodhpur district |
6. Thewa Art of Pratapgarh, Rajasthan’s Gold on Glass Craft
Why in News: Thewa art, the gold on glass jewellery craft of Pratapgarh, continues to feature in cultural and craft promotion drives as a Geographical Indication product of Rajasthan, a recurring RPSC art and culture theme.
Background: Thewa is a roughly 400 year old technique in which a thin sheet of 23 carat gold is engraved with figurative or floral designs and fused onto coloured glass, usually green, red or blue, so the glass shines through the openwork. It originated with the Soni (Raj Soni) family of Pratapgarh and received the Geographical Indication tag in 2014. Motifs draw on royal life, hunting scenes, peacocks and mythology. This connects to Rajasthan art, culture and Geographical Indications.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims, GI tag year and origin district of Thewa. Mains GS1, traditional crafts, artisan livelihoods and cultural heritage protection.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Craft | Thewa (gold on glass jewellery) |
| Origin | Pratapgarh, Rajasthan |
| Gold purity | 23 carat gold foil on coloured glass |
| GI tag | Year 2014 |
| Associated family | Soni / Raj Soni |
RPSC Practice MCQs
Q1. With reference to HPCL Rajasthan Refinery Limited (HRRL) at Pachpadra, consider the equity holding pattern. What share does the Government of Rajasthan hold?
- (a) 49 percent
- (b) 26 percent
- (c) 74 percent
- (d) 51 percent
Answer: (b) , HRRL is a JV with HPCL holding 74 percent and the Rajasthan Government 26 percent.
Q2. The Pachpadra Refinery is located in which district of Rajasthan?
- (a) Jodhpur
- (b) Jaisalmer
- (c) Balotra (earlier part of Barmer)
- (d) Bikaner
Answer: (c) , Pachpadra is in Balotra district, carved out of the erstwhile Barmer district.
Q3. Jaipur Metro Phase-II, whose foundation stone is to be laid on 4 July 2026, will connect which two corridors?
- (a) Mansarovar to Badi Chaupar
- (b) Tonk Road to Sikar Road
- (c) Sanganer to Amer
- (d) Pink Line to Yellow Line
Answer: (b) , The 42.80 km Phase-II line will link Tonk Road to Sikar Road.
Q4. SVAMITVA, under which ownership cards were distributed in Rajasthan, is a scheme of which Union ministry?
- (a) Ministry of Rural Development
- (b) Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs
- (c) Ministry of Panchayati Raj
- (d) Ministry of Agriculture
Answer: (c) , SVAMITVA is a Central Sector scheme of the Ministry of Panchayati Raj using drone surveys.
Q5. Thewa art, a Geographical Indication craft of Rajasthan, is associated with which town and material?
- (a) Pratapgarh, gold foil fused on coloured glass
- (b) Nathdwara, pichwai painting on cloth
- (c) Sanganer, block printing on cotton
- (d) Bikaner, usta meenakari on camel hide
Answer: (a) , Thewa from Pratapgarh fuses engraved 23 carat gold sheets onto coloured glass and got its GI tag in 2014.
