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 5 Oct — Mokama double-line Ganga rail bridge opens; Bihar clears Green Hydrogen Policy 2026; RBI MPC begins rate review
- Tue 6 Oct — CM Samrat Choudhary opens ₹122.39-crore Sasaram bypass in Rohtas; Bihar's Gangetic dolphins more than double in Bhagalpur stretch; optogenetics wins 2026 Nobel in Medicine as RBI MPC meets
- Wed 7 Oct — RBI hikes repo to 5.50%; Bihar flood relief of ₹7,000 per family from 12 Oct; Bihar Green Hydrogen Policy 2026
- Thu 8 Oct — Bihar floods hit ~10 lakh in 6 districts; new Mokama Ganga rail bridge opens; RBI hikes repo to 5.50%
- Fri 9 Oct — Bihar's Udyami Yojana instalments & 1-crore jobs target, ₹21,000-crore road-bridge push, RBI hikes repo to 5.50%
All topics — key facts for revision
5 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR Mokama's new double-line Ganga rail bridge opens - first train crosses parallel to Rajendra Setu
- Main bridge 1.9 km long with 17 steel spans; whole project stretch 15.5 km (incl. 3.6 km viaduct, 8 minor bridges, 2 ROBs).
- Built about 50 m towards the Patna side of Rajendra Setu; reported cost about ₹2,400 crore.
- Design speed 140 km/h; trains to run at about 90 km/h initially; capacity up to 2.5 times.
- Cleared after inspection by the Commissioner of Railway Safety (Eastern Circle); new electronic interlocking and automatic signalling installed.
- Foundation laid in 2016; formal inauguration by the Prime Minister is awaited.
BIHAR Bihar cabinet clears Green Hydrogen Policy 2026 and 2,585 MW solarisation of farm feeders
- Policy targets by 2031: 1 lakh tonnes/yr green hydrogen/ammonia, 1 GW electrolyser and 2.5 GW renewable capacity.
- Expected investment ₹16,000 crore and about 12,000 jobs; nodal agency BREDA.
- Solar plants on 2,554 agricultural feeders - 2,585 MW at ₹2,761.55 crore (₹2,714.25 cr subsidy + ₹47.30 cr incentive to gram panchayats).
- VAT on ATF cut from 1% to 0% at Regional Connectivity Scheme (UDAN) airports.
- ₹62 crore for 30 water cannons and 86 Vajra riot-control vehicles; ₹351.85 crore for electrifying 21,644 households in Kaimur-Rohtas.
BIHAR Flood watch: Ganga above danger mark from Patna to Bhagalpur; Budhi Gandak 115 cm over
- Budhi Gandak (Khagaria): 115 cm above danger - the highest; Kahalgaon (Ganga): 91 cm and still rising.
- Ganga at Gandhi Ghat 85 cm, Hathidah 83 cm, Digha 14 cm, Bhagalpur 2 cm above danger; Munger 8 cm below.
- Ghaghra (Darauli, Siwan) 59 cm, Gandak (Dumariaghat, Gopalganj) 48 cm, Kosi (Baltara) 34 cm, Son (Maner) 27 cm above danger.
- A police officer in Saran was suspended after a video showed him brandishing a pistol at a crowd during flood relief.
ENVIRONMENT Ghatora wetland enters Ramsar process; Patna Zoo's 165 gharials to repopulate the Gandak
- Ghatora wetland lies in Bihpur block, Bhagalpur; proposal to carry technical data and GIS maps prepared with the Bihar State Wetland Committee.
- Framework: Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.
- Bihar's Ramsar sites include Kanwar Jheel (Begusarai, first - 2020), Nagi & Nakti (Jamui), Gokul Jalashay (Buxar) and Udaipur Jheel (W. Champaran).
- Patna Zoo: 165 gharials - 14 adults (4 male, 10 female) and 151 juveniles; batch to be released in the Gandak at Valmiki Tiger Reserve.
BIHAR Connectivity push: Rs 1,720-cr Bhagalpur-Hansdiha four-lane, expressway land acquisition in Kishanganj, Patna Water Metro
- Bhagalpur-Hansdiha (to Bhaljor, Jharkhand border): 67 km, ₹1,720 crore in two phases (₹857 cr + ₹863 cr); links Bhagalpur-Banka.
- Gorakhpur-Siliguri Expressway: 72.5 km in Kishanganj (Thakurganj, Terhagach circles); notification under Section 3A, NH Act 1956.
- 219 km Ganga-side roads by BSRDC: Ambika Path (56 km), Vishwamitra Path (90 km), Narayani Path (73 km).
- Patna Water Metro on NW-1: ₹1,200 crore, terminals at Kangan Ghat & Pehalwan Ghat by IWAI; target before 2029.
BIHAR Bihar universities get 7 apprenticeship-embedded four-year degrees; panel on 7th pay scale for teachers
- New courses: BA Content & Creative Writing; BCom in BFSI, E-Commerce, HR Operations, Retail Operations; BSc Healthcare Management; BSc (Hons) Electronics.
- Governed by the Bihar State Universities Act, 1976 and Patna University Act, 1976; needs Academic Council, Syndicate and Senate approval plus tripartite MoUs.
- Teachers' panel to assess the financial burden of the 7th pay scale; transfer, promotion and mutual-transfer windows under review (Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari).
ECONOMY RBI's Monetary Policy Committee begins 5-7 October review; markets brace for a 25 bp hike
- Repo rate 5.25% - unchanged for the last four reviews; a 25 bp hike would take it to 5.50%.
- CPI inflation (Aug 2026) 4.82%; WPI (Aug) 9.92%.
- Pressures: costlier food & energy, higher crude, a US Fed hike (Sept 2026) and about 6% rupee depreciation in 2026.
- RBI Governor: Sanjay Malhotra.
IR Swiss President Guy Parmelin on state visit as India-EFTA TEPA turns one
- Visit: 5-7 October 2026; Switzerland is India's largest trade & investment partner within EFTA.
- TEPA signed 10 March 2024; entered into force 1 October 2025.
- EFTA commitment: $100 billion investment over 15 years and 1 million direct jobs in India.
- Focus areas: trade, investment, science & innovation, mobility and people-to-people ties.
SCI-TECH Centre pushes domestic rare-earth magnet capacity to cut 80-90% dependence on one supplier
- Uses: EV motors, wind turbines, electronics, drones and defence systems.
- Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnets (Nov 2025): ₹7,280 crore, target 6,000 tonnes/yr.
- Complements the National Critical Mineral Mission (2025) and IREL's monazite-based supply.
- China tightened rare-earth export controls in October 2025.
SOCIETY PM-SETU completes one year: 850 ITIs identified for hub-and-spoke upgrade
- Outlay ₹60,000 crore: Centre ₹30,000 cr, States ₹20,000 cr, Industry ₹10,000 cr.
- Model: 200 hub + 800 spoke ITIs; year one identified 850 (172 hubs, 678 spokes).
- 14 clusters approved in 8 states + 1 UT (₹3,446 crore); 32 new-age courses (AI, EVs, semiconductors, robotics).
- Partnerships with Singapore, France, Australia and a joint declaration with Germany.
SOCIETY Asian Games 2026: India signs off fourth with 85 medals; cricket, hockey, kabaddi golds swept
- India: 85 medals - 21 gold, 27 silver, 37 bronze; rank 4th (China, Japan, Korea ahead).
- Gold in men's & women's cricket, hockey and kabaddi; women's hockey gold beat China 1-0.
- Firsts: Kumkum Mohod - first individual women's recurve gold; Pranavi Sharath Urs - first Indian woman to win individual golf gold.
- Record haul remains 107 medals (28 gold) at Hangzhou 2022.
6 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR CM's first Rohtas visit: 9.2 km Sasaram bypass opened, 176 schemes worth ₹550 crore
- 9.2 km bypass from Beda bus stand to Moker, built at ₹122.39 crore with bridges, culverts and road-over-bridges.
- 176 schemes worth over ₹550 crore inaugurated / foundation stones laid.
- Youth dialogue at Narayan Medical College, Jamuhar; an astronomy lab opened at PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya.
- A cooperation camp in Sasaram showcased welfare schemes, with focus on women's livelihood.
BIHAR Bihar Green Hydrogen Policy 2026 cleared: 1 lakh tonnes a year by 2031
- Target: 1 lakh tonnes (0.1 MMT) green hydrogen per year by 2031; 1 GW electrolyser manufacturing and ~2.5 GW renewable capacity.
- Expected ₹16,000 crore investment and ~12,000 jobs; nodal agency BREDA.
- ₹2,761.55 crore to solarise 2,554 agricultural feeders (₹2,714.25 cr subsidy + ₹47.30 cr incentives).
- ₹351.85 crore to electrify 21,644 households in 177 habitations of Kaimur & Rohtas.
ENVIRONMENT Gangetic dolphins more than double in Bihar's Sultanganj–Manihari stretch
- Sultanganj–Manihari stretch: ~95 dolphins (1998) → ~215 (2025).
- Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary (Sultanganj–Kahalgaon) alone has ~200.
- Drivers: Namami Gange, anti-poaching drives, awareness among boatmen.
- Threats: high BOD, untreated sewage, plastics, agro-chemicals, fishing nets.
BIHAR Bihar's Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, 15, becomes youngest Indian Asian Games gold medallist
- Final: India beat Pakistan by 19 runs; Sooryavanshi aged 15 — youngest Indian Asian Games gold medallist.
- India: 85 medals (21 G, 27 S, 37 B), 4th — second-best ever after Hangzhou 2023 (107).
- Firsts: Pranavi Urs (women's golf), Kumkum Mohod (individual recurve archery).
- Closing-ceremony flag-bearer Neeru Dhanda (shooting); next Games Doha 2030.
BIHAR Monsoon retreats a week early from Bihar; floods hit 466 villages in 6 districts
- Normal withdrawal: 10–11 October; light rain possible till 9 October (Bay of Bengal low).
- 466 villages in 6 districts hit; ~8 lakh people affected.
- 92,730 people shifted to safer places; Saran worst-hit, also Munger, Khagaria.
- Yellow alert for thunderstorms in 8 districts on 6 October.
SOCIETY Gaya Pitru Paksha Mela enters final phase; strict Durga Puja rules across Bihar
- Final-phase pind daan at Gayakoop, Mundprishtha, Bhimgaya; milk tarpan in the Falgu.
- Concluding rites at Vaitarani and Akshayavat; pilgrims from India and abroad.
- Durga Puja: DJ ban, mandatory licences for pandals, idols and immersion processions.
- Social-media monitoring to prevent rumours and communal tension.
SCI-TECH Nobel Prize in Medicine 2026 for optogenetics — controlling neurons with light
- Laureates: Karl Deisseroth (Stanford, USA), Peter Hegemann (Humboldt Univ., Berlin), Georg Nagel (Univ. of Würzburg).
- Hegemann & Nagel found channelrhodopsin — a light-sensitive protein in algae.
- Deisseroth put its gene into neurons, switching them on with blue light at millisecond precision.
- Prize: SEK 12 million; next — Physics (6 Oct), Chemistry (7 Oct).
ECONOMY RBI MPC meets 5–7 October; decision on repo rate (5.25%) due tomorrow
- Repo rate at 5.25%, stance neutral (held in August 2026).
- RBI cut rates by a cumulative 125 bps in 2025.
- Most economists polled expect a 25 bps hike — the first in almost four years.
- RBI projects FY27 real GDP growth at 6.7%.
SCI-TECH 3D-printed rural homes under PMAY-G: pilot of 177 houses launched in Andhra Pradesh
- 177 houses in Burripalem & Obulanaidupalem villages; cost ₹14 crore; 6 months.
- 3D concrete printing cuts construction time from months to days and waste by 30–60%.
- 3 lakh houses sanctioned in Andhra under PMAY-G Phase 2; first tranche ₹3,600 crore.
ENVIRONMENT CAFE-III fuel-efficiency norms notified for cars from April 2027
- In force 1 April 2027 – 31 March 2032; aims at ~16.7% fuel-efficiency gain.
- Benchmark tightens from 3.996 to 3.327 litres/100 km (2027-28 to 2031-32).
- Reference weight raised from 1,082 kg to 1,229 kg; softer targets for lighter cars.
- Super credits: EVs 3x, plug-in hybrids 2.5x, strong hybrids 1.6x.
IR First overseas cargo from Upper Assam since 1947 sails on Brahmaputra to Bangladesh
- Cargo: 1,080 tonnes methanol in 54 ISO tanks from Assam Petro-Chemicals, Namrup.
- Route: NW-2 (Brahmaputra) + Indo-Bangladesh Protocol Route, ~783 km, ~7 days.
- Upper Assam's first foreign water-export route since 1947.
- Future cargo: tea, coal, petroleum, Kaji Nimbu, bhut jolokia.
7 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR Bihar Floods: CM Reviews Damage, ₹7,000 Ex-Gratia From 12 October
- Worst-hit: West Champaran, Saran, Gopalganj; embankments damaged at 6 places; about 2.03 lakh people affected.
- Gandak reached a record 91.25 m at Bagaha (2024 high: 90.90 m); 5.435 lakh cusecs at Valmikinagar barrage after heavy rain in Nepal's catchment.
- 15 IAF sorties air-dropped 28 tonnes of food; 5,600+ dry-ration packets in Saran.
- CM blamed silt in riverbeds - Bihar is the first state to frame a silt policy; Gandak & Kosi embankments to be concretised.
BIHAR Bihar Green Hydrogen Policy 2026: 1 Lakh Tonnes a Year by 2031
- Target: 1 lakh tonnes/year green hydrogen by 2031; 1 GW electrolyser and about 2.5 GW renewable capacity.
- Expected investment ₹16,000 crore; about 12,000 direct and indirect jobs.
- Nodal agency: BREDA (Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency).
- Solarisation of 2,554 agricultural feeders: ₹2,761.55 crore for 2,585 MW, incl. ₹47.30 crore incentive to gram panchayats.
BIHAR Bihar Cabinet: ATF VAT Cut to Zero, Hemophilia Scheme, Patna Cruise Terminal
- VAT on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) cut from 5% to 0% - to attract more flights.
- Anganwadi workers' honorarium ₹477 crore; CM Hemophilia Scheme drugs ₹26.33 crore (Year 1).
- Rural electrification of 21,644 households in Kaimur & Rohtas (177 villages): ₹361.86 crore.
- 86 Vajra vehicles + 30 water cannons: ₹62.52 crore; cruise terminal at Patna on 4 acres.
SOCIETY CM Sets 2030 Deadline to End Distress Migration From Bihar
- Goal: create jobs and investment within Bihar so out-migration becomes a choice, not compulsion.
- CM appealed to Bihari entrepreneurs outside the state to invest back home.
- Links with new state policies - green hydrogen, feeder solarisation, aviation (ATF VAT 0%).
BIHAR Pitru Paksha Mela at Gaya: Tent City, e-Pind Daan and Vishnupad Corridor
- 2,500-bed tent city by BSTDC; e-Pind Daan for remote devotees; Mahaarti on the Falgu.
- Upcoming: world-class Vishnupad Temple corridor and a 1,000-bed Gayaji Dharamshala (₹120 crore).
- Gaya's Falgu sand sold to pilgrims creates seasonal livelihood.
POLITY Bihar Legislative Council Polls: 8 Graduate & Teachers' Seats, Voting on 23 October
- 4 Graduate seats (Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut, Kosi) + 4 Teachers' seats (Patna, Darbhanga, Tirhut, Saran).
- Withdrawal by 9 Oct; polling 23 Oct (8 am-4 pm); counting 27 Oct.
- Polls held alongside similar seats in Karnataka (4), Maharashtra (5) and UP (11).
ECONOMY RBI Raises Repo Rate to 5.50%, First Hike Since 2023
- SDF 5.25%, MSF & Bank Rate 5.75%; first hike since February 2023 (after 125 bps of cuts in 2025).
- Stance changed from neutral to 'calibrated tightening' by a 4-2 vote.
- FY27 projections: GDP 7.1%, CPI 5.2% (Q3 6.0%, Q4 5.7%).
- Merchandise trade deficit USD 58.7 bn (Jul-Aug) on crude & electronics imports.
IR India-EFTA TEPA Turns One; Swiss President's Visit Adds Mobility Pact
- TEPA (signed 10 March 2024) - first FTA with a binding pledge: USD 100 bn FDI and 10 lakh direct jobs in 15 years.
- India-EFTA trade USD 24.4 bn (2024-25), of which Switzerland USD 23.3 bn.
- New: Migration & Mobility Partnership; Young Professionals quota 300/yr (expandable to 500).
- Irritants: Section 3(d) of Patents Act, no BIT, gold-driven trade gap.
DEFENCE Navy's First Indigenous Fleet Support Ship FSS-1 Launched at Visakhapatnam
- First of 5 fleet support ships; displacement about 43,500 tonnes; launched 18 months after steel cutting.
- Carries fuel, ammunition and stores for replenishment-at-sea; extends blue-water reach in the IOR.
- HSL upgrades: Slipway-4, 300-tonne Goliath crane; can build ships up to 45,000 DWT.
SCI-TECH Nobel Physics 2026 to Francis Halzen for IceCube Neutrino Astronomy
- He led the IceCube Neutrino Observatory at the South Pole - sensors buried in 1 cubic km of Antarctic ice.
- Opened neutrino astronomy - tracing particles from distant galaxies.
- Medicine 2026 (5 Oct): Deisseroth, Hegemann, Nagel for optogenetics.
- Prize: medal, diploma and about USD 1.2 mn; Chemistry, Literature, Peace, Economics follow.
SCI-TECH National Supercomputing Mission: 40 Systems, 68 Petaflops Deployed
- Target: 50 systems, 123+ PF; split - 13 high-end, 12 mid-range, 15 low-end.
- Indigenous Rudra servers: 6,000 made; used by 16,000+ researchers at 400+ institutions.
- Launched April 2015 with ₹4,500 crore; run by MeitY & DST.
8 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR Bihar floods: Gandak, Kosi & Ganga above danger mark; ~10 lakh hit in 6 districts
- ~10 lakh people in 169 gram panchayats of 6 districts: West & East Champaran, Gopalganj, Saran, Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur.
- Valmikinagar barrage discharge hit 5.435 lakh cusecs; Gandak at Bagaha (91.25 m) beat the 2024 high (90.90 m).
- Above danger on 6 Oct: Gandak @ Dumariaghat, Kosi @ Birpur (75.07 m vs 74.70 m), Ganga @ Sultanganj (35.98 m vs 34.50 m).
- CM Samrat Choudhary did an aerial survey on 30 Sept; NDRF/SDRF stay deployed; community kitchens to run till people return home.
- 7 engineers suspended for negligence in flood response.
BIHAR New Mokama Ganga rail bridge opens: 3 rail lines now link North & South Bihar
- Cost about ₹2,400 crore; bridge ~1.86 km, whole project ~14 km with linking tracks.
- Section Rajendra Pul–Hathidah–Rampur Dumra; links Mokama–Barauni with the Howrah–Delhi main line.
- Design speed 140 km/h vs 40–50 km/h on single-line Rajendra Setu.
- Sanctioned in Rail Budget 2015–16; work began March 2016; built by IRCON with Afcons as EPC contractor.
BIHAR Gangetic dolphins near Bhagalpur double in 27 years; fishing nets still the top threat
- Counts: 188 (2018) → 207 (2021); habitat = Sultanganj–Kahalgaon stretch.
- India's 2025 estimate: 6,327 river dolphins in 28 rivers; UP 2,397, Bihar 2,220.
- Threats: fishing nets, barrages, low flow, siltation, boat traffic, dolphin-oil bait; few calves seen.
- Plan: interpretation centre, watchtower and boating at Sultanganj; Dolphin Mitras help in rescue.
BIHAR Bhagalpur's Ghatora wetland moves toward Ramsar recognition
- Ghatora lies in Bihpur block, on the north bank of the Ganga in Bhagalpur district.
- A Ramsar listing needs a state proposal routed through the Union Environment Ministry.
- Bihar's Ramsar sites: Kanwar Jheel (Begusarai), Nagi & Nakti (Jamui), Gokul Jalashay (Buxar), Udaipur Jheel (W. Champaran).
- Notification under the 2017 Rules bars encroachment and waste dumping in the wetland.
BIHAR CM in Rohtas: ₹400-crore projects; Sone water for Sasaram & Aurangabad by March 2027
- Event at Karup panchayat, Shiv Sagar block, Rohtas.
- A new township, named after the district, is planned in Rohtas.
- Opened an astronomy lab at the new PM SHRI Kendriya Vidyalaya.
- Sasaram = Rohtas HQ (west of the Sone); Aurangabad lies on the east bank.
BIHAR Opposition marches to Lok Bhavan, Patna, over voter-roll revision (SIR)
- Demand: removal of CEC Gyanesh Kumar; opposition alleges lakhs of names were deleted in the SIR.
- SIR = door-to-door re-check of voter rolls by the ECI; first done in Bihar in 2025.
- Bihar Governor: Syed Ata Hasnain; Raj Bhavans were renamed Lok Bhavan in 2025.
- CEC can be removed only like an SC judge — Art. 324(5).
- Appointment: CEC & ECs Act, 2023 — panel of PM, LoP & a Union Minister.
ECONOMY RBI raises repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50%; stance turns 'calibrated tightening'
- SDF 5.25% (floor); MSF & Bank Rate 5.75% (ceiling).
- Rate vote 6–0; stance change passed 4–2.
- FY27 projections: CPI 5.2% (from 5.0%), GDP 7.1%; Q1 FY27 growth was 7.8%.
- August CPI 4.82% — above the 4% target for a third month; Indian crude basket $114–116/bbl in Sept.
- Floating loans linked to EBLR will see higher EMIs.
ECONOMY Union Cabinet clears ₹10,000-cr SME Growth Fund and Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority
- SGF gives patient equity capital through an Alternative Investment Fund; focus on small & medium manufacturers, incl. Tier-II/III clusters.
- Limits: small = investment ≤ ₹25 cr, turnover ≤ ₹100 cr; medium = ≤ ₹125 cr / ≤ ₹500 cr.
- ITLA (an SPV) will draft a National Transport Master Plan (10+ years) and appraise central projects of ₹500 cr+.
- It will build a National Transport Data Repository (e-way bill, FASTag, Vahan, GPS).
- Logistics cost 7.8–8.9% of GDP (2021-22); India 38th of 139 in LPI 2023.
IR India joins 15-economy call against global 'structural excess capacity'
- Signatories (15): Argentina, Australia, Canada, EU, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Poland, Türkiye, UK, USA.
- Sectors flagged: autos & EVs, batteries, chemicals, foundational semiconductors, solar panels.
- Warns of dependence on one country and risk of economic coercion such as export curbs.
- New sectoral platforms; technical meetings before Dec 2026 alongside the OECD Trade Committee.
POLITY Three new Supreme Court judges take oath; working strength now 37 of 38
- They were Chief Justices of the Gujarat, Delhi and Telangana High Courts respectively.
- Working strength up from 34 to 37; sanctioned strength 38 (incl. CJI) after a 2026 increase.
- The SC now has 3 women judges.
- Eligibility: HC judge for 5 yrs, or HC advocate for 10 yrs, or a distinguished jurist.
DEFENCE 'Surya', India's first indigenous Fleet Support Ship, launched at Visakhapatnam
- FSS = at-sea replenishment (fuel, water, stores); extends Navy reach in the Indian Ocean Region.
- Designed & built indigenously by HSL (Miniratna Category-I, 2025).
- Also opened upgraded Slipway-4 and a 300-tonne Goliath crane (Make in India).
- Free India's first ship, 'Jala Usha', was launched at Visakhapatnam in 1948.
9 October 2026
Full notes with diagrams →BIHAR Mukhyamantri Udyami Yojana: instalments released, Bihar targets jobs for 1 crore people by 2030
- 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.
- Proposed Bihar MSME Policy 2026; Industries & Sports Minister Shreyasi Singh presided.
BIHAR ₹21,000-crore NABARD push for 100 road & bridge projects; Digha–Koilwar Ganga Path bids invited
- 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.
- Others: Darbhanga Medical College–AIIMS road, Ara–Mohania bypass (Kochas), Chhapra–Bettiah & Gopalganj bypasses.
BIHAR PRAGATI team reviews Patna Junction makeover & stalled Bihta Airport; Bihar on high-speed rail map
- 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.
POLITY Bihar Legislative Council polls for 8 graduate & teacher seats on 23 October
- Graduate (4): Patna, Tirhut, Darbhanga, Kosi. Teacher (4): Patna, Tirhut, Darbhanga, Saran.
- 164 nominations → 12 rejected → 152 candidates (90 graduate + 62 teacher).
- 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.
DEFENCE Darbhanga's Sqn Ldr Bhawana Kanth becomes India's first woman Fighter Combat Leader
- 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.
BIHAR Vishwarang Nalanda 2026: Nalanda University hosts North-East–South-East Asia cultural dialogue
- 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.
ECONOMY RBI hikes repo rate by 25 bps to 5.50%; stance shifts to 'calibrated tightening'
- SDF 5.25%; MSF & Bank Rate 5.75%. Two members (Nagesh Kumar, Ram Singh) preferred a neutral stance.
- FY27 projections: GDP 7.1%, CPI 5.2% (Q3 CPI 6.0%); core inflation 4.4%.
- 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.
POLITY Cabinet clears Integrated Transport & Logistics Authority and ₹10,000-crore SME Growth Fund
- 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).
SCI-TECH IMC 2026: PM inaugurates 10th India Mobile Congress; Bharat 6G Alliance crosses 7,700 patents
- Expected 1.5 lakh+ attendees from 100+ countries; 500+ exhibitors, 600+ startups.
- Mobile data cost fell from ~₹268/GB (2014) to ~₹8/GB — among the cheapest globally.
- Bharat 6G Alliance: 90 institutions, 7,700 patents (4,400 international).
- Focus: 5G/6G, AI networks, semiconductors, non-terrestrial networks, quantum communication.
REPORT Nobel Prizes 2026: optogenetics, IceCube neutrinos, asymmetric autocatalysis and Anne Carson
- Medicine: Karl Deisseroth (USA), Peter Hegemann & Georg Nagel (Germany) — light-gated ion channels & optogenetics.
- Physics: Francis Halzen (USA) — IceCube Neutrino Observatory, high-energy astrophysical neutrinos.
- 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.
SOCIETY Uttarakhand becomes India's 6th fully literate state under ULLAS
- 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).
Prelims rapid-fire — 30 facts
| World Teachers' Day - 5 October (observed since 1994). |
| Wildlife Week in India - 2-8 October. |
| Mahatma Gandhi Setu (Patna-Hajipur) - 5.75 km, opened 1982. |
| Bihar cabinet cleared ₹3,516 crore for Vishnupad Temple (Gaya) development on 15 Sept 2026. |
| Valmiki Tiger Reserve (West Champaran) - Bihar's first tiger reserve, on the Gandak. |
| Next Asian Games: Doha 2030; first Asian Games: New Delhi 1951. |
| Bihar's Ramsar sites — 5 — Kanwar (Begusarai), Nagi & Nakti (Jamui), Gokul Jalashay (Buxar), Udaipur Jheel (W. Champaran); Ghatora wetland now in recognition process |
| National Dolphin Day — 5 October (first observed 2022) |
| Gaya Pitru Paksha Mela 2026 — 25 Sept – 10 Oct; Vishnupad Temple on the Falgu |
| Next Asian Games — Doha, Qatar — 2030 |
| IWC-70 (whaling commission) — Hobart, Australia; Hobart Declaration; India member since 1981 |
| New MD & CEO, HDFC Bank — Anup Bagchi — from 27 Oct 2026; first external appointee |
| 10th India Mobile Congress - 7-10 October 2026, Yashobhoomi, New Delhi (DoT + COAI) |
| Bihar Pitru Paksha Mela 2026 - 25 Sep to 10 Oct, Gaya ji; 2,500-bed tent city |
| Valmikinagar barrage on the Gandak - West Champaran, on the India-Nepal border |
| NABKISAN (NABARD arm) listed India's first WASH social bond - ₹180 crore, 8.10% coupon |
| Indian Air Force Day - 8 October (IAF formed in 1932) |
| Bihar Vidhan Parishad - 75 members; Art. 169 for creation/abolition of Councils |
| Chemistry Nobel 2026: Henri Kagan (France) & Kenso Soai (Japan) — non-linear effects & asymmetric autocatalysis. |
| IMC 2026 (10th edition) opened by PM on 8 Oct at Yashobhoomi, New Delhi; theme 'Scale Without Boundaries'. |
| Mountain Guardian 2026: India–UAE army exercise, 5–18 Oct, Chaubatia (Uttarakhand). |
| Asian Games 2026 (Aichi-Nagoya): India 4th with 85 medals (21 gold); Doha hosts 2030. |
| 57th GST Council met on 8 Oct; agenda: faster refunds, arrest powers (Sec 69, CGST Act); Council under Art. 279A. |
| Bihar: Gandak peak 5.435 lakh cusecs at Valmikinagar; all-time record 5.625 lakh cusecs (28 Sept 2024). |
| Bihar State Commission for Upper Castes (Chair Mahachandra Prasad Singh) begins district-wise survey of landless upper-caste families for vasgeet parcha. |
| Bihar expects ~20,000 Durga Puja pandals (Patna 1,500 registered); Shardiya Navratri begins 11 Oct. |
| 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. |
Data points of the period
₹2.04 lakh crore
Gross GST collection - September 2026
Up 14.7% year-on-year (₹2,03,521 crore) - the third straight month above ₹2 lakh crore. Net GST ₹1.77 lakh crore (+18.1%); H1 FY 2026-27 gross ₹12.46 lakh crore (+11.6%). IGST ₹1,20,396 cr, SGST ₹45,363 cr, CGST ₹37,762 cr.
Up 14.7% year-on-year (₹2,03,521 crore) - the third straight month above ₹2 lakh crore. Net GST ₹1.77 lakh crore (+18.1%); H1 FY 2026-27 gross ₹12.46 lakh crore (+11.6%). IGST ₹1,20,396 cr, SGST ₹45,363 cr, CGST ₹37,762 cr.
55.1
India Manufacturing PMI — September 2026
Up from 52.8 in August; strongest since February 2026 as new orders and hiring rebounded. A reading above 50 means expansion.
Up from 52.8 in August; strongest since February 2026 as new orders and hiring rebounded. A reading above 50 means expansion.
5.50%
RBI Repo Rate (7 Oct 2026)
Up 25 bps from 5.25% - first hike since Feb 2023. Corridor: SDF 5.25% to MSF 5.75%. FY27: GDP 7.1%, CPI 5.2%. Costlier loans mean higher EMIs for Bihar's MSMEs and home buyers; FD rates may rise.
Up 25 bps from 5.25% - first hike since Feb 2023. Corridor: SDF 5.25% to MSF 5.75%. FY27: GDP 7.1%, CPI 5.2%. Costlier loans mean higher EMIs for Bihar's MSMEs and home buyers; FD rates may rise.
1 lakh tonnes / year
Bihar Green Hydrogen Policy 2026 — production target by 2031
Draft policy cleared by the state Cabinet (reported 1 Oct): expected ₹16,000 crore investment, ~12,000 jobs, 1 GW electrolyser manufacturing and 2.5 GW linked renewable capacity; nodal agency BREDA; aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023).
Draft policy cleared by the state Cabinet (reported 1 Oct): expected ₹16,000 crore investment, ~12,000 jobs, 1 GW electrolyser manufacturing and 2.5 GW linked renewable capacity; nodal agency BREDA; aligned with the National Green Hydrogen Mission (2023).
≈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.
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.
10 practice MCQs — BPSC Prelims pattern
Q1. With reference to Rajendra Setu and the new Mokama rail bridge, consider the following statements: 1. Rajendra Setu connects Mokama with Simaria in Begusarai district. 2. Rajendra Setu was opened in 1959 by Jawaharlal Nehru. 3. The new bridge is a single-line road bridge built downstream of Bhagalpur. 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 are correct. The new structure is a 1.9 km double-line rail bridge at Mokama, about 50 m from Rajendra Setu - not a road bridge near Bhagalpur.
Statements 1 and 2 are correct. The new structure is a 1.9 km double-line rail bridge at Mokama, about 50 m from Rajendra Setu - not a road bridge near Bhagalpur.
Q2. Under the Bihar Green Hydrogen Policy 2026 approved on 30 September 2026, the annual green hydrogen/ammonia production target for 2031 is:
- 50,000 tonnes
- 1 lakh tonnes
- 5 lakh tonnes
- 5 million tonnes
Show answer
Answer: B
The policy targets 1 lakh tonnes (0.1 MMT) per year by 2031 with 1 GW electrolysers; 5 MMT by 2030 is the national mission target.
The policy targets 1 lakh tonnes (0.1 MMT) per year by 2031 with 1 GW electrolysers; 5 MMT by 2030 is the national mission target.
Q3. Consider the following statements about the Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary: 1. It extends from Sultanganj to Kahalgaon in Bihar. 2. The Gangetic dolphin is India's National Aquatic Animal. 3. The Gangetic dolphin is listed as 'Vulnerable' on the IUCN Red List. 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 sanctuary (notified 1991) covers the Sultanganj–Kahalgaon stretch; the dolphin is the National Aquatic Animal (2009) but is Endangered, not Vulnerable, on the IUCN list.
The sanctuary (notified 1991) covers the Sultanganj–Kahalgaon stretch; the dolphin is the National Aquatic Animal (2009) but is Endangered, not Vulnerable, on the IUCN list.
Q4. The 2026 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded for discoveries concerning:
- mRNA vaccine technology
- Light-gated ion channels and optogenetics
- MicroRNA and gene regulation
- Peripheral immune tolerance
Show answer
Answer: B
Deisseroth, Hegemann and Nagel were honoured for channelrhodopsin and optogenetics — controlling neurons with light.
Deisseroth, Hegemann and Nagel were honoured for channelrhodopsin and optogenetics — controlling neurons with light.
Q5. With reference to the RBI's monetary policy of 7 October 2026, consider the following statements: 1. The repo rate was raised to 5.50%. 2. The Standing Deposit Facility (SDF) rate is now the ceiling of the policy corridor. 3. The MPC is constituted under Section 45ZB of the RBI Act, 1934. Which of the statements given above are correct?
- 1 and 2 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2 and 3 only
- 1, 2 and 3
Show answer
Answer: B
Repo is now 5.50% and the MPC is under Sec 45ZB. The SDF (5.25%) is the floor; the MSF (5.75%) is the ceiling.
Repo is now 5.50% and the MPC is under Sec 45ZB. The SDF (5.25%) is the floor; the MSF (5.75%) is the ceiling.
Q6. The Valmikinagar barrage, where a record flood discharge was recorded in the 2026 Bihar floods, is located on which river?
- Kosi
- Gandak
- Bagmati
- Son
Show answer
Answer: B
Valmikinagar barrage (West Champaran) is on the Gandak (Narayani), built under the 1959 India-Nepal Gandak Agreement; the Kosi barrage is at Bhimnagar (Nepal).
Valmikinagar barrage (West Champaran) is on the Gandak (Narayani), built under the 1959 India-Nepal Gandak Agreement; the Kosi barrage is at Bhimnagar (Nepal).
Q7. Consider the following statements about the RBI monetary policy of 7 October 2026: 1. The repo rate was raised to 5.50%. 2. The Standing Deposit Facility rate forms the ceiling of the policy corridor. 3. The Monetary Policy Committee is constituted under Section 45ZB of the RBI Act, 1934. 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
Repo is 5.50% and the MPC is under Sec 45ZB. The SDF (5.25%) is the floor; the MSF (5.75%) is the ceiling, so statement 2 is wrong.
Repo is 5.50% and the MPC is under Sec 45ZB. The SDF (5.25%) is the floor; the MSF (5.75%) is the ceiling, so statement 2 is wrong.
Q8. Which one of the following pairs (barrage/gauge site — river) is correctly matched?
- Valmikinagar — Kosi
- Birpur — Gandak
- Indrapuri — Sone
- Sultanganj — Bagmati
Show answer
Answer: C
Indrapuri barrage is on the Sone (Rohtas). Valmikinagar = Gandak; Birpur = Kosi; Sultanganj = Ganga.
Indrapuri barrage is on the Sone (Rohtas). Valmikinagar = Gandak; Birpur = Kosi; Sultanganj = Ganga.
Q9. 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.
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.
Q10. 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).
The LAF corridor is repo ± 25 bps: SDF 5.25% (floor) and MSF/Bank Rate 5.75% (ceiling).
Mains practice questions
- Floods in north Bihar are an annual disaster rooted in geography and aggravated by an embankment-centric approach. Examine the causes and suggest an integrated flood-management strategy for the state. (BPSC Mains GS-II, 38 marks)
- Bihar's Green Hydrogen Policy 2026 aims to turn the state from an energy importer into a clean-energy hub. Discuss its potential and the challenges specific to Bihar.
- North Bihar's floods are as much a problem of silt and transboundary rivers as of rainfall. In the light of the 2026 Gandak floods, critically examine Bihar's flood-management strategy and suggest a sustainable way forward. (BPSC Mains GS-II, 38 marks)
- Recurring Gandak and Kosi floods show the limits of an embankment-centred approach in north Bihar. Discuss with reference to the 2026 floods and suggest an integrated flood-management strategy for the state. (BPSC Mains GS-II, 38 marks)
- "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)
Preparing for Bihar PSC (BPSC)?
Read the daily edition every day, practise free BPSC GK MCQs and track your syllabus micro-topic by micro-topic.