State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 12 Aug 2025

Rajasthan's First Sex-Sorted Semen Lab for Cattle

Why in News? 

Rajasthan's first sex-sorted semen lab for cattle was inaugurated by Dairy Minister Joraram Kumawat on 11th August 2025 at Bassi, Jaipur, and aims to enhance livestock quality, breed improvement, and milk production in the state. 

Key Points 

• Operation: The lab will operate under the Rajasthan Cooperative Dairy Federation (RCDF) with support from the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), based in Anand, Gujarat. 
  • A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed by RCDF, Rajasthan Livestock Development Board (RLDB), and NDDB Dairy Services (NDS) for the management and operation of the Bassi Semen Station. 
  • The MoU aims to enhance the production and supply of both conventional and sex-sorted semen doses for artificial insemination in Rajasthan. 
• Purpose & Impact: The lab aims to enhance cattle genetics for improved milk production in the region by providing livestock farmers with affordable, high-quality semen doses for artificial insemination.  
• Production and Pricing: The annual production capacity is 10 lakh doses of semen, with varying pricing based on sex-sorted, indigenous conventional, and imported breed semen, and extra doses may be sold to other agencies at market rates. 
• Significance:  The Bassi Semen Station is set to become a key resource in Rajasthan, not only for semen production but also as an educational and support center for livestock farmers, driving forward both the economic and environmental goals of the dairy industry in the region. 

BSF Launches 'Operation Alert'

Why in News? 

The Border Security Force (BSF) has launched a week-long security operation called 'Operation Alert' along the Indo-Pak border in Rajasthan.  

Key Points 

• About: The operation will run between 11th August 2025 to 17th August 2025 and is aimed at strengthening security and preventing any infiltration attempts ahead of India's Independence Day. 
• Objectives: 
  • Strengthen surveillance to prevent infiltration and smuggling, especially in the sensitive areas adjoining Sriganganagar and Bikaner. 
  • Respond to intelligence reports suggesting potential disturbances orchestrated by Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) leaders in Pakistan. 
  • Focus on preventing narcotic smuggling via drones, particularly in areas prone to such activities. 
• Personnel Involved: BSF soldiers and officers from all branches are participating in the operation, with additional soldiers deployed to sensitive areas. 
  • The BSF will also conduct outreach programs with border residents to increase awareness and cooperation. 

Aravali Green Development Project

Why in News? 

The Rajasthan government has launched the Aravali Green Development Project aimed at ecological restoration and desertification control across 3,700 hectares in 19 districts along the Aravali range.  

Key Points 

• About: The Rs 250 crore project, spanning five years, aims to restore the Aravali ecosystem, combat land degradation and desertification, with the first year focused on plantation and the following year on maintenance. 
  • The project is aligned with the Aravali Green Wall Project, which aims for massive plantations across the Aravalis, from Delhi to Ahmedabad. 
• Geographical Focus: The project spans 19 districts from Alwar to Sirohi, covering approximately 550 kilometers (80% of the Aravali range in Rajasthan). 
• Monitoring and Oversight: The project will be monitored by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change using indicators like flora and fauna recovery, groundwater level changes, and microclimatic shifts. 
• Project Goals: 
  • Restoration of the deteriorating Aravali ecosystem. 
  • Prevention of sandstorms from the Thar Desert reaching the National Capital Region (NCR) serving as an ecological defense mechanism for North India. 
  • Combat soil erosion, desertification, and the adverse impacts of deforestation. 
  • Helps in improving biodiversity, groundwater recharge, and long-term ecological sustainability. 
• Plantation Strategy: 
  • Indigenous and climate-resilient species, including Khejri (state tree), Babool, Dhak, Neem, Ber, and native grasses like Sevan and Dhaman for soil stabilization. 
  • Species chosen for their adaptability to varying climates (dry zones in Sikar to humid areas in Dungarpur and Sirohi). 
  • Plantation will occur exclusively on forest land, avoiding areas with human habitation or encroachments. 
  • Long-term sustainability is emphasized with careful maintenance to ensure the survival of saplings in arid zones like Jaipur and Sikar. 

World Elephant Day 2025

Why in News? 

On 12^th August 2025, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC), in collaboration with the Tamil Nadu Forest Department, hosted the World Elephant Day celebration in Coimbatore.  

• A specialized workshop on Human-Elephant Conflict (HEC) was also held, providing a platform for elephant range states to share challenges and discuss mitigation strategies, in line with Project Elephant's focus on community participation and scientific solutions to address human-elephant conflicts. 
• A nationwide awareness program also aims to engage approximately 12 lakh school children from around 5,000 schools across India. 

World Elephant Day 

• World Elephant Day was co-founded on 12th August 2012, by Canadian Patricia Sims and the Elephant Reintroduction Foundation of Thailand.  
• Since its inception of global awareness building, it has partnerships with 100 elephant conservation organizations worldwide and reaches countless individuals across the globe.  
• The theme for 2025 is “Bringing the world together to help elephants”. 
• World Elephant Society, established in November 2015 as a nonprofit organization, aims to support the annual World Elephant Day campaign. 
  • The organization educates the public on global elephant conservation efforts, particularly around World Elephant Day. 

Facts About Elephants 

• Three Species: African savannah elephant, African forest elephant, and Asian elephant. 
• Size: African savannah elephants are largest (up to 4 meters tall and 6,800 kg in weight). 
• Lifespan: Wild elephants typically live 60 to 70 years of age. 
• Diet: Elephants are herbivores 
• Trunk: Their trunk is a versatile tool used for breathing, smelling, touching, grasping, and producing sound. 
• Tusks: Elephant tusks are actually enlarged incisor teeth and can be found on elephants at 2 years old.  
  • Elephants have been targeted for their ivory tusks, driving the illegal wildlife trade and causing severe declines in their populations. 
• Intelligence: Elephants have the largest brain of any land animal. 
• Social Structure: Female elephants live in family groups called herds, led by a matriarch.  
• Reproduction: Elephant pregnancies last about 22 months, and calves weigh 200–300 pounds at birth. 
• Conservation Status (IUCN Red List Status):  
  • Asian elephants: Endangered (EN) 
  • Savannah elephants: Endangered (EN) 
  • Forest elephants: Critically Endangered (CR) 

India’s Role in Elephant Conservation 

• India is home to nearly 60% of the world’s wild elephant population.  
• India has established 33 Elephant Reserves and 150 identified Elephant Corridors, according to the Report on Elephant Corridors in India, 2023.  
• India has granted elephants the status of National Heritage Animal.  
• In India, Asian Elephants are categorized under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 

Deen Dayal SPARSH Yojana

Why in News? 

The Department of Posts has announced the Deen Dayal SPARSH (Scholarship for Promotion of Aptitude & Research in Stamps as a Hobby) Yojana for the year 2025-26, offering scholarships to students from classes 6 to 9.  

• The selected students will receive a monthly scholarship of ₹500 to promote interest in philately. 

Key Points 

• Eligibility: The scholarship will be awarded based on academic performance, results from a quiz organized by the Department of Posts, and a philately project (philately is the collection and study of Postage stamps). 
  • Students who have secured a minimum of 60% marks or equivalent grades in the previous year's examination are eligible to apply.  
  • A 5% relaxation will be given to students from scheduled castes and scheduled tribes.  
  • To apply, students must be members of their school's philately club, or if such a club doesn't exist, they must have an individual philatelic deposit account. 
  • Students can submit their applications at the Philately Bureau at the General Post Office (GPO).  
• Objective: The objective of the scholarship is to "Promote Philately among children at a young age in a sustainable manner that can reinforce and supplement the academic curriculum in addition to providing a hobby that can help them relax and de-stress". 
• Significance: Stamp collection provides educational insight into the socio-economic and political context of its time, serves as a stress-relieving hobby, fosters social connections, and enhances memory skills through organizing and cataloging information.

India Post

• Establishment: On 1st October 1854 by Lord Dalhousie (Governor-General of British India) 
• Historical Timeline 
  • 1766: Robert Clive set up postal system under East India Company (called "Company Mail") 
  • 1774: Warren Hastings opened Calcutta General Post Office- first public post office 
  • 1854: Lord Dalhousie brought postal service under British Crown 
• Current Network Size 
  • Total Post Offices: 164,999 Post Offices (Rural: 149,164 (90% of total) and Urban: 15,823) 
  • Global Status: World's largest postal network 
• Organizational Structure 
  • Ministry: Ministry of Communications, Government of India 
  • Circles: 23 postal circles across India 
• Services: 
  • Banking and financial services 
  • Postal Life Insurance (PLI) 
  • India Post Payments Bank 
  • E-commerce and retail services 
  • Government scheme disbursements (pensions, MGNREGA)