State PCS - Rajasthan (RAS)

• 15 Dec 2025

AI X-rays for Tuberculosis Detection

Why in News?

The Rajasthan State Health Department launched an initiative deploying 29 advanced portable X-ray machines to strengthen Tuberculosis diagnosis.

Key Points

• Technology: The portable X-ray machines use Artificial Intelligence to rapidly identify individuals with suspected Tuberculosis, including in remote villages.
• Outreach: The initiative aimed to improve early diagnosis, treatment and management of Tuberculosis in underserved rural and remote communities.
• Priority:High-risk locations such as brick kilns, construction sites, mining areas, jails, hostels, slums and other congregate settings were identified for focused Tuberculosis screening.
• Approach: The Health Department emphasised Active Case Finding as a cost-effective strategy to reduce delays in Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment.
• Infrastructure: The initiative addressed major gaps in public health facilities, including the lack of X-ray equipment and shortage of trained radiologists.
• Screening: A high-sensitivity digital chest X-ray screening tool, digital Chest X-ray, combined with Computer-Aided Detection, was adopted for identifying suspected Tuberculosis cases.
• Diagnostics: Individuals flagged through screening were linked to Xpert molecular testing for rapid confirmatory diagnosis and to reduce pre-treatment loss to follow-up.
• Deployment: Portable X-ray machines were deployed across 29 districts of Rajasthan, with a recent screening drive identifying 2.3 lakh individuals with Tuberculosis symptoms from a vulnerable population of nearly 160 lakh.
• Burden: Rajasthan reported a high Tuberculosis burden, with over 1.7 lakh cases in 2024 and 89,132 cases recorded by June 2025.
• Targeting: The Health Department planned to use Artificial Intelligence–enabled X-ray machines to screen high-risk groups, including people living with HIV/AIDS, diabetes patients, senior citizens, malnourished individuals, and those recovering from Tuberculosis.

RVCF Launches ₹150-Crore India Growth Fund

Why in News?

Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund launched its fourth fund, India Growth Fund IV, with a corpus of ₹150 crore and a Green Shoe Option of ₹100 crore.

Key Points

• Objective: The fund was designed to invest in pre-Series A and Series A technology startups with scalable business models, strong job creation potential and significant economic impact.
• Sectors: Key investment areas include technology, healthcare, agritech, cleantech and digital transformation.
• Support: Beyond capital, Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund will provide strategic guidance, governance support and access to industry networks to help startups scale sustainably.
• Vision: The fund aligns with the Rajasthan government’s long-term vision of innovation-led development and building a self-sustaining startup ecosystem.
• Legacy: With over 23 years of operations, Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund has made 44 investments, largely supporting first-generation entrepreneurs and micro, small and medium enterprises.
• Returns: Two earlier funds were fully liquidated with positive returns, while the third fund is under divestment with expected returns of about double the invested amount.
• Impact: Select exits delivered returns of over 20 times, four portfolio companies achieved public listings, and invested ventures served over 10 million customers and created more than 10,000 jobs.
• Inclusion: About 66% of funded ventures were founded by first-time entrepreneurs and nearly one-third had women founders, highlighting the fund’s inclusive growth approach.

Venture Capital Funds

• Venture capital funds are investment vehicles that allow investors to put money into start-ups and small and medium-sized enterprises.
• These funds mainly focus on companies with high growth potential and the ability to generate substantial returns.
• Under the Securities and Exchange Board of India (Alternative Investment Funds) Regulations, 2012, Venture Capital Funds are classified as Category I Alternative Investment Funds.

Raj Kumar Goyal Sworn in as CIC

Why in News?

Former Indian Administrative Service officer Raj Kumar Goyal was sworn in as Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) of the Central Information Commission by President Droupadi Murmu.

• The appointment filled the CIC post that had remained vacant since September 2025, after the previous CIC, Heeralal Samariya, demitted office.

Key Points

• About: Raj Kumar Goyal was a 1990-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, originally of the Jammu and Kashmir cadre, later part of the Arunachal Pradesh, Goa, Mizoram and Union Territories (AGMUT) cadre after Jammu and Kashmir became a Union Territory in 2019.
• He retired in August 2025 as Secretary, Department of Justice, Ministry of Law and Justice.
• During his career, Goyal also served in the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.
• Appointment of ICs: At present, Anandi Ramalingam and Vinod Kumar Tiwari are Information Commissioners(ICs), while Jaya Verma Sinha, Swagat Das, Sanjeev Kumar Jindal, Surendra Singh Meena and Khushwant Singh Sethi have been recommended for appointment as Information Commissioners.

Central Information Commission

• Establishment: It was established under the RTI Act, 2005, as a statutory body (not a constitutional body). 
• Composition: The Central Information Commission shall consist of the Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) and such number of Central Information Commissioners not exceeding 10 as may be deemed necessary. 
• Appointment: Members are appointed by the President of India based on the recommendations of a committee comprising: 
  • The Prime Minister (Chairperson). 
  • The Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha. 
  • A Union Cabinet Minister nominated by the Prime Minister. 
• Eligibility and Exemption: Eminent individuals with experience in law, science, technology, social service, management, journalism, or governance. 
  • Must not be MPs, MLAs, or hold any office of profit. 
  • No political affiliations, business, or professional engagements. 
  • They are not eligible for reappointment. 
• Powers of the CIC: Summoning witnesses, inspecting documents, requisitioning public records, and issuing summons for examination. 
• Functions: Its primary role is to ensure the effective implementation of the RTI Act, 2005 and uphold citizens’ right to information. 
  • It deals with cases involving offices, financial institutions, public sector undertakings, and other entities under the Central Government and Union Territories.