Module 12 • Conservation, GI & SportsOctober 202616 min read
Wildlife Conservation, GI Heritage, Legislative Governance & Sports Stars
Target Exam: RPSC RAS / RTS Combined Competitive Examination•Official Sources: Rajasthan State Gazettes, Budget & Official ReleasesRajasthan State Gazettes, Budget & Official Releases
Wildlife Conservation, GI Heritage, Legislative Governance & Sports Stars
This module unifies Rajasthan's dynamic conservation landscape, intellectual property heritage, administrative and recruitment governance, and world-class sporting milestones for focused RPSC/RAS revision.
1. Tiger Conservation & Landscape Corridors
Rajasthan hosts five designated Tiger Reserves, moving from isolated protected enclaves toward integrated landscape conservation:
1.
Ranthambore Tiger Reserve (Sawai Madhopur): The genetic source pool for western India's tiger metapopulation.
2.
Sariska Tiger Reserve (Alwar): In 2026, marked 18 years of historic tiger reintroduction. The first tigress, ST-1, was airlifted from Ranthambore to Sariska on 28 June 2008, representing the world's first successful reintroduction after local extinction.
3.
Mukundara Hills Tiger Reserve (Kota, Jhalawar, Bundi, Chittorgarh): Riverine forest along the Chambal basin.
4.
Ramgarh Vishdhari Tiger Reserve (Bundi): Officially designated as Rajasthan's 4th reserve, serving as a critical ecological corridor connecting Ranthambore ↔ Mukundara Hills, facilitating natural tiger dispersal and preventing genetic inbreeding.
5.
Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve: Rajasthan's 5th tiger reserve, securing Chambal ravines and connecting with Madhya Pradesh's Kuno-Madhav landscape.
2. Cultural Intellectual Property: Jodhpur Mojari (GI #735)
In 2026, Rajasthan's rich artisanal heritage achieved a milestone with the formal Geographical Indication (GI) registration of Jodhpur Mojari:
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GI Registration Number: 735.
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Craft Legacy: Traditional Marwar handcrafted footwear dating back over 200 years.
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Artisan Clusters: Hand-stitched using processed leather, fine embroidery, and upturned toe curls across Jodhpur and adjoining Marwar tehsils.
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Economic Impact: Provides anti-counterfeiting legal protection, global branding, and premium export pricing for thousands of traditional cobbler families.
3. Legislative Governance & Examination Integrity (2025–26)
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Rajasthan Coaching Centres (Control and Regulation) Bill, 2025: Formulated to address student mental health stress in Kota and Jaipur, regulating fees, safety norms, misleading advertisements, mandatory counseling, and grievance mechanisms.
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Rajasthan Ground Water (Conservation and Management) Authority Bill, 2025: Establishes regulatory oversight over dark zones and industrial extraction.
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Recruitment Integrity Enforcement: Strict enforcement of the Rajasthan Public Examination (Measures for Prevention of Unfair Means in Recruitment) Act, 2022, introducing life imprisonment, property attachment, and permanent debarment for organized paper-leak syndicates.
4. Infrastructure & Mobility
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9 Greenfield Expressways (₹60,000 crore): High-speed freight and passenger expressways across Kotputli-Kishangarh, Jaipur-Bhilwara, Beawar-Bharatpur, etc.
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State Highways Upgrade: 1,000+ km upgraded to State Highways, 2,000+ km to Main District Roads (MDRs), and ₹500 crore for Atal Pragati Paths in 250 towns.
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Intelligent Transport Management System (ITMS): Allocated ₹100 crore to install approximately 2,000 smart cameras across state highway bottlenecks.
5. Sports Highlights & Major Personalities
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5th Khelo India University Games 2025: Hosted by Rajasthan starting 24 November 2025 across seven host cities (Jaipur, Jodhpur, Udaipur, Kota, Ajmer, Bikaner, Sikar).
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State Sports Awards Distinction:
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Maharana Pratap Award: Conferred on outstanding sportspersons for national/international medals (instituted 1982–83).
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Guru Vashishtha Award: Conferred on outstanding sports coaches (instituted 1985–86).
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Padma Shri 2026 Laureates from Rajasthan:
1.
Taga Ram Bheel: Field: Art (Tribal folk music and traditional craft).
2.
Gafaruddin Mewati Jogi: Field: Art (Mewati folk music and traditional Bhapang/Jogiya instruments).
3.
Swami Brahamdev: Field: Social Service (Community welfare and education).
Rajasthan Sports Personality Bank (Must-Memorize Table)
| Sportsperson | Sport / Discipline | Landmark Achievement |
|---|---|---|
| Rudransh Khandelwal | Para-Shooting (Bharatpur) | Gold at WSPS World Cup Changwon 2025 (P1 10m Air Pistol SH1); Arjuna Award 2025 |
| Devanshi Sharma | Yogasana (Rajasthan Police) | Gold at Inaugural World Yogasana Championship 2026 (Ahmedabad) in Senior B Hand Balance |
| Avani Lekhara | Para-Shooting (Jaipur) | Double Paralympic Champion (Tokyo 2020 gold, Paris 2024 gold); Padma Shri |
| Devendra Jhajharia | Para-Javelin (Churu) | Double Paralympic Gold (Athens 2004, Rio 2016) & Tokyo Silver; Padma Bhushan |
| Sundar Singh Gurjar | Para-Javelin (Karauli) | Double Paralympic Medalist; World Para-Athletics Champion |
| Rajyavardhan Rathore | Shooting (Double Trap) | Athens 2004 Olympic Silver Medalist; Padma Shri; Cabinet Minister |
| Limba Ram | Archery (Udaipur tribal) | Equalled 30m World Record (358/360) at 1992 Asian Championships; Padma Shri |
| Krishna Poonia | Athletics (Discus Throw) | 2010 Commonwealth Games Gold Medalist; Padma Shri |
Key Examination Takeaways:
- Rajasthan features five Tiger Reserves, celebrating 18 years of Sariska tiger reintroduction (ST-1 on 28 June 2008), with Ramgarh Vishdhari serving as a key corridor.
- Traditional Marwar handcrafted footwear 'Jodhpur Mojari' received official Geographical Indication (GI Registration No. 735) in 2026.
- Key 2025 legislation includes the Rajasthan Coaching Centres Regulation Bill and strict enforcement of the Public Examination Anti-Cheating Act 2022.
- Rajasthan hosted 5th Khelo India University Games 2025; Padma Shri 2026 honoured 3 state luminaries, and Rudransh Khandelwal won Arjuna Award 2025.