State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 31 Oct 2025

GST Imposed on Horse Sales at Pushkar Fair

Why in News? 

The Rajasthan State GST Department has, for the first time, imposed a 5% GST on horse sales at the Pushkar Fair to formalise trade and boost revenue collection. 

 

Key Points 

• Implementation: The Animal Husbandry Department will issue receipts for each transaction, serving as the basis for GST collection. 
  • To ensure compliance, checkpoints have been established along major routes to monitor horse transport and verify documentation. 
• About Pushkar Fair:  
  • The Pushkar Fair, also known as the Pushkar Camel Fair or Pushkar Mela, is an annual five-day livestock and cultural event held in Pushkar, Rajasthan, typically between October and November. 
  • It is regarded as one of the world’s largest cattle fairs, attracting traders and visitors from across India and abroad. 
  • Beyond livestock trading, the fair has evolved into a major tourist attraction, featuring traditional competitions like matka phod, longest moustache, and bridal contests. 
  • In recent years, the fair has added modern attractions, including an exhibition football match between the local Pushkar Club and teams of foreign tourists. 
  • The Pushkar Fair remains a vibrant cultural and economic hub, drawing buyers and farmers from Rajasthan, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Gujarat while celebrating Rajasthan’s rich equestrian heritage and the enduring bond between humans and horses. 

Justice Surya Kant Appointed as 53rd CJI

Why in News? 

President Droupadi Murmu has appointed Justice Surya Kant as the 53^rd Chief Justice of India (CJI). 

 

Key Points 

• About:  
  • He will assume office as the Chief Justice of India on 24^th November 2025, succeeding CJI B. R. Gavai, and will serve a 15-month tenure until 10th February 2027. 
  • He will be the first Chief Justice of India from Haryana. 
  • He is a first-generation lawyer known for his forthright observations, balanced judgments, and emphasis on constitutional morality. 
  • His tenure is expected to focus on judicial accessibility, administrative reforms, and consistency in constitutional interpretation. 
• Notable Judgments: 
  • Article 370: Part of the five-judge bench that upheld the abrogation of Article 370. 
  • Minority Tag to AMU: Member of the bench that delivered the verdict on Aligarh Muslim University’s minority status. 
  • Election Commission Oversight: Currently heading a bench supervising the Special Intensive Revision exercise in Bihar. 
• About Chief Justice of India:  
  • A Supreme Court judge, including the CJI, is appointed by the President under Article 124 (2).  
  • The senior-most judge is designated as CJI based on length of service ( it is customary practice, not a legal requirement ).  
  • To qualify as CJI, one must be a citizen of India, have served as a High Court judge for 5 years or as an advocate for 10 years, or be a distinguished jurist in the President’s opinion.  
  • The CJI can only be removed by the President after an address by Parliament, supported by a special majority in both Houses. 

  

National Unity Day

Why in News?  

Rashtriya Ekta Diwas(National Unity Day), observed annually on 31^st October to honour Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel’s role in unifying India, holds special significance in 2025 as it marks his 150^th birth anniversary. 

Key Points 

• National Unity Day:  
  • It embodies the values of unity, integrity, and inclusiveness championed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel. 
  • It was first celebrated in 2014, following the Government’s decision to honour Patel’s monumental role in nation-building. 
  • During the 2015 observance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched the ‘Ek Bharat Shreshtha Bharat’ initiative to strengthen connections and cultural exchange among people of different regions. 
• Events: 
  • The Sardar@150 Unity March (Yatra), organised by the Union Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports through the My Bharat platform, aims to promote unity, patriotism, and civic responsibility among youth in line with the vision of ‘Ek Bharat, Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. 
  • The “Run for Unity,” a nationwide marathon symbolising national cohesion, was held on 31^st October 2025 across major cities, with a flag-off event in New Delhi. 
• Statue of Unity:  
  • On 31^st  October 2018, the Statue of Unity, the world’s tallest statue at 182 meters (600 feet), was inaugurated at Kevadia, Gujarat, honouring Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel.  
  • Overlooking the Narmada River and the Sardar Sarovar Dam (the second largest gravity dam worldwide by concrete volume), the statue is situated on Sadhu Bet hillock. 
  • In 2020 India's Statue of Unity was included in the list of eight wonders of the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO).