Welcome to the Rajasthan Current Affairs edition for 12 July 2026, prepared for RPSC and RAS aspirants. Today’s roundup covers the divisional public hearings on the Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026, the Chief Minister’s Kekri visit with works worth about 880 crore rupees and the foundation stone of the Deoli-Nasirabad four-lane road, the Agriculture Department’s MoU with Manipal University Jaipur on artificial intelligence in farming, the row over the state’s mass transfer exercise, and the continuing wait for panchayat and municipal elections. Each item carries background, Rajasthan relevance and a Prelims fact table.
1. Public Hearings on Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 Gather Pace
Why in News: On 11 July 2026, the drafting committee for the Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 held a district-level public hearing for Jaipur residents at the District Collectorate auditorium, as divisional consultations continued across the state.
Background: The drafting committee, chaired by Shatrughna Singh, has been holding divisional and district-level hearings, with Ajmer taking the first divisional consultation, Kota division heard on 8 July and further hearings held in Jaipur and Deeg. The committee chairman has said every suggestion, whether in support, seeking amendment or expressing dissent, will be examined seriously. Alongside physical hearings the state is collecting feedback through an online UCC portal, where citizens log in with a mobile number or Jan Aadhaar number and can submit written suggestions of up to 400 words. The proposed Code is expected to cover uniform marriage and divorce law, a ban on polygamy, registration of live-in relationships and equal rights of women in ancestral property. Article 44 of the Constitution, a Directive Principle of State Policy, directs the State to endeavour to secure a uniform civil code, and Uttarakhand was the first state to notify one. This connects to Rajasthan legislation, Article 44 and gender justice.
Rajasthan Relevance: Prelims Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026, Shatrughna Singh committee, Jan Aadhaar, Article 44. Mains GS2 Constitution, Directive Principles and personal law reform; GS1 society and gender.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Bill | Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 |
| Committee chairman | Shatrughna Singh |
| First divisional hearing | Ajmer |
| Kota division hearing | 8 July 2026 |
| Jaipur district hearing | 11 July 2026 |
| Online route | UCC portal via mobile number or Jan Aadhaar, up to 400 words |
| Constitutional basis | Article 44 (Directive Principle) |
2. CM Launches 880 Crore Rupees of Works in Kekri, Lays Deoli-Nasirabad Four-Lane Foundation
Why in News: On 11 July 2026, Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma inaugurated and laid the foundation stones of development works worth about 880 crore rupees in the Kekri assembly constituency, including the first phase of the Deoli-Nasirabad four-lane road project.
Background: The works covered the four-lane road, rural and CC roads, school buildings and an Ayurveda college. The Deoli-Nasirabad corridor runs through the Ajmer-Tonk belt of eastern Rajasthan and is expected to improve connectivity for agricultural and industrial traffic in a region that has historically depended on narrow state highways. Kekri, carved out as a separate district in the 2023 reorganisation and later reviewed, sits in the Ajmer division. The Chief Minister used the occasion to restate the government’s Viksit Rajasthan resolve. This connects to Rajasthan infrastructure, road connectivity and regional development.
Rajasthan Relevance: Prelims Deoli-Nasirabad four-lane project, Kekri, Ajmer division, Viksit Rajasthan. Mains GS3 infrastructure and regional economy; GS2 governance and delivery.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Value of works | About 880 crore rupees |
| Location | Kekri assembly constituency |
| Key project | Deoli-Nasirabad four-lane road, phase 1 |
| Other works | Rural and CC roads, school buildings, Ayurveda college |
| Division | Ajmer |
| Date | 11 July 2026 |
3. Agriculture Department Signs AI Research MoU with Manipal University Jaipur
Why in News: On 11 July 2026, the Rajasthan Agriculture Department signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Manipal University Jaipur to promote artificial intelligence driven innovation in agriculture.
Background: The MoU, signed at the Department of Agriculture in Jaipur, is aimed at applying AI tools to sustainable agricultural development across the state, covering areas such as crop advisory, precision farming, pest and disease detection, and data-based decision support for farmers. Rajasthan is the largest state by area, with a farm economy dominated by arid and semi-arid conditions, low and erratic rainfall, and heavy dependence on groundwater, which makes precision inputs and predictive advisory particularly valuable. The state is a leading producer of bajra, mustard, guar and coriander. Partnerships between line departments and universities are a common route for states to build technical capacity without expanding the bureaucracy. This connects to Rajasthan agriculture, technology and academia-government partnership.
Rajasthan Relevance: Prelims Manipal University Jaipur MoU, artificial intelligence in agriculture, bajra and mustard. Mains GS3 agriculture, technology and precision farming; GS2 governance partnerships.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Partners | Rajasthan Agriculture Department and Manipal University Jaipur |
| Focus | AI-driven agricultural innovation |
| Signed at | Department of Agriculture, Jaipur |
| Date | 11 July 2026 |
| Application areas | Crop advisory, precision farming, pest detection |
| Leading state crops | Bajra, mustard, guar, coriander |
4. Mass Transfer Exercise Draws Opposition Fire
Why in News: On 12 July 2026, Congress leader Pratap Singh Khachariyawas alleged that the state government had opened a “transfer industry”, claiming that more than 40,000 employees were shifted during the recently closed transfer window.
Background: The state government had extended its transfer window, with transfers continuing until 10 July. Transfer policy is a recurring governance issue in Rajasthan, where the absence of a statutory transfer policy has long been criticised by employee associations and by successive oppositions. A rules-based transfer regime with fixed tenure, published counselling and transparent criteria is the standard administrative reform prescription, and several states have moved to online transfer portals to reduce discretion. The controversy is useful for RAS aspirants as an example of the discretion versus rules debate in personnel administration. This connects to Rajasthan public administration, civil services and governance ethics.
Rajasthan Relevance: Prelims transfer window closing 10 July, Pratap Singh Khachariyawas. Mains GS2 public administration, transparency in transfers and civil service reform; GS4 ethics and discretion in administration.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Allegation | More than 40,000 transfers |
| Made by | Pratap Singh Khachariyawas (Congress) |
| Transfer window closed | 10 July 2026 |
| Core issue | Absence of a statutory transfer policy |
| Reform prescription | Fixed tenure, online portal, transparent criteria |
| Date of remarks | 12 July 2026 |
5. Panchayat and Municipal Polls Stay in Focus Amid Delimitation
Why in News: On 12 July 2026, Congress leader Sachin Pilot again targeted the state government over the delay in panchayat and municipal elections, keeping local body polls in political focus.
Background: Local body elections in Rajasthan have been pending while the state carries out reorganisation of panchayats, ward delimitation of municipalities and a review of districts, and while it examines a “One State, One Election” model through a dedicated committee. The Rajasthan High Court had earlier directed that panchayat and municipality elections be held, with delimitation completed under a three-member state-level committee acting on proposals from District Collectors. Under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments, Article 243E and Article 243U require elections to panchayats and municipalities to be completed before the expiry of their five-year term, and the State Election Commission under Articles 243K and 243ZA superintends them. Prolonged administration by appointed administrators is therefore constitutionally contested. This connects to Rajasthan local governance, the 73rd and 74th Amendments and the State Election Commission.
Rajasthan Relevance: Prelims Articles 243E, 243U, 243K, 243ZA, State Election Commission, One State One Election committee. Mains GS2 local self-government, 73rd and 74th Amendments, timely elections.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Issue | Delay in panchayat and municipal elections |
| Raised by | Sachin Pilot (Congress) |
| Pending process | Panchayat reorganisation and ward delimitation |
| Model under study | One State, One Election |
| Constitutional articles | 243E and 243U (five-year term); 243K and 243ZA (SEC) |
| Court | Rajasthan High Court directions on holding polls |
RPSC Practice MCQs
Q1. The drafting committee for the Rajasthan Uniform Civil Code Bill 2026 is chaired by whom?
- (a) Shatrughna Singh
- (b) Jogaram Patel
- (c) Ranjana Prakash Desai
- (d) Jawahar Singh Bedham
Answer: (a) The Rajasthan UCC Bill drafting committee, chaired by Shatrughna Singh, held divisional and district-level public hearings including the Jaipur district hearing on 11 July 2026.
Q2. In July 2026, CM Bhajan Lal Sharma laid the foundation stone of the first phase of which four-lane road project?
- (a) Deoli-Nasirabad
- (b) Jaipur-Bandikui
- (c) Barmer-Jalore
- (d) Alwar-Bharatpur
Answer: (a) At Kekri, with works worth about 880 crore rupees, the Chief Minister laid the foundation stone of phase 1 of the Deoli-Nasirabad four-lane road project.
Q3. The Rajasthan Agriculture Department signed an MoU in July 2026 with which institution to promote AI-driven agricultural innovation?
- (a) Manipal University Jaipur
- (b) IIT Jodhpur
- (c) BITS Pilani
- (d) MNIT Jaipur
Answer: (a) The MoU with Manipal University Jaipur, signed on 11 July 2026, targets AI applications in crop advisory, precision farming and pest detection.
Q4. Under the Constitution, which Article requires that elections to a panchayat be completed before the expiry of its five-year duration?
- (a) Article 243E
- (b) Article 243K
- (c) Article 243G
- (d) Article 243ZA
Answer: (a) Article 243E fixes the five-year duration of panchayats and requires elections to be completed before its expiry; Article 243K provides for the State Election Commission.
Q5. Which of the following is the state bird of Rajasthan?
- (a) Godawan (Great Indian Bustard)
- (b) Chinkara
- (c) Khejri
- (d) Sarus Crane
Answer: (a) The Godawan or Great Indian Bustard is the state bird of Rajasthan; the Chinkara is the state animal and Khejri the state tree.
