21 September 2026
Results for the chairperson and mayor posts of Rajasthan's civic bodies were announced after the ward polls of 9 and 11 September 2026. The BJP won 197 posts and the Congress 94. Results had been declared for 301 of the 309 civic bodies, and seven of the ten municipal corporations had completed their mayoral contests. The Congress won the Bikaner corporation, where Anil Kalla was elected. The ward results were declared together on 14 September, the first time all urban local bodies in the state did so under the 'One State-One Election' model.
BJP posts won:
197
Congress posts won:
94
Civic bodies with results:
301 of 309
Corporations completed:
7 of 10
Why it matters for exams: Urban local body elections, the State Election Commission and the 'One State-One Election' model are standard polity and state-governance questions.
UPSCSSC
29 September 2026
A Supreme Court bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V Mohana allowed voting in the Rajasthan Cricket Association election on 29 September 2026. It directed that the declaration of results be withheld, with results kept in a sealed cover. The petitioner, Megha Gaur, argued through Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy that the electoral roll had not a single woman voter or candidate. The Rajasthan High Court had earlier appointed the State Home Secretary as Administrator to conduct the election. The Court asked for an early High Court hearing on the exclusion of women.
Bench:
CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana
Petitioner:
Megha Gaur
Order:
Voting allowed, results withheld in sealed cover
Administrator:
State Home Secretary
Why it matters for exams: Court orders on sports-body governance, equality and gender representation, and the role of the Supreme Court are regular polity and current-affairs topics.
UPSCSSC
26 September 2026
Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand of the Rajasthan High Court directed the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Mandawar, in Dausa district, to decide a land dispute within three months. The case, Jairam v Sub-Division Magistrate, began in 1963 under Section 145 of the Code of Criminal Procedure and had stayed pending for 63 years. The Court observed that human life is short while litigation is infinite. It held that the case was a gross violation of the right to speedy trial under Article 21, with unnecessary adjournments the reason for the delay.
Years pending:
63
Time allowed:
Three months
Judge:
Justice Anoop Kumar Dhand
Case:
Jairam v Sub-Division Magistrate, Mandawar, Dausa
Why it matters for exams: Article 21 and the right to speedy trial, and Section 145 CrPC on land disputes likely to cause a breach of peace, are recurring polity and law questions.
UPSCSSC
27 September 2026
Three Sistan sand boas (Eryx sistanensis) were found in Sikar district, Rajasthan, in 2025. This is the first official scientific record of the species in India. It was earlier known only from Iran and Pakistan. The record was published by Vivek Sharma of Jabalpur and Dharmendra Khandal of Tiger Watch, Ranthambhore, in the Journal of Threatened Taxa on 26 May 2026. The snake is non-venomous and thick-bodied, and its tail tapers gradually to a point, unlike the red sand boa.
Species:
Eryx sistanensis
Specimens found:
3
District:
Sikar
Earlier range:
Iran and Pakistan
Why it matters for exams: New species records, range limits and the Thar Desert's biodiversity are common science and environment questions.
UPSCSSC
25 September 2026
The BJP won the mayor's posts of the Jaipur, Jodhpur and Kota municipal corporations on 25 September 2026. In Jaipur, Sunil Kothari defeated the Congress's Sunita Mawar by 89 votes to 60. In Jodhpur, Prasanna Chandra Mehta won 53 to 47 against Rajendra Singh Solanki. In Kota, Anusuiya Goswami won 65 to 35 against Sunita Suman. The BJP now holds nine of the ten mayor's posts, with only Bikaner with the Congress.
Jaipur result:
Sunil Kothari 89, Sunita Mawar 60
Jodhpur result:
Prasanna Chandra Mehta 53, Rajendra Singh Solanki 47
Kota result:
Anusuiya Goswami 65, Sunita Suman 35
Corporations won by BJP:
9 of 10
Why it matters for exams: Names of mayors of major state cities and the indirect mayoral election by councillors are asked in state-level exams.
UPSCSSC
26 September 2026
Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma dedicated 1,452 development works worth Rs 924 crore in seven districts of Udaipur division at Pratapgarh on 26 September 2026. Of these, 423 projects worth over Rs 256 crore were inaugurated and the remaining 1,029 received foundation stones. He launched the 'Vangiri' brand for tribal forest produce, said 530 Van Dhan Vikas Kendras have been established in eight districts, and said 1.90 lakh government posts have been filled.
Works:
1,452
Total value:
Rs 924 crore
Works inaugurated:
423 (over Rs 256 crore)
Van Dhan Vikas Kendras:
530
Why it matters for exams: State tribal-development schemes, the Van Dhan programme and project outlays are common state-level current-affairs questions.
UPSCSSC
Background
Khichan in Phalodi and Menar in Udaipur, both in Rajasthan, have been added to the list of Ramsar Sites. The Union Minister for Environment, Forest & Climate Change, Shri Bhupender Yadav announced the addition, and with these two wetlands India's tally stood at 91 Ramsar Sites. The national total has risen further since, as more wetlands have been designated, so the figure 91 belongs to this designation and not to the present day.
Ramsar Site in Phalodi:
Khichan
Ramsar Site in Udaipur:
Menar
Ramsar Sites in India when Khichan and Menar were added:
91
State:
Rajasthan
Why it matters for exams: The newest Ramsar Sites and the state they belong to are among the most frequently asked environment questions, and the running national tally is asked alongside them.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
There are 44 World Heritage Properties in India, and four of them are in Rajasthan. Hill Forts of Rajasthan, inscribed in 2013, covers Chittaurgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Jaisalmer and Ranthambhore, Amber and Gagron Forts. Amber and Gagron Forts are under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums; the rest of the property is under the Archaeological Survey of India. The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur was inscribed in 2010 and is also under protection of Rajasthan State Archaeology and Museums. Jaipur City, Rajasthan was inscribed in 2019 and is under protection of Jaipur Municipal Corporation. Keoladeo National Park, inscribed in 1985, is one of the Natural World Heritage Properties in India. The Archaeological Survey of India undertakes conservation and maintenance of 3,686 monuments, including 27 World Heritage properties.
Hill Forts of Rajasthan:
2013
The Jantar Mantar, Jaipur:
2010
Jaipur City, Rajasthan:
2019
Keoladeo National Park:
1985
World Heritage Properties in India:
44
Why it matters for exams: Which state holds which World Heritage property, and which body maintains it, is asked directly; Rajasthan's four properties include both a serial property of forts and a natural property, and they are looked after by four different custodians.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
In the newly created State, five High Courts were functioning at Jaipur, Jodhpur, Bikaner, Udaipur (the capital of United Rajasthan, with a bench at Kota) and Alwar (the capital of Matsya State), with a total strength of 20 judges. The Rajasthan High Court Ordinance, 1949 abolished these different jurisdictions and provided for a single High Court for the entire State. Section 10(1) of the Ordinance laid down that the High Court shall sit at Jodhpur and such other place or places as the Rajpramukh may from time to time appoint. The High Court was duly inaugurated on August 29, 1949, with Justice Kamal Kant Verma as Chief Justice. By Section 49 of the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 a new High Court came into being as the High Court of Rajasthan, and Jodhpur was declared its principal seat with effect from November 1, 1956. The High Court of Rajasthan (Establishment of a Permanent Bench at Jaipur) Order, 1976 was made by the President of India after consultation with the Governor of Rajasthan and the Chief Justice. The Jaipur bench has jurisdiction over cases arising in districts including Ajmer, Alwar, Bharatpur, Kota, Jaipur, Sikar, Tonk and Dausa.
Principal seat:
Jodhpur
Permanent bench:
Jaipur
Judges in the five pre-merger High Courts:
20
First Chief Justice:
Kamal Kant Verma
Why it matters for exams: The seat of a High Court and the authority competent to create a bench are recurring polity questions, and Rajasthan is the standard example of a principal seat away from the state capital.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
The State of Rajasthan was formed during the period March 17, 1948 to January 25, 1950 by integration of 19 Princely States. The Union of Rajasthan was inaugurated at Jaipur by Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel on March 30, 1949. Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Bikaner and Kota were then the leading states, each with its own High Court and a subordinate judicial system. Alwar was the capital of Matsya State and Udaipur was the capital of United Rajasthan. A committee of Shri B.R.Patel, Lt. Col. T.C.Puri and Shri S.P.Sinha recommended that Jaipur should be made capital of the new State and the High Court should be located at Jodhpur. Under the States Reorganisation Act, 1956 the State of Ajmer, then a Part 'C' State, and the Tallukas of Abu and Sunnel-Tappa were added to Rajasthan, and the Sironj sub division of Kota district was transferred to Madhya Pradesh. A later committee recommended that the capital should not be shifted from Jaipur.
Princely States integrated:
19
Union of Rajasthan inaugurated at:
Jaipur
Inaugurated by:
Sardar Vallabh Bhai Patel
Added under the States Reorganisation Act:
Ajmer, Abu and Sunnel-Tappa
Transferred to Madhya Pradesh:
Sironj sub division of Kota district
Why it matters for exams: The integration of the princely states into Rajasthan, and the territorial give-and-take of 1956, are asked as both history and polity questions.
Kerala PSCUPSCSSC
Background
The Head Regulator of Indira Gandhi Feeder at Harike was designed and constructed with a capacity of 15,000 cusecs. The Indira Gandhi Feeder itself was constructed with a designed capacity of 18,500 cusecs. Raising the capacity of the head regulator, so that the capacity of the Indira Gandhi Feeder could be better used, was taken up by the Ministry of Jal Shakti with Rajasthan and Punjab. A joint inspection by the Chief Engineers of Rajasthan and Punjab was held at the Harike Head Works. It was concluded that, due to limited area available at site, construction of an additional bay in the head regulator of the Indira Gandhi Feeder is not feasible. Construction of additional bays in the head regulator of the Rajasthan Feeder had not been found to be advisable. The information was given by the Minister of State for Jal Shakti in a written reply in Lok Sabha.
Capacity of the head regulator at Harike:
15,000 cusecs
Designed capacity of the Indira Gandhi Feeder:
18,500 cusecs
States concerned:
Rajasthan and Punjab
Ministry:
Ministry of Jal Shakti
Why it matters for exams: The Indira Gandhi canal system is the standard example of inter-state canal water use, and its offtake point and design capacities are the facts usually asked.
Kerala PSCUPSC
Background
Keoladeo National Park in Rajasthan was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1985 under criterion (x). It covers 2,873 hectares and is a major wintering area for aquatic birds from Afghanistan, Turkmenistan, China and Siberia, and 364 bird species recorded there include the rare Siberian crane. It began as a duck-hunting reserve of the maharajas in the late 19th century and became a national park in 1982. Dykes and sluices regulate water depths, and a 2-metre boundary wall encloses the park.
Inscribed:
1985
Area:
2,873 hectares
Criterion:
(x)
National park status:
1982
Why it matters for exams: World Heritage natural sites in India and their inscription criteria are regular questions in UPSC and state exams.
UPSCSSC
Background
The Hill Forts of Rajasthan were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013 under criteria (ii) and (iii). The serial site has six forts: Chittorgarh, Kumbhalgarh, Sawai Madhopur (Ranthambore), Jhalawar (Gagron), Jaipur (Amber) and Jaisalmer. The property covers 736 hectares with a buffer zone of 3,460 hectares. UNESCO says the forts bear testimony to the power of the Rajput princely states that flourished from the 8th to the 18th centuries.
Inscribed:
2013
Forts:
6
Criteria:
(ii), (iii)
Property area:
736 hectares
Why it matters for exams: Names of World Heritage cultural sites and their inscription years are frequent questions in general-knowledge papers.
UPSCSSC
Background
Jantar Mantar in Jaipur was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2010 under criteria (iii) and (iv). It was built in the early 18th century by Prince Jai Singh II. It has about 20 main fixed instruments designed for observing astronomical positions with the naked eye. UNESCO calls it the most significant, most comprehensive and best preserved of India's historic observatories. The property covers 1.8652 hectares with a buffer zone of 14.6664 hectares.
Inscribed:
2010
Builder:
Prince Jai Singh II
Main fixed instruments:
About 20
Criteria:
(iii), (iv)
Why it matters for exams: Builders, dates and inscription years of Indian World Heritage monuments are standard art-and-culture questions.
UPSCSSC