State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 10 Oct 2025

Rajasthan to Boost Quality of Education

Why in News? 

The Rajasthan Education Department has outlined a comprehensive four-part action plan aimed at strengthening foundational literacy among students and enhancing the overall quality of education in government schools.  

• The proposed program aims to transform Rajasthan into a model state for implementing National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, enhance government school enrolment, improve children's employability, and lead national academic rankings. 

Key Focus Areas of the Plan 

• Student Upliftment: 
  • Digital Monitoring: Attendance of students will be digitally monitored to ensure consistent engagement. 
  • Textbook Distribution: The timely distribution of textbooks will be ensured, ideally within one month from the start of the academic year. 
  • Emotional Empowerment: Special video seminars on social, emotional, and ethical learning will be organized, along with counseling camps to help students cope with stress and emotional challenges. 
  • Board Exam Support: Two question banks or assessment materials will be provided to students preparing for board exams, along with on-call support from subject experts. 
  • Competitive Exam Preparation: High-performing students in secondary classes will be identified and provided with study materials or reimbursement for purchasing competitive exam materials. 
• School Development: 
  • School Categorization: Schools will be categorized into Gold, Silver, and Bronze based on student test results, academic performance, and sports achievements. 
  • Gold Schools: High-performing schools will receive priority in resource allocation. 
• Teacher Empowerment: 
  • Teacher Transfer Policy: A new teacher transfer policy will prioritise transfers based on student performance and other criteria, ensuring that skilled teachers are placed in schools where they can have the most impact. 
  • Specialised Teacher Selection: Teachers with superior academic results will be selected for specialised state-level institutions, ensuring quality education at the institutional level. 
• Parental Involvement: 
  • Mega Parent-Teacher Meetings: Monthly meetings will be organised across the state to engage parents in the educational progress of their children, ensuring that parents play an active role in their child's learning journey. 

Exercise Indra 2025

Why in News? 

The Indo-Russian joint military exercise 'Indra 2025' is being held from 6th to 15th October 2025, at the Mahajan Field Firing Range in Bikaner, Rajasthan.  

Key Points 

• Objectives: This year’s exercise emphasises counter-terrorism, aligning with the strategic doctrines of both India and Russia, reflecting their shared priorities in addressing modern security challenges. 
• Focus Areas: 
  • Joint tactical exercises 
  • Live-fire training 
  • Close-quarter combat under desert conditions 
  • Simulated hostage-rescue missions, elimination of insurgent networks, and precision engagement of fortified positions. 
• Features: 
  • The exercise involves high-intensity drills, including rehearsals of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) integration for reconnaissance and target acquisition. 
  • Air support coordination and the synchronisation of artillery and armoured elements in limited-visibility environments are also key components of the drills. 
  • Troops will operate under strict rules of engagement to ensure realistic and disciplined execution of operations. 
• Historical Context: 
  • The Indra series of exercises began in 2003 and alternates between India and Russia. 
  • The last exercise was held in 2021, but the series was paused after the outbreak of the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022. 
• Significance: With evolving military technologies and joint operations, this exercise helps both nations refine their tactics and improve interoperability, especially in hostile environments.