Introduction
The subtopic “National Events & Policy” within the broader domain of Current Affairs is a critical pillar of the RPSC examination, accounting for a significant and consistent share of questions year after year. An analysis of the 37 Previous Year Questions (PYQs) provided reveals that this subtopc tests a student’s awareness of specific governmental decisions, policy launches, budget announcements, institutional changes, and legislative enactments — both at the national level and within the state of Rajasthan. The questions are overwhelmingly factual, demanding precise recall of dates, figures, names of schemes, locations of new institutions, and the exact wording of policy targets. There is a strong bias towards Rajasthan-specific policies and events (roughly 60% of the questions), reflecting the RPSC’s mandate to evaluate a candidate’s grasp of state-level administration and development. National-level questions focus on landmark decisions such as the merger of the Railway Budget with the Union Budget, constitutional amendment numbers, major scheme launches (e.g., Atal Bhujal Yojana, PM Matru Vandana Yojana), and international honours conferred on Indian leaders.
The difficulty level is moderate — there are no analytical or opinion-based questions; every answer can be found in official notifications, budget documents, or news reports from the preceding 2–3 years. However, the challenge lies in the volume and granularity of facts. Students must be comfortable with statements that appear true but contain subtle inaccuracies. The question format is dominated by “which of the following statements is/are correct” and “identify the correct combination/place/year.” A few questions test matching or sequencing.
This chapter will equip you with a first-principles understanding of how to approach National Events & Policy. We will define every key term, walk through the PYQs step by step, reveal the patterns that RPSC follows, and provide memory aids to retain the dense factual load. By the end, you will be able to answer not only the questions already asked but also the logical extensions that the syllabus implies.
Core Concepts & Foundations
Before diving into specific events, it is essential to internalise the vessel of knowledge that RPSC expects you to possess. This foundation is built on understanding the types of policy instruments, the institutional landscape, and the chronology of major reforms. Let us define each core term.
Union Budget: The annual financial statement of the Government of India, presented to Parliament on 1st February (since 2017). It outlines the estimated receipts and expenditure for the coming financial year. From 2017–18 onwards, the Railway Budget was merged with the Union Budget, ending a 92-year-old practice.
Constitutional Amendment Act: A formal change to the Constitution of India, passed by a special majority in both Houses of Parliament and, where required, ratified by at least half of the state legislatures. Each amendment is numbered sequentially (e.g., 105th Amendment). The number is the key fact tested.
Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (FRBM) Act: A law enacted to ensure fiscal discipline by setting targets for the government’s fiscal deficit, revenue deficit, and debt. The central FRBM Act was passed in 2003; states like Rajasthan enacted their own versions in later years (Rajasthan FRBM Act, 2005).
KUSUM Scheme: Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan — a central scheme to promote solar energy among farmers. It includes components for solar pumps, grid-connected solar plants, and feeder-level solarisation. The first farm-based KUSUM solar power project was commissioned in Bhaloji, Rajasthan.
Annapurna Bhandar: A Rajasthan state government initiative to provide subsidised food grains to eligible families through fair price shops. The first such bhandar was inaugurated in Bhambori in 2015.
Rajasthan Jan Aadhaar Authority (RJAA): An authority created by an ordinance (later an Act) to issue a unique identification number (Jan Aadhaar) to every resident of Rajasthan, consolidating various beneficiary databases for targeted delivery of schemes. The ordinance came into force on 18 December 2019.
Supply Chain Resilience Initiative (SCRI): A trilateral initiative among India, Japan, and Australia (later also involving other Indo-Pacific partners) to build resilient supply chains and reduce over-dependence on any single country, especially China. Launched in 2021.
Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY): A centrally sponsored maternity benefit programme under which pregnant women and lactating mothers receive a cash incentive of ₹5,000 in three instalments for the first live birth, conditional on fulfilling certain health and nutrition conditions.
Atal Bhujal Yojana (ABY): A central scheme launched in 2020 with World Bank assistance to improve groundwater management in water-stressed areas. In Rajasthan, it is implemented in selected districts where community participation is a key feature.
Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024: A state policy aimed at promoting micro, small, and medium enterprises. It was announced to remain in force until 31 March 2029.
M-Sand Policy 2024: A Rajasthan government policy to promote manufactured sand (M-Sand) as a substitute for river sand in construction, aiming to curb illegal mining. It remains in force until 31 March 2029 or until a new policy replaces it.
Rajasthan Mineral Policy 2024: A policy to regulate mining and mineral-based industries in the state, focusing on sustainable extraction and value addition. The PYQ tested targets under this policy (A, B, C were all correct).
Rajasthan Institute for Transformation and Innovation (RITI): A think-tank formed in 2024 to replace the Chief Minister’s Rajasthan Economic Transformation Advisory Council (CMRETAC). It advises the state government on economic and social transformation.
Classical Languages: Languages recognised by the Government of India as having a rich literary tradition and historical antiquity. Criteria include high antiquity, a body of ancient literature, and a distinct literary tradition. In 2024, the government approved inclusion of certain languages, raising the total to 11.
Competition Commission of India (CCI): A statutory body responsible for enforcing the Competition Act, 2002, to promote competition and prevent anti-competitive practices. In 2024, it engaged the Institute of Rural Management, Anand (IRMA) to conduct a market study on Artificial Intelligence and Competition.
Understanding these terms is the bedrock. Every PYQ is a specific application of one or more of these concepts. The remainder of this chapter will weave them into detailed narratives, group them by theme, and show you how to recall them under exam stress.