State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 10 Dec 2025

Rajasthan Clears Drinking Water Projects

Why in News? 

The Rajasthan government issued work orders for the Nonera and Parwan-Akawad drinking water projects under the Jal Jeevan Mission, with a combined cost of ₹5,184 crore. 

Key Points 

• Beneficiary Districts: Once completed, the projects will provide a regular drinking water supply to households in Kota, Bundi, Jhalawar and Baran districts. 
• Nonera Project Coverage: The Nonera project will supply water to 749 villages and 6 towns in Kota and Bundi, covering 1,13,287 families. 
• Nonera Infrastructure: With an approved cost of ₹1,661.14 crore, it includes 1 intake station, 3 water treatment plants, 14 reservoirs, 137 elevated tanks, and over 4,560 km of pipeline networks. 
• Parwan-Akawad Coverage: This project will benefit 1,402 villages, including 907 in Baran, 184 in Kota (Sangod), 311 in Jhalawar, plus 276 hamlets, serving 1,52,437 families. 
• Parwan-Akawad Infrastructure: With ₹3,523.16 crore approved, it includes 2 intake stations, 2 treatment plants, 41 reservoirs, 276 elevated tanks, and over 10,000 km of pipelines. 
• Completion Timeline – Both projects are targeted for completion by August 2027, supporting the state’s goal of ensuring tap water access to every household under the Jal Jeevan Mission.

Jal Jeevan Mission 

• About:  Launched on 15th August 2019, the Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) aims to provide tap water to every rural household by 2024 (extended till 2028), targeting 55 litres per person per day. It is a Centrally Sponsored Scheme, implemented by the Ministry of Jal Shakti.  
• Objectives:  (Mnemonic: TAP) 
  • T – Target Every Rural Household: Provide Functional Household Tap Connections (FHTC) to all rural households.  
  • A – Areas of Priority: Focus on quality-affected, drought-prone, desert regions, and Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY) villages.  
  • P – Public Places: Ensure taps in schools, Anganwadi centers, gram panchayats, and community buildings.

Rajasthan to Deploy AI for Advanced Mineral Exploration

Why in News? 

Rajasthan is set to introduce artificial intelligence and machine learning in mineral exploration, marking a major technological shift in the mining sector. 

Key Points 

• Agreements: Two agreements will be signed during Pravasi Rajasthani Divas, one with IIT Hyderabad and another with IIT ISM Dhanbad. 
• National Alignment: The initiative supports national programmes like Aatmanirbhar Bharat and Digital India by improving exploration of critical and strategic minerals. 
• Data Collaboration: A letter of intent between RSMET and IIT Hyderabad will enable data exchange and collaborative research. 
• Mine Dump Study: The partnership with IIT ISM Dhanbad aims to scientifically assess mine dumps and tailings across Rajasthan. 
• Dataset Integration: Geological, geochemical, geophysical, remote sensing, and satellite datasets from 39 districts will be combined to identify mineral-rich zones. 
• Target Minerals: Exploration will focus on copper, graphite, zinc, lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements. 
• Project Timeline: The IIT Hyderabad collaboration will be carried out in four phases over 18 months, creating a mineral development roadmap for the state. 
• Dumps Identified: The department has selected 80 mine dumps for evaluation under the one-year IIT ISM Dhanbad project, covering mapping, sampling, extraction studies and mineralogical analysis. 
• National Importance: Rajasthan plays a key role in India’s Critical Mineral Mission, driven by rising domestic and global demand for strategic minerals.