2 Nov – 8 Nov 202626 Oct – 1 Nov 202619 Oct – 25 Oct 202612 Oct – 18 Oct 20265 Oct – 11 Oct 202628 Sep – 4 Oct 202621 Sep – 27 Sep 202614 Sep – 20 Sep 20267 Sep – 13 Sep 202631 Aug – 6 Sep 2026
Weekly at a glance
- Mon 19 Oct — Centre clears Rs 1.65 lakh crore NH plan for Bihar; Valmiki Tiger Reserve to become India's 9th vulture centre; ethanol tender shuts the sugar route
- Tue 20 Oct — India–New Zealand FTA enters into force today; Bihar MLC polls (8 seats) on 23 Oct; sugar-route ethanol barred as maize-ethanol price is cut — a direct test for Bihar's grain-ethanol plants
- Wed 21 Oct — 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
- Thu 22 Oct — Gaya–Sitamarhi NH-22 corridor (₹3,590.73 cr), 50-lakh 'Sudha Sakhi' dairy push and Bihar MLC polls; core sector hits 7.9% and India–NZ FTA takes effect
- Fri 23 Oct — Bihar votes for 8 MLC seats; VB-G RAM G rural works resume in all 38 flood/drought-hit districts; Polish PM Tusk's India visit
All topics — key facts for revision
19 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR Centre clears 32 NH projects (2,424 km) for Bihar under Annual Plan 2026-27
- NHAI: 14 projects, ~1,685 km, Rs 1,39,578 cr; State RCD / NH Division: 18 projects, ~739 km, Rs 24,940 cr.
- Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway: 568 km total, ~417 km in Bihar via W. & E. Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria, Kishanganj.
- Ram Janaki Path: packages 3 & 4 (~Rs 8,600 cr) approved; packages 1 & 2 already under construction.
- Other corridors: Raxaul–Haldia, Buxar–Bhagalpur, Patna Northern Ring Road, Muzaffarpur–Barauni; ROBs on NH-120 & NH-727.
BIHAR Varanasi–Kolkata Expressway: 162 km Bihar stretch via Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad & Gaya
- Bihar length ~162 km through Kaimur, Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya; Bihar section target March 2028.
- Package-7 runs from Dumaria to Imamganj blocks (Gaya); started 1 July 2025, due 30 June 2027.
- ~5 km passes through forests in Kaimur & Gaya → wildlife over/underpasses; ~50,000 trees to be planted.
- CCTV every 1 km, trauma centre every 30 km; link planned to the Dobhi industrial corridor; decongests NH-19.
BIHAR Valmiki Tiger Reserve to become India's 9th vulture conservation & breeding centre
- Nests now mainly in the core area; aim to expand to the buffer zone in 4–5 years (field director Gaurav Ojha).
- Existing centres include Pinjore (Haryana), Rajabhatkhawa (WB), Rani (Assam), Kerwa (MP), Nandankanan (Odisha), Muta (Ranchi).
- Key threat: veterinary drug diclofenac → fatal kidney failure; VTR will screen carcasses for contamination.
- VTR hosts 300+ bird species; Bihar's only tiger reserve, contiguous with Nepal's Chitwan NP, along the Gandak.
BIHAR Bihar constitutes State-level Incident Response Team for disasters
- Chief Secretary: overall supervision; Incident Commander: ACS/Principal Secretary/Secretary, Disaster Management Dept.
- Safety Officer: DG, Fire Services; Information & Media Officer: Director, IPRD.
- Sections: Operations (rescue, police, health, road-rail-water-air transport), Planning (damage assessment), Logistics (food, medical, finance).
- Crucial for Bihar, where ~73% of the area is flood-prone (Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati, Ganga basins).
BIHAR Vikramshila Setu to get IoT-based Bridge Health Monitoring System
- Sensors, IoT devices and data analytics to track stress, vibration, bending and displacement.
- Automatic alerts to authorities when readings cross set limits; complements physical inspections.
- Covers the old bridge; a BHMS was already planned for the parallel four-lane bridge under construction.
- Setu (~4.7 km, opened 2001) links Bhagalpur–Naugachia, joining south and north Bihar.
BIHAR Bihar expands EV charging to 5 cities; fast DC chargers at 10 Patna govt sites
- Bus charging: Purnia complete; Patna, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Gaya under way; depots at Phulwarisharif, Rajgir, Muzaffarpur operational.
- 8 charging points per 50-bus depot; e-bus charges in 1–1.5 hr, cars in 45–60 min.
- Patna sites include Chief Secretariat, Bihar Vidhan Sabha, Vikas Bhawan, Visvesvaraya Bhawan, Beur Mor.
- Bihar EV Policy 2026: 25% subsidy on charging equipment, capped at Rs 10 lakh.
POLITY Patna court records Bihar's first conviction under triple talaq law
- Charged under Section 4, Muslim Women (Protection of Rights on Marriage) Act, 2019, plus IPC Sections 323 & 341.
- Acquitted of the attempted acid-attack charge for lack of evidence; appeal to the Patna High Court possible.
- The Act makes instant talaq-e-biddat void and illegal; punishment up to 3 years + fine.
- Rooted in SC's Shayara Bano v. Union of India (2017) verdict (3:2) striking down instant triple talaq.
ECONOMY Ethanol tender for 2026-27 bars sugar route; maize-ethanol price cut
- Barred: cane juice, sugar/sugar syrup, B-heavy molasses; allowed: maize, broken rice, surplus FCI rice, C-heavy molasses.
- Maize-ethanol price cut Rs 71.86 → Rs 68.86/litre; maize incentive Rs 5.79 → Rs 2.79/litre.
- Trigger: poor rain in Maharashtra & Karnataka → risk of lower sugar output and higher prices.
- Bihar angle: a leading maize state (Kosi–Seemanchal belt) with grain distilleries under its Ethanol Production Promotion Policy, 2021.
POLITY SC: Full professional-course fee must be fixed before admission
- Mid-course hikes allowed only for unforeseeable/extraordinary economic conditions or statutory changes.
- Fee regulatory committees must function as continuing bodies.
- Court noted professional course fees run 711% higher than general programmes.
- Judgment draws on AICTE Regulations, 1994 and NEP 2020.
DEFENCE INS Samarthak: Navy commissions first indigenous Multi-Purpose Vessel
- Built by L&T at Kattupalli (Tamil Nadu); 75%+ indigenous content; ~107 m long.
- First of 4 MPVs; lead ship of the Samarthak class.
- Roles: surveillance, patrolling, training, weapon & sensor trials, unmanned systems support and HADR.
- Commissioning attended by Navy chief Adm. Krishna Swaminathan.
IR India approves accession to Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA)
- Signed in Rome, 7 July 2006; in force June 2012; secretariat at Le Port, Réunion.
- 10 Contracting Parties incl. Australia, China, EU, France, Japan, S. Korea, Mauritius, Seychelles, Thailand, Cook Islands.
- Covers high-seas fish, molluscs, crustaceans; excludes highly migratory species such as tuna (managed by IOTC).
- Indian vessels gain access to squid, toothfish, alfonsino with a vote in rule-making.
POLITY Census (Amendment) Rules, 2026: private teachers, bank & company staff can be enumerators
- Now eligible: teachers of government, aided and unaided private institutions and those run by societies/trusts.
- Also clerks/officials of Centre, States, local bodies, PSUs, statutory bodies, banks and companies.
- States/UTs may appoint other suitable persons; aim: ease the load on government school teachers.
- Framed under the Census Act, 1948, amending the Census Rules, 1990.
20 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR Bihar Legislative Council polls on 23 Oct: NDA firms up strategy for 8 graduates' & teachers' seats
- Seats: Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut, Kosi Graduates' + Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut, Saran Teachers'.
- Schedule: notification 29 Sep; polling 23 Oct (8 am–4 pm); counting 27 Oct; process ends 31 Oct.
- 164 nominations filed (98 graduates', 66 teachers'); BJP 4 + JD(U) 4 seats within NDA.
- Police lodged 3 FIRs in the Mokama area over an alleged Model Code breach during a candidate's roadshow.
ENVIRONMENT Dussehra weather alert: rain, thunder and gusty winds forecast for 20 Bihar districts
- 20 districts on alert incl. Purnia, Kishanganj, Araria, Katihar, Supaul, Saharsa, Darbhanga, Madhubani, Gaya, Rohtas, Buxar.
- Winds up to 70 km/h in parts of the 17 states under the national alert; Patna not on the list (31°C / 19°C).
- Kosi–Seemanchal belt is most exposed — the region with Bihar's highest lightning and flood vulnerability.
ECONOMY Ethanol tender 2026-27 bars sugar routes, trims maize-ethanol price — what it means for Bihar's maize belt
- Barred: sugarcane juice, sugar syrup, B-heavy molasses. Allowed: maize, broken rice, FCI surplus rice, C-heavy molasses.
- Maize-ethanol price ₹71.86 → ₹68.86/L; maize incentive ₹5.79 → ₹2.79/L.
- Bihar maize: 66.03 lakh MT from 9.55 lakh ha (2024-25); the state is a major rabi-maize producer.
- 10 major Bihar grain-ethanol plants: capacity 47.64 crore L/yr, but only 23.82 crore L assured for 2025-26.
BIHAR Patna Metro to be completed by 2028; Bihar's medical colleges rise from 13 to 31
- Metro: Mithapur–Khemni Chak elevated (3.1 km, Corridor-1) by June 2027; 8 km underground Corridor-2 by 2028.
- Medical colleges 13 → 31; MBBS seats 1,310 → 4,710; AIIMS Darbhanga (~₹2,000 cr) is Bihar's 2nd AIIMS.
- OPRMC Phase-III: 13,033 km of roads maintained for 7 years at ~₹10,590.53 cr (2026-33).
- 8 new Ganga/major bridges planned; works at Buxar, Sonepur, Bhagalpur, Kahalgaon–Kataiya.
BIHAR Bihar Green Hydrogen Policy 2026: 1 lakh tonnes a year by 2031, 2,554 farm feeders to go solar
- Targets by 2031: 1 lakh t/yr green H₂, 1 GW electrolyser manufacturing, ~2.5 GW linked RE.
- Expected ₹16,000 crore investment, ~12,000 jobs; nodal agency BREDA.
- ₹2,761.55 cr to solarise 2,554 agri feeders (2,585 MW); ₹47.30 cr incentives to panchayats.
- Same cabinet: VAT on ATF at RCS airports cut 1% → 0; Mukhya Mantri Hemophilia Yojana (Emicizumab, 255 patients).
SOCIETY Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar conferred on 106 artists; Bihar's Bhojpuri folk voice among awardees
- Instituted 2006; artists up to 40 years; ₹25,000, Tamrapatra and Angavastram.
- Manisha Srivastava (Rohtas) honoured for Bhojpuri folk — Kajri, Sohar, Chaita, Batohiya.
- Bismillah Khan: b. 21 Mar 1916, Dumraon; Bharat Ratna 2001; played at Red Fort, 15 Aug 1947.
- Patna's 71st Ramlila Mahotsav: 90-ft Ravan effigy with eco-friendly (green) crackers.
IR India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement enters into force today
- 100% of Indian exports duty-free in NZ from day one; NZ tariffs of up to 10% removed.
- NZ to facilitate USD 20 billion investment; aim to double trade to NZ$7 bn by 2030 (goods trade ~USD 1.1 bn, 2025-26).
- Mobility: 5,000 skilled-worker visas + 1,000 Working Holiday visas a year; post-study work up to 3–4 yrs.
- Excluded: dairy, sugar, edible oils; apples, kiwifruit, Manuka honey via TRQs & minimum import prices.
POLITY Supreme Court: internet access is a right of children too; orders national hash database against abuse material
- Centre to create a National Hash & URL List Database, each entry verified by ≥3 trained analysts.
- Matching content to be removed immediately; complaint reporting within 2 hours; grievance option within 2 clicks.
- Exemplary fines and forfeiture of paywalled revenue for repeat defaults; IT safe harbour (Sec. 79) no excuse.
- Digital-safety education via NCERT/SCERTs; progress affidavit before next hearing on 10 Dec.
ECONOMY CCEA clears 60.72% IDBI Bank stake sale to Fairfax unit for ₹52,878 crore
- Stake sold 60.72% = Govt 30.48% + LIC 30.24%; value ₹52,878 crore.
- After the deal: Govt retains 15%, LIC 19%.
- Two-stage bidding: 5 EoIs, 4 qualified, 2 final bidders; buyer must satisfy RBI norms.
- PSB Gross NPAs fell from 11.2% (2018) to 1.8% (2026) — context for privatisation push.
ENVIRONMENT Reservoir storage at 68.58% of capacity; Pennar and Cauvery basins in deep deficit
- Storage 68.58% of live capacity — 24.53% lower than last year and 16.44% below normal.
- Deficit vs normal: Pennar 72.32%, Cauvery 60.50%, Sabarmati 38.03%, Krishna 32.59%.
- Critical dams: Aliyar 0%, Idukki 10.62%, Somasila 22.05%, Mettur 32.49%.
- Surplus basins: Subarnarekha, Narmada, Mahanadi.
REPORT India's carbon market moves to trading; case grows for joining the compliance-markets coalition
- About 500 companies in 7 sectors filed compliance reports by 31 July.
- OCCCM founders include EU, China, Brazil; work plan adopted on 14 Sep in Wuhan.
- 50+ countries price carbon; EU CBAM definitive phase began 1 Jan 2026.
21 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway to reshape north Bihar connectivity
- 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.
BIHAR Centre clears Rs 1.64 lakh crore NH Annual Plan 2026-27 for Bihar
- 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.
BIHAR UDAN turns 10: Bihar readies 5 new airports and 9 heliports
- UDAN launched 21 Oct 2016; first flight Shimla–Delhi (27 Apr 2017).
- So far: 669 routes, 95 airports, ~3.5 lakh flights, ~1.66 crore passengers.
- Bihar's proposed airports: Kishanganj, Chhapra, Ulao (Begusarai), Forbesganj (Araria), Sabeya (Gopalganj).
- State sweeteners: ATF VAT cut from 1% to zero at RCS airports; 9 heliports planned.
POLITY Bihar Legislative Council: polling for 8 seats on 23 October
- Graduates': Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut, Kosi; Teachers': Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut, Saran.
- Polling 23 Oct (8 am–4 pm); counting 27 Oct; process ends 31 Oct.
- Voting by preferential ballot – single transferable vote.
BIHAR Bihar's Green Hydrogen Policy 2026 and farm-feeder solarisation
- Target 1 lakh tonnes/yr green hydrogen by 2031; 1 GW electrolyser capacity.
- Expected investment ~Rs 16,000 crore; ~12,000 jobs; ~2.5 GW linked renewables.
- Solarisation of 2,554 farm feeders = 2,585 MW; grant Rs 2,761.55 crore (Rs 1.05 crore/MW).
BIHAR Panchayat polls 2026: voter-list revision under way in Bihar
- 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.
ECONOMY India–New Zealand FTA comes into force
- 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.
IR Polish PM Donald Tusk begins three-day India visit
- Ties elevated to Strategic Partnership in Aug 2024; Joint Action Plan 2024-28.
- Agenda: trade, defence, emerging tech, renewables, India–EU partnership.
- Business forums in Delhi (22 Oct) and Bengaluru (23 Oct).
IR SCO Heads of Government meet in Dushanbe; India seeks united action on terror
- 25th CHG meeting, 19–20 Oct 2026; CHG mainly handles trade & economic agenda.
- SCO has 10 members: China, Russia, India, Pakistan, Iran, Belarus + 4 Central Asian states.
- RATS HQ in Tashkent; Secretariat in Beijing.
REPORT Global Hunger Index 2026: India ranked 100th of 122
- 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%.
SOCIETY PM-SETU: Rs 1,194.92 crore cleared for five ITI clusters
- Hub-and-spoke: each cluster = 1 hub + 4 spoke ITIs → 25 ITIs.
- 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).
22 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR Gaya–Sitamarhi NH-22 corridor: ₹3,590.73 cr four-lane to Nepal border
- Length of the four-lane stretch: 82.578 km; ends at Sonbarsa near the India–Nepal border.
- Corridor links 5 districts: Gaya, Jehanabad, Patna, Muzaffarpur, Sitamarhi.
- Structures: 7 major bridges, 3 railway overbridges (ROBs), 2 flyovers.
- Boosts access to Janki Punaura Dham (Sitamarhi), believed birthplace of Mata Sita.
- Aids freight and Indo-Nepal trade; completion date not yet specified.
BIHAR Pirpainti–Jhanjharpur power line to carry south Bihar's thermal power north
- Route covers 4 districts: Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Darbhanga, Madhubani.
- REC Power Development & Consultancy Ltd is the bid process coordinator (resolution of 5 May 2026).
- Developer to be chosen through Tariff-Based Competitive Bidding (TBCB); new substations needed.
- Begusarai to get a direct supply link from the Pirpainti plant.
BIHAR 'Sudha Sakhi': Jeevika didis to take milk producers from 12 lakh to 50 lakh
- About 7,000 Jeevika didis trained in dairy and animal husbandry as Pashu Sakhis.
- Sudha Sakhis to give veterinary first aid, balanced feed advice and artificial insemination; paid service-based incentives.
- Implemented by COMPFED (Sudha brand) with Jeevika; dairy societies under 'Sahkar Se Samriddhi'.
- Women linked to Jeevika Sudha outlets and village milk collection centres.
BIHAR Social security pensions: 88.37% life verification done, 13.57 lakh pending
- Enrolled: 1,16,71,188; verified: 1,03,13,620; pending: 13,57,568.
- Deadline 30 November every year; missing it can suspend pension.
- Most enrolled: Patna (6.17 lakh), Madhubani, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Gaya.
- Most verified: Madhubani (5.09 lakh), Patna, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Samastipur.
POLITY Bihar Legislative Council: polling for 8 graduates' and teachers' seats on 23 Oct
- Polling 23 Oct (8 am–4 pm); counting 27 Oct; process ends 31 Oct.
- Graduate electors: 4,92,594; teacher electors: 40,253.
- Largest graduate electorate: Tirhut (1,43,988); smallest: Patna (87,583).
- 28 candidates in fray across 8 seats.
SCI-TECH CM reviews draft Bihar AI Policy-2026 for education, health, farms and services
- Focus sectors: education, health, agriculture and government services.
- Follows Bihar's recent Green Hydrogen Policy 2026 (target 1 lakh tonnes/yr by 2031).
- Budget, nodal agency and timeline yet to be announced.
BIHAR Patna HC: State must prove vesting under Land Reforms Act; Meira Kumar gets relief
- Land: about 18 kathas 10 dhurs at Mainpura, Patna; no compensation paid for ~50 years.
- Law examined: Bihar Land Reforms Act, 1950, Sections 3 and 4(h).
- Court: State must prove land vested in it; settlement of 1941 pre-dates the 1 Jan 1946 cut-off of Sec 4(h).
- Long-standing revenue records cannot be cancelled summarily; *jamabandi* restored.
ECONOMY Core sector grows 7.9% in September 2026 – best in the new series
- Index at 118.3 vs 109.6 a year ago; April–September growth 5.1% (vs 2.5%).
- Gainers: iron ore 18.4%, electricity 11.4%, coal 10.7%, refinery products 10.3%, cement 9.8%, steel 4.9%.
- Decliners: fertilisers −11.7% (7th straight fall), natural gas −4.6%, crude oil −1.4%.
- August growth revised up to 5.9% (from 4.8%).
- Core industries form about 40% of IIP; compiled by Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT.
IR India–New Zealand FTA enters into force: all Indian exports duty-free
- 100% of Indian tariff lines enter NZ duty-free; NZ peak tariffs of up to 10% removed.
- NZ to facilitate USD 20 billion investment in India.
- India shields dairy, sugar, edible oils and key farm goods; apples, kiwifruit, Manuka honey get tariff-rate quotas.
- 5,000 temporary employment visas and 1,000 working holiday visas a year for Indians.
- Bilateral goods trade only ~USD 1.1 billion (2025-26).
ENVIRONMENT India hosts 7th Agrivoltaics World Conference; farmers as 'Urjadatas'
- Using 10% of suitable land could meet India's projected 2050 power demand.
- ~47.5 million ha (≈30% of arable land) found suitable in a 2026 study.
- Cost 25–30% above ground-mounted solar; power at ₹3.20–3.30/unit vs ₹2.5–2.6.
ECONOMY RBI MPC minutes: first repo hike in over three years to 5.5%
- Governor Sanjay Malhotra sees headline CPI touching the 6% upper band in Q3.
- External members Nagesh Kumar and Ram Singh backed the hike but dissented on the stance.
- Core inflation 4.2% in August (3.9% in July); WPI inflation 11.4% in September.
DEFENCE SIMBEX-2026 at Visakhapatnam; ~₹770 cr BEL deal for anti-drone radars
- SIMBEX began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King; harbour phase 21–23 Oct, sea phase 24–26 Oct in the Bay of Bengal.
- Singapore's RSS Supreme joined; drills in anti-submarine, anti-surface and anti-air warfare.
- LLLR-I (~₹770 cr) detects fighter-sized aircraft and mini/micro drones.
- IBSAMAR IX (India–Brazil–South Africa) ended at Simon's Town on 20 Oct.
23 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR Bihar MLC Biennial Polls: 8 Graduates' & Teachers' Seats Vote Today
- Graduates' seats: Patna, Tirhut, Darbhanga, Kosi; Teachers' seats: Patna, Saran, Darbhanga, Tirhut.
- Electorate: 4,92,594 graduate voters and 40,253 teacher voters; Tirhut Graduates' is the largest (1,43,988).
- Same-day council polls also in Karnataka, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh.
- Voting is by ballot paper with preferential (single transferable) vote — not EVMs.
- Council Chairman's post fell vacant after Awadhesh Narayan Singh resigned (Sep 2026).
BIHAR Rural Jobs Pause Lifted: VB-G RAM G Works Resume in All 38 Districts
- VB-G RAM G = Viksit Bharat – Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin); in force from 1 July 2026, replacing MGNREGA.
- Guarantee: up to 125 days of unskilled wage work per rural household per year (vs 100 under MGNREGA).
- Funding share Centre : State = 60 : 40.
- Flood-hit include Supaul, Saharsa, Madhepura, Khagaria, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Patna; drought-hit include Gaya, Nalanda, Nawada, Aurangabad, Rohtas, Kaimur.
- Priority works: water conservation, road repair, Anganwadi centres, school sheds, disaster preparedness.
BIHAR Bihar AI Policy 2026: Target to Train 5 Lakh Students in 5 Years
- Target: 5 lakh students trained in AI over 5 years — 1 lakh per year.
- A major annual AI event every year for five years to draw investors.
- Incentives for AI companies, startups and digital enterprises, incl. support for large AI models.
- Focus on AI infrastructure, digital skills, innovation and entrepreneurship.
- Complements the new Dr Shyama Prasad Mukherjee AI & Computer Science University, Bhagalpur.
BIHAR CM's School & College Push: 2,996 Buildings, 16,440 Classrooms
- The 211 block-level degree colleges began classes on 15 July 2026.
- Campus designs up to G+5; science, arts & library blocks, labs, lecture theatres.
- Separate hostels for male and female students; sites near block HQs prioritised.
- Executing agency: BSEIDC (Bihar State Educational Infrastructure Development Corporation).
BIHAR Paddy Procurement from 1 Nov at MSP ₹2,441/qtl; Payment in 48 Hours
- MSP ₹2,441/qtl (common) and ₹2,461/qtl (Grade A).
- Registration on the e-Sahkari portal; AgriStack Farmer ID used for verification.
- Payment to farmers within 48 hours through DBT.
- Procurement target may be raised to 50 lakh MT (under consideration).
BIHAR Chhath & Bihar Brand Go Global: CM Ropes in Bihar-Origin IFS Officers
- Focus sites: Gayaji, Sultanganj (Shravani Mela), Sun temples of Deo (Aurangabad), Chhath ghats of Patna & Munger.
- Government developing the Buddhist Circuit and eco-tourism.
- The Governor has also urged a bigger role for the global Bihari diaspora.
- Patna civic body has launched a special Diwali–Chhath cleanliness drive.
IR India–Poland: Tusk's Visit Deepens Strategic Partnership
- First visit by a Polish PM to India since 2010.
- Ties elevated to Strategic Partnership in Aug 2024 during Modi's Warsaw visit.
- Bilateral trade US$6.3 bn; aim to double by 2030; Indian investment in Poland > US$3 bn.
- Areas: EV batteries, renewables, defence & space, critical minerals, classified-information pact.
- Both welcomed the India–EU FTA.
ECONOMY India–US Trade Deal 'Pretty Close': Final Hurdles Remain
- Talks over a year: market access, tariffs, farm goods, industrial products, regulatory barriers.
- Rubio visited Mumbai and the Jamnagar refinery — his 2nd India trip in under 5 months.
- US agenda: energy trade, defence, civil nuclear cooperation, US tech purchases.
- India stresses energy diversification — avoiding over-dependence on any one crude supplier.
ENVIRONMENT AgriVoltaics World Conference: 'One Land, Two Harvests' in New Delhi
- 47.5 Mha cropland technically suitable — about 30% of India's ~160 Mha.
- Capital cost 25–30% above ground-mounted solar, which needs 4–5 acres/MW.
- Field studies: 10–20% yield gains for some crops and ~30% less water use.
- Non-fossil capacity 308.03 GW — over 55% of the total; the 50%-by-2030 NDC goal is already met.
DEFENCE SIMBEX & AUSTRAHIND 2026: India's Indo-Pacific Drills in Full Swing
- SIMBEX began in 1994 as Exercise Lion King; sea phase 24–26 Oct in the Bay of Bengal.
- Ships: INS Nilgiri (P-17A), INS Kamorta (P-28) with Singapore's RSS Supreme.
- AUSTRAHIND: 240 personnel; New Zealand observers for the first time.
- IBSAMAR IX (India–Brazil–South Africa) ended at Simon's Town; India sent INS Tarkash.
SCI-TECH RRI Finds Evidence of Accretion Disk Around Pulsar Centaurus X-3
- Cen X-3 is a high-mass X-ray binary (HMXB); companion star of ~10+ solar masses.
- Distance about 24,000 light years, in the constellation Centaurus.
- Four secondary emission lines vary in step with a structure co-rotating with the pulsar — an accretion stream.
- Cen X-3 was the first X-ray pulsar discovered (1971, Uhuru satellite).
Prelims rapid-fire — 30 facts
| Bihar Police is building a GIS portal to map police-station boundaries; 968+ stations/outposts already on CCTNS. |
| India's Ramsar sites reach 103 with Sukhna (Chandigarh) and Sauj Jheel (UP); Bihar has 5 incl. Kanwar Jheel (Begusarai). |
| Saharsa Airport to get a new runway & terminal under a Rs 42.52 crore AAI plan. |
| CISF reorganised into specialised sectors (Steel–Bhilai, Coal–Ranchi, Power–Kolkata); Buxar TPP now under Power sector. |
| Asian Para Games 2026: Aichi–Nagoya, Japan, 18–24 Oct; India fields 168 para-athletes. |
| Centre caps trade margins at 30% on 137 anti-cancer medicines; new prices from 9 Nov 2026. |
| Bihar: VAT on ATF at RCS (UDAN) airports cut from 1% to zero (cabinet, 30 Sep). |
| Bihar: Mukhya Mantri Hemophilia Yojana — Emicizumab for 255 registered patients. |
| SC (Justices P.S. Narasimha & Alok Aradhe): no mid-course fee hikes in professional courses. |
| CISF moves to sector-based commands (Power, Coal, Steel, Ports...) from 1 Nov 2026. |
| Basawan, Akbar-era painter: *A Family of Cheetahs* sold for £10.245 million. |
| Baltic Sea: world's largest brackish water body; 9 bordering countries. |
| 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) |
| Bhojpuri folk singer Manisha Srivastava (Kargahar, Rohtas) wins Ustad Bismillah Khan Yuva Puraskar 2025 of Sangeet Natak Akademi – the only Bihar awardee among 106. |
| Governor Syed Ata Hasnain urges IFS officers to engage the Bihari diaspora via Bihar Foundation. |
| AIIMS Patna performs its first kidney transplant under Ayushman Bharat (AB PM-JAY). |
| Vikramshila Setu (Bhagalpur, over Ganga) to get a digital bridge health monitoring system. |
| Asian Para Games, Aichi-Nagoya (Japan): Sheetal Devi–Toman Kumar win archery compound gold. |
| Army Commanders' Conference (New Delhi, 21–23 Oct): new Land Warfare Doctrine to be released. |
| Asian Para Games 2026: Aichi–Nagoya, Japan (18–24 Oct); India had 35 medals (9 gold) by 20 Oct. |
| Bihar Cabinet meets today (5 PM) under CM Samrat Choudhary. |
| Bihar STET 2026 shifted from 4 Nov to 21 Nov. |
| Patna Junction decongestion: 5 new platforms at Harding Park terminal. |
| Vikramshila Setu (Ganga, Bhagalpur) to get a digital bridge health monitoring system. |
| IBSA was formalised by the Brasilia Declaration (6 June 2003). |
Data points of the period
Rs 1,64,518 crore
Bihar's NH outlay under Annual Plan 2026-27
For 32 projects covering 2,424 km — about Rs 68 crore per km; NHAI carries 84.8% of the cost (Rs 1,39,578 cr, 1,685 km).
For 32 projects covering 2,424 km — about Rs 68 crore per km; NHAI carries 84.8% of the cost (Rs 1,39,578 cr, 1,685 km).
66.03 lakh MT
Bihar maize output, 2024-25
Grown on 9.55 lakh ha; feeds Bihar's grain-ethanol plants (10 major units: 47.64 crore L/yr capacity). Today's 2026-27 tender cuts the maize-ethanol price to ₹68.86/L.
Grown on 9.55 lakh ha; feeds Bihar's grain-ethanol plants (10 major units: 47.64 crore L/yr capacity). Today's 2026-27 tender cuts the maize-ethanol price to ₹68.86/L.
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.
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.
7.9%
Index of Eight Core Industries – September 2026 growth (YoY)
Highest since the new series (base 2022-23) began in April 2024; index 118.3 vs 109.6; April–September growth 5.1%.
Highest since the new series (base 2022-23) began in April 2024; index 118.3 vs 109.6; April–September growth 5.1%.
5.54%
Retail (CPI) inflation, September 2026
Up from 4.83% in August; rural 6.08% vs urban 4.88%; food inflation 7.74% (onion prices up 108% y-o-y). Still within the RBI's 2–6% band but above the 4% target — rural-heavy Bihar feels food inflation more.
Up from 4.83% in August; rural 6.08% vs urban 4.88%; food inflation 7.74% (onion prices up 108% y-o-y). Still within the RBI's 2–6% band but above the 4% target — rural-heavy Bihar feels food inflation more.
10 practice MCQs — BPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. Consider the following districts of Bihar: 1. Sheohar 2. Supaul 3. Kishanganj 4. Nalanda. Through how many of the above will the Gorakhpur–Siliguri Expressway pass?
- Only one
- Only two
- Only three
- All four
Show answer
Answer: c
The expressway's ~417 km Bihar stretch passes through West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria and Kishanganj; Nalanda is in south Bihar and is not on the route.
The expressway's ~417 km Bihar stretch passes through West Champaran, East Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria and Kishanganj; Nalanda is in south Bihar and is not on the route.
Q2. With reference to the Southern Indian Ocean Fisheries Agreement (SIOFA), consider: 1. It was signed in Rome in 2006. 2. It manages highly migratory species such as tuna. 3. Its secretariat is on Réunion Island. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: b
SIOFA was signed in Rome on 7 July 2006 and its secretariat is at Le Port, Réunion. Highly migratory species like tuna are excluded and are managed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
SIOFA was signed in Rome on 7 July 2006 and its secretariat is at Le Port, Réunion. Highly migratory species like tuna are excluded and are managed by the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC).
Q3. With reference to State Legislative Councils, consider the following statements: 1. One-twelfth of members are elected by registered graduates of at least three years' standing. 2. One-third of members are elected by members of the Legislative Assembly. 3. The Bihar Legislative Council has 75 members. 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: d
All three are correct: Art. 171(3) fixes 1/12 graduates, 1/12 teachers, 1/3 local bodies, 1/3 MLAs and 1/6 nominated; Bihar's Council has 75 seats.
All three are correct: Art. 171(3) fixes 1/12 graduates, 1/12 teachers, 1/3 local bodies, 1/3 MLAs and 1/6 nominated; Bihar's Council has 75 seats.
Q4. Under the India–New Zealand Free Trade Agreement that entered into force on 20 October 2026, which one of the following sectors has been kept out of India's tariff concessions?
- Wool
- Wood and timber
- Dairy products
- Sheep meat
Show answer
Answer: c
Dairy, sugar and edible oils are excluded; NZ gains access for wood, wool, sheep meat and raw hides, while apples and kiwifruit come under TRQs.
Dairy, sugar and edible oils are excluded; NZ gains access for wood, wool, sheep meat and raw hides, while apples and kiwifruit come under TRQs.
Q5. 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.
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.
Q6. 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.
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.
Q7. With reference to State Legislative Councils, consider the following statements: 1. One-twelfth of members are elected by graduates of at least three years' standing residing in the State. 2. Teachers of primary schools form the electorate of Teachers' constituencies. 3. The total strength of a Council cannot exceed one-third of the Legislative Assembly's strength. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: b
Under Art. 171(3)(c), teachers' constituencies comprise teachers of institutions not lower than secondary school – so statement 2 is wrong. Statements 1 (Art. 171(3)(b)) and 3 (Art. 171(1)) are correct. Bihar Council has 75 seats.
Under Art. 171(3)(c), teachers' constituencies comprise teachers of institutions not lower than secondary school – so statement 2 is wrong. Statements 1 (Art. 171(3)(b)) and 3 (Art. 171(1)) are correct. Bihar Council has 75 seats.
Q8. The 'Index of Eight Core Industries', which grew 7.9% in September 2026, is compiled and released by:
- National Statistics Office, MoSPI
- Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT
- Reserve Bank of India
- NITI Aayog
Show answer
Answer: b
ICI is released monthly by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce & Industry); the IIP is released by NSO, MoSPI. The new ICI series uses base year 2022-23.
ICI is released monthly by the Office of the Economic Adviser, DPIIT (Ministry of Commerce & Industry); the IIP is released by NSO, MoSPI. The new ICI series uses base year 2022-23.
Q9. 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-twelfth are elected by teachers of at least three years' standing in institutions not lower than secondary school. 3. About one-sixth are nominated by the Governor. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: D
Art. 171(3): 1/3 by MLAs, 1/3 by local bodies, 1/12 graduates, 1/12 teachers, the rest (~1/6) nominated by the Governor. All three are correct. Bihar votes today on 4 graduates' and 4 teachers' seats.
Art. 171(3): 1/3 by MLAs, 1/3 by local bodies, 1/12 graduates, 1/12 teachers, the rest (~1/6) nominated by the Governor. All three are correct. Bihar votes today on 4 graduates' and 4 teachers' seats.
Q10. The VB-G RAM G scheme, under which Bihar has resumed rural works in all 38 districts, guarantees how many days of wage employment per rural household in a year, and in what Centre–State funding ratio?
- 100 days; 75:25
- 120 days; 90:10
- 125 days; 60:40
- 150 days; 50:50
Show answer
Answer: C
VB-G RAM G (in force from 1 July 2026, replacing MGNREGA) guarantees up to 125 days a year; costs are shared 60:40 between the Centre and the State.
VB-G RAM G (in force from 1 July 2026, replacing MGNREGA) guarantees up to 125 days a year; costs are shared 60:40 between the Centre and the State.
Mains practice questions
- Bihar is witnessing an unprecedented push in expressways and national highway corridors. Examine how improved road connectivity can transform Bihar's agrarian economy and industrial prospects, and identify the bottlenecks in timely execution. (BPSC Mains GS-II)
- Bihar is emerging as a grain-based ethanol hub. In the light of recent changes in national ethanol procurement, examine the opportunities and risks for Bihar's maize farmers and distilleries, and suggest a way forward. (BPSC Mains GS-II, ~250 words)
- "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)
- "Women-led dairy cooperatives can be the next engine of rural prosperity in Bihar." Examine this statement in the light of the 'Sudha Sakhi' initiative. (BPSC Mains GS-II, ~250 words)
- Bihar faces floods in the north and drought in the south, often in the same year. Explain the geographical reasons for this dual hazard and assess how a rural employment guarantee can be used to build climate resilience in the state. (BPSC Mains GS-II)
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