Welcome to the Ujiyari Rajasthan Current Affairs notes for 25 August 2026, prepared for RPSC and other State PCS aspirants. The Supreme Court imposed ecological buffer restrictions along the Jojari river in the Jodhpur industrial belt, the state announced a Rs 12,500 crore three-year school infrastructure roadmap, and the Forest Department decided to retain the 1994 nilgai crop-damage notification. Note that this was a comparatively quiet week for state executive action: no Cabinet meeting was held between 22 and 25 August, the Assembly had risen sine die on 21 August, and the Model Code of Conduct for urban local body polls limited new inaugurations. Each item below carries a Prelims fact set and a Mains angle, followed by five practice MCQs.

1. Supreme Court Bans Construction Within 100 Metres of the Jojari River

Why in News: A Supreme Court bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed an interim order on 24 August 2026 banning construction and development activity within 100 metres of the Jojari river’s edge.

What happened: The order also bars hazardous or polluting industry within 500 metres on either side of the identified flood line, or the present flow path where the flood line is undefined. The restrictions hold until the High Flood Line and the ecological buffer zone are scientifically demarcated. The matter is the suo motu case In Re: 2 Million Lives At Risk, Contamination In Jojari River, Rajasthan, and oversight runs through a High-Level Ecosystem Oversight Committee and an Integrated Coordination Group.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: The Jojari is a tributary of the Luni, flowing through the Jodhpur-Pali-Balotra industrial belt. Case: Suo Motu Writ Petition (Civil) No. 8 of 2025; next hearing 22 September 2026.
  • Prelims: Two protection radii, a 100 m construction ban and a 500 m polluting-activity ban.
  • Mains: Judicial creation of ecological buffer zones for inland rivers, and the limits of the polluter-pays principle in industrial-cluster river pollution (GS3 environment).

2. Rs 12,500 Crore Three-Year Government School Infrastructure Roadmap

Why in News: The Bhajanlal Sharma government announced on 23 August 2026 a Rs 12,500 crore roadmap covering FY 2026-27 to 2028-29 to overhaul government school infrastructure.

What happened: The plan was prepared after technical surveys routed through District Collectors in all 41 districts. It provides Rs 8,378.30 crore for 83,783 new classrooms, Rs 2,487.75 crore for 3,587 new school buildings, Rs 1,129.45 crore for major repairs in 22,589 schools and Rs 340.40 crore for 13,616 toilet complexes. A separate Rs 1,087 crore digital-education component runs to December 2026, covering 7,000 ICT labs and 80,000 tablets.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: Outlay Rs 12,500 crore over 2026-27 to 2028-29; 83,783 classrooms; 3,587 buildings; 22,589 schools for repair; 13,616 toilet complexes.
  • Prelims: Digital component Rs 1,087 crore, including 7,000 ICT labs and 80,000 tablets.
  • Mains: School infrastructure as a determinant of the right to education under Article 21A and the RTE Act, 2009 (GS2 governance and education).

3. Forest Department Retains the 1994 Nilgai Crop-Damage Notification

Why in News: In an online meeting chaired by Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden Shikha Mehra on 25 August 2026, the Rajasthan Forest Department decided not to repeal the state’s 1994 notification permitting controlled action against nilgai causing serious crop damage.

What happened: The department rejected demands from animal-welfare groups, holding the provision to be an essential legal instrument for managing human-wildlife conflict. It noted that Chief Conservators across the state reported zero farmer applications for permission and no documented misuse, and said the focus would instead be on implementation, monitoring and awareness.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: The nilgai (Boselaphus tragocamelus) is the largest antelope found in India; the enabling notification dates to 1994 and operates under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
  • Prelims: Rajasthan PCCF and Chief Wildlife Warden: Shikha Mehra.
  • Mains: Human-wildlife conflict management and the tension between farmers’ crop-protection interests and statutory wildlife protection (GS3 environment).

4. Japanese Delegation Meets CM; Jaipur-Yamanashi Gem and Jewellery Tie-Up

Why in News: CM Bhajanlal Sharma met a Japanese delegation led by Kofu City Mayor Yuichi Higuchi in Jaipur on 23 August 2026.

What happened: Discussions covered investment, industrial cooperation, employment and gem-and-jewellery collaboration. The CM urged the Jaipur Jewellery Association and the Yamanashi Jewellery Association to partner on technology and investment, and proposed a dedicated “Japanese zone” with special infrastructure for Japanese firms in the state.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: Kofu is the capital of Yamanashi Prefecture and Japan’s traditional jewellery-crafting centre. About 180 Japanese companies operate in Rajasthan, and roughly 60 Jaipur-based jewellery firms work out of Kofu.
  • Mains: Sub-national or paradiplomatic engagement by Indian states with foreign city governments to build sector-specific industrial clusters (GS2 international relations, GS3 economy).

5. Statewide Nakabandi at 929 Points Ahead of Urban Local Body Polls

Why in News: Rajasthan Police conducted a synchronised four-hour blockade at 929 locations across the state on 23 August 2026 ahead of the urban local body elections.

What happened: The drive checked 50,662 vehicles, comprising 27,397 two-wheelers and 23,265 four-wheelers, and produced 9,421 Motor Vehicles Act cases, 286 arrests, 37 vehicle seizures and 75 FIRs under the Excise, Arms, NDPS and other special acts. It was ordered by DGP Rajiv Kumar Sharma under the guidance of ADG (Law and Order) V. K. Singh.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: 929 checkpoints; 50,662 vehicles checked; 9,421 MV Act cases; 286 arrests; 75 FIRs under special acts.
  • Prelims: Rajasthan DGP: Rajiv Kumar Sharma; ADG (Law and Order): V. K. Singh.
  • Mains: Enforcement of the Model Code of Conduct and preventive policing as instruments of free and fair local body elections (GS2 elections and governance).

6. Fertiliser Sale Framework Extended to Five More Districts

Why in News: Rajasthan’s Agriculture Department reviewed the extension of the Farmer-ID-linked “Framework for Fertilizer Sale” (FFS) system on 25 August 2026, taking it beyond its two pilot districts.

What happened: Agriculture Commissioner Naresh Kumar Goyal chaired a district-preparedness review for the rollout to five more districts: Bundi, Chittorgarh, Banswara, Dholpur and Churu, with twelve further districts to follow. Under FFS, farmers book subsidised urea and DAP online against their Farmer ID and receive a token valid 48 hours, redeemable at an authorised dealer.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: Pilot districts Sirohi and Rajsamand, live since 25 June 2026, serving over 78,000 farmers with more than 12,000 metric tonnes.
  • Prelims: Digital token validity 48 hours; linked to the AgriStack Farmer ID, with about 87.44 lakh farmers registered in Rajasthan; central assistance Rs 175 crore for the pilot.
  • Mains: Direct benefit transfer in fertiliser subsidy and the use of a digital farmer registry to curb diversion and black-marketing (GS3 agriculture).

7. Jaipur Range Police Geotag 93 Accident Black Spots to Google Maps

Why in News: Jaipur Range Police geotagged 93 accident-prone black spots to Google Maps under “Operation Safer Roads” on 25 August 2026.

What happened: The identified spots comprise 6 high-risk, 30 medium-risk and 57 low-risk locations, with alerts triggered between 500 metres and 1 kilometre ahead. The district distribution is Jaipur Rural 28, Dausa 24, Kotputli-Behror 17 and Alwar 11.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: 93 black spots: 6 high, 30 medium, 57 low risk; alerts at 500 m to 1 km; Jaipur Rural 28, Dausa 24, Kotputli-Behror 17, Alwar 11.
  • Mains: Technology-assisted road safety enforcement and the implementation of the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act, 2019 at the district level (GS3 infrastructure and internal security).

Practice MCQs

1. The Supreme Court’s interim order of 24 August 2026 concerned which river, flowing through the Jodhpur-Pali-Balotra industrial belt?

a) Banas b) Jojari c) Ghaggar d) Sabi

Answer: b Explanation: The Supreme Court banned construction within 100 metres of the Jojari river, a tributary of the Luni flowing through the Jodhpur-Pali-Balotra industrial belt, and barred polluting industry within 500 metres of the identified flood line.

2. Under the Supreme Court’s Jojari order, hazardous or polluting activity is barred within what distance of the identified flood line?

a) 100 metres b) 250 metres c) 500 metres d) 1,000 metres

Answer: c Explanation: The order imposes two radii: a 100-metre ban on construction and development from the river’s edge, and a 500-metre ban on hazardous or polluting activity on either side of the identified flood line, until the High Flood Line and ecological buffer zone are scientifically demarcated.

3. Rajasthan’s Rs 12,500 crore school infrastructure roadmap provides for how many new classrooms?

a) 83,783 classrooms b) 22,589 classrooms c) 13,616 classrooms d) 3,587 classrooms

Answer: a Explanation: The roadmap allocates Rs 8,378.30 crore for 83,783 new classrooms. The other figures correspond to 22,589 schools requiring major repair, 13,616 toilet complexes and 3,587 new school buildings.

4. The Rajasthan Forest Department decided in August 2026 to retain a 1994 notification concerning controlled action against which animal?

a) Wild boar b) Blackbuck c) Chinkara d) Nilgai

Answer: d Explanation: The department retained the 1994 notification permitting controlled action against nilgai causing serious crop damage, holding it an essential instrument for human-wildlife conflict management. The nilgai, Boselaphus tragocamelus, is the largest antelope found in India.

5. Under Rajasthan’s “Framework for Fertilizer Sale” system, how long is the digital token issued to a farmer valid?

a) 12 hours b) 24 hours c) 48 hours d) 7 days

Answer: c Explanation: Farmers book subsidised urea and DAP online against their AgriStack Farmer ID and receive a token valid for 48 hours, redeemable at an authorised dealer. The system was piloted in Sirohi and Rajsamand from 25 June 2026.