Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway alignment across north Bihar, Rs 1.64 lakh crore highway plan for Bihar, India–New Zealand FTA in force and UDAN turns 10
Wednesday, 21 October 2026 · IST · Bihar + National · 11 items · 2 MCQs
Bihar's connectivity push dominates: the Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway (about 416 km in Bihar) moves ahead, the Centre's 2026-27 Annual Plan clears 32 NH projects (~2,424 km, ~Rs 1.64 lakh crore) for the state, and Bihar lines up 5 airports + 9 heliports as UDAN completes 10 years. Nationally, the India–New Zealand FTA came into force on 20 October, Polish PM Donald Tusk is on a 21–23 October visit, and India ranks 100th of 122 in the Global Hunger Index 2026.
Today at a glance — things to remember
Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway: ~416 km of its length lies in north Bihar.
Bihar NH Annual Plan 2026-27: 32 projects, ~2,424 km, ~Rs 1.64 lakh crore.
UDAN (launched 21 Oct 2016) completes 10 years today.
GS-II: Bihar geography (north Bihar plains, Kosi–Mithila belt), infrastructure & economy. Prelims: districts on route, Bharatmala.
Context
The proposed route of the greenfield Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway runs across north Bihar from Gopalganj to Kishanganj, giving the Kosi–Mithila belt its first access-controlled east–west corridor.
Key facts
Total length about 519 km; roughly 416 km in Bihar (largest share).
4-lane access-controlled, expandable to 6 lanes; cost estimate about Rs 38,645 crore.
Bihar districts: Gopalganj, W & E Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj.
Links UP (Gorakhpur) to Siliguri (WB) – gateway to the Northeast via the Chicken's Neck.
Way forward
Fast-track land acquisition in flood-prone Kosi areas; build flood-resilient embankment design and logistics nodes along the route.
Concept
Greenfield expressway = built on a new alignment, not by widening an old road. Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) ≈ 22 km wide strip linking mainland India to the NE.
Map of Bihar's 38 districts with the ten districts on the Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway alignment shaded saffron, existing airports (Patna, Gaya, Darbhanga, Purnea) marked in navy and five proposed UDAN airports (Sabeya, Chhapra, Ulao, Forbesganj, Kishanganj) marked in red, with the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi and Son rivers in blue. — StudyForGS
2. Centre clears Rs 1.64 lakh crore NH Annual Plan 2026-27 for Bihar
At a meeting in New Delhi chaired by the Union Road Transport Secretary, the Annual Action Plan 2026-27 for Bihar was cleared – the largest-ever annual highway package for the state.
Key facts
32 projects, about 2,424 km, cost about Rs 1,64,518 crore.
NHAI: 14 projects, ~1,685 km, ~Rs 1,39,578 crore (about 85% of cost).
State NH wing: 18 projects, ~739 km, ~Rs 24,940 crore.
Corridors: Raxaul–Haldia, Buxar–Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur–Barauni, Patna Northern Ring Road.
Way forward
Time-bound DPRs, quality audits (cap on deep below-estimate tenders) and bridge-health monitoring to avoid repeats of span collapses.
Concept
National Highways are on the Union List (Entry 23); declared under the NH Act, 1956. NHAI set up under the NHAI Act, 1988.
3. UDAN turns 10: Bihar readies 5 new airports and 9 heliports
The Regional Connectivity Scheme – UDAN completes 10 years on 21 October 2026. Bihar's cabinet has approved airports and heliports in 'challenge mode' under Modified UDAN.
Key facts
UDAN launched 21 Oct 2016; first flight Shimla–Delhi (27 Apr 2017).
State sweeteners: ATF VAT cut from 1% to zero at RCS airports; 9 heliports planned.
Way forward
Ensure route sustainability beyond VGF years; integrate airports with tourism circuits (Buddhist, Ramayana) and cargo for makhana & litchi.
Concept
UDAN = 'Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik'. Viability Gap Funding (VGF) shared by Centre and states; capped fares on 50% seats. Darbhanga airport began UDAN flights in 2020.
4. Bihar Legislative Council: polling for 8 seats on 23 October
POLITYBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-II (Polity – State Legislature)
Syllabus linkage
GS-II: State Legislature, Bihar polity. Prelims: Art. 169, 171, composition of Councils.
Context
Campaigning has ended for the biennial Bihar Legislative Council polls in 4 Graduates' and 4 Teachers' constituencies; the sitting members' terms expire on 16 November 2026.
Polling 23 Oct (8 am–4 pm); counting 27 Oct; process ends 31 Oct.
Voting by preferential ballot – single transferable vote.
Way forward
Clean up graduate voter rolls and raise turnout so the Council keeps its role as a house of expert opinion.
Concept
Art. 171: Council ≤ 1/3 of Assembly, min 40. Electorate: 1/3 local bodies, 1/3 MLAs, 1/12 graduates, 1/12 teachers, 1/6 nominated. Bihar Council has 75 seats; a permanent house, 1/3 members retire every 2 years.
5. Bihar's Green Hydrogen Policy 2026 and farm-feeder solarisation
GS-II: Bihar economy – energy, role of science & technology. Prelims: green hydrogen, electrolysers.
Context
Ahead of the 23 October cabinet meeting, the state's energy roadmap is in focus: the cabinet has cleared the Bihar Green Hydrogen Policy 2026 and grants to solarise the remaining agricultural feeders.
Key facts
Target 1 lakh tonnes/yr green hydrogen by 2031; 1 GW electrolyser capacity.
Solarisation of 2,554 farm feeders = 2,585 MW; grant Rs 2,761.55 crore (Rs 1.05 crore/MW).
Way forward
Pair hydrogen hubs with Barauni refinery & fertiliser demand; secure water and cheap RE to make green H2 viable.
Concept
Green hydrogen = H2 from electrolysis of water using renewable power (grey = from natural gas). National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023): 5 MMT/yr by 2030, outlay Rs 19,744 crore.
Row of five stat tiles for Bihar's energy push: 1 lakh tonnes per year green hydrogen by 2031, 1 GW electrolyser, Rs 16,000 crore investment, 2,554 farm feeders to be solarised and 2,585 MW solar capacity. — StudyForGS
6. Panchayat polls 2026: voter-list revision under way in Bihar
GS-II: Panchayati Raj in Bihar, 73rd Amendment. Prelims: State Election Commission, women's reservation.
Context
With the current panchayat terms ending in December 2026, the State Election Commission is revising voter lists, giving citizens four opportunities to seek corrections.
Key facts
About 8,053 gram panchayats (down from 8,387 in 2021 due to urbanisation); 533 panchayat samitis; 38 zila parishads.
Multi-post EVMs – one control unit with 6 ballot units for different posts.
New reservation roster; 50% seats for women.
Way forward
Timely polls, digital roll verification and capacity building of newly elected mukhiyas.
Concept
Art. 243K: SEC conducts panchayat polls. Bihar (2006) was the first state to give 50% reservation to women in PRIs. Term 5 years (Art. 243E).
The India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement entered into force on 20 October 2026, opening the NZ market fully to Indian goods while protecting India's sensitive farm and dairy lines.
Key facts
100% of Indian exports get duty-free access to NZ.
NZ to facilitate US$20 billion investment into India.
Gains for textiles, leather, engineering, pharma, processed food; quotas for NZ apples & kiwifruit.
Mobility pathways for Indian professionals, students & youth.
Way forward
Use FTA utilisation desks to help MSMEs (incl. Bihar's makhana & handloom exporters) claim preferences.
Concept
FTA cuts tariffs between members but each keeps its own external tariff (unlike a customs union). Rules of origin prevent trade deflection.
Four-pillar diagram of the India–New Zealand FTA: market access (100% duty-free for Indian exports), investment (US$20 billion), mobility (professionals, students, youth) and safeguards (dairy protected, quotas for apples and kiwifruit). — StudyForGS
8. Polish PM Donald Tusk begins three-day India visit
IRBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-II (International Relations)
Syllabus linkage
GS-II: India's foreign relations – Europe. Prelims: Strategic Partnerships, India–EU.
Context
Polish PM Donald Tusk is in India from 21 to 23 October 2026 with a large business delegation; talks with PM Modi are on 22 October in New Delhi.
Key facts
Ties elevated to Strategic Partnership in Aug 2024; Joint Action Plan 2024-28.
Business forums in Delhi (22 Oct) and Bengaluru (23 Oct).
Way forward
Leverage Poland as a Central European gateway for Indian IT, pharma and defence co-production.
Concept
'Good Maharaja' Jam Sahib Digvijaysinhji of Nawanagar sheltered ~1,000 Polish children in WWII; Warsaw has a square named after him.
9. SCO Heads of Government meet in Dushanbe; India seeks united action on terror
IRBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-II (International Relations)
Syllabus linkage
GS-II: Regional groupings, India & Central Asia. Prelims: SCO members, RATS.
Context
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh represented India at the 25th SCO Council of Heads of Government in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, calling for coordinated global action against terrorism.
SCO has 10 members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus + 4 Central Asian states.
RATS HQ in Tashkent; Secretariat in Beijing.
Way forward
Push Chabahar–INSTC connectivity and zero tolerance for cross-border terrorism.
Concept
SCO founded 2001 (Shanghai); India & Pakistan full members 2017, Iran 2023, Belarus 2024. Tajikistan borders Afghanistan via the Wakhan corridor.
Map of Eurasia with the ten SCO member states shaded teal, India highlighted in saffron, and Dushanbe (Tajikistan) marked as the venue of the 25th Council of Heads of Government meeting, with a side panel of key SCO facts. — StudyForGS
10. Global Hunger Index 2026: India ranked 100th of 122
GS-II: poverty, nutrition, human development (Bihar has high stunting). Prelims: GHI indicators.
Context
The GHI 2026 (theme: 'No security without food security') places India in the 'serious' category (as every year since 2012), though its rank improved by two places.
Key facts
Score 24.1; rank 100/122 (from 102/123).
Child wasting 19.0% – highest in South Asia; stunting 29.3%.
Undernourishment 9.8%; under-5 mortality 2.7%.
Way forward
Converge POSHAN 2.0, PDS and WASH; target the first 1,000 days in high-burden states like Bihar.
Horizontal bar chart of India's four Global Hunger Index 2026 indicators: child stunting 29.3%, child wasting 19.0%, undernourishment 9.8% and under-five mortality 2.7%. — StudyForGS
11. PM-SETU: Rs 1,194.92 crore cleared for five ITI clusters
GS-II: employment, human resource development. Prelims: skilling schemes, ITIs.
Context
The National Steering Committee of PM-SETU (6th meeting) approved upgradation plans for 5 ITI clusters in Maharashtra, Odisha and J&K with industry anchor partners.
Cumulative sanctions now Rs 3,687 crore; 3,744 trainers trained via NSTIs.
Scheme: Rs 60,000 crore to upgrade 1,000 govt ITIs (launched Oct 2025).
Way forward
Bihar should fast-track its cluster proposals to cut skill-linked migration.
Concept
PM-SETU = PM Skilling and Employability Transformation through Upgraded ITIs; nodal ministry MSDE. ITIs run NCVT/SCVT-affiliated trade courses.
Data point of the day
5.0%
PLFS (Sept 2026) – All-India unemployment rate (15+, CWS) Unchanged from August. Urban UR 6.9%, rural 4.2%; LFPR 55.5%, WPR 52.7%. Urban female LFPR 25.9% – the highest since October 2025. Released by the NSO (MoSPI) in its monthly bulletin.
Prelims rapid-fire
Bihar's first Tech Park (Gardanibagh, Patna) to be built by — NBCC – ~5,000 direct jobs
Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway length in Bihar — 162 km across 4 districts
AUSTRAHIND 2026 (5th edition) venue — Thiruvananthapuram, 19 Oct–1 Nov
Vikramshila Setu spans the Ganga at — Bhagalpur; restoration target Nov 2026
Chair of Bihar Cabinet meeting on 23 Oct — CM Samrat Choudhary
Bihar Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana max support — Rs 10 lakh (Rs 5 lakh grant + Rs 5 lakh loan)
Practice MCQs — BPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. With reference to the State Legislative Council, consider the following statements:
1. One-twelfth of its members are elected by graduates of at least three years' standing residing in the state.
2. One-sixth of its members are nominated by the Governor.
3. Its total strength cannot exceed one-half of the strength of the State Legislative Assembly.
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 Under Art. 171, 1/12 are elected by graduates and 1/6 are nominated by the Governor. The Council's strength cannot exceed one-third (not one-half) of the Assembly, with a minimum of 40.
Q2. The proposed Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway passes through which of the following districts of Bihar?
1. Sitamarhi
2. Supaul
3. Nalanda
4. Kishanganj
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
1 and 2 only
1, 2 and 4 only
2, 3 and 4 only
1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer
Answer: B The alignment runs across north Bihar – Gopalganj, Champaran, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria and Kishanganj. Nalanda lies south of the Ganga and is not on the route.
Mains practice question
Q. "Connectivity is the new engine of Bihar's growth." In the light of the Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway, the NH Annual Plan 2026-27 and new UDAN airports, examine how transport infrastructure can reduce regional disparity and out-migration in Bihar. (BPSC Mains GS-II, 38 marks)
Hint / approach
Intro: Bihar's low per-capita income and north–south divide. Body: market access for makhana, litchi, maize; logistics & industrial nodes; tourism circuits; flood-resilient design; land & funding challenges. Conclude with PM Gati Shakti-style integrated planning.
📌 One-line revision: Remember: ~416 km of Gorakhpur–Siliguri in Bihar • NH Plan Rs 1.64 lakh cr • UDAN @10 • MLC polls 23 Oct (Art. 171) • India–NZ FTA 20 Oct • GHI 100/122.
