RPSC Monthly Current Affairs: November 2023 | Monthly Current Affairs RPSC - RPSC RAS (Rajasthan) PDF Download

Meri Maati Mera Desh Abhiyan : Rajasthan gets ‘Amrit Award’

Rajasthan has been awarded the ‘Amrit Award’ for securing the third position among the best-performing states in the ‘Meri Maati Mera Desh Abhiyan’ during the Azadi Amrit Mahotsav.

Key Points

• The Amrit Kalash Yatra grand finale of the Meri Maati Mera Desh Abhiyan took place at the Path of Duty in New Delhi, where the Prime Minister awarded the Azadi Ka Amrit Awards to the top-performing States/UTs, Ministries, and Departments.
• The awards were determined by a high-level committee, ranking 36 states and union territories.
• Jammu and Kashmir received the first prize.
• Gujarat secured the second prize.
• Rajasthan and Haryana were jointly awarded the third prize.
• Rajasthan Chief Secretary Usha Sharma received the award on behalf of the state.

Divyakriti Singh, Asian Games Gold Medalist, Named State Election Icon

On November 10, 2023, the Election Commission of India endorsed the State Election Commission's proposal to appoint Divyakriti Singh, an Asian Games gold medalist in horse riding, as the 'State Election Icon'.

Key Points

• To achieve 100 percent voter turnout in the upcoming assembly elections, the State Election Department is enlisting celebrities known for their outstanding contributions in various fields as 'State Election Icons' to encourage maximum voter participation.
• Divyakriti Singh, a 24-year-old resident of Jaipur and recent gold medalist in team dressage at the 19th Asian Games in China, has been selected as a 'State Election Icon'.
• Divyakriti, a graduate in Psychology from Jesus and Mary College, Delhi University, has represented India in numerous international horse riding competitions in Europe. She has also received prestigious awards such as the India Today Woman Achiever Award and the Sawai Jaipur Award.

Rajasthan Pavilion Inaugurated at 42nd Indian International Trade Fair

The newly constructed Rajasthan Pavilion was inaugurated at the 42nd Indian International Trade Fair, which commenced on November 14, 2023, at Pragati Maidan in New Delhi. The inauguration was officiated by Veenu Gupta, Additional Chief Secretary for Industries and Commerce in Rajasthan, and Dr. Manisha Arora, Director of Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation Limited.

• The Rajasthan Pavilion aims to showcase and sell products from the state that are renowned globally. Various departments, including tourism, khadi, women and child development, and industries such as Rajasthali by RSSIC, are participating in the trade fair.
• The pavilion features around 25 stalls representing entrepreneurs from different regions of Rajasthan, displaying handicraft products that are popular both nationally and internationally. These include Rajasthani specialties like lac bangles, women's jewelry, textiles, bedsheets, and hosiery products.
• Additionally, the Rajasthan Tourism Development Corporation has arranged for catering Rajasthani cuisine at the pavilion. Visitors to the pavilion will have the opportunity to explore and purchase these esteemed products, reflecting the rich cultural heritage and craftsmanship of Rajasthan.

Dr. Madhukar Gupta Receives 'Election Commissioner of the Year' Award

On November 17, 2023, Dr. Madhukar Gupta, the State Election Commissioner, was honored with the prestigious 'Election Commissioner of the Year' award at the 19th International Electoral Affairs Conference and Awards Ceremony held in Lisbon, Portugal.

• Dr. Gupta received this recognition during a ceremony officiated by Augusto Santos Silva, the Speaker of the Parliament of Portugal, in acknowledgment of his significant contributions to advancing democratic processes and practices in elections worldwide.
• The 19th International Electoral Affairs Conference and Awards Ceremony in Lisbon served as an important platform for fostering collaboration and sharing insights among global leaders in the field of electoral affairs.
• Dr. Madhukar Gupta, a retired IAS officer from the 1985 batch of the Indian Administrative Service, was appointed Chief Election Commissioner of Rajasthan in August 2022. Throughout his career, he has held various important positions both at the state and central levels, including serving as the Chief Resident Commissioner in the Office of the Resident Commissioner of Rajasthan in New Delhi.
• Dr. Gupta's previous roles include serving as Joint Secretary and Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Public Enterprises and Heavy Industries, Government of India. He has also held positions such as Chairman of the Indira Gandhi Canal Board, Divisional Commissioner in Jaipur, Kota, Bharatpur, and Bikaner, and Collector in several districts. Additionally, he has served as Principal Secretary in the Higher Education Department and Transport Department of the Government of Rajasthan.

Digital Certificate for Voters in Rajasthan

On November 22, 2023, Praveen Gupta, the Chief Electoral Officer of Rajasthan, announced that voters who upload a selfie after casting their vote on the website of CEO Rajasthan on voting day will receive a digital certificate.

• This initiative aims to encourage 100 percent voter participation in the Rajasthan Assembly General Election - 2023, scheduled for November 25, 2023.
• To motivate voters, selfie points have been set up at polling stations. Voters can upload their selfies taken at these points on the portal by clicking the link “Upload your Selfie and Download Digital Certificate” displayed on the Chief Electoral Officer's website  https://ceorajasthan.nic.in/  .
• Additionally, the website provides a link to download the e-Pledge Certificate district-wise, allowing voters to download the certificate from the portal of their respective districts.

Rajasthan Assembly General Election-2023: 75.45% Voter Turnout

The Information and Public Relations Department of Rajasthan reported on November 26, 2023, that the voter turnout for the Rajasthan Assembly Elections held on November 25, 2023, was 75.45 percent.

• The voting process was completed peacefully across the state on November 25, and the counting of votes is scheduled for December 3, 2023. Voters participated enthusiastically in this democratic exercise, showing great enthusiasm and eagerness.
• Compared to the 2018 Assembly elections, there was an increase of 0.73 percent in the voting percentage this year. The total voting figure includes 0.83 percent voting through postal ballots.
• A total of 74.62 percent voting occurred through Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), with men voting at 74.53 percent and women at 74.72 percent. In 2018, the voting figures were 74.71 percent overall, with men at 74.75 percent and women at 74.67 percent.
• The Kushalgarh assembly constituency witnessed the highest voting through EVMs at 88.13 percent, an increase from 86.13 percent in 2018. Other notable constituencies include Pokaran with 87.79 percent this year (up from 87.50 percent in 2018) and Tijara with 86.11 percent this year (up from 82.08 percent in 2018).
• The lowest voting percentages were recorded in Ahor with 61.24 percent (down from 61.53 percent in 2018), Marwar Junction with 61.29 percent (up from 60.42 percent in 2018), and Sumerpur with 61.44 percent (up from 60.89 percent in 2018).
• Women’s voting percentages were lowest in Jodhpur ( 62.97 percent ), Todabhim ( 63.22 percent ), and Bamanwas ( 63.63 percent ).
• The highest increases in voting were seen in Baseri ( 9.6 percent ), Taranagar ( 7.65 percent ), and Aspur ( 7.01 percent ). The largest decreases were in Phalodi ( 7.15 percent ), Hindaun ( 6.10 percent ), and Jaisalmer ( 4.79 percent ).
• In total, 39,211,399 votes were cast from EVMs, with 18,827,294 votes from women, 20,383,757 votes from men, and 348 votes from third gender voters.

Record for the World's Largest Roti in Honor of Kailash Soni from Bhilwara

On November 27, 2023, Kailash Soni from Bhilwara city was officially recognized for setting a world record by making the largest Roti in the world. A certificate commemorating this achievement was presented to Soni in Bhilwara.

• It's important to note that this record was previously set on October 8, 2023, in Bhilwara, where the world's largest Roti was created. This remarkable feat has been acknowledged in the International Book of Records (World Record of Excellence).
• The Roti weighed an astonishing 185 kg, with a diameter of 11.25 feet by 11.25 feet.
• A team of 24 skilled confectioners from various states in India worked for over six hours to prepare this enormous Roti.
• To cook it, a Tawa weighing approximately 1000 kg and measuring 16 x 12 feet was used, along with 1000 kg of coal sourced from 1100 brick kilns.
• For context, in 2012, a Roti measuring 10 feet by 10 feet and weighing 145 kg was recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records in Jamnagar city, Gujarat.