Aspirant Academy

Economy

Current Affairs Integration

Industrial Development: Investment Promotion, MSMEs, Petroleum Resources

Paper I · Unit 2 Section 13 of 15 0 PYQs 36 min
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Current Affairs Integration

Recent Developments

  • Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit (December 2024): Held at Jaipur's Bharat Mandapam-equivalent venue with PM Modi as the inaugurator. MoUs worth ₹35 lakh crore committed. The Bhajanlal government positioned this as the centrepiece of its first-year economic achievement. RIPS 2024 was launched simultaneously as the policy framework for converting commitments to ground investment.

  • Pachpadra Refinery milestone (2024-25): 84% physical completion achieved with ₹52,332.50 crore of ₹71,509 crore total cost expended. Trial runs are expected in 2026. The refinery's commissioning will make Rajasthan a net exporter of petroleum products (petrol, diesel, ATF) rather than an importer, fundamentally altering the state's industrial balance of trade.

  • Rajasthan Export Promotion Policy 2024: Released alongside RIPS 2024, targeting ₹1 lakh crore exports by 2027-28 (up from ₹83,704.24 crore in 2023-24). Key thrusts: gems & jewellery, textiles, handicrafts, engineering goods, agri-processed products.

  • MSME Policy 2024: Notified by the Rajasthan government in 2024, aligning with MSME Development Amendment Act 2020. Emphasis on cluster development, CGTMSE coverage, and PM Vishwakarma Yojana linkage for traditional artisan MSMEs.

  • Neemrana expansion (2024): RIICO developed Phase-II industrial plots in the Ghilot area adjacent to the Japanese Zone. Additional Japanese and Korean companies are in pipeline for investment. The Neemrana zone is being scaled up as part of DMIC integration.

  • PM GATI-SHAKTI — Inland Container Depot at Salawas: ICD at Salawas (near Jodhpur) expanded under PM GATI-SHAKTI for improved multimodal logistics connecting Jodhpur's handicraft and textile exports to JNPT (Jawaharlal Nehru Port). This reduces logistics cost for MSME exporters in western Rajasthan. Source: Rajasthan Economic Review 2025-26, Chapter 5.

Potential Exam Questions from Current Affairs

  1. Possible question: What were the key outcomes of the Rising Rajasthan Global Investment Summit 2024? How does it connect to Rajasthan's industrial development goals?
    Answer pointers: December 9-11, 2024; ₹35 lakh crore MoUs; 9,500+ MoUs; 5,000+ delegates; 32+ countries; Renewable energy largest sector; RIPS 2024 as enabler; DMIC and infrastructure as USP; MoU conversion tracking by RBIP.

  2. Possible question: Describe the current status of the Pachpadra Refinery project. Why is it significant for Rajasthan?
    Answer pointers: 9 MMTPA at Pachpadra, Barmer; HPCL 74% + GoR 26%; ₹71,509 crore total cost; ₹52,332.50 crore spent; 84% complete; 24,000+ workers; processes Barmer crude (Vedanta-operated Mangala/Bhagyam/Aishwarya fields); Euro VI products; downstream petrochemical cluster potential; 2,500+ permanent jobs; SGST revenue for state; transforms Rajasthan from petroleum consumer to producer state.

  3. Possible question: What is the Rajasthan MSME Policy 2024? Identify three key provisions.
    Answer pointers: Aligned with MSME Amendment Act 2020; Udyam single-window registration; cluster development (CFCs in Bhilwara, Jodhpur, Jaipur); CGTMSE collateral-free credit up to ₹5 crore; PM Vishwakarma linkage; CLCS-TUS technology upgradation subsidy; GeM portal for marketing; 16 lakh+ registered MSMEs employing 45 lakh+ in Rajasthan.

Topic 35 of 138 | Paper I, Unit 2 — Economics | Generated: 2026-04-06