Monday, 26 October 2026 · IST · Bihar + National · 12 items · 2 MCQs
Bihar signed 12 MoUs worth ₹4,092 crore at Bodh Gaya and launched the 1,670-acre Gaya Manufacturing City on the Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor, while the first Gaya–Bangkok direct flight starts today. State bankers' review shows Bihar's CD ratio at 60.17%, JD(U) has expelled Mokama MLA Anant Singh with a Tenth Schedule plea to the Speaker, and nationally the 139th Mann Ki Baat hailed ₹1.87 lakh crore khadi turnover as India finished 4th with 114 medals at the Asian Para Games.
Today at a glance — things to remember
Bihar: 12 MoUs, ₹4,092 crore signed at Bodh Gaya (24 Oct)
Gaya Manufacturing City — 1,670 acres, Dobhi block, on AKIC
Gaya–Bangkok direct flight from 26 Oct, twice weekly (Mon & Thu)
Bihar CD ratio 60.17% (30 Sept 2026); ACP target ₹4.95 lakh crore
PM Surya Ghar: Bihar adds up to ₹20,000 state top-up till 31 Mar 2027
JD(U) expels Anant Singh for 6 years; Tenth Schedule plea to Speaker
Pansalla (Bhagalpur) to become Jardalu Mango Village (BAU Sabour)
139th Mann Ki Baat: khadi turnover over ₹1.87 lakh crore (FY26)
RBI's ₹169-crore backup data centre opens near Bhubaneswar
India: record 114 medals (30 G), 4th at Asian Para Games 2026
Detailed notes
1. Bihar signs ₹4,092-crore MoUs; Gaya Manufacturing City launched on AKIC
BIHARBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-II (Bihar Economy)
Syllabus linkage
GS-II: Bihar economy — industrial policy, investment, employment. Prelims: industrial corridors, Gaya district facts.
Context
At an investors' meet in Bodh Gaya on 24 Oct, CM Samrat Choudhary announced 12 MoUs worth ₹4,092 crore and launched Bihar Integrated Manufacturing City Gaya Ltd (BIMCGL) with its web portal, as a curtain-raiser to Bihar Business Connect 2027 (17–18 Feb 2027).
Key facts
Largest MoU: Mint Life Sciences ₹1,500 crore; then ABIS Group ₹600 crore, Bioheal Energy ₹510 crore.
Gaya city: ~1,670 acres in Dobhi block; potential ₹16,500 crore investment, ~1.1 lakh jobs (projected).
~13,500 acres under acquisition, completion expected by January; PPP model encouraged.
Proposed air links Gaya–Dubai and Gaya–Kathmandu; diaspora outreach via Bihar Foundation (55 countries).
Way forward
Convert MoUs into ground-breakings with time-bound land, power and single-window clearances; link the city to skilling for local youth.
Concept
AKIC (Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor) runs along the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor; Gaya was among 12 industrial smart cities approved under the NICDP (Aug 2024).
Map of Bihar's 38 districts highlighting places in today's news: Gaya (Gaya Manufacturing City in Dobhi block, investors' meet at Bodh Gaya, Gaya–Bangkok flight), Bhagalpur (Jardalu Mango Village at Pansalla), Purnia (makhana exports), Samastipur (Pusa PACS workshop) and Patna, with the Ganga, Gandak, Kosi and Son rivers and a side panel of key numbers. — StudyForGS
2. Gaya–Bangkok direct flight begins today, boosting Buddhist circuit
BIHARBPSC: Prelims + Mains GS-I (Culture) & GS-II
Syllabus linkage
GS-I: Bihar's Buddhist heritage (Bodh Gaya). GS-II: tourism & air connectivity. Prelims: Bihar airports, Act East links.
Context
The first direct international link from Gaya to Bangkok (Thailand) starts on 26 Oct 2026, cutting a 10–12 hour route via Delhi/Kolkata and saving travellers up to ₹20,000.
Targets pilgrims to Mahabodhi Temple (UNESCO WHS, 2002) from Thailand and SE Asia.
Thailand, Laos and Japan representatives attended the Bodh Gaya investors' meet.
Way forward
Package flights with a Bodh Gaya–Rajgir–Nalanda–Vaishali circuit, e-visa facilitation and better last-mile roads.
Concept
Buddhist Circuit: Bodh Gaya (enlightenment), Sarnath (first sermon), Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana), Lumbini (birth); Act East Policy (2014) succeeded Look East (1991).
Map of South and Southeast Asia showing the new direct air route from Gaya in Bihar to Bangkok in Thailand, with India drawn from its official district boundaries and Thailand highlighted. — StudyForGS
3. Bihar ranks banks on 100-point index; credit plan only 38% achieved
A high-level committee chaired by Development Commissioner Mihir Kumar Singh (Patna, 23 Oct) graded banks into Green (≥50), Yellow (40–49) and Red (<40) zones and asked them to work in mission mode.
Key facts
Top: IDFC First Bank (74); SBI (32) and Canara (27) in Red Zone.
Tie district-level CD-ratio targets to bank performance; use JEEViKA and PACS as credit-delivery channels for farm loans.
Concept
Annual Credit Plan (ACP) is prepared under the Lead Bank Scheme (1969) and monitored by the State Level Bankers' Committee; PSL target for domestic banks is 40% of ANBC.
Grouped bar chart comparing Bihar's Annual Credit Plan 2026-27 targets with credit disbursed up to 30 September 2026 for MSME, agriculture, priority sector and total, showing achievement of 52.7%, 28%, 36.7% and 38.3%. — StudyForGS
GS-II: Bihar energy sector & role of S&T (renewables). Prelims: PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana features.
Context
Chief Secretary Pratyaya Amrit reviewed rooftop-solar progress under the Unified Load Aggregation model; Bihar offers eligible households up to ₹20,000 extra over central aid, valid till 31 March 2027.
Key facts
Installed (23 Oct): 1,43,793 solar structures, 1,09,781 panels, 31,349 inverters.
Bank support: 13,911 loans approved, ₹284.51 crore disbursed.
Scheme launched Feb 2024: 1 crore households, up to 300 units free power per month.
Central subsidy up to ₹78,000 for a 3 kW system.
Way forward
Close the gap between structures and inverters, strengthen net-metering by DISCOMs and train local solar technicians.
Concept
Rooftop solar = decentralised photovoltaic (PV) generation; net metering credits surplus power exported to the grid. Bihar's DISCOMs: NBPDCL and SBPDCL.
Stat tiles for PM Surya Ghar in Bihar as of 23 October 2026: 1,43,793 solar structures, 1,09,781 panels, 31,349 inverters, 13,911 bank loans worth Rs 284.51 crore, and a state top-up of up to Rs 20,000 valid till 31 March 2027. — StudyForGS
GS-II: State Legislature, anti-defection law, role of Speaker. Prelims: 52nd/91st Amendments, key judgments.
Context
On 24 Oct, JD(U) state president Umesh Singh Kushwaha expelled Anant Singh and former MLA Neelam Devi for six years for alleged anti-party activity in the Legislative Council election, and asked Speaker Dr Prem Kumar to act under the Tenth Schedule.
Key facts
Expulsion by a party does not automatically disqualify a legislator.
Final decision rests with the Speaker of the Bihar Legislative Assembly.
Tenth Schedule added by the 52nd Amendment, 1985; 91st Amendment (2003) removed the 'split' exemption.
Kihoto Hollohan (1992): Speaker's decision is subject to judicial review.
Way forward
Time-bound disposal of petitions (SC in Keisham Meghachandra, 2020: ideally 3 months) or an independent tribunal would curb delays.
Concept
G. Viswanathan (1996): an expelled member continues to belong to his party for Tenth Schedule purposes; disqualification grounds include voluntarily giving up membership (Para 2(1)(a)).
Flowchart of the anti-defection process: party expels or alleges defection, petition goes to the Speaker under the Tenth Schedule, Speaker decides on disqualification, and the decision is open to judicial review as held in Kihoto Hollohan 1992. — StudyForGS
6. Bihar PACS to diversify into non-farm businesses
Computerise PACS fully, adopt model bye-laws and give working-capital lines so multi-service PACS stay viable.
Concept
PACS = village-level tier of the three-tier short-term cooperative credit structure (PACS → DCCB → StCB); cooperatives got constitutional status via the 97th Amendment (2011), Part IX-B.
7. Pansalla to be 'Jardalu Mango Village'; Purnia makhana in Mann Ki Baat
GS-II: Bihar agriculture & horticulture, GI tags, agri-exports. Prelims: GI products of Bihar and their districts.
Context
BAU Sabour adopted Pansalla (Sultanganj block, Bhagalpur) to develop it as a Jardalu Mango Village; separately, PM highlighted makhana exports from Purnia in the 139th Mann Ki Baat (25 Oct).
Key facts
100 mango plants distributed; Jardalu saplings planted under village adoption.
Jardalu mango (Bhagalpur) received a GI tag in 2018.
Mithila Makhana received a GI tag in 2022; Bihar grows the bulk of India's makhana.
CM thanked PM, saying the mention boosts Seemanchal farmers and processors.
Way forward
Build cold chains, pack-houses and export certification so GI produce earns a price premium for growers.
Concept
GI tag is granted under the Geographical Indications of Goods (Registration & Protection) Act, 1999 (in force 2003) by the GI Registry, Chennai; other Bihar GIs: Shahi Litchi, Katarni rice, Magahi paan.
8. 139th Mann Ki Baat: khadi turnover crosses ₹1.87 lakh crore
GS-II: MSME & village industries, employment. GS-I: Khadi & the national movement. Prelims: KVIC.
Context
In the 139th episode (25 Oct 2026), marking 12 years of the programme, PM Narendra Modi hailed rising Swadeshi khadi sales, e-Sanjeevani and organic farming, and paid tribute to Sardar Patel and fibre-optics pioneer Narinder Singh Kapany.
Key facts
Khadi & village industries turnover over ₹1.87 lakh crore in FY 2025-26.
Employment to over 2.04 crore people; turnover target ₹2.51 lakh crore.
Gandhi Jayanti 2026 single-day sales over ₹28 crore.
PM also urged cleanliness and vocal for local during Diwali–Chhath.
Way forward
Scale design, e-commerce and export linkages so artisans in states like Bihar capture more value.
Concept
KVIC is a statutory body under the KVIC Act, 1956 (Ministry of MSME); Gandhi popularised khadi through the Swadeshi and Non-Cooperation movements.
9. PM opens RBI's ₹169-crore data centre & cyber training institute in Odisha
GS-II: role of S&T in the financial system, cybersecurity. Prelims: RBI functions, payment systems.
Context
On 25 Oct, PM Narendra Modi inaugurated RBI's greenfield data centre and Enterprise Computing & Cybersecurity Training Institute at Info Valley-II, Khordha (near Bhubaneswar), warning of rising cyberthreats to finance.
Key facts
Cost ₹169 crore; campus 18.55 acres.
Acts as backup/disaster-recovery site to RBI's primary centre at Kharghar, Navi Mumbai.
Supports currency management, payment & settlement and regulatory data.
Institute focuses on research, capacity building and skilling in cybersecurity.
Way forward
Pair infrastructure with CERT-In coordination, zero-trust architecture and mandatory cyber drills for banks.
Concept
RBI was set up on 1 April 1935 under the RBI Act, 1934 (Hilton Young Commission) and nationalised in 1949; a DR site keeps critical systems running if the primary site fails.
GS-II: S&T in defence, Atmanirbhar Bharat. Prelims: iDEX, indigenous systems.
Context
The 5th edition of Swavlamban is held on 26–27 Oct at the Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi, with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh releasing the Swavlamban 5.0 document.
Key facts
Theme: 'Strength & Power through Innovation and Indigenisation'.
iDEX: 4,000+ proposals; AoN for ₹3,500+ crore, contracts ₹1,900+ crore.
Navy: 42 platforms on order; AoN for 78 more and 120 Fast Interceptor Craft.
Way forward
Speed up trials-to-induction and protect IP of start-ups to sustain the indigenisation pipeline.
Concept
iDEX (launched 2018) is run by the Defence Innovation Organisation; AoN (Acceptance of Necessity) is the first step of capital procurement under DAP 2020.
11. India's best-ever Asian Para Games: 114 medals, 4th place
The 5th Asian Para Games (18–24 Oct 2026, Aichi–Nagoya, Japan) ended with India's 168-member squad winning a record 114 medals — 30 gold, 35 silver, 49 bronze.
Athletics alone gave 65 medals; 9 golds on the final day.
Sumit Antil won javelin (72.46 m); Mona Agarwal world record in 50m rifle 3P SH1.
Sandeep world record in men's 400m T64 (52.28 s).
Way forward
Build accessible para-sport infrastructure at district level, including in Bihar, and widen TOPS/Khelo India support.
Concept
RPwD Act, 2016 recognises 21 disabilities and gives 4% reservation in government jobs; Article 41 (DPSP) covers public assistance in case of disablement.
Donut chart of India's 114 medals at the 2026 Asian Para Games: 30 gold, 35 silver and 49 bronze, with the previous best of 108 noted. — StudyForGS
12. Siang Upper project protests: Centre rushes RAF to Pasighat
GS-II: India–China water issues, river systems, displacement. Prelims: Brahmaputra system, mega dams.
Context
The Centre is sending two RAF companies (~250 personnel) to Pasighat after violence followed a 12-hour bandh against the proposed 11,200-MW Siang Upper Multipurpose Project (SUMP) in Arunachal Pradesh.
Key facts
Planned live storage ~9.2 billion cubic metres; still at pre-feasibility stage.
Needs SIA, EIA and DPR before construction; implementing agency NHPC.
Seen as a buffer against China's mega-dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo (Medog).
Local Adi communities fear displacement and loss of land.
Way forward
Free, prior and informed consent, transparent impact studies and fair R&R are essential before any dam decision.
Concept
The Siang is the Brahmaputra's name in Arunachal (Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet, Jamuna in Bangladesh); India–China share data under expert-level mechanism (2006).
Map of north-east India and southern Tibet tracing the Yarlung Tsangpo–Siang–Brahmaputra river, marking Pasighat and the approximate Siang Upper project area in Arunachal Pradesh and the Medog area upstream in China. — StudyForGS
Data point of the day
60.17%
Bihar's Credit-Deposit (CD) Ratio — 30 September 2026 Deposits ₹6,49,225 crore vs outstanding credit ₹3,90,655 crore; ratio slipped from 60.21% at end of FY 2025-26. Banks with CD ratio below 50% flagged; ACP 2026-27 only 38.25% achieved by mid-year.
Prelims rapid-fire
CVC: Vigilance Awareness Week: 26 Oct–1 Nov 2026, theme 'Probity for Prosperity'; CVC set up 1964 (Santhanam Committee).
J&K: 26 Oct 1947: Maharaja Hari Singh signed the Instrument of Accession; observed as Accession Day.
Weather: Bay of Bengal system to become a cyclonic storm; IMD Patna warns of rain/thunderstorms in Bihar 27 Oct–1 Nov.
Culture: Rajgir Mahotsav 2026 on 26–28 Nov; Saran readies 500 toilets for Sonpur Mela.
Patna: Patna's New Market to be redeveloped at ₹498.40 crore; 53 ghats & 5 ponds for Chhath.
Investment: Bihar Business Connect 2027 global investors' summit fixed for 17–18 Feb 2027.
Practice MCQs — BPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. Gaya Manufacturing City, launched by the Bihar government on 24 October 2026, is being developed under which industrial corridor?
Delhi–Mumbai Industrial Corridor
Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor
Chennai–Bengaluru Industrial Corridor
East Coast Economic Corridor
Show answer
Answer: B The ~1,670-acre city in Dobhi block, Gaya is part of the Amritsar–Kolkata Industrial Corridor (AKIC), aligned with the Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor.
Q2. Consider the following statements about the Tenth Schedule: 1. It was added by the 52nd Amendment Act, 1985. 2. The Speaker's decision on disqualification is final and immune from judicial review. 3. A member expelled by his party continues to belong to that party for the purposes of the Tenth Schedule. Which of the above is/are correct?
1 only
1 and 3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B Statement 2 is wrong: Kihoto Hollohan (1992) held the Speaker acts as a tribunal and is subject to judicial review. Statement 3 follows G. Viswanathan (1996).
Mains practice question
Q. Bihar's credit-deposit ratio has hovered around 60%, while banks achieved only 28% of the farm-credit target by mid-2026-27. Examine the causes of low credit absorption in Bihar and suggest measures to channel deposits into productive investment. (BPSC Mains GS-II, ~250 words)
Hint / approach
Causes: small landholdings, weak land records, low industrialisation, risk aversion, branch density. Measures: CD-ratio targets under Lead Bank Scheme, PACS/JEEViKA channels, credit guarantees (CGTMSE), Gaya Manufacturing City/AKIC for industrial demand, digital land records.
📌 One-line revision: Revise: ₹4,092 cr / 12 MoUs • Gaya city 1,670 acres on AKIC • Gaya–Bangkok Mon & Thu • CD ratio 60.17% • Tenth Schedule — Kihoto 1992 • Khadi ₹1.87 lakh cr • Para Games 114 medals
