Friday, 9 October 2026 · IST · Bihar + National · 11 items · 2 MCQs
Bihar released Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana instalments to about 7,000 entrepreneurs and set a 1 crore jobs target by 2030, while the Road Construction Department lined up ₹21,000 crore NABARD finance for ~100 projects including the Digha–Koilwar Ganga Path. Nationally, the RBI raised the repo rate to 5.50% with a 'calibrated tightening' stance, the Union Cabinet cleared an Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority, and the 2026 Nobel science and literature prizes were announced.
Today at a glance — things to remember
CM Samrat Choudhary: jobs for 1 crore people in Bihar by 2030
Udyami Yojana: up to ₹10 lakh (₹5 lakh grant + ₹5 lakh loan)
On 8 October 2026, CM Samrat Choudhary released instalments to about 7,000 beneficiaries of the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana at Bapu Sabhagar, Patna, and set a target of jobs for 1 crore people by 2030.
Key facts
First phase (FY 2025-26): about ₹96 crore to 4,800 beneficiaries — ₹2 lakh first instalment each.
Support up to ₹10 lakh: up to ₹5 lakh grant + up to ₹5 lakh loan; about ₹3,500 crore earmarked.
About 45,000 new entrepreneurs being prepared; ~5 jobs each ≈ 2.2 lakh direct jobs.
Local preference: in tenders up to ₹50 crore, a Bihar-based L2/L3/L4 bidder may get work by matching the L1 rate.
Pair instalments with mentoring, market linkage and credit follow-up; publish district-wise enterprise survival data.
Concept
Scheme began in 2018 for SC/ST youth, later extended to EBC, women, minorities & youth; run by the Industries Department. L1 = lowest bidder. MSMEs are classified by investment + turnover.
Flowchart of the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana: application and selection, training, three instalments up to ₹10 lakh (₹5 lakh grant plus ₹5 lakh loan), and stat tiles showing 4,800 first-phase beneficiaries, ₹96 crore released, ₹3,500 crore earmarked and the 1 crore jobs target by 2030. — StudyForGS
2. ₹21,000-crore NABARD push for 100 road & bridge projects; Digha–Koilwar Ganga Path bids invited
Bihar's Road Construction Department has sought ₹21,000 crore in NABARD loans to fast-track about 100 projects — 65 roads and 35+ bridges (reported 7 Oct 2026).
Key facts
Split: ₹15,000 crore roads (via BSRDC) + ₹6,000 crore bridges (via Bihar State Bridge Construction Corporation).
Digha–Koilwar Ganga Path (Digha–Danapur Cantt.–Sherpur–Koilwar): bids on Hybrid Annuity Model, est. ₹5,544 crore (excl. GST).
Also listed: 40.80 km Sultanganj–Bhagalpur–Sabour Ganga Path, 42 km Bariarpur–Sultanganj road, Danapur–Maner–Bihta four-laning.
Phase-wise appraisal by NABARD; flood-resilient design for Ganga-front corridors and timely land acquisition.
Concept
HAM: government pays 40% of project cost during construction; developer raises 60% and recovers it via annuities. NABARD set up on 12 July 1982 (Sivaraman Committee); funds state rural infra via RIDF. JP Ganga Path runs Digha–Didarganj in Patna.
Map of Bihar's districts with the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi and Son rivers, marking the Digha–Koilwar and Sultanganj–Bhagalpur–Sabour Ganga Path corridors, Bihta Airport and Patna Junction, and shading the five districts (Buxar, Patna, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar) proposed for stations on the Varanasi–Patna–Siliguri high-speed rail corridor, with a side panel of key numbers. — StudyForGS
3. PRAGATI team reviews Patna Junction makeover & stalled Bihta Airport; Bihar on high-speed rail map
Mains GS-II: Bihar economy — transport infrastructure; governance & monitoring | Prelims: PRAGATI, Amrit Bharat Station Scheme
Context
A Project Monitoring Group team (Cabinet Secretariat) under PRAGATI is inspecting Bihar's flagship projects; it met Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit and reviews Patna Airport on 9 Oct 2026.
Key facts
Patna Junction: ~₹500 crore upgrade under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme; DPR within 2 months.
Harding Park terminal: 70+ trains & 1 lakh+ passengers daily; parking for 1,500–2,000 vehicles; metro link near Junction Golambar.
Bihta Airport new terminal only ~2% done (terminal ~₹460 crore; civil enclave ~₹1,413 crore); target 14 March 2027.
Varanasi–Patna–Siliguri high-speed corridor (one of 7 in Union Budget 2026-27): possible stations in Patna, Buxar, Begusarai, Khagaria, Katihar; ~320 km/h.
Way forward
Fix contractor & design bottlenecks at Bihta; integrate rail–metro–air under one multimodal plan for Patna.
Concept
PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance And Timely Implementation), launched 25 March 2015: PM-chaired ICT platform for project & grievance monitoring. Amrit Bharat Station Scheme (2023) covers 1,300+ stations. Bihta airport is a civil enclave at an IAF station.
4. Bihar Legislative Council polls for 8 graduate & teacher seats on 23 October
Polling for 8 seats of the Bihar Vidhan Parishad is on 23 Oct 2026, counting on 27 Oct; the state granted special casual leave to employees who are voters in these seats.
Bihar Council strength 75: 27 by MLAs, 24 local bodies, 6 graduates, 6 teachers, 12 nominated.
Bihar is one of 6 states with a bicameral legislature.
Way forward
Drive enrolment of eligible graduates & teachers; ensure transparent STV counting and awareness of preference voting.
Concept
Art. 169: Parliament creates/abolishes a Council on an Assembly resolution by special majority. Art. 171: size ≤ 1/3 of Assembly, min 40; 1/3 MLAs, 1/3 local bodies, 1/12 graduates (3 yrs), 1/12 teachers, 1/6 nominated by Governor. Election by STV.
Donut chart of the 75-member Bihar Legislative Council: 27 elected by MLAs, 24 by local bodies, 6 by graduates, 6 by teachers and 12 nominated by the Governor. — StudyForGS
Prelims: Bihar personalities, defence | Mains GS-II: women empowerment, role of S&T in defence
Context
Sqn Ldr Bhawana Kanth completed the ~20-week Fighter Combat Leader (FCL) course at TACDE, Gwalior — the first Indian woman fighter pilot to do so (reported 7 Oct, on the eve of IAF Day).
Key facts
Native of Baur village, Ghanshyampur block, Darbhanga; born 1 Dec 1992 at Barauni (Begusarai).
Commissioned in 2016 in the first batch of women fighter pilots; 2019: first woman qualified for combat missions.
IAF Day, 8 Oct 2026: 94th anniversary (est. 1932); theme "Infallible, Impervious and Precise".
Air Marshal Ashutosh Dixit named 29th Chief of the Air Staff from 31 Oct 2026.
Way forward
Use such role models to boost girls' STEM and NCC participation in Bihar's schools and colleges.
Concept
TACDE (Tactics and Air Combat Development Establishment) is the IAF's elite tactics school — the 'Top Gun' equivalent. Women's induction into the fighter stream began as an experiment in 2015 and was made permanent in 2022.
6. Vishwarang Nalanda 2026: Nalanda University hosts North-East–South-East Asia cultural dialogue
A two-day programme on language, literature and arts linking North-East India and South-East Asia was held at Nalanda University, Rajgir on 7–8 Oct 2026.
Key facts
Organised by Vishwarang Foundation & Rabindranath Tagore University (Bhopal) with Nalanda University.
Chief guest Katikithala Srinivas (Secretary, DoNER) linked it to the Act East Policy.
VC Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi: real-time translation of Hindi addresses with Bhashini; Centre for South-East Asian Studies highlighted.
Tagore photo-literature exhibition and Rabindra Sangeet evening held.
Way forward
Position Nalanda–Rajgir–Bodh Gaya as a soft-power and Buddhist-circuit hub for ASEAN outreach.
Concept
Ancient Nalanda Mahavihara founded by Kumaragupta I (5th c. CE); destroyed by Bakhtiyar Khalji (c. 1193); UNESCO World Heritage site (2016). New university under Nalanda University Act, 2010; new campus opened 19 June 2024. Act East (2014) upgraded Look East (1991).
7. RBI hikes repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50%; stance shifts to 'calibrated tightening'
Mains GS-II: Indian economy — monetary policy, inflation, growth | Prelims: MPC, LAF corridor, policy rates
Context
The 63rd MPC meeting (5–7 Oct 2026) under Governor Sanjay Malhotra unanimously raised the repo rate from 5.25% to 5.50%; near-term rate cuts are 'off the table'.
Key facts
SDF 5.25%; MSF & Bank Rate 5.75%. Two members (Nagesh Kumar, Ram Singh) preferred a neutral stance.
CPI rose to 4.8% in Aug 2026 (July 4.5%). Risks: high crude, weak monsoon, El Niño.
World Bank (6 Oct) also raised India's FY27 growth forecast to 7.1% (from 6.6%). Next MPC: 2–4 Dec 2026.
Way forward
Fiscal-monetary coordination on food & fuel supply; protect MSME and farm credit flow in states like Bihar.
Concept
MPC under Sec. 45ZB, RBI Act 1934 (amended 2016): 6 members, Governor has casting vote. Flexible inflation targeting: CPI 4% ± 2%. Repo = rate at which RBI lends to banks; SDF (floor, since 2022) and MSF (ceiling) form the LAF corridor.
Grouped bar chart of RBI's FY2026-27 quarterly projections: real GDP growth of 7.2%, 6.9% and 6.8% and CPI inflation of 4.9%, 6.0% and 5.7% for Q2, Q3 and Q4, with the new 5.50% repo rate marked. — StudyForGS
8. Cabinet clears Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority and ₹10,000-crore SME Growth Fund
Mains GS-II: Government policies, infrastructure, rural employment | Prelims: new bodies, schemes, VB–G RAM G
Context
The Union Cabinet (6 Oct 2026) approved an apex Integrated Transport and Logistics Authority (ITLA) and a ₹10,000-crore SME Growth Fund offering direct equity to scalable SMEs.
Key facts
ITLA: integrated transport & freight planning, research, appraisal, monitoring, data analytics.
Will prepare a National Transport Master Plan (10+ years) across road, rail, ports, aviation, inland waterways, urban transport.
Technical appraisal of central infra projects of ₹500 crore+.
Rural Development Ministry notified 375 permissible works under the VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 (up 41% from 266).
Way forward
Align ITLA with PM GatiShakti and state logistics plans; Bihar can map its Ganga-waterway and rail freight gaps.
Concept
PM GatiShakti NMP launched 13 Oct 2021; National Logistics Policy on 17 Sept 2022. VB–G RAM G Act, 2025 replaced MGNREGA with a 125-day rural work guarantee.
Donut chart of the 375 permissible works notified under the VB–G RAM G Act: 128 water-security, 111 core rural infrastructure, 98 livelihood and 38 disaster-preparedness works. — StudyForGS
9. IMC 2026: PM inaugurates 10th India Mobile Congress; Bharat 6G Alliance crosses 7,700 patents
Mains GS-II: role & impact of S&T — telecom, digital inclusion | Prelims: 5G/6G, events
Context
PM Narendra Modi opened the 10th India Mobile Congress at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi on 8 Oct 2026, built on four pillars — Srishti, Samvardhan, Sashakt, Suraksha.
Focus: 5G/6G, AI networks, semiconductors, non-terrestrial networks, quantum communication.
Way forward
Convert patents into global standards & domestic manufacturing; close the rural tele-density gap in states like Bihar.
Concept
Bharat 6G Vision (March 2023) targets global leadership by 2030; Bharat 6G Alliance launched July 2023. IMC is organised by DoT and COAI. Tele-density = telephone connections per 100 people.
10. Nobel Prizes 2026: optogenetics, IceCube neutrinos, asymmetric autocatalysis and Anne Carson
Chemistry: Henri B. Kagan (France) & Kenso Soai (Japan) — non-linear effects & autocatalysis in asymmetric synthesis.
Literature: Anne Carson (Canada) — poet-classicist reworking the classical tradition.
Way forward
Boost India's basic-science funding and big-science projects such as the India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO).
Concept
Nobel Prizes per Alfred Nobel's will (1895), first awarded 1901; Economics prize since 1969. Peace Prize given in Oslo, others in Stockholm. Optogenetics = controlling neurons with light. IceCube is at the South Pole; INO is planned at Theni (TN).
World map highlighting the countries of the 2026 Nobel laureates announced so far — USA, Germany, France, Japan and Canada — with Stockholm and Oslo marked and a side panel listing each prize, laureate and discovery. — StudyForGS
11. Uttarakhand becomes India's 6th fully literate state under ULLAS
Mains GS-II: social sector — education & human development in Bihar | Prelims: literacy data, schemes
Context
Uttarakhand has been declared fully literate — the 6th state after Mizoram, Goa, Tripura, Himachal Pradesh and Sikkim; CM Pushkar Singh Dhami said focus now shifts to digital, financial and health literacy.
Key facts
Declared under ULLAS – Nav Bharat Saaksharta Karyakram; 'fully literate' benchmark ≈ 95% literacy.
Bihar (Census 2011): literacy 61.8% — lowest among states; female 51.5% vs national 74.04%.
Literacy is assessed through the FLNAT (Foundational Literacy & Numeracy Assessment Test).
Way forward
Bihar can scale ULLAS through JEEViKA SHG networks and school volunteers, prioritising women.
Concept
ULLAS (2022–27): centrally sponsored adult-education scheme aligned to NEP 2020 for non-literates aged 15+, based on volunteerism ('Kartavya Bodh'). Ladakh was the first UT declared fully literate (2024).
Data point of the day
≈42,000 documents (≈6× August)
Bihar paperless e-registrations, September 2026 Jul ~1,200 → Aug ~6,800 → Sep ~42,000; 55,495 since launch; ~2,500/day now; Sept revenue ₹397+ crore; e-vaulting target 9 Oct 2026.
Prelims rapid-fire
Bihar State Commission for Upper Castes (Chair Mahachandra Prasad Singh) begins district-wise survey of landless upper-caste families for vasgeet parcha.
Veerangana Durgavati Tiger Reserve (MP) — first tiger reserve to get African cheetahs (Vyom & Neera from Botswana).
SAREX-2026: 12th National Maritime Search & Rescue Exercise by the Indian Coast Guard off Paradip, Odisha.
MoSPI released strategy for Environmental-Economic Accounts 2026–2030 (forests, water, soil, carbon, biodiversity).
Smriti Mandhana named full-time captain of India's women's white-ball cricket teams.
Practice MCQs — BPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. Consider the following statements about the Bihar Legislative Council: 1. One-twelfth of its members are elected by graduates of at least three years' standing. 2. Its members are elected by proportional representation through the single transferable vote. 3. The State Assembly can abolish it by a resolution, without any law of Parliament. 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 Statements 1 and 2 follow Art. 171. Statement 3 is wrong: under Art. 169, Parliament abolishes or creates a Council by law after the Assembly passes a resolution by special majority.
Q2. After the RBI's October 2026 policy raised the repo rate to 5.50%, the Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) and Marginal Standing Facility (MSF) rates stand respectively at:
5.25% and 5.75%
5.00% and 6.00%
5.25% and 6.00%
5.50% and 5.75%
Show answer
Answer: A The LAF corridor is repo ± 25 bps: SDF 5.25% (floor) and MSF/Bank Rate 5.75% (ceiling).
Mains practice question
Q. "Bihar must turn job seekers into job creators." In the light of the Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana and the proposed MSME Policy 2026, examine the prospects and challenges of entrepreneurship-led employment in Bihar. (BPSC Mains GS-II, 38 marks)
Hint / approach
Intro: Bihar's low industrial base & migration. Body: scheme design (₹10 lakh, grant + loan, SC/ST/EBC/women focus), 1 crore jobs target, local procurement; challenges — credit, power, logistics, market access, enterprise survival. Way forward: clusters (makhana, litchi, textiles), ODOP, skilling, single-window. Conclude with inclusive growth.
📌 One-line revision: Udyami Yojana → ₹10 lakh (5 grant + 5 loan) | Repo 5.50%, SDF 5.25%, MSF 5.75% | MLC polls 23 Oct (Art. 169/171) | Digha–Koilwar Ganga Path ₹5,544 cr on HAM.
