Pushkar Fair from 9 to 17th November 2013

Pushkar Fair 2013 is all set to starts from 9th November 2013 with flag hoisting ceremony at mela ground. Pushkar fair 2013 will be held from 9th November to 17th November 2013. Pushkar Fair is yearly camel and livestock fair, celebrated in the town of Pushkar in the state of Rajasthan. During the fair, Lakhs of people from rural India flock to Pushkar, along with camel and cattle for several days of livestock trading, horse dealing, pilgrimage and religious festival. "The fair will begin on November 9 and conclude on November 17. The Pushkar fair, one of the key tourist attraction of the desert state, will be held at the mela ground in Pushkar where people from around the country are likely to participate. This small town, becomes a cultural phenomenon when colourfully dressed devotees, musicians, acrobats, folk dancers, traders, comedians, ‘sadhus’ and tourists reach here during Pushkar fair. According to Hindu chronology, it takes place in the month of Kartika beginning on ‘ashtmi’ 8th day of Lunar Calendar and continues till full moon (‘Poornima’). The camel and cattle trading is at its peak during the first half of festival period. During the later half, religious activities dominate the scenario. Devotees take dips in the holy "Sarovar" lake, as the sacred water is known to bestow salvation.

It is one of the world's largest camel fair apart from buying and selling of livestock, and its highlights have become competitions such as the "matka phod", "longest moustache", and "bridal competitions" are the main draws for this fair which attracts thousands of tourists. People throughout the country are allowed to visit the fair to sell their live stocks as well. Handicrafts have much demand in the mela as worldwide tourists visit the destination to buy attractive arts and crafts. An estimated number of around 50,000 camels are brought in the Pushkar camel festival. In recent years the fair has also included an exhibition cricket match between the local Pushkar club and a team of random foreign tourists. People enjoy the dances, music, camel races and many other exciting competitions.

For More Info - CLICK HERE

Source - Rajasthan Voice

Rajan Committee’s new methodology to replace ‘special category’ status for devolution of funds to States

The panel set up by the government under the chairmanship of the then Chief Economic Advisor Raghuram Rajan (now RBI governor) has suggested ending the ‘special category’ criteria for providing additional assistance to poorer states.

Why did the government set up the Rajan Committee?

The Union Government set up Raghuram Rajan Committee amid demands for “special category” status by Bihar and some other status to get additional financial assistance from the Centre. The Committee was tasked to suggest methods for identifying backwardness of states using a variety of criteria and also to recommend how the criteria may be reflected in future planning and devolution of funds from the central government to the states.

What are the key recommendations of the Rajan Committee?

The Rajan Committee has made two key recommendations for devolution of funds to states. They are:

a) A new methodology based on a ‘Multi Dimensional Index (MDI)’.

Depending on the scores of the 28 states on the MDI, they will be split into 3 categories:

1. Least developed
2. Less developed
3. Relatively developed

b) Each state should get a basic fixed allocation and an additional allocation depending on its development needs and development performance. 

As per the Committee, these two recommendations, along with the allocation methodology, will effectively subsume what is now “Special Category” status.

According to the MDI scores: 

• Least Developed states: Odisha, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam,Meghalaya, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
• Less Developed states: Manipur, West Bengal, Nagaland,Andhra Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram, Gujarat, Tripura,Karnataka, Sikkim and Himachal Pradesh.
  
• Relatively Developed states: Goa, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Punjab,Maharashtra, Uttrakhand and Haryana.

The Department of Economic Affairs will soon examine the report and take necessary action.

Source - GKToday

‘Great Indian Bustard’ (गोंडावन) in critically endangered stage

As per the  2013 ‘Threatened Bird’ list by theInternational Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), the Great Indian Bustard is  listed under the category of Critically Endangered birds.

The Great Indian Bustard (Scientific name: “Ardeotisnigriceps”) was once widely spotted across 11 Indian states, but now only less than 250 birds are left all across India. The destruction of the habitat is a primary threat to the bird’s endurance. The Great Indian Bustard is endemic to the Indian subcontinent. The Great Indian Bustard lives in short-grass plains and deserts in large arid landscapes.

Key reasons for the decrease in count of the Great Indian Bustard:-

1. Habitat destruction- The change of land use from grassland to farmland, thus shrinking the bird’s habitat.
2. Poaching.
3. Degradation and disturbance in existing grassland habitat
4. Hunting
5. Lack of importance for natural grassland conservation in policy, law and PA network due to incorrect perception on ecological value vis-a-vis forests
6. Lack of protection for many ‘lekking’ and nesting sites
7. Lack of cooperation between different departments/stakeholders in GIB habitats
8. Lack of awareness and support from local communities
9. Livestock overgrazing and feral dogs
10. Disturbance by photographers — there is now plenty anecdotal evidence to demonstrate that photography of the species causes substantial disturbance

In a recent judgement, the Supreme Court had directed the Ministry ofEnvironment and Forests to take steps for the recovery of the Great Indian Bustard.

Status of the Great Indian Bustard

• The Great Indian Bustard is now confined to only eight pockets in 6 Indian states — Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh.
• The largest population  (~50%) can be found in Jaisalmer, Barmer, and Bikaner districts of Rajasthan
•  Great Indian Bustard is the State Bird of Rajasthan.
• Bird may be already extinct in Madhya Pradesh.

Source - GKToday

New Zealand's Eleanor Catton wins 2013 Man Booker prize

New Zealand author Eleanor Catton won the 2013 Man Booker prize for English fiction on Tuesday for her novel "The Luminaries", to become the youngest winner in the award's 45-year history.

The 28-year-old novelist poked fun at the size of her 848-page tome about the 19th century New Zealand gold rush and thanked British publishers Granta for their patience.

The other shortlisted authors for the prize were Canadian Ruth Ozeki for "A Tale for the Time Being", Indian-American Jhumpa Lahiri for "The Lowland", Zimbabwean NoViolet Bulawayo for "We Need New Names", Briton Jim Crace for "Harvest" and Irish writer Colm Toibin for "The Testament of Mary".

Source - Reuters

Malala Yousafzai wins EU’s Sakharov Prize 2013

Pakistani teen activist Malala Yousafzai, who survived bullet-injury inflicted by the Taliban for championing girls’ education has won theEuropean Union’s (EU) Sakharov Human Rights Prize 2013. Past winners of the Sakharov Prize include South African anti apartheid hero Nelson Mandela and former UN secretary general Kofi Annan.

The Sakharov Prize

• The Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought, named after Soviet scientist and dissident Andrei Sakharov, was established in December 1988 by the European Parliament as a means to honour individuals or organisations who have dedicated their lives to the defence of human rights and freedom of thought.
• The first prize was awarded jointly to South African Nelson Mandela and Russian Anatoly Marchenko. 
• The Sakharov Prize is usually awarded annually on or around December 10, the day on which the United Nations General Assembly ratified the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948,also celebrated as Human Rights Day.

Source - gktoday.in

Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the Year 2012

Famous agricultural scientist MS Swaminathan (known as the father of Green Revolution) has been selected for the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the year 2012.

The Award for the year 2012 consisting of a citation and Rs 5 lakh will be presented to the 88-year-old scientist by Congress chief Sonia Gandhi at a function here on October 31, the death anniversary of Indira Gandhi, Member Secretary of the award committee Motilal Vora said.

Aruna Asaf Ali, P.N Haksar, M.S Subbulakshmi, A.P.J Abdul Kalam and Shankar Dayal Sharma are among some of the recipients of the Award which was also given to Rajiv Gandhi posthumously.

Winner of many a award, Swaminathan has served as Director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi (1966-72), Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Agricultural Research and Education (1972-79).

A plant geneticist by training, Professor Swaminathan’s contributions to the agricultural renaissance of India have led to his being widely referred to as the scientific leader of the green revolution movement.

About MS Swaminathan

• Indian geneticist and former member of Rajya Sabha.
• Contributed in revitalizing agricultural in the country and led the nation to achieve green revolution.
• Previously served as Director of the Indian Agricultural Research Institute, New Delhi.
• Also served as Director General of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research and Secretary to the Government of India, Department of Agricultural Research and Education.

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2013

Eugene F. Fama (USA)

Lars Peter Hansen (USA)

Robert J. Shiller (USA)

Affiliation at the time of the award: University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, USA

The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 2013 was awarded jointly to Eugene F. Fama, Lars Peter Hansen and Robert J. Shiller "for their empirical analysis of asset prices".

For More Details - CLICK HERE

Source - www.nobelprize.org

The Nobel Peace Prize 2013

Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Founded: 1997

Field: arms control and disarmament

The Nobel Peace Prize 2013 was awarded to Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons "for its extensive efforts to eliminate chemical weapons".

For More Details - CLICK HERE

Source - www.nobelprize.org

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013

Martin Karplus (Austria)

 Michael Levitt (South Africa)

Arieh Warshel (Israel)

Affiliation at the time of the award: Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, USA

The Nobel Prize in Chemistry 2013 was awarded jointly to Martin Karplus, Michael Levitt and Arieh Warshel "for the development of multiscale models for complex chemical systems".

For More Details - CLICK HERE

Source - www.nobelprize.org

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2013

Alice Munro (Canada)

The Nobel Prize in Literature 2013 was awarded to Alice Munro "master of the contemporary short story".

For More Details - CLICK HERE

Source - www.nobelprize.org

Governmet sanctions 158 ‘Eklavya Model Residential Schools’ for ST students

Govt. of India has approved a total of 158 Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) for Tribal students out of grants under Article 275(1) of the Constitution of India in 23 states out of which 111 schools have become fully functional with all facilities. Gujarat has been sanctioned 22 schools which is the highest for any state followed by Madhya Pradesh(20) and Rajasthan (17). Chhattisgarh and Odisha have been sanctioned 16 schools each.

All the facilities for a proper study environment like adequate number of class rooms, computer and science laboratory , library , recreation room, hostels for students and housing facilities for the teaching and other supporting staff are made available in the EMRSs. Further, the school buildings have been made accessible to students with disabilities.

What are the objectives of ‘Eklavya Model Residential Schools’?

The objective of EMRS is to provide quality middle and high level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and as jobs in government and public and private sectors but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population. This would be achieved by:

• Comprehensive physical, mental and socially relevant development of all students enrolled in each and every EMRS. Students will be empowered to be change agent, beginning in their school, in their homes, in their village and finally in a larger context.
• Focus differentially on the educational support to be made available to those in Standards XI and XII, and those in standards VI to X, so that their distinctive needs can be met.
• Support the annual running expenses in a manner that offers reasonable remuneration to the staff and upkeep of the facilities.
• Support the construction of infrastructure that provides education, physical, environmental and cultural needs of student life.

Source - gktoday.in

Rajasthan Ranji cricketer Vivek Yadav slams 287 runs and grabs 7 wickets in a 50-over match

Vivek Yadav (L) in the Ranji Trophy last season

In a tournament organized at Jaipur in the memory of former Ranji Player Shamsher Singh, Vivek Yadav played a blistering knock of 287 runs for his team Aravali Club in a 50 over match on Monday. This cricket tournament is affiliated with the Jaipur District Cricket Association. This is the highest individual score by any batsman in the 50-over format of cricket. Vivek Yadav also played a crucial role with the ball for Rajasthan to lift their very first Ranji Trophy.

In the match played between Aravali Club of Jaipur and Saint Angel Club of Lucknow, Vivek faced only 146 balls to pile up this huge individual score of 287 runs. He stayed at the crease for 209 minutes and hit a record 49 boundaries and 5 lofty sixes. Yadav took 78 deliveries to complete his century whereas he went past 200 in just 115 deliveries. He faced only 37 balls to move from 101 to 200.

He was sent back to the pavilion in the 43rd over after playing an airy pull shot. If Yadav had batted for the complete 50 overs, he could have easily crossed the 300 mark. The highest individual score in List-A matches is 268 runs by AD Brown of Surrey County club whereas in one-day international matches, Virender Sehwag has the grand achievement to his account, with the score of 219 runs against West Indies.

With this brilliant knock of 287 runs by captain Vivek Yadav, Aravali Club managed to score a giant total of 512 runs for the loss of 8 wickets at the end of 50 overs. This is the highest total in the 50-over format of the game and in fact the very first 500+ score so far. In the List-A matches, the highest total is to the account of English County Club – Surrey. The club scored 496/4 on 29th April, 2007. In one-day international matches, the record of the highest team total is in the name of Sri Lanka who scored 443/9 against Holland in July 2007.

Chasing a huge total of 513 runs in 50 overs, Saint Angel Club from Lucknow managed to score only 20 runs for the loss of 10 wickets. After giving a brilliant performance with the bat, Vivek Yadav shone with the ball too and picked up 7 wickets, conceding only 1 run in his four overs with 3 maidens.

In first-class matches, the 28-year-old Vivek Yadav has picked 56 wickets in his 17 matches whereas he has picked 9 wickets in his 8 List-A matches.

In List-A matches, the best bowling figures are 8 wickets for 15 runs by Rahul Sanghvi.

Source - SportsKeeda

Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2013 Schedule, Important Dates

Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha Elections 2013 Date: 

Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha Elections will be held in Single Phase on 1st December 2013. 

Election Commission has announced election dates for five states - Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Mizoram and Delhi - seen as the semifinals before the General Election. 

Election Commission announced one-day poll in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Mizoram while Maoist-infested Chhattisgarh will have two-phased elections. The two-phased polls in Chhattisgarh will be held on November 11 and 19 while elections will be held in Madhya Pradesh on November 25, Rajasthan on December 1, Delhi and Mizoram on December 4. Counting of votes in all the states will be taken up on December 8. Rajasthan Legislative Assembly ( राजस्थान विधान सभा) or the Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha has total 200 seats. There are currently 200 members of the legislative assembly with the Indian National Congress(INC) forming the majority with 102 seats, followed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with 79 seats. 

Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2013 Schedule, Important Dates: 
Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2013 Date of notification: 5th November 2013. 
Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2013 Date of scrutiny of nominations: 13th November 2013. 
Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2013 Date of poll: 1st December 2013 
Rajasthan Assembly Elections 2013 Results, Counting: 8th December 2013

Source - Rajasthan Voice

DLF sells 33 MW wind mills in Rajasthan for Rs 67 crore

Country's largest realty firm DLF has completed the sale process of 33MW wind turbines project in Rajasthan to Violet Green Power for Rs 67.44 crore. 

In early April, DLF announced that its arm DLF Home Developers Ltd (DHDL) had signed a definitive business transfer agreement with Violet Power Green Pvt Ltd to sell the 33MW wind turbines at Rajasthan for Rs 52.20 crore. 

Rajasthan among major states with lowest death rate

Rajasthan is among the states with lowest death rates and highest birth rates among major states. 

A decent place to live in, the state's death rate (6.6) is not as high as in 11 other major states. Delhi (4.2) has lowest death rate, while Jammu and Kashmir (5.4), Haryana (6.4), Maharashtra (6.3) and West Bengal (6.3) are the states with lower death rate than Rajasthan. However, Gujarat,Bihar and Rajasthan have equal death rates, the Sample Registration System, registrar general, India shows which was released last month. It shows figures of 2012. 

Though Rajasthan is continuously witnessing a dip in birth rate every year but it is still among the four states with the highest birth rates. However, the urban area of the state comes second in India with highest birth rate. Besides, Rajasthan the death rate is 6.6, which placed it at 12th position in the bigger states category, with highest death rates.

Birth rate means total number of births per 1,000 each year. The birth rate in Rajasthan is 25.9, while Bihar has the highest birth rate (27.7), Uttar Pradesh (27.4) and Madhya Pradesh has 26.6, the Sample Registration System, registrar general, India shows released last month, showing figures of 2012. 

From 2011 to 2012, birth rate in Rajasthan was on the decline. In 2011, the birth rate in the state was 26.2 but it came down to 25.9 in 2012 with a decline of 0.3 points. It was 26.7 in 2010. 

Source - TOI

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2013

François Englert (Belgium)

Peter W. Higgs (UK)

The Nobel Prize in Physics 2013 was awarded jointly to François Englert and Peter W. Higgs "for the theoretical discovery of a mechanism that contributes to our understanding of the origin of mass of subatomic particles, and which recently was confirmed through the discovery of the predicted fundamental particle, by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at CERN's Large Hadron Collider"

For More Details - CLICK HERE

Source - nobleprize.org

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013

  James E. Rothman (USA)

Randy W. Schekman (USA)

Thomas C. Südhof (Germany)

The Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 2013 was awarded jointly to James E. Rothman, Randy W. Schekman and Thomas C. Südhof "for their discoveries of machinery regulating vesicle traffic, a major transport system in our cells".

For More Details - CLICK HERE

Source - www.nobleprize.org

Jahan-e-Khusrau in Jaipur on 5, 6th October 2013

Jahan-e-Khusrau, the Annual World Sufi Music Festival will be held in Jaipur on 5th and 6th of october, 2013.The festival has the distinction of hosting eminent artists of the Sufi traditions from all over the world. Jahan-e-Khusrau has acquired the status of a pioneer, which has conceptualized and consistently delivered this form of music to its growing circle of lovers across the globe. Presenting Insaniyat Ka Paigham, a unique musical treat to cherish as Sufi singers from all over the globe are set to perform in the 3rd Annual World Music Festival "Jahan-e-Khusrau", taking place in the Pink City Jaipur on 5th & 6th October 2013. Jahan-e-Khusrau was started in the year 2001 by noted film director, Muzaffar Ali.

Noted artist Malini Awasthi (Lucknow), Astha Dixit (Delhi), Lotfi Bouchnak (Tunis), Deveshi Sahgal (Delhi), Sonam Kalra with Rajasthani Ensemble - Delhi / Jaipur and Abida Parveen (Islamabad ) will spread sufi magic in Pink City, Jaipur on 5th & 6th October at Central Park, Jaipur.

Source - Rajasthan Voice

Vastra 2013 from 3-6th October in Jaipur

The second edition of the International Trade Fair on Textiles and Apparel, titled “Vastra-2013”, will be organised at Jaipur Exhibition and Convention Centre in Sitapura industrial area from 3rd to 6th October in Jaipur.  Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation Ltd. (RIICO) and Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) jointly announce the 2nd edition of VASTRA viz. “VASTRA- An International Textile and Apparel Fair 2013” (VASTRA-2013) scheduled from 3rd to 6th October, 2013 at Jaipur Exhibition & Convention Centre, Sitapura Industrial Area, Jaipur, India.  

During the first edition of “Vastra” held in November last year, 178 exhibitors, 361 foreign buyers from 61 countries and 36 Indian buying houses attended the event. While Rajasthan hosted the event, Gujarat, Haryana and Kerala participated as partner States. The four-day event organized by RIICO and FICCI, Vastra, is designed to give a fillip to the textile and apparel sectors by creating opportunities for accessing new markets, facilitating new business alliances and attracting investments. Naveen Mahajan, managing director, RIICO said, “This year, 202 exhibitors, 421 buyers from 66 countries and 43 Indian buying houses have confirmed their participation. Besides participation from traditional export markets like the US and West Europe, this year there is also an increase in participation from new markets such as Latin America, Africa, China, Australia and East Europe.”

For More details visit: http://www.vastratex.com

Source - Rajasthan Voice

Food Security Scheme Launched by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on 2 October 2013 launched Food Security scheme in the State aimed at benefiting around 4.64 crore people.

Rajasthan is the first Indian State to implement the Food Security Act after National Food Security Act enacted on 10 September 2013.

After three months of survey across the state, the state Government has selected around 90 lakh families (about 4.64 crore people) as beneficiaries under the scheme.

Under the Food Security Scheme beneficiaries would get Wheat at 2 Rupees per kg, Rice at 3 Rupees per kg and Bajra at 1 Rupee per kg. However, about 38.83 lakh beneficiaries of BPL and Antyodaya Anna Yojana beneficiaries continue to get 35 kg of Wheat at 1 Rupee per kg.  

State Government also announced that besides existing shops, about 2000 new ration shops would be opened to distribute food-grains.

Under the scheme- foodgrains would be distributed every month from the 20th till the end of the month through the Public Distribution System (PDS) and will be available at all ration shops in the state.

Source - Jagran Josh

Foundation of HPCL Rajasthan Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex laid in Barmer

The UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi laid the foundation stone of the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex at Pachpadra in Barmer district of Rajasthan on 22 September 2013. The refinery being set up at an estimated cost of over 37 thousand crore rupees is expected to commence oil production in 2017-18. With an annual capacity of 90 lakh metric tons, the refinery will provide employment to one lakh 40 thousand people.

The refinery will be the first in the country to use indigenously produced crude oil. The refinery will prove revolutionary in Rajasthan's development.

With the setting up of this Refinery, Petro-chemical, Petro- engineering and other industries related to it will be set up. This will not only benefit this area but the whole of Rajasthan.

Who: Sonia Gandhi

Where: Barmer district of Rajasthan

What: laid the foundation stone of the HPCL Rajasthan Refinery and Petrochemicals Complex

When: 22 September 2013

Why: for oil production

Jaipur Metro Trial Run Flagged Off by Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot

The trial run of Jaipur Metro train was flagged off by Rajasthan’s Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on 18 September 2013 at the newly constructed Mansarovar station of Jaipur. 

The trial run took place on a 2.4 km track between Mansarovar and Shyam Nagar via New Atish Market and Vivek Vihar stations.

About the Trial Run

The trial run, a mandatory requirement for the commissioning of any Metro corridor. This trial run was started between the Mansarovar and the Shyam Nagar stations, a four kilometre stretch out of the 9.25 kilometre long Mansarovar- Chandpole corridor. The corridor (Phase 1A of the Jaipur Metro project) is named the Pink Line and comprises nine stations.

About Jaipur Metro Project

The foundation stone for the Jaipur Metro project was laid on the 24 February 2011. The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and the Jaipur Metro Rail Corporation (JMRC) had signed an agreement in 2010, according to which, the DMRC would construct the metro corridor for the Jaipur Metro.
 
This 9.25 kilometre long stretch is a part of the 11. 56 Km long Mansarovar – Badi Chaupar corridor aligned along the East-West direction under Jaipur Metro’s Phase 1.  And the other Metro corridor will be a 23 Km long stretch aligned along the North- South direction from Durgapura to Ambabari under Jaipur Metro Phase-2. 

The Jaipur Metro project is DMRC’s first Metro construction project outside the National Capital Region. DMRC is also executing the Kochi Metro project on deposit terms, which will be a 25.25 Km long corridor from Aluva to Petta.

Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) and Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in New Delhi for executing the first phase of the project from Aluva to Pettah in May 2013.

Source - Jagran Josh

Rajasthan Government Laid Foundation Stone for World's Largest Solar Park

State Government of Rajasthan on 21 August 2013 laid the foundation stone for world's biggest solar park at Bhadla of Jodhpur District of Rajasthan.

The solar park with generation capacity of 3000 MW would be commissioned in phased manner. In its first phase the solar park will generate 1000 MW.Solar Park would be established in 10 thousand hectare land and Asian Development Bank (ADB) will provide 3000 crore rupees loan for development of transmission lines of this solar park.
 The technical assistance for the solar park will be provided by Clinton Foundation as per the agreement between State government of Rajasthan and Clinton foundation in 2010. Three more solar parks will come in Jaisalemer, Barmer and Bikner Districts with the help of Clinton Foundation.

Key features of solar park

1.10000 hectares of land identified for the park.
2.3000 MW capacity of solar power plants to be set up.
3.Manufacturing zones, research and development and training centers zone and other amenities zones are proposed.
4.58 cusec water reserved from Indira Gandhi canal.
5.Construction of 400 KV GSS under progress. 
6.Work for setting up of 7 solar power projects of 75 MW has started.
7.Construction of road from Nure ki Bhurj to Bhandla has started.

Rajasthan currently has 660 MW of solar power generation capacity and 2700 MW of wind power. The other solar park in the country is based in Gujarat with a current capaity of 214 MW and is expected to generate 500 MW by 2014. 

Steps taken by Rajasthan in the field of solar power

1.Solar Power Policy issued in April, 2011
2.Provision of land allotment at concessional rates of 10 percent of the DLC rates.
3.91 projects of 609 MW capacity already established in the state.
4.Work in progress for commissioning of 37 projects of 684 MW capacity.
5.5900 solar pump sets already commissioned in the State
6.63000 households lightened up in last 4.5 years through solar domestic lighting system.
7.Jaipur, Ajmer and Jodhpur are to be developed as solar cities under Roof-top Power Generation Scheme.
8.First 50 MW capacity solar thermal plant in India setup at Nokh, in Jaisalmer District of Rajasthan.

About Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission
The Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission was launched on 11 January 2010 by the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.
 
The Mission has set the ambitious target of deploying 20000 MW of grid connected solar power by 2022 is aimed at reducing the cost of solar power generation in the country through (i) long term policy; (ii) large scale deployment goals; (iii) aggressive R&D; and (iv) domestic production of critical raw materials, components and products, as a result to achieve grid tariff parity by 2022.
 
Mission will create an enabling policy framework to achieve this objective and make India a global leader in solar energy.

Who: Rajasthan

Where: Bhadla, Rajasthan

What: Foundation Stone for World's Largest Solar Park

When: 21 August 2013

Why: To tap the solar energy