Welcome to the Ujiyari Rajasthan Current Affairs notes for 14 September 2026, prepared for the RPSC RAS/RTS and other Rajasthan government examinations. The day is anchored by counting under the Rajasthan State Election Commission for 309 urban local bodies (10 municipal corporations, 47 municipal councils, 252 municipalities) after phased polling on 9 and 11 September 2026. Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma’s government is monitoring implementation of the Union Home Ministry’s Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II) in 184 selected border villages across five districts. The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Bharatpur and an orange alert for Jaipur city and nine other districts. And ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI), Jodhpur, has reported that its recently released moth bean varieties held pod development through a 35-day rainless spell in Kharif 2026. Each item carries a Prelims fact set and a Mains angle, followed by five practice MCQs.

1. Rajasthan Urban Local Body Elections: Counting on 14 September for 309 ULBs

Why in News: The Rajasthan State Election Commission (SEC) conducted vote counting on 14 September 2026 at 8 a.m. for the recently held urban local body elections, covering 309 municipal bodies: 10 municipal corporations, 47 municipal councils and 252 municipalities. Voting was staggered across 9 September and 11 September 2026 with an aggregate turnout of about 72.95 per cent (Phase 1: 76.41 per cent; Phase 2: 70.68 per cent).

Scale of the election. The polls covered around 10,167 wards (some tallies report 10,245) with a candidate field of about 38,889. Independents secured a large number of ward victories, underlining the local character of the mandate.

Constitutional and statutory frame. Urban local bodies are governed by Part IX-A of the Constitution (Articles 243P to 243ZG), inserted by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992. The State Election Commission, a constitutional body under Article 243ZA, conducts the elections. In Rajasthan, the applicable statute for municipalities is the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: Counting for Rajasthan ULB elections was held on 14 September 2026 for 309 municipal bodies (10 corporations, 47 councils, 252 municipalities).
  • Prelims: Polling was on 9 September (Phase 1) and 11 September (Phase 2); statewide turnout about 72.95 per cent.
  • Prelims: The polls covered about 10,167 wards with about 38,889 candidates.
  • Prelims: State Election Commission is a constitutional body under Article 243ZA; the 74th Amendment (1992) inserted Part IX-A on municipalities.
  • Prelims: The applicable state law is the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009.
  • Mains: The devolution of the 3Fs, funds, functions and functionaries, to urban local bodies; the gap between the 74th Amendment’s promise and the operational autonomy of ULBs; the case for direct election of mayors (GS2 local self-governance).

2. Vibrant Villages Programme-II: 184 Border Villages in Five Districts, Rs 232 Crore Work Package

Why in News: Under the Union Home Ministry’s Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II), Rajasthan has selected 184 strategically located border villages across five districts for holistic development. The state has approved 515 sanctioned works worth about Rs 232 crore, with an annual allocation of Rs 3 crore per village across road connectivity, healthcare, education, electrification and telecom.

District-wise selection. Sri Ganganagar 68, Bikaner 46, Barmer 36, Jaisalmer 30, Phalodi 4. All five districts lie along the India-Pakistan international border, which runs for about 1,070 km across the Rajasthan sector.

Programme frame. VVP-I (2022) was launched by the Union Cabinet for border villages along the northern border with China. VVP-II was launched by the Union Home Minister in early 2026 to extend the border-village development umbrella to the western/Pakistan border and, in the east, to villages in Assam and West Bengal. The nodal Union body is the Department of Border Management under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with state implementation through the concerned line departments.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: 184 border villages in Rajasthan have been selected under VVP-II, across Sri Ganganagar (68), Bikaner (46), Barmer (36), Jaisalmer (30) and Phalodi (4).
  • Prelims: Sanctioned works: about 515 works worth about Rs 232 crore; per-village annual allocation about Rs 3 crore.
  • Prelims: Rajasthan shares about 1,070 km of the India-Pakistan international border, historically across four districts (Phalodi is the newest).
  • Prelims: The nodal Union body is the Department of Border Management, MHA; VVP-I covers northern-border (China) villages, VVP-II covers western-border (Pakistan) and eastern-border villages.
  • Prelims: Sri Ganganagar hosts the terminal of the Indira Gandhi Canal (Rajasthan Canal), India’s longest canal.
  • Mains: The “first-village-of-India” concept as a reversal of “last village” framing; border-village depopulation and reverse-migration incentives; VVP-II’s design relative to Sagarmala’s border-development spillovers (GS3 border management; GS2 Centre-State cooperation).

3. IMD Alert: Red for Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Bharatpur; Orange for Jaipur

Why in News: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) issued a red alert for Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Bharatpur in eastern Rajasthan for 13-14 September 2026, and an orange alert for Jaipur city, Alwar, Sikar, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Dholpur, Dausa, Bikaner, Tonk and Hanumangarh. The alert warns of heavy to extremely heavy rainfall with thunderstorms, waterlogging risk, and travel advisories in low-lying stretches.

IMD colour codes. IMD uses a four-level warning scale, from lowest to highest, Green (no warning), Yellow (Be updated), Orange (Be prepared) and Red (Take action). In quantitative terms, 24-hour rainfall of 64.5-115.5 mm is heavy, 115.6-204.4 mm is very heavy, and above 204.4 mm is extremely heavy.

Why the timing matters. Southwest monsoon withdrawal from north-west India typically begins in mid-September. A late-September rain spike in eastern Rajasthan correlates with a persistent low-pressure area over central India and can raise inflows into the Chambal River system, whose basin districts (Sawai Madhopur, Karauli, Kota) are on the alert list.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: IMD’s red alert on 13-14 September 2026 covered Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Bharatpur; the orange alert covered Jaipur city, Alwar, Sikar, Churu, Jhunjhunu, Dholpur, Dausa, Bikaner, Tonk and Hanumangarh.
  • Prelims: IMD’s four colour codes are Green, Yellow, Orange and Red.
  • Prelims: 24-hour thresholds: heavy 64.5-115.5 mm, very heavy 115.6-204.4 mm, extremely heavy above 204.4 mm.
  • Prelims: The India Meteorological Department was established in 1875 and is under the Ministry of Earth Sciences.
  • Prelims: The Chambal River originates in the Vindhya Range (Janapav Hills, MP) and flows through Rajasthan and MP before joining the Yamuna.
  • Mains: Impact-based forecasting and district-level preparedness; late-monsoon variability as a signature of climate change; State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) response chain (GS1 geography; GS3 disaster management).

4. CAZRI Moth Bean Varieties Hold Pod Development Through 35-Day Dry Spell

Why in News: The ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute (CAZRI) at Jodhpur reported in September 2026 that its four newly released moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia) varieties, CAZRI Moth-6, 7, 8 and 9, sustained growth and pod development through a 35-day rainless spell during Kharif 2026 in western Rajasthan. Two further varieties, CAZRI Moth-10 and 11, are being prepared for release.

Scale. Targeted breeder seed production of about 23.32 quintals is expected to cover about 10,000 hectares in the coming Kharif cycle. Rajasthan accounts for the largest area and production of moth bean in India. The pulse feeds the Bikaneri bhujia industry and is a nitrogen-fixing legume that improves soil fertility on light-textured arid soils.

About CAZRI. The institute was established in 1959 by the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, and was transferred to the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in 1966. Regional research stations include Bikaner, Jaisalmer, Pali, Bhuj and Leh. CAZRI is the arid-zone specialist; the pulses institute for the wider country is ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur, and the dryland-agriculture institute is ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad.

Rajasthan Relevance:

  • Prelims: CAZRI Moth-6, 7, 8 and 9 are recent releases; 10 and 11 are in the pipeline; institute is ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur.
  • Prelims: Moth bean scientific name: Vigna aconitifolia, family Fabaceae.
  • Prelims: The 2026 report notes pod development held through a 35-day rainless spell.
  • Prelims: Breeder seed target of about 23.32 quintals to cover about 10,000 hectares.
  • Prelims: Rajasthan is the largest producer of moth bean in India; the pulse feeds the Bikaneri bhujia industry.
  • Mains: Climate-resilient agriculture through varietal development; institute-led adaptation in arid systems; the seed-multiplication and extension bottleneck (GS3 agriculture).

Practice MCQs

1. The Rajasthan State Election Commission conducted vote counting on 14 September 2026 for how many urban local bodies?

a) 128 (5 corporations, 34 councils, 89 municipalities) b) 309 (10 corporations, 47 councils, 252 municipalities) c) 512 (12 corporations, 60 councils, 440 municipalities) d) 750 (all Gram Panchayats included)

Answer: b

Explanation: The Rajasthan SEC’s ULB election covered 309 urban local bodies, including 10 municipal corporations, 47 municipal councils and 252 municipalities, across about 10,167 wards. Voting was staggered on 9 and 11 September 2026 with about 72.95 per cent aggregate turnout. The State Election Commission is a constitutional body under Article 243ZA; the applicable statute is the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009.

2. Under Vibrant Villages Programme-II (VVP-II), Rajasthan’s selection of 184 border villages spans which of the following districts?

a) Sri Ganganagar, Bikaner, Barmer, Jaisalmer and Phalodi b) Alwar, Bharatpur, Dholpur, Karauli and Sawai Madhopur c) Jaipur, Ajmer, Kota, Udaipur and Bhilwara d) Sikar, Jhunjhunu, Churu, Nagaur and Pali

Answer: a

Explanation: Rajasthan’s 184 VVP-II villages are distributed across Sri Ganganagar (68), Bikaner (46), Barmer (36), Jaisalmer (30) and Phalodi (4), all along the India-Pakistan international border (about 1,070 km in the Rajasthan sector). The Union nodal body is the Department of Border Management, Ministry of Home Affairs. VVP-I covered northern-border villages with China; VVP-II extends the umbrella to the western and eastern borders.

3. IMD’s four-level colour-coded weather warning scale, from lowest to highest severity, is:

a) Yellow, Orange, Red, Purple b) Blue, Green, Amber, Red c) Green, Yellow, Orange, Red d) White, Green, Yellow, Red

Answer: c

Explanation: IMD’s four colour codes, from lowest to highest, are Green (no warning), Yellow (Be updated), Orange (Be prepared) and Red (Take action). On 13-14 September 2026 IMD issued a red alert for Sawai Madhopur, Karauli and Bharatpur in eastern Rajasthan, and an orange alert for Jaipur city and nine other districts.

4. The recently released CAZRI Moth-6 to 9 varieties are of which crop, and are bred at which institute?

a) Green gram (Vigna radiata); ICAR-IIPR, Kanpur b) Moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia); ICAR-CAZRI, Jodhpur c) Black gram (Vigna mungo); ICAR-CRIDA, Hyderabad d) Cowpea (Vigna unguiculata); NBPGR, New Delhi

Answer: b

Explanation: The CAZRI Moth series (Moth-6 to 9 released, 10 and 11 in pipeline) are moth bean (Vigna aconitifolia) varieties bred at the ICAR-Central Arid Zone Research Institute at Jodhpur. Moth bean is family Fabaceae; Rajasthan is India’s largest producer. The 2026 report notes pod development held through a 35-day rainless spell in western Rajasthan.

5. Which of the following is correct about the constitutional and legal framework for the Rajasthan ULB elections held in September 2026?

a) The Election Commission of India conducts municipal elections under Article 324 b) The State Election Commission conducts them under Article 243ZA; municipalities are governed by Part IX-A inserted by the 74th Amendment (1992) c) The Ministry of Home Affairs supervises municipal elections through the district collector d) The Rajasthan Panchayati Raj Act, 1994 governs all urban local body elections in Rajasthan

Answer: b

Explanation: Municipal elections are conducted by the State Election Commission under Article 243ZA. Part IX-A of the Constitution (Articles 243P to 243ZG), inserted by the 74th Constitutional Amendment Act 1992, governs urban local bodies. In Rajasthan, the applicable statute for municipalities is the Rajasthan Municipalities Act, 2009. The Election Commission of India, under Article 324, conducts Parliament and state legislature elections, not municipal polls.