Newspaper-based news digest for the RPSC RAS exam, dated 15 July 2026.
Economy
Retail inflation climbs to a 17-month high, crosses 4%; RBI rate cut hopes fade
India's retail (CPI) inflation rose to its highest level in 17 months, moving above the 4% mark.
The Reserve Bank may consider raising rates at its August review; home and auto loans could turn costlier.
Prices of potato, ginger and vehicles rose, while gold and silver jewellery became cheaper.
Under the flexible inflation-targeting framework, the RBI must keep CPI inflation at 4% within a band of +/- 2%.
Source: RBI / Ministry of Statistics (CPI), July 2026
International Relations
Power shift in Iran: Khamenei's grandson Ali emerges as a rising figure
Amid uncertainty over the succession to Iran's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei — a grandson of Ayatollah Khamenei — is being cited as a rising figure with the backing of hardline factions.
Iran's Supreme Leader holds ultimate authority over the state, the armed forces and the judiciary.
US President Donald Trump threatened a 20% toll on ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz, a chokepoint for global oil and gas.
Roughly a fifth of the world's traded oil moves through the Strait of Hormuz, so any friction there feeds energy-price volatility.
Source: International agencies, July 2026
Rajasthan — Polity
Rajasthan Assembly marks 75 years; the Amrit Mahotsav opens amid falling sittings
The Rajasthan Legislative Assembly began its 75-year Amrit Mahotsav, honouring former MLAs and the state's democratic journey.
The number of sittings has fallen sharply — from 303 in the first Assembly (1952) to around 147 in recent terms; the current (16th) Assembly has met about 84 times so far.
Landmark laws to be recalled include the Jagir/land-reform Acts (1952), Panchayat Samiti & Zila Parishad Act (1959), the Lokayukt Act (1973) and the Public Services Guarantee Act (2011).
Rajasthan is credited as a pioneer of the Right to Information movement, before the central RTI Act of 2005.
Source: Rajasthan Vidhan Sabha, July 2026
Rajasthan — Health
FCM anaemia injection missing from Rajasthan government hospitals for five months
Ferric Carboxymaltose (FCM), a modern iron-replacement injection used to treat severe anaemia in pregnant women, has been unavailable in the state's government hospitals for about five months.
With the injection costing roughly Rs 2,500-6,000 in the open market, poor women are the worst hit; a maternal death was reported from Bikaner.
Anaemia among pregnant women in Rajasthan remains very high, making a reliable public supply of iron therapy critical.
The Medical Minister said a five-day campaign with a strict monitoring SOP would begin across the state.
Source: Rajasthan Medical & Health Department, July 2026
Rajasthan — Governance
CAG flags 29 kg gold and 972 kg silver lying idle in Rajasthan's treasury
The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) found about 29 kg of gold and 972 kg of silver — worth roughly Rs 64.44 crore — locked in the government treasury, and recommended it be auctioned.
The valuables, largely seized from criminals, have not been disposed of; the CAG flagged delays under the Rajasthan Treasury Rules, 2012.
The report also noted that over 35 years the government could not account for about Rs 29.79 crore across 17 cases.
The CAG is a constitutional authority (Article 148) that audits the accounts of the Union and the States.
Source: CAG report / Rajasthan, July 2026
Society & Skilling
World Youth Skills Day (15 July) puts the spotlight on employable skills
World Youth Skills Day is observed on 15 July every year, declared by the UN General Assembly in 2014 to stress skilling young people for jobs and entrepreneurship.
Rajasthan's Skill, Employment & Entrepreneurship Department marked the day around the theme of building the state's identity through skills.
Skilling links directly to the demographic dividend — a large working-age population is an asset only if it is employable.
Key national platforms include the Skill India Mission, PMKVY, ITIs and the National Skill Development Corporation.
Source: UN / Ministry of Skill Development, July 2026
Education
College enrolment in Rajasthan falls up to 4.23% — a second year of negative growth
Enrolment in state colleges fell by up to 4.23%, the second consecutive year of negative growth, as more youth are drawn to gig work over classrooms.
The decline is sharpest in arts and law-and-science streams; the Udaipur division bucked the trend with high enrolment.
Falling enrolment can pull down the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER), a key higher-education indicator.
The trend raises questions about course relevance, campus jobs linkage and the pull of short-term earning over degrees.
Source: Rajasthan Higher Education Department, July 2026