Welcome to the Ujiyari Rajasthan Current Affairs notes for 30 July 2026, prepared for RPSC, RAS and other State PCS aspirants. Today’s edition covers Rajasthan becoming the first state to execute an exploration licence for rare earth elements, the Governor’s directive to establish Rajasthani Language Study Centres in 11 state universities, Jaipur’s preparations to host the Commonwealth Peace Mediation and Rule of Law Conference, and an Anti-Corruption Bureau bribery arrest tied to the Jaipur Development Authority. Each item is paired with a Prelims fact table and a Mains angle, followed by five practice MCQs.
1. Rajasthan Becomes First State to Execute Rare Earth Elements Exploration Licence
Why in News: Rajasthan became the first state in India to execute an exploration licence for rare earth elements (REE) and associated minerals, signed with the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) on 29 July 2026.
Background: The licence covers the Navatala-Devigarh block, spanning 207.63 square kilometres across Pachpadra tehsil in Balotra district and Shergarh tehsil in Jodhpur district. CMPDI emerged as the successful bidder for this block in the first phase of critical-mineral block auctions. Geological investigations have indicated the presence of Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium and Neodymium, rare earth elements critical for electric vehicles, defence systems, renewable energy technology and other high-tech industries. India has historically depended heavily on imports, particularly from China, for rare earth elements, making domestic exploration and extraction a strategic priority under the National Critical Mineral Mission.
Rajasthan Relevance:
- Prelims: Licence executed 29 July 2026; first such licence executed by any Indian state; block name Navatala-Devigarh, 207.63 sq km, spanning Balotra (Pachpadra tehsil) and Jodhpur (Shergarh tehsil) districts; licensee CMPDI; elements found include Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium and Neodymium.
- Mains: Examine the strategic significance of domestic rare earth element exploration for India’s electric vehicle, defence and renewable energy sectors, given import dependence on a small number of supplier countries.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date executed | 29 July 2026 |
| Significance | First rare earth elements exploration licence executed by an Indian state |
| Block | Navatala-Devigarh |
| Area | 207.63 sq km |
| Districts | Balotra (Pachpadra tehsil), Jodhpur (Shergarh tehsil) |
| Licensee | Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) |
| Key elements | Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium |
2. Governor Directs Rajasthani Language Study Centres in 11 State Universities
Why in News: Rajasthan Governor Haribhau Bagde issued a directive on 28 July 2026 for the establishment of Rajasthani Language Study Centres in 11 state-funded universities, including the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur.
Background: Rajasthani, though widely spoken across the state, does not currently have Eighth Schedule status under the Constitution, and the demand for its constitutional recognition has been a long-standing cultural and political issue in the state. Establishing dedicated study centres within state universities is a step toward institutionalising the language’s academic study, documentation and preservation, distinct from, though related to, the separate demand for Eighth Schedule inclusion, which would require a constitutional amendment.
Rajasthan Relevance:
- Prelims: Directive issued 28 July 2026 by Governor Haribhau Bagde; Rajasthani Language Study Centres to be established in 11 state-funded universities, including the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur; Rajasthani does not currently have Eighth Schedule status.
- Mains: Examine the distinction between academic/institutional promotion of a regional language and its constitutional recognition under the Eighth Schedule, using Rajasthani as a case study.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | 28 July 2026 |
| Issued by | Governor Haribhau Bagde |
| Number of universities | 11 state-funded universities |
| Example university | University of Rajasthan, Jaipur |
| Constitutional status of Rajasthani | Not currently in the Eighth Schedule |
3. Jaipur Set to Host Commonwealth Peace Mediation and Rule of Law Conference
Why in News: Jaipur was gearing up on 30 July 2026 to host the three-day Commonwealth Peace Mediation and Rule of Law Conference from 31 July to 2 August 2026, to be inaugurated by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant.
Background: The conference is jointly organised by the Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA), the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA), the Commonwealth Lawyers Association (CLA) and Nivaaran, bringing together judges, mediators, legal experts, attorneys general, academicians and policymakers from all 52 Commonwealth nations. The summit aims to adopt the “Jaipur Peace Mediation Declaration,” intended as a first-of-its-kind common framework on mediation, conflict resolution and the rule of law for Commonwealth member states. Union Law and Justice Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal, Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma, Attorney General for India R. Venkataramani, and the presidents of the CLA and SCBA are among those expected at the inaugural session.
Rajasthan Relevance:
- Prelims: Conference dates 31 July to 2 August 2026, Jaipur; inaugurated by CJI Surya Kant; organised by RSLSA, SCBA, Commonwealth Lawyers Association and Nivaaran; delegates from 52 Commonwealth nations; expected outcome document the “Jaipur Peace Mediation Declaration.”
- Mains: Discuss the growing role of mediation as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism in reducing judicial pendency, and the significance of an India-hosted Commonwealth framework document on the subject.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Conference | Commonwealth Peace Mediation and Rule of Law Conference |
| Dates | 31 July - 2 August 2026 |
| Venue | Jaipur |
| Inaugurated by | CJI Surya Kant |
| Organisers | RSLSA, SCBA, Commonwealth Lawyers Association, Nivaaran |
| Participating nations | 52 Commonwealth nations |
| Expected outcome | Jaipur Peace Mediation Declaration |
4. ACB Arrests JDA Official’s Personal Assistant in Bribery Case
Why in News: The Anti-Corruption Bureau’s Jaipur Rural unit arrested Mukesh Kumar, Personal Assistant to the Additional District Collector (Jaipur East), on 29 July 2026, for accepting a Rs 1 lakh bribe.
Background: The complainant, whose firm supplied vehicles for government examinations, alleged the accused was demanding Rs 1.5 lakh to process and clear pending bills, withholding payment until the bribe was paid. Following a verification and trap operation, the accused was caught accepting the reduced amount of Rs 1 lakh; a case is being registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Separately, the Rajasthan High Court has sought a comprehensive report on Jaipur Development Authority officials, with about 800 houses and 200 shops under investigation for alleged irregularities, indicating wider scrutiny of JDA-linked administrative conduct around the same period.
Rajasthan Relevance:
- Prelims: Arrest 29 July 2026, ACB Jaipur Rural unit; accused Mukesh Kumar, Personal Assistant to the ADM (Jaipur East); bribe amount accepted Rs 1 lakh, originally demanded Rs 1.5 lakh; statutory basis Prevention of Corruption Act; separately, Rajasthan High Court sought a report on about 800 houses and 200 shops under JDA irregularity investigation.
- Mains: Discuss the role of trap operations conducted by Anti-Corruption Bureaus in India, and the broader administrative accountability questions raised when a court seeks scrutiny of a development authority’s conduct.
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Date | 29 July 2026 |
| Agency | Anti-Corruption Bureau, Jaipur Rural |
| Accused | Mukesh Kumar, PA to ADM (Jaipur East) |
| Bribe accepted | Rs 1 lakh (originally demanded Rs 1.5 lakh) |
| Statutory basis | Prevention of Corruption Act |
| Related JDA scrutiny | About 800 houses, 200 shops under High Court-directed review |
Practice MCQs
1. The rare earth elements exploration licence Rajasthan executed on 29 July 2026, a first for any Indian state, covers which block?
a) Pachpadra-Balotra block b) Navatala-Devigarh block c) Shergarh-Jodhpur block d) Barmer-Jaisalmer block
Answer: b
Explanation: The licence covers the Navatala-Devigarh block, spanning 207.63 square kilometres across Pachpadra tehsil in Balotra district and Shergarh tehsil in Jodhpur district, executed with the Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDI) on 29 July 2026.
2. Which of the following rare earth elements were identified in Rajasthan’s Navatala-Devigarh exploration block?
a) Lithium, Cobalt, Nickel, Manganese b) Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium, Neodymium c) Gallium, Germanium, Indium, Tellurium d) Yttrium, Scandium, Europium, Terbium
Answer: b
Explanation: Geological investigations in the Navatala-Devigarh block indicated the presence of Lanthanum, Cerium, Praseodymium and Neodymium, rare earth elements critical for electric vehicles, defence systems and renewable energy technology, a category where India has historically depended heavily on imports.
3. Governor Haribhau Bagde’s directive for Rajasthani Language Study Centres, issued 28 July 2026, covers how many state-funded universities?
a) 5 b) 8 c) 11 d) 15
Answer: c
Explanation: The directive covers 11 state-funded universities, including the University of Rajasthan, Jaipur, and comes amid Rajasthani’s continuing lack of Eighth Schedule status under the Constitution, a separate and distinct issue from academic promotion of the language.
4. Who is set to inaugurate the Commonwealth Peace Mediation and Rule of Law Conference in Jaipur, running from 31 July to 2 August 2026?
a) President Droupadi Murmu b) Chief Justice of India Surya Kant c) Union Law Minister Arjun Ram Meghwal d) Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma
Answer: b
Explanation: The conference, bringing together delegates from all 52 Commonwealth nations and jointly organised by the RSLSA, SCBA, Commonwealth Lawyers Association and Nivaaran, is set to be inaugurated by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, with the aim of adopting the “Jaipur Peace Mediation Declaration.”
5. In the 29 July 2026 Anti-Corruption Bureau arrest, what amount did Mukesh Kumar, Personal Assistant to the ADM (Jaipur East), accept as a bribe?
a) Rs 50,000 b) Rs 1 lakh c) Rs 1.5 lakh d) Rs 2 lakh
Answer: b
Explanation: The ACB’s Jaipur Rural unit caught Mukesh Kumar accepting Rs 1 lakh, a reduced amount from the originally demanded Rs 1.5 lakh, to process and clear pending bills for a firm supplying vehicles for government examinations; a case is being registered under the Prevention of Corruption Act.
