Sunday, 20 September 2026 · IST · Bihar + National · 10 items · 2 MCQs
Bihar dominates the day: swollen Ganga, Kosi and Gandak have affected over 47 lakh people across 15 districts, while the ₹476-crore National Makhana Board mission and a Patna High Court ruling upholding Article 21 headline governance. Nationally, the US Federal Reserve delivered its first rate hike since 2023 to 3.75-4.00%, six states signed the Kishau dam pact on the Tons river, and the Asian Games 2026 opened in Aichi-Nagoya with India opening its medal account.
Today at a glance — things to remember
Bihar floods: 47.33 lakh hit across 15 districts
Ganga at Patna tops its 2016 record level
Cabinet extends Student Credit Card to 2030-31
Makhana Board: ₹476 cr push for 9 districts
Patna HC awards ₹1 lakh for Article 21 breach
Bihar GSDP grows 14.9%, beats national rate
Jan Aushadhi basket now 2,110 medicines
Kishau dam pact by 6 states on Tons river
US Fed hikes rate to 3.75-4.00%
Asian Games open; Suchika Tariyal gets India's 1st medal
Detailed notes
1. Bihar floods: 47 lakh+ hit as Ganga, Kosi, Gandak breach danger mark
After 27% above-normal September rainfall, major north-Bihar rivers crossed danger levels, submerging swathes of the Gangetic plain and triggering large-scale relief.
Key facts
47.33 lakh people affected across 15 districts (Bhagalpur, Patna, Saran, Vaishali, Katihar, Purnea, Buxar).
Ganga at Sultanganj ran 2.12 m above danger; Gandhi Ghat, Patna topped its 2016 record.
The state cabinet approved a welfare-and-administration package, headlined by continuation of the flagship higher-education loan scheme and a shift to e-Cabinet.
Key facts
Student Credit Card Scheme extended up to 2030-31 with a ~₹950 crore outlay.
Kaushal Yuva Program (skill training) also extended.
e-Cabinet approved for paperless governance.
Support cleared for B.Ed college upgrades / multidisciplinary colleges.
Way forward
Link credit-card graduates to placement & entrepreneurship to curb out-migration.
Concept
The Student Credit Card (since 2016, under 7 Nishchay) offers up to ₹4 lakh education loan — a key Bihar HR tool.
📜 Asked before in the exam — previous-year question on this topic
BPSC Prelims 2023 (68th CCE)The Council of Ministers in a State is collectively responsible to
The National Makhana Board (headquartered in Bihar) anchors a six-year mission to lift productivity and value-addition in fox-nut farming, concentrated in north Bihar.
Key facts
Outlay ₹476.03 crore (2025-26 to 2030-31) for seed supply & post-harvest processing.
Linked because this news is about the same topic. The answer is as per the official key of that year.
4. Patna HC quashes arbitrary externment, awards ₹1 lakh for Article 21 breach
POLITYBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-II (Polity, Rights & Judiciary)
Syllabus linkage
GS-II fundamental rights, judiciary, executive accountability. Prelims: Article 21, writs, High Court powers.
Context
In *Girdhari Yadav v. State of Bihar*, the High Court struck down an externment order issued under the Bihar Crime Control Act, 2024 and penalised the erring officer.
Concerns flagged on seismic risk and displacement (~2,950 ha submergence).
Way forward
Balance water security with rigorous EIA, resettlement and seismic safeguards.
Concept
The Tons is the largest tributary of the Yamuna; inter-state river projects rest on cooperative federalism.
Four stat tiles on the Kishau dam: height, storage, irrigation and cost. — StudyForGS
8. US Fed's first hike since 2023 lifts rate to 3.75-4.00%
ECONOMYBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-II (Economy & International Relations)
Syllabus linkage
GS-II economy, monetary policy, global linkages. Prelims: Fed, repo rate, capital flows.
Context
The US Federal Reserve raised its benchmark rate to tame sticky inflation — its first increase in three years — with implications for emerging markets like India.
Key facts
Fed funds rate up 25 bps to 3.75-4.00% (decided 16 Sep 2026), a unanimous vote.
Fed Chair Kevin Warsh; no rate cuts signalled through 2027.
2026 US inflation projected ~3.7%; the 2% target seen only by 2029.
For India: risks of rupee pressure, FPI outflows and costlier external borrowing.
Way forward
RBI likely to defend the rupee via reserves and calibrated liquidity, not knee-jerk rate moves.
Concept
Higher US rates narrow the interest-rate differential, pressuring EM currencies and capital flows.
Mind-map showing how a US Fed rate hike transmits to the Indian economy. — StudyForGS
📜 Asked before in the exam — previous-year question on this topic
UPSC Prelims 2022Regarding US Federal Reserve tightening and External Commercial Borrowings (ECBs): (1) tight US Fed policy could lead to capital flight; (2) capital flight may raise the interest cost of firms with existing ECBs; (3) devaluing the domestic currency decreases the currency risk tied to ECBs. Which is/are correct?
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
All three
Show answer
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only Domestic currency devaluation actually increases, not decreases, the repayment burden and currency risk on foreign-currency ECBs, while the first two statements about Fed tightening and capital flight are accurate. Practise all UPSC Prelims PYQs (free) →
Linked because this news is about the same topic. The answer is as per the official key of that year.
9. FAO 'Forests for Food' report flags 50,000+ wild species in diets
A new FAO report underscores forests' role in nutrition and rural incomes — highly relevant to India's large forest-dependent population.
Key facts
Released 15 Sep 2026 by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO).
Over 50,000 wild species are used globally for food and medicine.
Forests can supply up to 20% of rural incomes in some areas.
India's tools: Forest Rights Act 2006, MSP for Minor Forest Produce, Van Dhan Kendras.
Way forward
Scale Van Dhan value-chains and community forestry for nutrition and livelihoods.
Concept
Minor Forest Produce (MFP) and FRA 2006 underpin forest-based food security for tribal communities.
📜 Asked before in the exam — previous-year question on this topic
UPSC Prelims 2021Which ministry is the nodal agency ensuring effective implementation of the Forest Rights Act, 2006?
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
Ministry of Panchayati Raj
Ministry of Rural Development
Ministry of Tribal Affairs
Show answer
Answer: (d) Ministry of Tribal Affairs The Ministry of Tribal Affairs is designated as the nodal ministry overseeing implementation of the Forest Rights Act. Practise all UPSC Prelims PYQs (free) →
Linked because this news is about the same topic. The answer is as per the official key of that year.
10. Asian Games 2026 open in Aichi-Nagoya; India opens medal account
SOCIETYBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-I (Sports & Current Events)
Syllabus linkage
GS-I / Prelims sports current affairs, host nations, Indian achievements.
Context
The 20th Asian Games opened in Japan with a large Indian contingent; India's medal account opened on Day 1.
Key facts
20th Asian Games opened 19 Sep 2026 at Aichi-Nagoya, Japan.
Suchika Tariyal assured India's first-ever MMA medal with a semifinal berth.
India began Day 1 with early silver medals; the contingent is led by stars like Neeraj Chopra.
Cricket retained; MMA debuts at these Games.
Way forward
Sustained grassroots funding (Khelo India, TOPS) to convert potential into podium finishes.
Concept
The Asian Games is Asia's largest multi-sport event, held under the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA).
📜 Asked before in the exam — previous-year question on this topic
BPSC Prelims 2018 (64th CCE)Which of the following is the correct order of medals (Gold, Silver, Bronze, Total) won by India in the 18th Asian Games, 2018 (Jakarta)?
Linked because this news is about the same topic. The answer is as per the official key of that year.
Data point of the day
14.9% vs 12.0%
Bihar's economy grows faster than the nation Bihar's GSDP grew 14.9% at current prices in 2025-26 against India's ~12.0%, crossing ₹9.92 lakh crore. Yet per-capita income (₹76,490) stays well below the national average, and agriculture still holds 54% of jobs for only 18% of output — a growth-with-gaps story.
Prelims rapid-fire
Cheetah count in India rises to 56 (36 born in India); Kuno NP, Madhya Pradesh is the hub.
PM handed out 51,000+ appointment letters at the 20th Rozgar Mela.
Marathi film 'Gondhal' is India's official entry for the Oscars 2027 (Best International Feature).
HAL delivered 2 LCA (Tejas) twin-seat trainers to the IAF; Dhruv NG choppers inducted.
Bihar ranks 1st in India for litchi, makhana & bottle-gourd output.
Himalayan Monal (Uttarakhand's state bird) alters its calls under tourism noise — study at Kedarnath WLS.
Practice MCQs — BPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. With reference to the National Makhana Board, consider the following:
1. Its outlay is ₹476.03 crore for 2025-26 to 2030-31.
2. It covers nine districts of north Bihar.
3. India accounts for about 80% of global makhana output.
Which of the above are correct?
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D All three are correct — the six-year ₹476.03 cr mission covers 9 north-Bihar districts, and India produces ~80% of the world's makhana.
Q2. The Kishau Multipurpose Project, recently in the news, is being built on which river?
Betwa
Tons (Yamuna sub-basin)
Ken
Sharda
Show answer
Answer: B The dam is on the Tons river, the largest tributary of the Yamuna; a six-state pact was signed on 15 Sep 2026.
Mains practice question
Q. Bihar records higher headline GSDP growth than the national average yet lags sharply on per-capita income. Examine the structural reasons and suggest measures for inclusive, employment-rich growth. (GS-II, Bihar Economy)
Hint / approach
Use the output-vs-jobs mismatch (agriculture: 54% of jobs, 18% of output), low industrialisation and out-migration; suggest agro-processing (makhana), MSMEs, skilling and urban infrastructure.
📌 One-line revision: ₹476 cr Makhana Board (9 districts) • Bihar GSDP 14.9% > India 12% • Kishau dam on Tons river • US Fed 3.75-4.00% (Warsh) • Patna HC upholds Article 21.
