State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 21 Nov 2025

Ghoomar Dance

Why in News?

The city of Jaipur launched its first-ever state-level Ghoomar Festival, uniting women across the state to celebrate Rajasthan’s iconic folk dance tradition.

• It was also organised simultaneously in all seven divisional headquarters of Rajasthan, making it a state-level celebration of the Ghoomar dance form.

Key Points

• Ghoomar is traditionally performed to celebrate auspicious occasions, such as marriages, festivals and the arrival of a new bride. 
• It symbolises joy, grace and womanhood, and is considered a ritual dance that brings prosperity and good fortune to the household.
• Ghoomar is recognised as an important part of Rajasthan’s intangible cultural heritage.
• There is no fixed date — it is performed year-round at social, ceremonial and festive events. The dancers wear colourful ghaghra-cholis and odhnis, and the swirling movement of the skirts is central to its visual identity.
• Ghoomar originated with the Bhil tribe, who performed it as part of their rituals honouring the Goddess Saraswati and local deities. Later, it was adopted and refined by the Rajput royal households, where it evolved into a graceful, court-like dance form.
• Traditionally, Ghoomar was performed in the evening, where women (especially newlywed brides) danced in circles to mark their acceptance into the family and the community.

Rajasthan-Arabian Sea Connectivity Project

Why in News?

The Government of India has initiated preliminary planning for a new transport connectivity project aimed at linking landlocked Rajasthan directly with the Arabian Sea, improving logistics efficiency, trade access, and industrial growth in the state.

Key Points

• The proposed connectivity project aims to provide landlocked Rajasthan with a direct multimodal transport link to the Arabian Sea region, primarily through an Inland Waterway and Port, reducing dependency on distant ports and improving access to global trade routes.
• The plan is being examined under the broader PM Gati Shakti National Master Plan, and involves utilizing the National Waterway-48 (NW-48) to connect to the Arabian Sea.
• Rajasthan currently depends heavily on ports in Gujarat, especially Deendayal Port, Mundra, and Pipavav, with long transport distances raising costs for exporters and industries.
• The proposal involves the construction of an Inland Port near Jalore and the development of a navigable waterway connecting key industrial districts in Western Rajasthan (such as Jalore and Barmer) to the Gulf of Kutch via Deendayal Port.
• The connectivity plan is expected to support sectors such as textiles, ceramics, marble, minerals, engineering goods, and handicrafts, all of which form major export components of Rajasthan’s economy.

World Fisheries Day 2025

Why in News?

India marked World Fisheries Day 2025 on 21st November, celebrating sustainability, blue-economy growth, and improved livelihoods for fishers. 

Key Points

• About: World Fisheries Day, observed annually on 21st November, traces its origin to the formation of the World Fisheries Forum in 1997, when delegates from 18 countries met in New Delhi to promote sustainable fishing and safeguard fisher communities, making India the birthplace of this global observance.
• Theme:  The theme for 2025 is “India’s Blue Transformation: Strengthening Value Addition in Seafood Exports.”
  • Total fish production more than doubled from 96 lakh tonnes (2013–14) to 195 lakh tonnes (2024–25).
  • Marine product exports rose by 11.08%, from US$ 0.81 billion (October 2024) to US$ 0.90 billion (October 2025).
• Ranking: India is the second-largest fish-producing country and among the world’s top shrimp producers.
• Major Initiatives:
  • The government launched the National Framework on Traceability in Fisheries & Aquaculture to ensure safe, transparent, and globally compliant seafood supply chains.
  • The Sustainable Harnessing of Fisheries in the EEZ Rules promote environmentally responsible deep-sea fishing, giving priority access to Fishermen Cooperatives and FFPOs, enhancing income opportunities for small-scale fishers.
  • ReALCRaft is a digital platform enabling online registration, licensing, e-payments, and vessel data updates, with integrated inspections for paperless fisheries governance.
  • NABHMITRA, a two-way satellite communication system for small vessels (<20 m), provides real-time tracking, SOS alerts, and weather updates, improving fisher safety and coordination with coastal authorities.