Tuesday, 29 September 2026 · IST · Bihar + National · 11 items · 2 MCQs
Bihar leads today with Gandak flooding in four north Bihar districts, India's first Victim Rights Centre at Patna, fresh cabinet approvals for dairy, aquaculture and a sugar mill revival, and the Pitru Paksha Mela at Gayaji. Nationally, the Supreme Court refused to stay the UPI MDR on payments above ₹2,000, extended the three-language exemption to Class VI, while the NH network crossed 1,46,572 km and India's first LNG-powered train was flagged off.
Today at a glance — things to remember
CM Samrat Choudhary did an aerial survey of Gandak floods in 4 districts; river 1.5 m above danger mark at Dumaria Ghat.
CJI Surya Kant opened India's first Victim Rights Centre at BSLSA, Patna (12-month pilot) on 26 Sept.
Heavy rain in the Nepal catchment pushed up the Gandak. On 28 Sept 2026, CM Samrat Choudhary conducted an aerial survey of affected districts and ordered round-the-clock embankment monitoring.
Key facts
Districts surveyed: Vaishali, Saran, East Champaran, Gopalganj.
Gandak at Dumaria Ghat (Gopalganj) ran about 1.5 m above the danger mark; a further 50 cm rise was forecast.
Orders: night patrolling, SDRF–NDRF coordination, relief camps and community kitchens.
Deputy CM Vijay Kumar Chaudhary accompanied the CM on the survey.
Way forward
Pair embankments with flood forecasting shared with Nepal, basin-level planning and flood-plain zoning so that relief is not the only response.
Concept
Gandak (Narayani/Sapt Gandaki in Nepal) enters India at Valmikinagar, where the Gandak barrage stands under the 1959 India–Nepal Gandak Agreement; it joins the Ganga near Hajipur (Sonepur). About 73% of Bihar's area is flood-prone.
Schematic of Gandak river flow from Nepal catchment through Valmikinagar barrage and embankments to the four affected Bihar districts, with the state flood-response chain below. — StudyForGS
2. India's first Victim Rights Centre opens in Patna
GS-II: Judiciary, legal aid, rights of vulnerable sections. Prelims: Article 39A, NALSA, BSLSA.
Context
On 26 Sept 2026, CJI Justice Surya Kant inaugurated India's first Victim Rights Centre at the Bihar State Legal Services Authority (BSLSA), Budh Marg, Patna, saying justice must reach out to citizens.
Key facts
Runs as a 12-month pilot in Patna district; a single-window for legal aid, counselling and case tracking.
Also launched: a Transgender Helpline and multi-utility vehicles for legal-aid outreach.
Present: Patna HC Chief Justice V. Kameswar Rao and BSLSA Executive Chairman Justice Sudhir Singh.
Way forward
Scale the model to all 38 districts, link it with victim compensation funds and train police in victim-centric procedure.
Concept
Article 39A (added by the 42nd Amendment, 1976) – free legal aid. The Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987 created NALSA (patron-in-chief: CJI) and state bodies like BSLSA. Victim compensation now lies under Section 396 BNSS (earlier 357A CrPC).
Flowchart showing a victim reaching the single-window Victim Rights Centre at BSLSA Patna, which coordinates with police, hospitals, CWCs and One Stop Centres under monitored timelines until relief. — StudyForGS
GS-II: Bihar economy – agriculture & allied sectors, industrial revival, state schemes. Prelims: new Bihar schemes and figures.
Context
The state cabinet on 24 Sept 2026 cleared 24 agenda items, with a clear tilt towards allied agriculture (dairy, fisheries), health IT and new universities.
Key facts
₹195.28 cr for a Siwan wetlands aquaculture project; ₹126 cr for Kosi-region dairy (2026-28).
Mukhya Mantri Gaudhan Vikas Rinn Yojana: ₹160 cr over 2026-27 to 2028-29.
99.39 acres of Warisaliganj Sugar Mill (Nawada) land transferred; ₹500 cr+ investment expected.
₹29.79 cr for e-SushrutNX hospital IT in 12 institutions; ₹15 cr each for Mata Sita Women's Univ. (Patna) and Dinkar Univ. (Begusarai).
Way forward
Tie dairy and fisheries money to cold chains, cooperatives and market access so that allied sectors raise rural incomes faster than field crops alone.
Concept
COMFED (brand Sudha, est. 1983) runs Bihar's dairy cooperatives on the Anand pattern. North Bihar's chaurs (wetlands) and flood-plain lakes suit inland aquaculture; Bihar is among the top inland fish producers.
Row of coloured stat tiles for the 24 September 2026 Bihar cabinet: Rs 195.28 crore Siwan aquaculture, Rs 160 crore Gaudhan loan scheme, Rs 126 crore Kosi dairy, Rs 29.79 crore e-SushrutNX, 99.39 acres Warisaliganj sugar mill land. — StudyForGS
4. Pitru Paksha Mela 2026 at Gayaji goes tech-enabled; Vishnupad corridor in pipeline
SOCIETYBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-I (Culture of Bihar)
Syllabus linkage
GS-I: Indian culture with Bihar's role – pilgrimage centres, fairs. Prelims: Gaya, Vishnupad, Falgu river.
Context
CM Samrat Choudhary inaugurated the Pitru Paksha Mela Mahasangam at Gayaji on 25 Sept; it runs till 10 Oct 2026 for pind daan and tarpan rites.
Key facts
Tech tools: QR-code wristbands, AI crowd alerts, facial recognition for missing persons.
Free stay for 75,348 pilgrims; 70 health camps; 150 free e-rickshaws; Jeevika Didi ki Rasoi meals at ₹30.
Cabinet (15 Sept) approved a ₹3,516.05 crVishnupad corridor on the Kashi Vishwanath model.
Of this, ₹2,520 cr is for the corridor and ₹996.05 cr for Son–Falgu river linking.
Way forward
Link Gayaji–Bodh Gaya–Rajgir–Nalanda as one heritage circuit while keeping the Falgu flowing through the year.
Concept
Vishnupad Temple on the Falgu bank was rebuilt by Ahilyabai Holkar (1787). The Gayaji rubber dam on the Falgu (2022) holds water for rituals. Nearby Mahabodhi Temple, Bodh Gaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (2002).
Donut chart splitting the Rs 3,516.05 crore Vishnupad corridor project into Rs 2,520 crore for the corridor and pilgrim facilities and Rs 996.05 crore for Son-Falgu river linking. — StudyForGS
5. Patna Metro: Danapur–Patliputra stretch deadline moved to Sept 2030
The 7.39-km elevated Danapur–Patliputra section, earlier due in Sept 2027, is now targeted for Sept 2030 – a 3-year slip (reported 27 Sept).
Key facts
Section is about 70% complete; stations at Danapur, Saguna Mor, RPS Mor under work.
Full network: 32.5 km on two corridors; services run on 6.2 km (ISBT, Zero Mile, Bhoothnath, Malahi Pakri).
Khemnichak–Mithapur (3.1 km elevated) expected by June 2027.
Way forward
Fix land and utility-shifting bottlenecks early and integrate metro with city buses for last-mile use.
Concept
Patna Metro is built by Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC), a 50:50 Centre–State JV model; the priority corridor opened in Oct 2025. Metro Rail falls under the Metro Railways (Construction of Works) Act, 1978.
GS-II: Bihar economy – energy infrastructure; role of S&T in clean fuels. Prelims: gas pipelines through Bihar.
Context
A state review (28 Sept) reported that 28 of 38 districts are now linked to the City Gas Distribution (CGD) network, with 1.52 lakh+ household PNG connections.
Key facts
Officials were asked to speed up expansion in the remaining districts, focusing on apartments and housing colonies.
Darbhanga got its first domestic PNG connection this month under a PSU drive.
PNG cuts LPG cylinder dependence and is cleaner than solid fuels.
Way forward
Push CNG for transport and industrial gas alongside homes, so the pipeline investment pays back faster.
Concept
The Pradhan Mantri Urja Ganga (Jagdishpur–Haldia–Bokaro–Dhamra) pipeline passes through Bihar. CGD areas are authorised by PNGRB under the PNGRB Act, 2006.
7. Supreme Court refuses to stay MDR on UPI payments above ₹2,000
GS-II: Indian economy – banking, digital payments. Prelims: UPI, NPCI, MDR.
Context
On 28 Sept 2026, a bench of CJI Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V. Mohana refused to stay the new Merchant Discount Rate (MDR) on UPI and issued notices to the Centre, RBI and NPCI.
Key facts
Effective 15 Oct 2026: 0.4% on merchant payments above ₹2,000, capped at ₹300.
P2P transfers and small payments stay free; Centre says it is a settlement fee, not a tax.
Way forward
Keep small merchants and rural users shielded so that the digital-payment habit is not reversed.
Concept
MDR – fee a merchant pays to the bank/payment provider per transaction. Zero MDR on UPI and RuPay debit applied from 1 Jan 2020. NPCI (est. 2008) runs UPI (launched 2016) under the Payment and Settlement Systems Act, 2007.
Tier diagram of the UPI merchant discount rate from 15 October 2026: free up to Rs 2,000 and for P2P, 0.4 percent capped at Rs 300 for general merchants, flat Rs 5 for essential sectors, 0.02 percent for financial services. — StudyForGS
8. SC extends three-language exam exemption to Class VI CBSE students
GS-II: Constitutional provisions on language and education; NEP 2020. Prelims: Articles 350A, 351; three-language formula.
Context
On 28 Sept 2026 the Supreme Court told the Centre and CBSE to give Class VI the same relief already allowed to Classes VII–IX under the 15 May 2026 three-language circular.
Key facts
Circular: Classes VI–IX to study three languages, at least two native Indian.
Relief: students keep studying the third language but face no mandatory board exam in it and no hold on promotion.
Petitioners cited a shortage of trained teachers and textbooks; Centre claimed 99% schools were ready.
Way forward
Phase the rollout with teacher recruitment and textbooks first, keeping flexibility as envisaged in NEP 2020.
Concept
The three-language formula came from the Kothari Commission and NEP 1968. NEP 2020 says at least two of three languages be native to India. Art. 350A – mother-tongue instruction at primary stage; Art. 351 – development of Hindi.
9. National Highway network grows 61% to 1,46,572 km
Official data released on 29 Sept 2026 show the NH network rose from 91,287 km (2014) to 1,46,572 km – a 61% jump in 12 years.
Key facts
Construction pace: 11.6 km/day (2013-14) to 34 km/day – nearly 3x.
Bharatmala: 26,425 km awarded, 22,590 km built of 34,800 km planned (Mar 2026).
Delhi–Mumbai Expressway (1,386 km) is the longest access-controlled corridor.
Way forward
Shift focus from length to road safety, maintenance and multimodal logistics under PM Gati Shakti.
Concept
NHs are in the Union List (Entry 23); NHAI set up under the NHAI Act, 1988. India has the world's second-largest road network. Bihar hosts key corridors like NH-19/NH-27 (East–West).
Bar chart comparing National Highway length of 91,287 km in 2014 with 1,46,572 km in 2025-26, and construction pace rising from 11.6 to 34 km per day. — StudyForGS
10. India's first LNG-powered train flagged off from Sabarmati
SCI-TECHBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-II (Role of Science & Technology)
Syllabus linkage
GS-II: Role and impact of S&T – clean energy in transport. Prelims: LNG, DEMU, Kavach.
Context
Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off India's first LNG-powered (dual-fuel) DEMU on the Sabarmati–Patan route on 27 Sept 2026, with projects worth ₹1,542 cr+.
Key facts
LNG replaces up to 40% of diesel; 2,200-litre tank per power car, range about 222 km.
Over 2,000 km of field trials done before launch.
Kavach extended to 404 km in Ahmedabad division (₹411 cr); new WAG-12 shed (₹700 cr).
Way forward
Use dual-fuel units on non-electrified branch lines, while full electrification stays the long-term goal.
Concept
LNG is natural gas cooled to about −162 °C, cutting its volume about 600 times. DEMU = Diesel Electric Multiple Unit. Kavach is an indigenous Automatic Train Protection system developed by RDSO.
11. J&K Assembly passes resolution seeking restoration of full statehood
GS-II: Federalism, Union Territories, reorganisation of states. Prelims: Article 3, J&K Reorganisation Act 2019.
Context
On 28 Sept 2026, the J&K Legislative Assembly adopted a resolution moved by CM Omar Abdullah urging the Centre for the immediate restoration of full statehood.
Key facts
BJP members walked out during voting and moved a no-confidence motion against the Speaker.
The resolution is advisory; only Parliament can change the status by law.
J&K has been a UT with legislature since 31 Oct 2019.
Way forward
A time-bound roadmap for statehood, as the SC urged in Dec 2023, would strengthen cooperative federalism.
Concept
Article 3 lets Parliament form, alter or rename States by simple majority. The J&K Reorganisation Act, 2019 split the State into two UTs (J&K and Ladakh). In In Re Article 370 (Dec 2023) the SC upheld the abrogation and asked for statehood at the earliest.
Data point of the day
74%
Bihar Budget 2026-27: share of revenue receipts coming from the Centre Of revenue receipts, 55% is Bihar's share in central taxes and 18% is central grants; own tax revenue is ₹65,800 cr (only 5% of GSDP). Total spending is ₹3,24,925 cr, GSDP is ₹13.1 lakh cr, and the fiscal deficit target is 3% of GSDP. Education gets the largest share (₹70,141 cr, 21.7%).
Prelims rapid-fire
Makhana: Bihar grows 85%+ of India's makhana on 41,000 ha (2025-26); Mithila Makhana has a GI tag; target 82,000 ha by 2030-31.
Chess Olympiad: 46th edition at Samarkand, Uzbekistan (15–27 Sept): India won Silver (Open) and Bronze (Women).
Ex VARUNA: 24th India–France naval exercise; INS Trishul reached Toulon. Began 1993, named VARUNA in 2001.
DDU-GKY: Completed 12 years on 25 Sept (launched 2014); 18.47 lakh trained, 12.43 lakh placed; age 15–35.
FASTag Pass: FASTag Annual Pass crossed 1 crore passes since its Aug 2025 launch.
World Heart Day: Observed on 29 Sept every year to raise awareness on cardiovascular disease.
Practice MCQs — BPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. Consider the following statements about the Victim Rights Centre inaugurated in September 2026:
1. It is India's first such centre and is located in Patna.
2. It functions under the Bihar State Legal Services Authority.
3. It has been set up as a 24-month pilot project.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
1 only
1 and 2 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B The centre at BSLSA, Patna is India's first, but it is a 12-month pilot, so statement 3 is wrong.
Q2. The Gandak river, currently in spate in north Bihar, enters India at which place and meets the Ganga near which town?
Bhimnagar; Kursela
Valmikinagar; Hajipur
Raxaul; Barh
Birpur; Munger
Show answer
Answer: B The Gandak enters India at Valmikinagar (site of the Gandak barrage, 1959 India–Nepal agreement) and joins the Ganga near Hajipur. Bhimnagar/Birpur relate to the Kosi.
Mains practice question
Q. Floods in north Bihar recur almost every year despite a long network of embankments. Examine the causes and suggest a mix of structural and non-structural measures, with reference to the Gandak and Kosi basins. (BPSC Mains GS-II, 38 marks)
Hint / approach
Intro: about 73% of Bihar's area flood-prone; Nepal catchment. Causes: heavy siltation, embankment breaches, shifting channels, poor drainage. Structural: Valmikinagar/Kosi barrages, desilting (Silt Management Policy 2026), high dams in Nepal. Non-structural: forecasting with Nepal, flood-plain zoning, SDRF readiness, crop insurance. Conclude with basin-level India–Nepal cooperation.
📌 One-line revision: Revise today: Gandak (Valmikinagar → Hajipur) • Art. 39A + Victim Rights Centre, Patna • Vishnupad (Ahilyabai, 1787) • UPI MDR 0.4% above ₹2,000 • NH 1,46,572 km • Art. 3 and J&K statehood.
