Daily Current Affairs – 22 May 2025

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  Category: Governance and Rural Administration – Rajasthan   Shortest Summary Points: Jaipur district to have 598 Gram Panchayats, up from 466. Four new Panchayat Samitis: Rampura Dabdi, Chaumu, Amarsar, Banskho. Jamwaramgarh becomes the largest Panchayat Samiti post-reorganization. Tunga becomes the smallest with only 17 Gram Panchayats.   Detailed Explanation for RAS Mains (in short points): Context and Background The Panchayati Raj system in Rajasthan functions at three levels – Zila Parishad, Panchayat Samiti, and Gram Panchayat. Periodic reorganization ensures...

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Category: Infrastructure & Energy | Rajasthan Current Affairs Shortest Summary Points: Rajasthan facing 700–1200 MW electricity shortfall during peak summer. Dholpur Combined Cycle Power Plant to restart during peak hours (7 PM – 12 AM). Generation cost extremely high – ₹15 to ₹16 per unit. Gas shortage and expensive input have made production limited and costly. Other states also facing power crisis; exchange power rate is ₹10/unit.   Detailed Explanation (RAS Mains Relevance): Reason for Restart: Due to the intense...

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    Category: Environment and Governance Shortest Summary Points: Bhilwara’s waste disposal plant at Kirkheda needs capacity expansion from 145 to 300 TPD. EC (Environmental Clearance) is mandatory as per 2006 MoEF Notification. Deputy CM Prem Chand Bairwa took serious note of delay in EC application. Plant operator (Rolls Material Handling Pvt Ltd) given 7-day deadline for EC application. NGT mandates modern waste disposal including RDF fuel and organic compost.   Detailed Explanation (RAS Mains Relevant Points): Context and Issue:...

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Category: Art, Literature, Culture and Awards (RAS Mains Paper III) Summary Points: “Heart Lamp” by Banu Mushtaq becomes the first Kannada book to win the International Booker Prize. The book is a collection of 12 short stories written between 1990–2023, translated by Deepa Bhasthi. First time a short story collection has won this prestigious international literary award. Mushtaq’s writing highlights the struggles of Muslim women in patriarchal society. Deepa’s translation praised as “radical”, offering new textures in English. Mushtaq was...

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Category: International Relations / Infrastructure Diplomacy / Geopolitics   Summary Points: China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan agree to extend the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to Afghan territory. The decision was made during a trilateral meeting of foreign ministers in Beijing. The inclusion aims to enhance regional connectivity and trilateral cooperation. India remains firmly opposed to CPEC as it passes through Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. The meeting comes amid recent warming of Taliban-India relations.   Detailed Explanation for RAS Mains: What is CPEC? The...