Welcome to the Rajasthan Current Affairs edition for 08 July 2026, prepared for RPSC Prelims and Mains aspirants. Today’s roundup covers the active southwest monsoon flooding the Kota and Udaipur divisions with CM Bhajan Lal Sharma reviewing relief work, the National Green Tribunal’s rebuke of state authorities over pollution of Chandlai Lake by unauthorised textile units in Sanganer, the revised RPSC RAS 2026 examination schedule, the Great Indian Bustard captive-breeding milestone, and the new VB-G RAM-G rural employment mission with the Rajasthan Industrial Park Promotion Policy 2026. Each item carries background, RPSC relevance and a Prelims fact table.
1. Active Monsoon Floods Kota and Udaipur Divisions
Why in News: Between 5 and 7 July 2026, heavy monsoon rain caused a flood-like situation in the Kota and Udaipur divisions, and CM Bhajan Lal Sharma reviewed relief and rescue operations while ordering a special survey of crop damage.
Background: The India Meteorological Department reported that the southwest monsoon advanced into remaining parts of Rajasthan and Haryana by 7 July 2026, with the southeastern Kota, Jhalawar, Baran, Bundi and Udaipur belts recording the heaviest showers. Army columns along with NDRF and SDRF teams were deployed for rescue in the affected low-lying areas. Rajasthan shows a sharp east-west rainfall gradient set by the Aravalli range, which runs roughly parallel to the monsoon winds and offers little orographic lift to the arid northwestern desert of Jaisalmer and Bikaner. The Chambal, Banas, Mahi and the seasonal Luni swell during such active spells. This connects to Rajasthan geography, the Aravallis, drainage and disaster management.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims Aravalli range, Chambal and Banas rivers, IMD monsoon onset, NDRF and SDRF. Mains GS1 Indian monsoon and drainage; GS3 disaster management and flood response.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Period | 5 to 7 July 2026 |
| Worst-hit divisions | Kota and Udaipur (Jhalawar, Baran, Bundi) |
| Cause | Active southwest monsoon advance |
| Forces deployed | Army, NDRF, SDRF |
| CM action | Reviewed relief; ordered crop-damage survey |
| Rain gradient | High in southeast, low in northwest desert |
| Major rivers | Chambal, Banas, Mahi, Luni |
2. NGT Rebukes State Over Chandlai Lake Textile Pollution
Why in News: On 3 July 2026, the National Green Tribunal came down heavily on state authorities, especially the Jaipur Development Authority, for failing to protect Chandlai Lake near Sanganer from encroachment, garbage dumping and effluent from unauthorised textile units.
Background: Chandlai Lake, an inland waterbody over 140 years old with historical and cultural value, has been degraded by continuous industrial waste discharge. A joint committee report noted that around 1,255 textile units operate in and around Sanganer in non-conforming areas without the necessary permissions. The NGT directed the Collector and Municipal Commissioner of Jaipur to remove encroachments, prevent untreated water and garbage from entering the lake, and submit an action-taken report along with the Member Secretary of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board within two weeks. The NGT is a statutory body set up under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010. This connects to Rajasthan environment, wetland protection and pollution governance.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims Chandlai Lake, Sanganer textile hub, National Green Tribunal (2010 Act), Rajasthan SPCB. Mains GS3 wetland conservation and industrial pollution; GS2 environmental regulation and accountability.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Order date | 3 July 2026 |
| Waterbody | Chandlai Lake, near Sanganer, Jaipur |
| Polluters | Unauthorised textile printing units |
| Units in area | Around 1,255 in Sanganer |
| Body pulled up | Jaipur Development Authority |
| Tribunal | National Green Tribunal (NGT Act, 2010) |
| Directive | Remove encroachment; action-taken report in two weeks |
3. RPSC Revises RAS 2026 Examination Schedule
Why in News: On 2 July 2026, the Rajasthan Public Service Commission issued a revised RAS 2026 dates notice, and 3 July 2026 was the last date to apply for the 607-post combined competitive examination.
Background: The Rajasthan Public Service Commission (RPSC), headquartered at Ajmer, notified the RAS 2026 Combined Competitive Examination for 607 posts, comprising 192 State Service and 415 Subordinate Service posts. Under the revised notice, the RAS Prelims moved to 6 December 2026 from the earlier 29 November 2026, while the RAS Mains is scheduled for 1 and 2 May 2027. Candidates must be graduates, aged 21 to 40 years as on 1 January 2027. The RPSC is a constitutional body established under Article 315 of the Constitution. This connects to Rajasthan polity, constitutional bodies and public administration.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims RPSC (Ajmer), Article 315, RAS 2026, post split. Mains GS2 constitutional bodies, State Public Service Commissions and recruitment governance.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exam | RPSC RAS 2026 |
| Total posts | 607 (192 State, 415 Subordinate) |
| Revised notice date | 2 July 2026 |
| Last date to apply | 3 July 2026 |
| Prelims date | 6 December 2026 |
| Mains date | 1 to 2 May 2027 |
| Constitutional basis | Article 315 (State PSC), RPSC at Ajmer |
4. Great Indian Bustard Captive Population Crosses 90
Why in News: By early July 2026, Project Great Indian Bustard’s captive population had risen to 94 birds after new chicks were added, a fresh milestone for the critically endangered state bird of Rajasthan.
Background: The Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps), known locally as the Godawan and the state bird of Rajasthan, is listed as Critically Endangered on the IUCN Red List, with its main wild population of 35 to 40 birds concentrated in the Sudashri landscape of the Desert National Park near Jaisalmer. The captive-breeding programme grew from 70 birds in March 2026 to 94 by mid-2026, producing 26 chicks this breeding season. Conservation teams replace wild eggs with dummy eggs, hatch the real ones under controlled conditions, and return near-hatch eggs to the nest. Powerline collisions remain the biggest threat. This connects to Rajasthan biodiversity, desert ecology and species conservation.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims Great Indian Bustard (Godawan), Desert National Park, IUCN Critically Endangered, Project GIB. Mains GS3 wildlife conservation, captive breeding and habitat threats.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Species | Great Indian Bustard (Ardeotis nigriceps) |
| Local name | Godawan (state bird of Rajasthan) |
| IUCN status | Critically Endangered |
| Captive population | 94 birds (up from 70 in March 2026) |
| Chicks this season | 26 |
| Main wild habitat | Desert National Park, Jaisalmer (Sudashri) |
| Biggest threat | Powerline collisions |
5. VB-G RAM-G Rural Employment Mission and Industrial Park Policy
Why in News: The Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission, Gramin (VB-G RAM-G), was launched on 1 July 2026, alongside the new Rajasthan Industrial Park Promotion Policy 2026.
Background: The VB-G RAM-G scheme guarantees 125 days of rural wage employment per household in a year, up from the 100 days under the MGNREGA baseline, and is framed as a major initiative to accelerate rural employment generation and strengthen livelihoods towards the vision of Viksit Rajasthan 2047. In parallel, the Rajasthan Industrial Park Promotion Policy 2026 offers exemption from electricity duty on renewable power, concessions on stamp duty and land conversion charges, and single-window clearance through the RajNivesh portal, with a flexible framework spanning private ownership, hybrid land-sharing and public-private partnerships on a minimum scale of 50 acres. The state also signed a Yamuna water-sharing memorandum with Haryana on 29 June 2026 to bring water to the drought-prone Shekhawati region. This connects to Rajasthan economy, employment policy and industrial development.
RPSC Relevance: Prelims VB-G RAM-G, Industrial Park Promotion Policy 2026, RajNivesh portal, Viksit Rajasthan 2047. Mains GS3 employment generation and industrial policy; GS2 welfare-scheme delivery.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme launch | VB-G RAM-G, 1 July 2026 |
| Sector focus | Rural employment and livelihoods |
| Vision | Viksit Rajasthan 2047 |
| Industrial policy | Rajasthan Industrial Park Promotion Policy 2026 |
| Policy incentives | Stamp-duty and land-conversion concessions, single-window |
| Portal | RajNivesh |
| Related MoU | Yamuna water-sharing with Haryana (29 June 2026) |
RPSC Practice MCQs
Q1. In early July 2026, which two divisions were worst hit by the active monsoon floods that CM Bhajan Lal Sharma reviewed?
- (a) Bikaner and Jaisalmer
- (b) Kota and Udaipur
- (c) Ganganagar and Hanumangarh
- (d) Sikar and Churu
Answer: (b) The Kota and Udaipur divisions, including Jhalawar, Baran and Bundi, recorded the heaviest rain and flooding as the southwest monsoon advanced.
Q2. On 3 July 2026, the NGT pulled up state authorities over pollution of which waterbody by unauthorised textile units in Sanganer?
- (a) Sambhar Lake
- (b) Pushkar Lake
- (c) Chandlai Lake
- (d) Ana Sagar Lake
Answer: (c) The NGT rebuked authorities, notably the Jaipur Development Authority, over encroachment and textile effluent polluting Chandlai Lake near Sanganer.
Q3. Under the revised RAS 2026 notice issued on 2 July 2026, when will the RPSC RAS Prelims be held?
- (a) 29 November 2026
- (b) 6 December 2026
- (c) 1 May 2027
- (d) 2 May 2027
Answer: (b) The revised notice moved the RAS Prelims to 6 December 2026, with the Mains on 1 and 2 May 2027.
Q4. The Great Indian Bustard, whose captive population reached 94 in 2026, has which IUCN Red List status?
- (a) Vulnerable
- (b) Endangered
- (c) Critically Endangered
- (d) Near Threatened
Answer: (c) The Great Indian Bustard (Godawan) is Critically Endangered, with its main wild population in the Desert National Park near Jaisalmer.
Q5. The VB-G RAM-G mission launched on 1 July 2026 primarily aims to strengthen which of the following?
- (a) Urban metro connectivity
- (b) Rural employment and livelihoods
- (c) Tiger conservation
- (d) School examination reform
Answer: (b) VB-G RAM-G (Viksit Bharat-Guarantee for Employment and Livelihood Mission, Rural) targets rural employment and livelihoods towards Viksit Rajasthan 2047.
