Appointments

1.​ Ajay Seth appointed IRDAI Chairman: The government appointed Ajay Seth
(former Finance Secretary) as IRDAI Chairman + Tenure fixed at 3 years or up to
age 65, whichever earlier
2.​ Anand Swarup named NHRC Director General (Investigation): IPS officer Anand
Swarup appointed DG (Investigation) at NHRC + He is a 1992-batch officer of the
Uttar Pradesh cadre
3.​ New Chief Justice of Patna High Court: Justice Vipul M. Pancholi sworn in as
the 45th Chief Justice of the Patna High Court + Oath administered by Governor
Arif Mohammed Khan on the Raj Bhavan lawn + Born 28 May 1968 in
Ahmedabad + Studied Electronics at St. Xavier’s College and Law at Sir L.A.
Shah Law College + Practised in the Gujarat High Court for 7 years till March
2006 + Became a Gujarat High Court Judge in 2014 + Reached Patna High Court
on 24 July 2023 + The Supreme Court Collegium recommended his appointment
as Chief Justice
4.​ First woman Director General in RPF: IPS officer Sonali Mishra appointed the
new Director General of the Railway Protection Force (RPF)
5.​ Bihar to form Sanitation Workers’ Commission: CM Nitish Kumar announced
the Bihar State Sanitation Workers’ Commission + It will have 1 Chairperson, 1
Vice-Chairperson, and 5 Members (including one woman/transgender)
6.​ New RAW chief: IPS Parag Jain appointed the new RAW chief + Tenure 2 years
+ He replaces Ravi Sinha, retiring on 30 June
7.​ Bihar State Minority Commission reconstituted: State government reconstituted
the Bihar State Minority Commission + Ghulam Rasool Balyawi (former JD(U)
MP) appointed Chairperson + Lakhwinder Singh (Patna City) appointed
Vice-Chairperson + Maulana Umar Noorani (Gaya) appointed Vice-Chairperson +
An 11-member commission constituted
8.​ Reconstitution of Commissions: State government reconstituted the Savarna
Commission (Upper Castes Commission) and the Scheduled Tribe Commission +
Mahachandra Prasad Singh appointed Chairperson of the Savarna Commission +
Rajiv Ranjan Prasad appointed Vice-Chairperson of the Savarna Commission +
Shailendra Kumar appointed Chairperson of the ST Commission + Surendra

2
 Oraon appointed Vice-Chairperson of the ST Commission + The General
Administration Department notified these appointments for 3 years
9.​ Iyer made India’s Interim Director on IMF Board: Parmeshwaran Iyer, World
Bank Executive Director, given charge as India’s interim director on the IMF
Board + Government ended V. Subramanyan’s term 6 months before completion
of 3 years
10.​ Abhay Sinha becomes FIAPF Vice President: Abhay Sinha elected President of
the Indian Motion Picture Producers’ Association (IMPPA) + Also made Vice
President of the International Federation of Film Producers Associations (FIAPF)
and its headquarters ASBL
11.​ Prof. Sachin Chaturvedi is the new Vice-Chancellor of Nalanda University: Prof.
Sachin Chaturvedi took charge as Vice-Chancellor of Nalanda University + He
also holds additional charge as Director General of RIS (Research and
Information System for Developing Countries), New Delhi
12.​ New President of Bihar Olympic Association: Ajay Kumar elected President of
the Bihar Olympic Association + Gold-medal winning taekwondo player and
former Secretary of the Bihar/Indian Taekwondo Association + Senior Advocate
at the Patna High Court + Former president Abdul Bari Siddiqui congratulated
the new members
13.​ Justice B.R. Gavai’s appointment and key contributions: Justice Bhushan
Ramkrishna Gavai became the 52nd Chief Justice of India (CJI) + He is the first
Buddhist and second Dalit CJI + His father R.S. Gavai adopted Buddhism with Dr
B.R. Ambedkar in 1956 + His father had predicted he would become CJI + Began
practice in 1985 + CJI tenure till 23 November + Played a role in several
landmark Supreme Court judgments + Suggested extending the creamy layer
limit to SC/ST
14.​ SCBA presidential poll results: Results declared on Tuesday + Vikas Singh
elected President for the fourth time + Defeated Adish C. Aggarwala and Pradeep
Kumar Rai + Earlier president in 2018, 2021 and 2022–23 + Kapil Sibal won last
year
15.​ IB chief gets service extension: Tapan Kumar Deka, IB chief and
counter-terrorism expert, received his second service extension for one year
16.​ Role of the Collegium in Supreme Court judge appointments: Before 1993, judges
were appointed by the government + In 1993, the “SC Advocates-on-Record

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 Association vs Union of India” judgment shifted appointments to a five-member
Collegium + The Collegium comprises CJI + 4 for the Supreme Court and 3
members for High Courts + The Supreme Court rejected the Modi government’s
attempt to abolish the Collegium
17.​ CBI Director’s tenure extended: Praveen Sood’s two-year term began on 25 May
2023 + The Centre granted a one-year extension from 24 May + The selection
committee chaired by PM Narendra Modi decided this on Monday + It includes
CJI Sanjiv Khanna and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi
18.​ Formation of Bihar Gramin Bank and key facts: On 1 May 2025, amalgamation of
South and North Bihar Gramin Bank was completed + Bihar Gramin Bank
formed with headquarters in Patna + Ashutosh Kumar Jha appointed first
Chairman + 25% of Bihar’s population are customers
19.​ Chief Electoral Officer appointed for Bihar: Vinod Singh Gunjiyal, IAS (2007
batch), appointed Chief Electoral Officer of Bihar + The Election Commission of
India issued the notification on Friday, replacing H.R. Srinivas + He will be
relieved from his current role as Secretary, Prohibition, Excise & Registration
Department
20.​Tuhin Kanta Pandey becomes SEBI Chairman: Tuhin Kanta Pandey took charge
as the 11th SEBI Chairman on Saturday + Former Finance Secretary + Replaced
Madhabi Puri Buch, whose three-year term ended on Friday
21.​ First all-women full-team spaceflight: In March–April this year, Blue Origin’s
11th New Shepard human mission will launch from West Texas + Crew of 6
women – Katy Perry, Gayle King, Amanda Nguyen, Karrien Flinn, Aisha Bowe
and Lauren Sánchez + Lauren Sánchez will command the mission + First flight
since 1963 with no male passengers + Capsule will give 30 minutes of Earth
views
22.​Seventh State Finance Commission constituted: Former Chief Secretary Ashok
Choudhary appointed Chairperson + Anil Kumar and Dr. Kumudini Sinha
appointed Members + Formed under Article 243, State Panchayat Act 2006 (Sec.
168) and Municipal Act 2007 (Sec. 71) + Report due by FY 2026 and
recommendations to apply 2026–31 + Will review financial position and
recommend reforms + Allocate funds from the divisible pool to panchayats and
urban local bodies + Identify new revenue sources and advise on tax-revenue
sharing + Prepare revenue & expenditure forecasts

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23.​ Delhi’s new Chief Minister: Rekha Gupta, MLA from Shalimar Bagh, elected
leader of the legislature party + Met the Lieutenant Governor and staked claim
to form the government + Will take oath at Ramlila Maidan + Becomes Delhi’s
fourth woman CM (Sushma Swaraj, Sheila Dikshit, Atishi earlier)
24.​ Appointment of the Chief Election Commissioner: President Droupadi Murmu
issued the notification + Gyanesh Kumar appointed Chief Election Commissioner
+ Rajiv Kumar’s term ends on 18 February + Gyanesh Kumar is the first CEC
under the new law + Tenure till 26 January 2029 + Vivek Joshi (1989-batch,
Haryana cadre) appointed Election Commissioner
25.​ Sanjay Kumar appointed Commission Chair: Retired Judge Sanjay Kumar
appointed Chairperson of the State Backward Classes Commission + Tenure 3
years
26.​Bihar’s new Governor: Arif Mohammed Khan took oath on Thursday at Rajendra
Mandap as Bihar’s 42nd Governor + Oath administered by Patna High Court
Chief Justice Vinod Chandran
27.​ Justice Arun Mishra appointed BCCI Ombudsman & Ethics Officer: Served as a
Supreme Court Judge (July 2014–September 2020) and as NHRC Chair (June
2021–June 2024) + Delivered around 97,000 judgments
28.​ New appointments to the Supreme Court: CJI Sanjiv Khanna administered the
oath to K. Vinod Chandran, Chief Justice of Patna High Court, as a Supreme
Court Judge + After the swearing-in, the number of SC judges is 33 (out of the
sanctioned 34)
29.​Rekha Sharma elected unopposed to the Rajya Sabha: Rekha Sharma declared
elected unopposed in the Rajya Sabha bye-election from Haryana + Former NCW
Chairperson and BJP leader
30.​New NHRC Chairperson: President Droupadi Murmu appointed former Supreme
Court Judge Justice V. Ramasubramanian as Chairperson of the NHRC
31.​ New Patna SSP Avkash Kumar: Avkash Kumar became the new SSP of Patna +
IPS (2012 batch) + Served as SP in Begusarai and Darbhanga
32.​New RBI Governor appointed: The Central Government appointed Sanjay
Malhotra (then Revenue Secretary) as the 26th RBI Governor, replacing
Shaktikanta Das + IAS (1990 batch), Rajasthan cadre + Earlier Secretary,
Department of Financial Services, Ministry of Finance

5
33.​K. Sanjay Murthy appointed the next CAG: The government appointed K. Sanjay
Murthy as the next Comptroller & Auditor General + IAS (1989 batch), Himachal
cadre + Replaces Girish Chandra Murmu, whose term ends on 20 November +
Appointment under Article 148(1) of the Constitution
34.​Md. Manzoor Alam to be Judge of Bihar Waqf Tribunal: The Bihar Government
appointed Md. Manzoor Alam (resident of Nemugudi, Bhatgaon Panchayat,
Thakurganj) as Presiding Officer (Judge) of the Bihar Waqf Tribunal + Currently
District & Sessions Judge in Madhubani
35.​Sanjiv Khanna becomes the 51st Chief Justice of India: Justice Sanjiv Khanna
sworn in as the 51st CJI by President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan +
Born 14 May 1960, retirement on 13 May 2025 (about 6 months tenure) +
Succeeds Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, who retired on 10 November

District Wise Current Affairs

District News

Ara Municipal Corporation gets national recognition:

National recognition in ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam’
campaign + 5th rank nationwide—Bihar’s only
Ara corporation in the list

First CAA citizenship certificate: Under CAA-2019, Bihar’s

first citizenship certificate issued to Sumitra Rani Saha
via the CCA portal

Drinking water from the Son River:

Aurangabad–Dehri–Sasaram to get Son water to 1 lakh
Aurangabad
households by March 2027 + under
‘Jal–Jeevan–Hariyali’

500 MW nuclear power plant proposal: Proposal for 500

MW nuclear plant sent to the Centre + assurance for an
Banka SMR-based plant in the Eastern Ministers’ meeting

Mandar Mahotsav: Three-day Mandar festival

6
 Simaria Ghat/Kalpavas Mela: Development on the Mithila
Haat model + integrated development/tourism of
Kanwar Lake
Begusarai
Greenfield airport proposal: Proposal sent to the Centre for
a Greenfield Airport + Union Budget 2025–26 promises
airport assistance to Bihar

2400 MW thermal project approved: 2400 MW thermal

plant at Pirpainti gets Cabinet approval

First Plastic Waste Management Centre: CIPET Bhagalpur

centre started + inaugurated online by J. P. Nadda +
India’s 49th CIPET

Tourist park on the Ganga bank: First Ganga-side tourist

park to be developed on 101 acres at Sultanganj
Bhagalpur
9 new pointed gourd (parwal) varieties: Scientists
developed 9 varieties—Rajendra 1–2, Swarn Alaukik,
Rekha, Bengal Jyoti 1–2, Dandari, Dudhayari + taking
Bihar’s parwal taste nationwide

Goa-model waste management report: BAU team inspected

Goa’s waste model and submitted a report

GI tag process update: Applications started at BAU’s GI

Facilitation Centre (with NABARD support) for Pidhiya
Painting and Sonachur Rice + 13 GI products registered
in Bihar so far

Ramrekha Ghat beautification: Tourism Department

approved + recognition: Lord Ram studied here under
Guru Vishwamitra

Shaheed Sunil Singh Yadav: Resident of Chausa; injured in

Pakistani drone strike during Operation Sindoor at
Buxar Rajouri; attained martyrdom on 6 June + mortal
remains reached Patna

‘Sankalp Se Srijan: Buxar Shiksha Model’: Book by Pankaj

Mishra

7
 Nawanagar SEZ: Special Economic Zone (SEZ)

Rail engine export: Madhaura Rail Factory (Indian

Railways + Wabtec JV) to supply 140 diesel locomotives
to Guinea worth ₹3000 crore

Chhapra/Sara Baba Hariharnath Corridor: For development of the Sonpur

n Mela

Uday Kumar honored: President Droupadi Murmu

conferred the Tenzing Norgay National Adventure
Award 2023 on Uday Kumar

Dr. Dheeraj Kumar Pandey: Yuva Puraskar 2025 + Sanskrit

Darbhanga
+ Darbhanga

First goat semen station: For breed improvement via

artificial insemination + Black Bengal breed farm +
Black Bengal has 4–6 kids/year + Bihar’s climate is
suitable

Integrated Manufacturing Cluster: IMC to be set up under

Gaya Ji AKIC/NICDP

Renaming ‘Gaya’ to ‘Gaya Ji’: State Cabinet renamed

‘Gaya’ as ‘Gaya Ji’ considering religious–historical
importance

Buddha statue installation: Statue of Lord Buddha in

Bhumisparsha Mudra to be installed

First gharial sanctuary: Sanctuary along the Gandak River

+ about 1500 gharials + IUCN Red List: Critically
Endangered
Gopalganj
Amrit Station inauguration: PM virtually inaugurated
Thawe Junction’s new building (₹11.75 crore) and
Pirpainti station reconstruction (₹19 crore)

Gogabeel conservation announced: CM announced

Katihar
conservation of Gogabeel Lake

8
 Solar power at Kajra: India’s largest solar plant at Kajra +
Lakhisarai 185 MW (Phase-1) from July–August + tender for 116
MW (Phase-2) + total 301 MW

Kamla Barrage project expansion: Link canal, approach

road, and skew bridge added

National Panchayati Raj Day program: On 24 April at

Jhanjharpur + four trains flagged off including
Jaynagar–Patna ‘Namo Bharat’

Madhubani Painting: Natural colors; drawn with

fingers/twigs/brushes/nib–matchsticks; geometric
patterns & deity motifs + Mithila Museum, Japan
houses 850 paintings
Madhubani Mahendra Malangia: Sahitya Akademi Award (2024) +
Maithili + Prabandh Sangrah (Essays)

Neha Jha ‘Mani’: Yuva Puraskar 2025 + Maithili + Banaras

Aa Hum (Poetry)

Munni Kamat: Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2025 + Maithili +

Chukka (Short Stories)

Janaki Temple: On 8 August, Home Minister Amit Shah

laid the foundation at Punauradham

Punauradham development: On lines of Ayodhya under the

Sitamarhi Ramayana Circuit + Bihar Hindu Religious Trusts Act,
1950 amended via ordinance

‘Atal Sahityakar Samman’: Awarded to Preeti

Suman—poet, writer & director from Sitamarhi

First hydrogen tram unit: Production unit at Motipur

industrial area + 3 trams/month (3 coaches each)

DDU Panchayat Sustainable Development Awards 2024:

Muzaffarpur Jajuar Madhya Panchayat won 3rd place in ‘Healthy
Panchayat’

Bihar’s second Khadi Mall: Second Khadi Mall in Bihar

9
 Padma Shri to Nirmala Devi: For Sujini embroidery

IIRF 2025 ranking—4th: Bihar Sports University ranked 4th

among Govt sports universities within 9 months 20
days of opening + National Sports University, Imphal is
1st (score 89.99)

Swing Jhula cluster: Under ‘Make in India’, a swing-jhula

manufacturing cluster

ISRO LiDAR survey: Ajatshatru Fort grounds & Ancient

Nalanda surveyed + Cyclopean Wall older than the
Great Wall of China + 3D mapping to assess structures

Nalanda ‘Infodrama’—History of Nalanda: FACES staged ‘Khandhar

Bol Utha’ depicting the first vihara established around
~427 CE by Kumaragupta I

Rajgir Sports Academy: Hosting Women’s Kabaddi World

Cup + Asia Women’s Hockey Champions Trophy +
Men’s Hockey Asia Cup

DDU Panchayat SD Awards 2024: Parthu Panchayat

secured 3rd in ‘Self-reliant, infrastructure-equipped
Panchayat’

56th Foundation Day of NMCH/Pre-fab Skill Centre: Grand

ceremony + Health Minister Mangal Pandey
inaugurated a Pre-fab Skill Centre

Free HPV vaccination: For girls 9–14 years with ~93%

protection to prevent cervical cancer

Bihta Airport construction: Russian company assigned +

work order issued

National Dolphin Research Centre: Inaugurated on 3 March

2024; even after a year, equipment/skilled staff missing
Patna
+ purpose: Ganga dolphin research & conservation +
centre near the Ganga

Electric Trade Expo: 10–13 January at Miller School

Ground—a four-day event

10
 ‘Spandan-2025’ Youth Festival: Three-day program began +
Day-1: cricket/volleyball/kabaddi/badminton/relay

Floating/canal-side projects: Phulwariya floating & Bikram

canal-side projects start this year + Bihar Business
Connect saw maximum MoUs in renewables
Patna
Gandhi Maidan—AQI alarming: Patna AQI 268; Gandhi
Maidan 398—just 2 below hazardous (≥400) +
fairs/events raised dust—control needed

Tribal Research Institute: To be set up on 1 acre in Patna

Wet–dry waste fines: From 1 January, fines for not

segregating waste

Mushroom Hut scheme: 25 ‘Mushroom Huts’ + 50% subsidy

for landowners & 90% for landless

Manhole Ambulance Service: Patna becomes India’s first

city to start Manhole Ambulance service

Sanitation—3-star & awards: Patna got 3-star rating;

cleanest city in Bihar
Patna
New industrial parks: Around 500–500 acres identified at
Naubatpur/Bakhtiyarpur—besides
Pataliputra/Fatuha/Bihta industrial areas

Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur Skill University: University

named JNKT; CM as Chancellor; bill in 21 July session;
entrepreneurship/skill courses; Bihar’s third ‘Skill
University’

First pre-emptive kidney transplant: At Paras Hospital,

Patna
Bihar’s first pre-emptive transplant—45-year-old
Satyendra Prasad

New IT Tower: On 3.8 acres near Bapu Tower—to be an IT

hub & create jobs

11
 Miyawaki plantation—pilot: 7 sites under
Patna ‘Jal–Jeevan–Hariyali’; expansion after successful
Muzaffarpur pilot

Government Ayurveda College: Established 1926—India’s

second oldest Govt Ayurveda College; turns 100 in 2026;
5-acre herb garden with rare plants

Death of male rhino ‘Ayodhya’: 32-year-old died of

cardiorespiratory failure; came on 20 Oct 2005 from
Delhi Zoo; ‘Dolly’ sent to Mysuru

GSU India Centre: Georgia State University to set up its

first/only India Centre at CIMP, Patna

Patna Airport new terminal: From 3 June new terminal

building; PM inaugurated on 29 May

Phthalates in soil—health risk: Phthalates in soil—cancer

risk via food chain + weak enforcement of 2022
single-use plastic ban + WED-2025 theme: ‘End Plastic
Pollution’

Airport development package: PM visited on 29 May; new

terminal 65,150 m²; flights 34→75; annual passengers 2.5
lakh→1 crore + AI security/advanced baggage systems

Asian Waterbird Census meeting: Two-day AWC concluded;

organized by BNHS, Wetlands International,
Environment Dept; 13 states/UTs participated

Eye Bank launched: State-of-the-art eye bank started with

LVPEI support—based on cornea donation

Tribute to Veer Kunwar Singh: On 26 April, Governor/CM

paid tribute to the 1857 hero

Eye Bank launch—repeat: Eye bank with LVPEI

Patna
support—duplicate mention

Tikuli Art revival: Upendra Maharathi revived ancient

Tikuli art starting 1950

12
 History & formation: 1864—Patna Municipality; 15 Aug
1952—Corporation Act; 1912—Bihar formed, Patna
became capital

‘Bihar Kesari’ wrestler passes away: 70-year-old Viveka

Pahalwan of Nadma (Baadh PS) passed away

Kalagram approval: Centre approved 20 new Kalagrams; 2

to be set up at Patna & Bodh Gaya

Sparrow conservation workshop: On World Sparrow Day

(20 March) at Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park

Sepak Takraw World Cup: At Pataliputra Sports Complex,

Kankarbagh

Saras Mela: 12–26 December—organized by JEEViKA under

the Rural Development Dept

Swachh Survekshan-2024: Patna ranked 4th in citizen

feedback (overall rank – 21) + got Water Plus honor +
sparrow homes to be built in every park by Forest &
Environment Dept

‘Mushroom Paneer’ patent: Central Agricultural University

got patent for ‘Mushroom Paneer’ and its production
technology

Jaggery Centre of Excellence (CoE): CoE to be set up at

Samastipur Pusa—research & value-addition on sugarcane/jaggery

Shri Ram Janaki Medical College & Hospital: (details not

specified)

In NASA’s ‘Hall of Fame’ list: Ramji Raj, at 17, identified a

cyber vulnerability on NASA’s website

Kosi bank—tetrapod technology: At Phultegauda spur, 170

m double-layer tetrapods—first time used in the state
Supaul for flood protection

Sharda Sinha gets Padma Vibhushan: The ‘Bihar Kokila’

from Hulash village, Raghopur + 5 Nov 2024

13
 Industrial area development: Plan advancing; 14,000 acres
proposed + Vaishali 1,200 & Sitamarhi 500 acres +
priority to land near corridors

Barela Lake—development/beautification: Barela Lake to be

developed & beautified

Air quality alarming—CPCB: Among 260 cities, Hajipur AQI

Vaishali 433 (worst) + Chandigarh 2nd, Patna 3rd, Delhi 4th +
Saharsa/Rajgir 5–6 + mitigation needed

Buddha Samyak Darshan Museum:

Museum-cum-memorial stupa; CM to inaugurate on 29
July

Township (Singapore model): Township to be developed at

Raghopur Diara on the Singapore model

Sitakund redevelopment: Tourism Department approved

redevelopment at Chakia block

Madhuban—Nagar Panchayat: Madhuban declared Nagar

Panchayat + state now has 155 Nagar Panchayats; total
262 urban bodies

East National pilgrimage—significance: Gandhi’s movement

Champaran against indigo/peasant oppression; invited by Rajkumar
Shukla; Tinkathia struggle succeeded; MGCU
established at Motihari

Heritage Circuit development: Connecting Gandhi-related

sites—Gaya Babu’s house, LS College well, Jasaulipatti,
Gandhi/Bhitiharwa/Vrindavan ashrams, Gorakh Babu’s
house, Hazarimal Dharamshala

West Marcha Chura—GI success: After GI tag (Nov 2023), Marcha

Champaran paddy area expanded 1,000→3,000 ha + ‘Keraili’ soil
most suitable

Miyazaki/Black Kasturi mango: Farmer Kalyan Shukla

planted Miyazaki (₹2–2.5 lakh/kg) & Black Kasturi
(₹600–700/kg) mango saplings

14
 Gaur count in VTR: Numbers rising rapidly + gaurs in
Bihar forests occur only in VTR

Black Baza in VTR: In Manguraha forest range, Black Baza

(Aviceda leuphotes) captured on camera—first sighting
in VTR Forest Division-1
West Ashokan pillars—UNESCO tentative list: Rampurva &
Champaran Lauri-ya Nandangarh Ashokan pillars on UNESCO
Tentative List + Not yet included in the World Heritage
List

Start of Pragati Yatra: On 23 Dec 2024, CM began from

Valmikinagar

Vesting of Bettiah Raj Properties Act, 2024: State to take

possession of 15,215 acres across 6 districts—9,758 (West
Champaran), 5,320 (East Champaran), 88 (Saran), 35
(Gopalganj), 7 (Siwan), 4 (Patna)

Kumarbagh SEZ: SEZ

Lav-Kush Eco Tourism Park: At Valmikinagar

DDU Panchayat SD Awards 2024: Punhada Panchayat

Jehanabad
ranked 3rd in ‘Good Governance Panchayat’

Pumped-storage power plant: 2,480 MW pumped-storage

power plant to be built

State’s largest floating solar plant: At Phulwariya

Nawada
Reservoir—nearing completion

State’s first nuclear power plant: SMR-based nuclear plant

announced at Rajouli, Nawada

Rohtas, Kaimur & Buxar: Targeted cultivation of aromatic

rice (Sonachur)
District
Planetariums: Jamui/Purnea/East Champaran to get
Clusters
planetariums + already in Patna/Darbhanga

15
 Six small airports approved: Madhubani, Veerpur, Munger,
Valmikinagar, Muzaffarpur, Saharsa—Cabinet approval
+ MoU with AAI

Industrial area development: All districts to have industrial

areas + 14,000 acres proposed so far + Vaishali 1,200 &
Sitamarhi 500 acres + land near corridors prioritized

Eco-tourism centre (Rohtas/Kaimur): At Karamchat Dam

New airports—green/brownfield: Greenfield at Bhagalpur,

Sonpur, Rajgir + Brownfield at Saharsa, Valmikinagar,
Purnea, Begusarai, Munger, Gopalganj, Motihari, Raxaul
(Union Budget)

Industrial clusters in MSE-CDP: Dharmapur (Darbhanga),

Murliganj (Madhepura) & Saharsa included

Passport Seva Kendras: To open at Madhubani,

District Valmikinagar, Vaishali + then every district will have a
Clusters centre; no need to go to other districts/Patna

Ramayana Circuit development: Sitamarhi

(Punauradham/Panth Pakar), Madhubani (Phulhar),
Darbhanga (Ahilya Sthan), West Champaran
(Valmikinagar), Buxar (Ramrekha Ghat)

Cyber-forensic labs: To start this year in Patna & Rajgir +

NFSU Gandhinagar as advisor + time-bound probes for
cases with 7+ year sentences

Tele ICU: To be set up in border districts—East Champaran,

Supaul, Banka, Buxar, Nawada

Amrit Bharat Station Inauguration: 103 stations

inaugurated by PM Modi on May 22 + 19 in Uttar
Pradesh & 2 in Bihar (Pirpainti, Thawe)

Khelo India Youth Games (7th ed.): May 4–15 across Patna,
Gaya, Rajgir, Bhagalpur, Begusarai + Rank: 1 –
Maharashtra (158), 2 – Haryana (117), 15 – Bihar (36: 7-G,
11-S, 18-B)

16
 Important Schemes in News

1.​ Bihar Government Internship Scheme: Bihar has launched the Chief Minister
Pratigya Scheme + Offers internships to youth aged 18–28 + Duration: 3–12
months + Monthly stipend: ₹4,000–₹6,000 based on qualification + Under Saat
Nischay–2 for advanced skills, leadership and career growth + ₹4,000 for Class
12 pass, ₹5,000 for ITI/Diploma, ₹6,000 for Graduate/Postgraduate interns + 1 lakh
youth to intern across institutions during 2025–26 to 2030–31 + Goal: make youth
self-reliant and employment-ready.
2.​ PM Dhan-Dhaanya Agriculture Scheme: Centre approved by merging 36 schemes
with ₹24,000 crore per year + Will directly benefit ~1.75 crore farmers
nationwide + Agrarian states like Bihar to gain most + Will develop 100
agricultural districts + Boost storage capacity, improve irrigation, and raise
productivity.
3.​ Bihar Agricultural University (Amendment) Bill, 2025: Ensures fair, merit-based
recruitment + Aims to eliminate irregularities and discrimination.
4.​ Free Electricity in Bihar: CM Nitish Kumar announced free power up to 125 units
from 1 August for 1.67 crore households + Consumers will owe no payment for
the July bill.
5.​ Social Security Pension Hike: Pension raised from ₹400 to ₹1,100 per month
(+₹700 extra) + Helps 1.09 crore beneficiaries (elderly, widows, persons with
disabilities) + Annual outlay: ₹14,479.42 crore + Additional burden: ₹9,000.13 crore
+ Higher pension from July + Amount to be credited by the 10th of every month.
6.​ Buxar Education Model: Dr. Yashovardhan Pathak briefed Governor Arif
Mohammad Khan at Raj Bhavan on the 3-year Buxar Education Model +
Presented ‘Sankalp se Srijan: Buxar Education Model’ by senior journalist
Pankaj Mishra + From the PM Swachhata fund, set up toilets, borewells, sanitary
pad vending machines, and RO units.
7.​ Punauradham Development: Designs finalized to develop Janaki’s birthplace
with a grand temple and associated structures + To build Parikrama Path, Sita
Vatika, Lav-Kush Vatika, festival area, parking, and other facilities + A trust
formed to expedite construction.

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8.​ Passport Verification in Bihar: From 12 May, applicants receive chip-enabled
passports statewide + Chip will store complete applicant details + Existing
passport holders can switch to chip passports + Bihar Police rated among
India’s best in passport verification + Awarded ‘Certificate of Recognition’.
9.​ Bihar Electoral Roll Revision Drive: BLOs will visit households 25 June–27 July
to accept additions/deletions/corrections + Polling stations to be reassigned
based on 1,200 voters + 27–31 July: rolls updated from received forms + 1 Aug
2025: draft roll published + 1 Aug–1 Sept: claims/objections + By 25 Sept: ERO
disposes claims/objections + By 27 Sept: seek ECI approval for final publication +
30 Sept 2025: final roll published.
10.​ 50% Subsidy for Beekeeping: Under the Mission for Integrated Horticulture
Development, 2025–26 beekeeping & honey production plan approved + Farmers
get 50% subsidy for beekeeping.
11.​ Live Telecast of ‘Ek Ped Maa Ke Naam 2.0’: On World Environment Day (5 June
2026), the Education Ministry will stream the program live on YouTube.
12.​ Rail Connectivity & Tourism in Kashmir: PM Modi inaugurated the world’s
highest rail arch bridge—Chenab and India’s first cable rail bridge—Anji (1,086 ft
above ground) + Flagged off the first Vande Bharat service Katra–Srinagar.
13.​ Mushroom Production Incentives: Govt to spend ₹4 crore this year to support
private mushroom units + Aid for air-conditioned production, compost units, and
spawn units.
14.​ Aromatic Paddy in Three Districts: Rohtas, Kaimur, Buxar assigned Sona Choor
aromatic paddy + First-time in Kaimur and Buxar + Govt to give incentives +
Target 1,500 acres.
15.​ Revenue & Land Reforms Helpline: From 3 June, toll-free 18003456215 launched
at Danapur CSC by Minister Sanjay Saraogi.
16.​ Kharif Mega-Drive 2025: CM Nitish Kumar launched it from Patna Agriculture
Bhavan + Opened College of Agricultural Engineering in Arrah + Laid foundation
for 62 sub-division-level agriculture buildings with single-window agri services.
17.​ Auction of Mineral Blocks in Bihar: On 27 June 2023, Cabinet appointed SBI
Capital Markets as transaction advisor for 9 blocks + Chose MSTC for the
auction platform for ₹2.025 crore + 6 blocks to be auctioned in Rohtas, Kaimur,
Aurangabad, Gaya, Munger + Includes glauconite and bauxite + State to request

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 Centre to permit mining start + Centre allowed auction of 3 of 9 blocks: Jamui
magnetite, Rohtas limestone, Gaya–Jehanabad vanadium magnetite.
18.​ Nawada Pumped-Storage Project: 2,480 MW plant planned in Nawada + Bihar
Pumped-Storage Policy 2025 draft prepared; to be placed before state Cabinet + ₹1
crore incentive for 25–200 MW projects + Aligns with Bihar Purchase
Preferential Policy 2024 and startups + Survey picked Hardia (910 MW), Gosaitari
(920 MW), Adawaria (650 MW) + Solar by day, water by night; storage for up to 8
hours supply.
19.​ French–German Training for Engineering Students: French and German
instruction started in 15 government engineering colleges + To be taught to all
engineering college students in the state.
20.​Success of Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali (Groundwater): South Bihar districts show
improved groundwater levels + Campaign launched on 2 Oct 2019 + Aahars (>1
acre) and ponds (>5 acres) identified and revived.
21.​ Repair Plan for Veteran Barrages: Water Resources Dept. cleared health audit &
repairs for Kosi (Birpur), Gandak (Valmikinagar), Son (Indrapuri) barrages (50+
years old) + Faced the 2nd-highest flood level in 2024 + Built under India–Nepal
agreements (1954, 1959).
22.​Relief for Fishers: Since 2022, disaster-hit fishers get graded relief + ₹6,000 for
partially damaged boats + ₹15,000 to replace fully damaged boats + ₹3,000 for
partially damaged nets.
23.​ Battery-Operated Car Service Expansion: Previously absent at North Bihar
stations + Pilot service to start at Darbhanga, Saharsa, Samastipur.
24.​ Heritage Trees Declared: 14 heritage trees identified for the first time + 70–250
years old on govt land in Jamui, Buxar, Munger, Bhagalpur + Includes 3 banyan
plus peepal, neem, mahua, champa, etc.
25.​ Incentive to NBPDCL: NBPDCL received incentive for effective rollout of the PM
Suryaghar scheme.
26.​Bridge Maintenance Policy in Bihar: State framed a Bridge Maintenance Policy
for 3,500+ bridges + Each bridge to get a Bridge Health Card to track potholes,
waterlogging, cracks, etc.
27.​ Vibrant Villages-2: Union Govt approved ₹6,839 crore, 100%-funded Vibrant
Villages Program–2 + For secure, sustainable, vibrant development of border
villages + Supports Viksit Bharat 2047.

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28.​ Manmohan Singh Fellowship Program: Congress launched a fellowship named
after Dr. Manmohan Singh + 50 professionals to be selected nationwide + To be
trained by senior party leaders and then deployed in party work + Announced
by All India Professionals’ Congress.
29.​Women’s ‘Hunar Bank’: 8,000 women enrolled + Funds allocated across heads
like education, dance, songs, etc.
30.​10 New Airports in Bihar: State to develop airports in 10 cities + Dy CM
announced special push for Rajgir, Sultanganj, Raxaul + Bhagalpur,
Valmikinagar, Virpur, Madhubani, Munger, Saharsa, Muzaffarpur to be developed
via UDAN.
31.​ ‘Gauraiya Kutir’ (Sparrow Cottages): Forest & Environment Dept. to build sparrow
cottages in every city park + Starting at SK Puri Park, Patna + Will include
bougainvillea, lemon, madhumalti, guava plants, nests, and feed/water.
32.​Free Cleft Surgery Camp: 215 children in Bihar to get free cleft (lip, palate &
stammering) surgeries + Camp 23–27 March 2025 at The Duncan Hospital,
Raxaul + Under Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK).
33.​Developing 120 New Urban Local Bodies (Purvodaya): State now has 261 ULBs
(141 old + 120 new in 2020) + Purvodaya to deliver GIS-based master plans and
DPRs for the 120 new towns + Works via BOM model (Build–Operate–Maintain).
34.​Green Hydrogen Production Target: PM set a 5 MMT by 2030 target under the
National Green Hydrogen Mission + Expected to create jobs.
35.​Drone Subsidy for Farmers: Under RKVY, farmers in all 101 subdivisions get 60%
subsidy (up to ₹3.65 lakh) on drone purchase + Under Namo Drone Didi, ₹1,261
crore to provide 201 drones to women SHGs + Drones enable precise spraying
and soil/crop monitoring.
36.​Impact of SVAMITVA Property Cards: PM distributed ~65 lakh SVAMITVA
property cards on Saturday + Physical events held in 230+ districts +
Implemented in 50,000+ villages + Ultimately 2.24 crore beneficiaries + Aids
credit access and government benefits + Spurs economic activity and poverty
reduction.
37.​ Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali (Awards & Recognition): Launched on Gandhi Jayanti 2019
by CM Nitish Kumar + Work on afforestation and forest conservation praised at
COP-28 (Dubai, 2023) + Bihar won 3rd prize among best states in the 4th
National Water Awards 2023.

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38.​ Mid-Day Meal Rate Increase: From 2 Dec, per-child rates: ₹6.19 (Classes 1–5) and
₹9.29 (Classes 6–8) + Cost-sharing: 60% Centre : 40% State + In Bihar, 1.09 crore
children get cooked meals daily and rice from Centre.
39.​Model School Scheme: Model schools to open in every block + Rollout begins
from districts, then sub-divisions, then blocks (one each).
40.​Permanent Framework for Agniveers: Defence Ministry finalized Agniveer
retention rules + First batch to exit in 2026 + After 4 years, all retire; up to 25%
retained permanently based on vacancies + Selection on 4-year performance
record + No separate exam.
41.​ PM-USHA Approvals for Bihar Universities/Colleges: LNMU and Patna
University granted Research University status under PM-USHA + Each to
receive ₹100 crore like 35 other universities.
42.​Shiv Circuit in Bihar: Tourism Dept. accelerating a Shiv Circuit linking 15 Shiva
temples across 12 districts by road, under ‘Vikas Bhi Virasat Bhi’.
43.​Immunization Drive in Bihar: Special drive for universal immunization + 6-day
campaign across 30 districts, 53 blocks, up to 28 Dec + Bihar ranked 1st in
routine immunization + Target 95% coverage by Dec 2024 + Ongoing in all
except 8 districts.
44.​ Immunization & Health Strengthening: Plan to open 1,000 new vaccination
centers + Recruit 12,000 nurses and other health workers soon.
45.​ Project Roshni: Run with IGIMS; a boon for low-vision patients + Provides
low-vision devices and comprehensive treatment.
46.​PRAYAS Scheme: NCERT (DESM) launched PRAYAS for Classes 9–12 + Aims to
inculcate the scientific method and offer research opportunities.
47.​ PM Poshan Scheme: A centrally sponsored program run by the Dept. of School
Education & Literacy + Applicable in government & aided schools + Provides one
hot meal + Beneficiaries: Bal Vatika, Classes 1–5, and Classes 6–8 students.

Bihar related Reports and Indices

1.​ Bihar conferred the Fisheries Leadership Award: Bihar received the Agriculture
Leadership Award 2025 + For outstanding performance in fisheries + In New
Delhi, Dr. N. Vijayalakshmi accepted it + Bihar achieved 101% of the target with
9.5 lakh metric tonnes of fish production

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2.​ Swachh Survekshan 2024–25: Key results: Indore won its 8th consecutive
cleanest city title + In the 10 lakh+ category: Indore 1st, Surat 2nd, Navi Mumbai
& Vijayawada 3rd (joint) + In the 3–10 lakh category: Noida 1st, Chandigarh 2nd
3.​ Improved student–teacher ratio in Bihar: Now 1 teacher per 28 students from
Classes 1–12 + Better than the national average (40 in lower grades, 30 in higher)
+ Over the last 3 years, 3+ lakh teachers recruited + Total teachers 6.6 lakh and
students 2.13 crore
4.​ Patna becomes Bihar’s cleanest city: President Droupadi Murmu felicitated ULBs
under the Swachhata Survey + Patna adjudged Bihar’s cleanest city + Gaya
second and Bhagalpur third + Patna received the Water Plus recognition
5.​ Surge in fish production: State fish output rose to 9.59 lakh MT + This is 101% of
the 2024–25 target + Last year production was 8.73 lakh MT + Bihar ranks 4th in
inland fisheries output
6.​ Makhana gets a global passport: Bihar’s makhana assigned an HS code +
Enables global identification, transparency, and faster clearances
7.​ Bihar leads in digital health services: Bihar ranked #1 nationwide in the
Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission
8.​ Child malnutrition indicators (2005–06 to 2019–21): Anaemia among 0–5 yrs fell
69.5% → 58.5% + Underweight fell 48.0% → 38.4% + Wasting fell 35.7% → 32.1% +
Stunting fell 21.0% → 19.3%
9.​ Status of dolphins in Bihar: Centre released the first River Dolphin Assessment
under the National Board for Wildlife + Survey covered 8 states, 28 rivers, 8,507
km + Of 6,327 dolphins nationwide, 2,220 (35%) are in Bihar + Bihar is 2nd after
Uttar Pradesh (2,397) + Dolphins found in Ganga, Gandak, Kosi, Mahananda,
Kamla-Balan, Bagmati + Some also in Punpun, Karmanasha, Dhora + In the Son
they are nearly extinct + The Ganga is the most suitable habitat + Dolphins are
an indicator of ecological health
10.​ Child marriage & teen pregnancy in Bihar: 40.8% of girls marry before 18 + 11% of
15–19 yrs adolescent girls are pregnant for the first time
11.​ Maternal mortality improves in Bihar: MMR fell 118 → 100 in 4 years +
Second-largest improvement after Assam + Still above the national average (93)
+ Institutional deliveries reached 76% + Infant mortality rate down to 27
12.​ Bihar tops PMFME: Bihar ranked 1st nationwide in PMFME + 1st in Makhana,
Mushroom, Litchi + 3rd in Potato, Mango, Maize

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 13.​ Key facts from Bihar’s caste survey: First comprehensive caste survey since
Independence + 215 castes recorded + OBC & EBC together are over 63% of the
population
14.​ History of Census and caste enumeration: Census occurs every 10 years +
Census 2021 was postponed due to COVID; data now expected in 2026 + Union
Government has announced caste enumeration + In the British era (1881–1931),
all castes counted by caste, religion, occupation + In 1941, caste data collected
but not released + In 1951, only SC/ST enumerated + In 1961, states asked to
survey and form OBC lists + The 2011 SECC recorded 121 crore population, sex
ratio 940, literacy 74.04%, but full data weren’t released
15.​ Bihar’s rank in children’s Health Cards: Bihar is 2nd nationally with 26.15% of
children at Anganwadi centres having Health ID cards + Maharashtra is highest
at 30.63% + Card-holding children get free treatment & medicines at government
hospitals with no paper prescription needed
16.​ Patna’s feedback ranking in cleanliness: Patna placed 4th in Swachh
Survekshan 2024 (Feedback Ranking) + First time a Bihar city entered the
national Top-5 + Patna outperformed Ahmedabad, Surat, Bhopal

Index Bihar’s performance Details

State Health Index 18/19 large states; Evaluates outcomes, infrastructure,

2019-20 (NITI Aayog) score 31.00 service delivery; gaps in neonatal
mortality & fertility widen
distance from leaders (Kerala
82.2).

NFHS-5 (2019-21) – TFR 3.0 (highest in Female literacy ~55% (vs men
Health & Demography India); only state 77%); high IMR & undernutrition
above 2.1 strain services.

SEQI 2019 (NITI Aayog) 19/20 large states; Very low learning outcomes,
~37.3% access, infrastructure, equity;
stagnation vs peers.

Performance Grading 472/1000; Grade 9 Weak infrastructure (55/190);

Index 2023-24 (MoE) “Akanshi-2”; bottom modest gains in access & teacher
five training; top state ~631.

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Per Capita Income ₹49,470 (lowest in Far below national ~₹1.5 lakh;
2021-22 India) richest state ~₹4.72 lakh; reflects
low productivity.

Multidimensional 51.9% (2015–16) → Fastest decline (~53% since

Poverty (NITI MPI) ~33.8% (2019–21) → 2013-14) yet remains among
26.59% (2022-23) highest poverty incidence.

India Innovation Index 15/17 major states; Weak human capital, R&D,
2021 (NITI Aayog) index ~11.6; 29th incl. knowledge output; trails leaders
all (Karnataka, Telangana, Haryana).

Fiscal Health Index 13/18 (category: Better than Punjab (18th), AP

2025 (NITI Aayog) Performer) (17th), Haryana (14th), Kerala
(15th); prudent expenditure quality
& debt.

LEADS 2021 (Logistics) 19/21 Bottom-three logistics; listed

“Aspirers” (2022); reported shift to
“Fast movers” (2024) amid
road/freight investments.

GGI 2021 – Public Infra Rank 1 in Group-B Gains in electrification, housing,

& Utilities (sub-domain) roads; note: low per-capita power
use persists.

SDG India Index Score 57; last among Lags on education, health, gender,
2023-24 (NITI Aayog) states infrastructure; top states 79; India
avg 71.
Social Progress Index 44.47; 35/36; Tier-VI Deficits in nutrition, sanitation,
2022 (EAC-PM) “Very Low” education, rights, inclusion.
NFHS-5 (2019-21) – Social Only ~10% women with Below national 21%; low
Indicators ≥12 years schooling media/Internet access; contributes
to weak SDG/SPI scores.
Good Governance Index 15/18 overall; 6/8 Strength: Citizen-centric governance
2021 (DARPG) (Group-B) (4th in group); Weakness: Social
Welfare & Development – last;
improved vs 2019.
State Startup Ranking “Emerging Startup Among major states, only Bihar &
2021 (DPIIT) Ecosystem” (lowest Andhra Pradesh in bottom tier;
tier)

24
 needs stronger policy, incubation,
funding.

Agri Production in Bihar

Fourth Agriculture Road Map (2023–2028): President of India Droupadi Murmu

launched Bihar’s Fourth Agriculture Road Map (2023–2028) + The budget is ₹1.62
lakh crore + Objective: to drive transformation and sustainable development in the
state’s agriculture sector

Bihar’s Rank in Various Agricultural Products (2023–24):

Agri Product Rank Key Areas / State Comparison

Litchi 1 Muzaffarpur, Vaishali

Makhana (Fox nut) 1 35 thousand ha; Mithila region

Mushroom 1 28 thousand tonnes

Maize 2 (No. 1 state: Karnataka)

Jute 2 (No. 1 state: West Bengal)

Annual Growth Rates of Agricultural Subsectors

Subsector 2022–23 (Estimated) 2023–24 (Quick Estimate)

Agriculture, Forestry 5.4% 5.4%

& Fisheries

Crops 6.7% 4.7%

Animal Husbandry 2.7% 7.6%

Forestry & Logging 2.1% 3.9%

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 Fisheries & 11.1% 3.2%
Aquaculture

Land Use Statistics:

Type of Land Use Area (’000 ha) Details

Net Sown Area 5112.8 (54.6%) Highest – East Champaran > West
Champaran; Lowest – Sheohar <
Arwal < Jehanabad

Gross Sown Area 7262.8 (77.7%) Highest – East Champaran > Rohtas >
West Champaran; Lowest – Arwal <
Sheohar < Jehanabad

Cropping Intensity 1.42 Highest – Supaul > Jehanabad >

Begusarai; Lowest – Purnea < Gaya <
Gopalganj

Total Unutilized Area 7262.8 —

Cropping Pattern — Foodgrains > cereals > pulses >

sugarcane > oilseeds > fibre crops

Crop Production in Bihar:

Crop Leading Districts by Area Leading Districts by Production

Rice East Champaran Rohtas, Aurangabad, Kaimur

Wheat Rohtas, Muzaffarpur, East Rohtas, Muzaffarpur, Bhojpur

Champaran

Maize Purnea, Araria, Katihar Purnea, Araria, Katihar

Fruit Production in Bihar:

Fruit Top-producing Districts

Mango Darbhanga, East Champaran, Muzaffarpur

Guava Rohtas, Patna, Vaishali

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 Litchi Muzaffarpur, East Champaran, Vaishali

Banana Bhagalpur, Katihar, Vaishali

Vegetable Production in Bihar:

Vegetable Top-producing Districts

Potato Patna, Nalanda, Samastipur

Onion Nalanda, Vaishali, Patna

1.​ Fiber crops in Bihar: Jute is the primary fiber crop produced.​

2.​ Makhana (fox nut) in 2023–24: Area under cultivation 27.8 thousand hectares +
Total production 56.4 thousand tonnes + Bihar contributes 85% of India’s
makhana output.​

3.​ Betel (Pan) Development Scheme: State support with financial assistance for
betel cultivation in Nalanda, Nawada, Gaya, Aurangabad, Sheikhpura, Vaishali.​

4.​ Tea development in Kishanganj: Under the Tea Development Scheme, the state
provides a 50% grant for both new and existing tea gardens.​

5.​ Centers of Excellence: For vegetables at Chandi (Nalanda) + For fruits at Desari
(Vaishali).​

6.​ Top fish-producing districts: Madhubani, Darbhanga, East Champaran.​

7.​ Highest urea consumption districts: East Champaran, Rohtas, Purnia.​

8.​ Vegetable production & farm challenges in Bihar: Bihar’s economy is

agriculture-based + Bihar ranks 4th nationally in vegetable production
(1st—Uttar Pradesh, 2nd—West Bengal, 3rd—Madhya Pradesh) + Bihar’s share is
9% of national output (~18 million tonnes).​

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9.​ Egg production & availability in Bihar: Per-capita availability 27 eggs/year vs
national average 103 (shortfall 76) + Bihar’s share in national production 2% and
not in the top 10 states, while Andhra Pradesh contributes 20% + Under the
Layer Farm Scheme, grants are available for farms of 10,000 and 5,000 birds +
Eggs provide key nutrients (B2, B12, D, selenium, iodine, folate, biotin, omega-3,
calcium) that help combat malnutrition.​

10.​Onion production & export policy (Bihar): Bihar ranks 4th in India + Contributes
6% to national production + Main producing districts: Patna, Nalanda,
Muzaffarpur, Katihar.​

11.​ Meat production & availability: 2023–24 national per-capita availability 7.39 kg
vs 3.19 kg in Bihar + Among top contributors: West Bengal 12.62%, Uttar Pradesh
12.29%, Maharashtra 11.28%.

GI Tags from Bihar

Product Area

1. Bhagalpuri Zardalu Mango Bhagalpur region

2. Katarni Rice Bhagalpur and Banka districts

3. Magahi Paan (betel leaf) Magadh region (Gaya, Nawada, etc.)

4. Shahi Litchi Muzaffarpur

5. Mithila Makhana Mithila – Darbhanga, Madhubani, Sitamarhi

6. Mircha Rice West Champaran

7. Madhubani Painting Mithila — Madhubani, Sitamarhi, etc.

8. Sujni Embroidery Bhusura village (Muzaffarpur), Madhubani, etc.

9. Sikki Grass Products Madhubani, Darbhanga, and Sitamarhi

10. Appliqué (Khatwa) Work Sitamarhi and Madhubani

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 11. Bhagalpuri Silk Bhagalpur

12. Manjusha Art Bhagalpur

13. Silao Khaja Nalanda district

Bihar’s rank in different Indices

1.​ Bihar tops Poshan Pakhwada: Bihar secured 1st place for the second consecutive
year + 3.85 crore activities were conducted across the state.​

2.​ Three Bihar startups win Maharathi Awards: At Startup Mahakumbh in New
Delhi, three Bihar startups (iDelta, Ladyfair, Bhojpatta) received the Startup
Maharathi Award + each received ₹1 lakh.​

3.​ APAAR card creation in Bihar: 55% APAAR cards have been issued in Bihar so
far + the state ranks 21st + national leaders are Andaman & Nicobar (96%),
Puducherry (93%), Haryana (86%) + laggards are Kerala (2%) and West Bengal
(0%) + APAAR ID will be required for entrance exams, scholarships, government
benefits, document verification.​

4.​ Power development in Bihar: Electricity consumption rose from 700 MW (2005)
to 8005 MW + generation increased from 0 to 11000+ MW + 10 solar street lights
per ward and a total of 5 lakh solar lights installed + consumers grew from 17
lakh to 2.12 crore and domestic consumption is 41%.​

5.​ Bihar leads in drug distribution: Ranked No. 1 for 5 consecutive months
nationwide in medicine distribution + performance tracked on 10 parameters
including DVDMS portal, digitization, quality testing + the Free Drug Service is
monitored online via DVDMS software.​

6.​ Tourism trends in Bihar: In 2024, 6.60 crore tourists visited + for foreign tourists,
top choices were Bodh Gaya, Rajgir, Nalanda, Gaya, Patna, Vaishali + Sonepur

29
 emerged as a new popular destination.​

7.​ Bihar tops PM Awas survey: Surveys of 80,000+ families completed in Bihar +
Uttar Pradesh is 2nd with 55,000 families + survey runs Jan 10–Mar 2025 +
launched in 8,053 Gram Panchayats + an estimated 10 lakh+ families to be
covered + district counts: East Champaran 5,514, Samastipur 4,200, West
Champaran 3,688 + Muzaffarpur 3,629, Patna 3,409.​

8.​ Three Bihar panchayats receive national honors: President Droupadi Murmu
presented the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Sustainable Development
Awards 2024 at Vigyan Bhawan, Delhi + Jazuar Madhya Panchayat
(Muzaffarpur) won 3rd place in “Healthy Panchayat” + Parthu Panchayat
(Nalanda) won 3rd place in “Self-reliant, Infrastructure-enabled Panchayat” +
Punhada Panchayat (Jehanabad) won 3rd place in “Good Governance-enabled
Panchayat”.​

9.​ Rural Bihar’s digital literacy rises: NSSO (Oct 2024) data shows rural Bihar ahead
of the national average in net surfing, e-mail, online banking + among
15–24-year students, Bihar’s average is 24.3% (national 21%).​

10.​Bihar leads in immunization: Achieved 1st rank nationally in routine

immunization + via the U-WIN portal, infants and pregnant women received the
highest number of doses + Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha
placed 2nd–5th + U-WIN was launched by Prime Minister Modi under the
National Health Mission in October + records of 12 vaccine-preventable diseases
for children up to 16 years are maintained on the portal.​

11.​ Unorganized-sector workers in Bihar: About 3 crore workers in the unorganized

sector + 2.95 crore registered on the e-Shram portal since 24 Aug 2021 + Bihar
ranks 2nd after Uttar Pradesh.​

12.​2024 police station rankings: Rajeev Nagar Police Station (Patna) ranked 7th in
India and 1st in Bihar in MHA 2024 + in Ganjam (Odisha), Pattapur Police
Station received the second best police station award from Home Minister Amit

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 Shah + in January, Rajendranagar Police Station (Telangana) was chosen as the
best in the country.​

13.​Air quality in Bihar’s cities is alarming: CPCB report shows among 260 cities,
Hajipur had the worst AQI (433) + Patna ranked 3rd, Chandigarh 2nd, Delhi 4th +
Saharsa and Rajgir ranked 5th and 6th.​

14.​Success of self-help groups in Bihar: JEEViKA ranks 1st under the National
Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) + the state now has 10.81 lakh SHGs +
Karnataka (9 lakh) and Assam (7 lakh) are 2nd–3rd + since 2007, the program
forms groups of 5–7 women.​

Protected Areas in News

1.​ First Tiger Corridor on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway: June + NHAI has created
the country’s first tiger corridor on the Delhi–Mumbai Expressway + walls and
sound barriers have been installed on both sides of the expressway + the
alignment passes through the Ranthambhore Tiger Reserve and the Chambal
Valley​

2.​ Rare Black Baza sighted in VTR: April + During a Saturday morning jungle
safari, tourists captured the Black Baza (Aviceda leuphotes) on camera in the
Manguraha forest range + this is the first time the species has been recorded in
VTR Forest Division–1 + this small raptor is found in Northeast India, the
Eastern Himalayas, China, and Southeast Asia​

3.​ Gaur census & conservation in VTR: March + The number of gaur in VTR is
rising rapidly + VTR administration is preparing a master plan for a gaur
census, similar to the tiger count + In Bihar’s forests, gaur are found only in
VTR + Worldwide, 30,000+ gaur exist, of which 85% are in India + An adult
weighs 500–700 kg and is agile + They feed on rari, dabhi, and munj grasses +
Gaur are the tiger’s preferred prey + One kill can feed a tiger for one week​

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4.​ Modi’s initiative on Asian lion conservation: + Modi chaired the 7th meeting of
the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) at the Gir Sanctuary​

5.​ Return of the Greater Flamingo to Bihar: After 32 years, the Greater Flamingo
has been sighted in Bihar + A BNHS team recorded it during monitoring at the
Bhagalpur Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary + The bird was last seen in 1992 at
Kanwar Lake + It is a marine bird, usually found along the coasts of Gujarat,
Rajasthan, and Odisha + In winter, they reach Kutch, Gujarat via Europe and
Africa + Its presence in Bihar is an exceptional occurrence​

6.​ Arrival of a male zebra from Bannerghatta: A male zebra was brought from the
Bannerghatta Zoo one month ago​

7.​ Proposal to designate three new reservoirs as Ramsar sites: The state
government has sent a proposal to the Centre to designate Udaipur, Gogabeel,
and Gokul reservoirs as Ramsar sites + In the last four years, three wetlands
have been declared Ramsar sites, including Kabar Tal (2020) and Nagi–Nakhti
Bird Sanctuary (2024)

Important Fairs & Festivals

1.​ Key facilities of Shravani Mela: The Shravani Mela is held from July 11 to
August 9 + Devotees travel from Sultanganj to Deoghar + During Shravan’s
waning phase (Krishna Paksha), Kanwariyas walk 105 km barefoot to offer
water at Deoghar’s Ravaneshwar Mahadev Jyotirlinga.​

2.​ Bihar International Buyer–Seller Conference 2025: Companies from 20 countries

showed interest in Bihari products + Held on May 19–20, jointly by APEDA, TPCI,
and the Government of Bihar + Lulu Group (UAE), Sartaj (Japan), Datar & Sons
(UAE), and Global Foods Trading (Germany) showed strong interest + APEDA
Chair Abhishek Dev announced the launch of TracenET 2.0 (2025).​

3.​ Viksit Bihar Sankalp Mahasabha: On the 4th foundation day of Let’s Inspire
Bihar, the Viksit Bihar Sankalp Mahasabha was held at Bapu Sabhagar + Chief

32
 Patron IPS Vikas Vaibhav said Bihar will be ready for takeoff in four years.​

4.​ National Poet Dinkar Death Anniversary Ceremony: On April 10, the death
anniversary of Ramdhari Singh Dinkar will be observed at Bapu Sabhagar, Patna
+ The program will be under “Seva Pakhwada” + Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav
and Deputy CM Samrat Choudhary will attend.​

5.​ Bihar Day Celebrations: On March 22, at Gandhi Maidan (Patna), CM Nitish
Kumar will inaugurate the Bihar Pavilion + For the first time in Texas (USA),
Bihar Diwas will be celebrated with support from the Bhojpuri Awadhi
Association of North America and the Consulate General of India.​

6.​ Summary of three fairs & festivals: In Banka, the three-day Mandar Mahotsav
was inaugurated + Mandar Mahotsav received state fair status in 2018 + In
Rajgir, the seven-day Makar Mela began + On day one, over 100,000 devotees
took a dip at the Saptadhara Kund + The Tapovan Mahotsav was celebrated in
Mohra.​

7.​ Key highlights of the Saras Mela: The Saras Mela was organized December 12–26
by JEEViKA under the Department of Rural Development.​

8.​ Sonepur Mela – event details: The world-famous Sonepur Mela of the Harihar
region will commence on November 13 + It will run 32 days till December 14.​

9.​ Day of the Dead festival: Mexicans commemorate departed relatives on

November 1 and 2 every year as the Day of the Dead.​

10.​Sonepur Mela development via Hariharnath Corridor: Deputy CM Samrat

Choudhary announced the Baba Hariharnath Corridor for the development of the
Sonepur Mela.​

Major Portals/Apps

33
1.​ Launch of the Umeed Portal: After the Waqf Amendment Act, the Central
Government launched the Umeed Portal + Registration of all Waqf properties on
the portal will be mandatory within 6 months.​

2.​ Bihar Krishi Mobile App & schemes launch: CM Nitish Kumar will launch the
Bihar Krishi Mobile App at the Agriculture Bhawan, Mithapur on Monday + The
app will provide farmers with a digital passbook, details of benefits/subsidies,
application status, and payment information in an organized way.​

3.​ Integrated Election Commission app—ECINET: The Election Commission will

soon launch ECINET, an integrated app + It will bring together 40+ mobile and
web apps + Users won’t need to download/login to multiple apps + Voter
Helpline, Voter Turnout, C-Vigil, Suvidha 2.0, and Saksham will be integrated.​

4.​ Mobile security via Sanchar Saathi app: The Sanchar Saathi mobile app will
trace numbers used for cyber fraud + Once registered, fraud calls will be blocked
automatically.​

5.​ Multilingual feature on the e-Shram Portal: Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya
launched the multilingual functionality of the e-Shram Portal on Tuesday + The
portal is now available in 22 scheduled languages + It ensures seamless access
to government schemes for unorganized-sector workers.​

6.​ Home Minister Amit Shah launched the BharatPol portal in New Delhi: Home
Minister Amit Shah launched the BharatPol portal in New Delhi.​

7.​ Key features of the e-Panchayat Bihar Portal: CM Nitish Kumar launched the
e-Panchayat Bihar portal on October 12, 2023 + It serves as a single platform for
Zila Parishad (ZP), Panchayat Samiti, and Gram Panchayat.​

8.​ Hamāra Bihar–Hamārī Sadak (Our Bihar–Our Road) app: CM Nitish Kumar will
launch the Our Bihar–Our Road Android app + The app will provide details of
63,000 km of rural roads + It will ensure transparency and accountability +

34
 People can report potholes and damaged shoulders with photos + Officials will
fix issues within set timelines and update the status.

Persons in News

1.​ First woman fighter pilot in the Navy: Sub-Lieutenant Aastha Poonia became the
Indian Navy’s first woman fighter pilot + She received the ‘Wings of Gold’ in
Visakhapatnam + She will now fly fighter jets like the MiG-29​

2.​ Four eminent nominees to the Rajya Sabha: President Droupadi Murmu
nominated four eminent members to the Rajya Sabha + Among them is Ujjwal
Nikam, who took Ajmal Kasab’s case to the death sentence + Harsh Vardhan
Shringla served as Foreign Secretary (2020–22) and Ambassador to the U.S.
(2019–20) + Meenakshi Jain is a cultural-history scholar on medieval and
colonial India + C. Sadanandan Master is linked to education and social service
and has faced political violence​

3.​ Mrs Bihar 2025 result: Aishwarya Raj was crowned Mrs Bihar 2025​

4.​ Mishri Lal Yadav’s membership revoked: The MP–MLA Court in Darbhanga on
27 May convicted BJP MLA Mishri Lal Yadav in a 2019 assault-and-robbery case
+ He was sentenced to 2 years’ imprisonment and a ₹1 lakh fine (each) +
Speaker Nand Kishore Yadav ended his Assembly membership the same day as
per rules + In the 243-member Bihar Assembly, the BJP’s strength is now 79
with one seat vacant + The BJP remains the single largest party, and RJD the
second largest​

5.​ Close commanders to Khamenei killed: Iran’s 86-year-old Supreme Leader

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei appears increasingly isolated + The deaths of IRGC chief
Hossein Salami and deputy chief Gholam Ali Rashid have weakened leadership
+ The loss of intelligence chief Gholam Al-Mahab and nuclear adviser Ali
Shamkhani has affected strategy​

35
6.​ Miss World 2025 result: Opal Suchata Chuangsri of Thailand was crowned Miss
World 2025​

7.​ ‘Tiger Man’ Valmik Thapar passes away: Wildlife expert and nature lover
Valmik Thapar died early Saturday + He was 73 + He had been battling cancer
for a long time​

8.​ Ahilyabai Jayanti: The 300th birth anniversary of Lokmata Ahilyabai Holkar
was celebrated + She was born on 31 May 1725 at Chondi, Ahmednagar
(Maharashtra)​

9.​ Anand Kumar invited to Bajana Golden Jubilee: Padma Shri Anand Kumar has
been invited on 24–25 May to New Brunswick, New Jersey for the Bajana
Golden Jubilee + This 50th event is a chance to connect the Bihar–Jharkhand
diaspora​

10.​Congrats on Sunita Williams’ return & state announcements: Chief Minister

Nitish Kumar congratulated NASA, SpaceX, and the Crew-9 team on the safe
return of Sunita Williams after 9 months​

11.​ Harvard invitation to Nitish Kumar: Nitish Kumar was invited by the Law &
Policy student group at Harvard Kennedy School for an online discussion + The
talk will be held in April on the theme “Bihar’s Vision for the Coming Decade:
Educated, Prosperous, Capable.”​

12.​Padma awardees from Bihar: The Government of India honored seven

personalities from Bihar with Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma
Shri + Folk singer Sharda Sinha was posthumously awarded Padma Vibhushan
+ Late leader Sushil Kumar Modi received Padma Bhushan + IPS Acharya
Kishore Kunal was posthumously awarded Padma Shri + Bhim Singh Bhavesh,
Nirmala Devi, Dr. Hemant Kumar, and Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj
received Padma Shri​

36
13.​Aparajita Singh’s karate achievement: Aparajita Singh won silver in the 68 kg
kumite at the All-India Inter-University Karate Championship at Maharshi
Dayanand University, Rohtak + She won bronze at the 2023 National School
Games (Karate) + The Bihar Government honored her with the Bihar Khel
Samman + Training since 2013, Aparajita holds a black belt + She has won
medals at state and national levels​

14.​Ruby Chaudhary awarded Union Home Minister’s Medal: Ruby Chaudhary

received the Union Home Minister’s Medal​

15.​Recommendation of Bharat Ratna for Acharya Kishore Kunal: Union Minister

Jitan Ram Manjhi wrote to President Droupadi Murmu recommending Acharya
Kishore Kunal for the Bharat Ratna + A 1972-batch IPS officer, he played key
roles in social and religious reforms + The Mahavir Mandir Trust (est. 1998)
launched the Mahavir Cancer Institute & Research Centre for cancer patients +
The Trust is building the Viraat Ramayan Mandir in East Champaran​

16.​Grierson who gave Maithili its recognition: George Abraham Grierson recognized
Maithili as an independent language + During Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s tenure,
Maithili entered the Eighth Schedule + In Mithilanchal, Grierson Bazaar exists
today and earlier there was Grierson Ganj​

17.​Case of nurse Nimisha in Yemen: Indian nurse Nimisha Priya has been
imprisoned in Yemen since 2017 + A lower court there gave her the death
sentence in 2020 + The Supreme Judicial Council upheld it in 2023 + President
Rashad al-Alimi has now approved it + India is providing all possible assistance
+ MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal shared the update​

18.​First ‘Gen Beta’ baby in Aizawl: At 12:03 am on 1 January 2025, a 3.12-kg baby
Frankie was born at Synod Hospital, Aizawl (Mizoram) + This is the country’s
first ‘Gen Beta’ baby + ‘Gen Beta’ refers to children born 2025–2039 + As per
Mark McCrindle, by 2035 this cohort will be 16% of the global population​

37
19.​U.S. Congressman swore on the Gita: The swearing-in ceremony was held in
Washington + Indian-origin Democratic Congressman Subhash Subramanian
became the first MP from East Coast Virginia + He took the oath of office and
secrecy with his hand on the Bhagavad Gita + His mother was present at the
oath​

20.​Parliament visit: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto was Chief Guest at

India’s Republic Day celebrations on Saturday + He praised the Parliament
building’s architecture + He discussed the parliamentary system with Lok Sabha
Speaker Om Birla + India–Indonesia ties are 1,000 years old + Cultural links
reflected in the Ramayana–Mahabharata have deepened over time​

21.​140th birth anniversary of Rajendra Babu: The 140th birth anniversary of India’s
first President Dr. Rajendra Prasad (3 December 1884, born Ziradei, Siwan) was
celebrated + The event took place on Tuesday in the garden of Sadaqat Ashram,
Patna​

22.​Dalai Lama birthday conference in Bodh Gaya: A three-day international

conference was held in Bodh Gaya on the 90th birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama +
Buddhist monks, scholars, and nuns from 13 countries participated​

23.​Sahitya Akademi Award 2024 to Mahendra Malangiya: Chief Minister Nitish

Kumar congratulated Mahendra Malangiya on the Sahitya Akademi Award 2024
+ The award is in Maithili (essay ‘Prabandh Sangrah’ category) + Malangiya
hails from Rahika block, Madhubani​

24.​Dr. Manmohan Singh passes away: Former Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh
died at AIIMS on the night of 26 December at age 92 + He served as Prime
Minister (2004–14) and was pivotal in the 1991 economic liberalization + The
government has cancelled all programs and will declare seven days of national
mourning​

25.​Youngest ever IPL shortlist: Vaibhav Suryavanshi from Bihar became the world’s
youngest cricketer to be shortlisted for the IPL auction at age 13 + He has also

38
 been selected for the India Under-19 team​

Important One Liners

1.​ Inauguration of Bihar’s ‘Bikram Lock Canal Solar Project’: in Patna + the state’s
first canal-side solar energy project + set up under Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali
campaign + a 2 MW green plant​

2.​ India’s first mobile-based e-voting launched by Bihar: debut in municipal

elections + via the E-SECBHR app + developed by C-DAC and the State Election
Commission + enables remote voting for migrants, elderly, pregnant and persons
with disabilities​

3.​ India exports first indigenously built locomotives to Guinea: 150 rail engines
worth ₹3,000 crore for the Simfer Simandou mining project + built in Bihar
under Make in India + world-class safety & performance + strengthens India’s
reach in Africa and Atmanirbhar Bharat​

4.​ India’s Fertility Rate — SRS 2021: TFR 2.0 in 2021 (same as 2020) + Bihar 3.0
(highest) + Delhi & West Bengal 1.4 (lowest) + most populous states now at or
below replacement (2.1) + women’s average marriage age 22.5 years (up from
19.3 in 1990)​

5.​ Financial Health Index 2025: released by NITI Aayog on 24 Jan 2025 in New
Delhi + 18 states assessed on revenue collection, expenditure management, debt
sustainability + Top 3: Odisha (67.8), Chhattisgarh (55.2), Goa (53.6) + Bihar 13th
among 18 (Performer category) + Karnataka flagged for expenditure quality &
debt management challenges + aligned with “Viksit Bharat @ 2047”​

6.​ Bihar–UK FTA gains: 0% import duty on 95% agricultural products + boost to
exports of Basmati, Katarnī rice, Muzaffarpur litchi + better prices for farmers
producing 80% of India’s makhana + zero duty on Bhagalpuri silk & Sikki craft
to raise artisans’ margins + Bihar exports in FY 2024-25: ₹17,283 crore (₹638

39
 crore higher YoY)​

7.​ India’s second-longest cable-stayed bridge at Shivamogga: inaugurated by Nitin

Gadkari + spans Sharavathi backwaters between Ambargodlu–Kalasevalli in
Sagar tehsil, Karnataka​

8.​ Vice President’s resignation: Jagdeep Dhankhar resigned on health grounds on

Monday night + term ran till 10 Aug 2027 + cited Article 67(A) + 74 years old;
had angioplasty at AIIMS in March 2025 + VP election by Lok Sabha & Rajya
Sabha members via proportional representation + no fixed timeline to fill
vacancy, typically early polls + during vacancy, Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman
acts as Presiding Officer​

9.​ Significance of Article 143(1): empowers the President to seek the Supreme
Court’s advisory opinion on questions of constitutional or public importance +
Court hears and returns its opinion to the President​

10.​Cruelty as a ground for divorce: Bombay High Court denied wife relief + refusal
of conjugal relations held cruelty + suspicion of husband’s illicit affair also
treated as cruelty + couple married 2013, separated Dec 2014 + in 2015, husband
got divorce from Pune Family Court on cruelty; woman’s appeal dismissed​

11.​ Vijay fights hunger with a ‘Roti Bank’: entrepreneur Vijay Pathak founded Roti
Bank + for 2.5 years, providing free home-cooked meals to about 200 needy
people visiting RIMS​

12.​Aadhaar Seeding for Children: 5–10-year-olds to be seeded with Aadhaar + direct

benefit transfer to the child’s bank account + each child to have own account
and can view/manage funds​

13.​New law for gig workers in Jharkhand: cabinet approved Jharkhand

Platform-Based Gig Workers (Registration & Welfare) Bill, 2025 + formation of Gig
Workers’ Welfare Board + protection & welfare fund for about 50,000 workers of

40
 Zomato, Swiggy, Ola, Uber​

14.​Scolding is not abetment to suicide: Supreme Court ruled reprimand ≠ abetment

+ school and hostel in-charge acquitted + Madras HC order set aside + bench:
Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah & Prashant Kumar Mishra​

15.​Government-assisted marigold farming: 50% subsidy (₹40,000/ha) + ₹6.35 crore

sanctioned for this year + unit cost ₹80,000/ha​

16.​New law for gig workers in Jharkhand: repeat — cabinet passed Gig Workers
(Registration & Welfare) Bill, 2025 + Welfare Board + protection fund for ~50,000
platform workers (Zomato/Swiggy/Ola/Uber)​

17.​Caste census announced: Union Government to include caste enumeration in the

next Census + first since 1931 + the decadal Census postponed due to COVID-19
to be conducted now​

18.​Suspicious death of a tigress: about 10-year-old tigress found dead in Panna

Tiger Reserve (Umarjhara beat) + senior forest officer: cause unclear; prima facie
looks like fight with another tiger​

19.​ECI’s 21 new initiatives: in the last 100 days, Election Commission of India
simplified processes + booth size reduced from 1,500 to 1,200 voters + polling
station to be within 2 km + death registration data to remove deceased voters​

20.​Supreme Court on footpath safety: right to walk on pavements is part of Article

21 + bench Justices Abhay S. Oka & Ujjal Bhuyan in S. Rajaseekaran v. Union of
India directed States/UTs to frame pedestrian-safety guidelines in 2 months +
19.5% of road deaths are pedestrians; encroachments to be removed + National
Road Safety Board to be set up within 6 months​

21.​India’s 6G & 5G progress: India among the top six countries filing 6G patents +
terahertz band promises 1 Tbps (~100× 5G) speeds​

41
22.​Sixth semiconductor plant at Jewar: Union Cabinet approved a new
semiconductor plant at Jewar (Noida) + slated to be operational by 2027​

23.​President’s 14 questions to the Supreme Court: President Droupadi Murmu

sought opinion under Article 143(1) + on 8 Apr 2025 ruling treating withheld
Tamil Nadu bills as approved within 3 months under Article 142 + asks if
judiciary can set time-limits without constitutional provision, akin to a
constitutional amendment, or intervene in legislative processes + concerns over
federal structure, executive independence, and review under Article 361​

24.​Oxygen-free multicellular parasite discovered: Prof. Dorothee Huchon’s team at

Tel Aviv University found Henneguya salminicola + a jellyfish-coral family
member in salmon muscle + lacks mitochondrial genome; survives without
oxygen; likely taps host cells/anaerobic energy​

25.​Key 2011 Census figures: rural population 833 million (68.84%) + urban 377
million (31.16%) + density 382 persons/km² + sex ratio 940 + literacy 74.04% +
1951 counted only SC/ST + last caste census 1931​

26.​E-Zero FIR initiative: in Delhi, cyber financial losses > ₹10 lakh reported on
NCRP/1930 will auto-generate e-zero FIRs + sent immediately to regional cyber
police stations + within 3 days, complainants can convert to regular FIR​

27.​OROP full pension for High Court judges: Supreme Court ordered full pension
under One Rank One Pension for all High Court judges + pension can’t vary by
appointment/promotion route or date (Article 14) + Chief Justices to receive ₹15
lakh/year pension​

28.​Kamal Haasan’s Rajya Sabha candidacy: MNM nominated Kamal Haasan for 19
June RS elections + 70-year-old to become member for the first time + founder
of MNM​

29.​Landmark ruling on maternity leave: Supreme Court held maternity benefits are
part of reproductive rights + Govt cannot deny leave for a third child +

42
 overturned Madras HC’s two-child limit + bench: Justices Abhay S. Oka & Ujjal
Bhuyan + maternity leave is a statutory right​

30.​Turtles in crisis: World Turtle Day — 23 May highlights risks + 350+ species
worldwide; about 60% threatened + in India, Indian Star Tortoise, Red-crowned
Roofed Turtle, Northern River Terrapin endangered + Olive Ridley travels
thousands of km to nest on Odisha coast​

31.​Repair plan for aging barrages: Water Resources Dept okayed health checks &
repairs of 50+-year-old Kosi (Birpur), Gandak (Valmikinagar), Sone (Indrapuri)
barrages + they withstood 2024 floods’ second-highest water level + built under
India–Nepal agreements (1954, 1959)​

32.​Tobacco: deaths & use in India: globally, 1 death every 10 seconds + in India,
~42% men & 14% women use tobacco + WHO: 260 million Indians 15+ consume
tobacco + >1.3 million deaths annually in India + >5 trillion cigarettes consumed
globally​

33.​Challenges in Bihar’s tea industry: 5th in India by production + 10,000 ha under

tea in Kishanganj + lack of processing units in Kishanganj–Thakurganj pushes
leaves to Siliguri market + leads to revenue loss for the state + no Bihar
representative on Tea Board of India​

34.​GI tag process update (Bihar): applications started for Pidiya Painting and
Sonachur rice at BAU Sabour GI Facilitation Centre with NABARD + hearings
completed for 6 items: Chinia banana (Hajipur), Bawanbuti (Nalanda), Khurma
(Udwantnagar), Gaya Tilkut, Pattharkatti, Balushahi (Sitamarhi) + 13 GI products
registered so far in Bihar​

35.​Sone river water dispute: Jharkhand sought share of Sone waters from Bihar +
linked to 1978 Bansagar river water agreement​

36.​Anaemia in India: 57% women anaemic + >53% children 6–59 months affected +
low haemoglobin reduces oxygen transport + iron deficiency & malaria are key

43
 causes in low-income countries​

37.​Rising women’s participation: 73rd/74th Amendments ensure 33% reservation in

local bodies + 46.6% of panchayat seats now held by women (Uttarakhand 56%)
+ women are 14% in the judiciary, 6% in the Supreme Court + national literacy
78%​

38.​SC classification in Telangana: first state to implement SC sub-classification +

Oct 2024 commission led by Justice Shameem Akther + Govt says higher SC
population share in Census will raise reservation​

39.​Poverty reduction success: World Bank: 171 million exited extreme poverty
(2011-12 → 2022-23) + poverty fell 16.2% → 2.3% + rural 18.4% → 2.8%, urban 10.7%
→ 1.1%​

40.​IndiGo becomes world’s most valuable airline: market cap $23.4 billion +
overtook Delta Air Lines​

41.​President’s Rule in Manipur: Parliament passed the statutory resolution by voice

vote​

42.​Launch of ‘Mahila Samvad’: CM Nitish Kumar launched in Patna + 70,000

venues over 2 months + 2 crore+ women to participate + 600 awareness vehicles
with video screens + suggestions to be acted on at block/district/department
levels​

43.​India’s solar-energy surge: India now 3rd-largest renewable provider after China
& USA + crossed 100.33 GW installed + aiming 500 GW non-fossil capacity by
2030​

44.​10 Tamil Nadu bills deemed laws without Governor’s assent: Supreme Court held
withheld bills (since 2020) effective from presentation date + Governor cannot
reserve for President after repassage​

44
45.​Development of three industrial areas: under MSME Cluster Development:
Dharmapur (Darbhanga), Murliganj (Madhepura), Saharsa​

46.​Abolition of Jagirdari: Govt formed a committee under Shri Venkatachari to

probe Jagirdari in Rajasthan & Madhya Bharat + jagirdars oppressed subjects
with arbitrary taxes/fees + many held civil/criminal powers​

47.​Gita & Natyashastra in UNESCO’s Memory of the World Register: manuscripts of

Bhagavad Gita and Bharatamuni’s Natyashastra included + India now has 14
inscriptions in the Register​

48.​Order to Governors to follow the Constitution: Supreme Court said Governors

cannot indefinitely withhold bills + termed TN Governor R.N. Ravi’s actions
unconstitutional/illegal + bench set timelines for action on 10 bills​

49.​Bihar’s Guinness World Records: 50 artists created the largest Madhubani

painting in 50 hours + 375 monks set a record with singing bowls at Mahabodhi
Temple + certificates presented to CM; Padma Shri Baua Devi honored​

50.​Row over changing the rupee symbol: Tamil Nadu used Tamil ‘ரூ’ in its budget
logo instead of ₹ + ‘ரூ’ denotes “ru” in Tamil + move tied to three-language
policy and anti-Hindi stance​

51.​Handwritten budget presented: Chhattisgarh Finance Minister O. P. Choudhary

tabled a 100-page handwritten budget — a first​

52.​Life expectancy rises in Bihar: at birth up 3.7 years from 65.8 → 69.5 + in
2016-20, women’s expectancy 69 years, equal to men​

53.​Reservoir status in Bihar: only 19% water remaining + Tripura 68%, Jharkhand
57%, Assam 45%, Odisha 46%, West Bengal 44%, Nagaland 35% + levels improved
in Assam/WB/Tripura, declined in Jharkhand/Odisha, no change in Nagaland​

45
54.​Increase in OBC reservation (Telangana): Govt moving to 42% reservation in
education & employment + current OBC quota 23%​

55.​NTPC’s adoption initiative: NTPC Eastern Region-I adopted four animals at

Patna Zoo (white tiger, female elephant, lion cub, Himalayan bear) and two bird
enclosures​

56.​Saharsa station upgrade: included 3 years ago under Amrit Bharat + set to be
Bihar’s first ‘developed’ station + work ongoing at 97 other stations + Danapur &
Patliputra Jn. added last year​

57.​Only Parliament can amend the SC list: Supreme Court held changes to
Scheduled Castes list rest solely with Parliament; courts cannot alter it​

58.​US ‘Gold Card’ plan: Donald Trump proposes replacing the 35-year-old investor
visa with a $5 million ‘Gold Card’ + holders eligible for citizenship + aimed at
attracting wealthy, successful individuals​

59.​Three Guinness records at the Mahakumbh: Mahakumbh achieved three

Guinness World Records​

60.​World academic ranking update: 10 new countries’ institutions added + Chile,

Malaysia, Poland, Portugal included + Harvard No. 1 for 14th year + Oxford & MIT
at No. 2 + 6 US institutions in Top 10 + IISc fell from 101–125 → 201–300; IIT
Delhi & IIT Madras also 201–300 (2023: 151–175 & 176–200) + Shiksha ‘O’
Anusandhan new entrant at 201–300 + IIT Bombay dropped out​

61.​Judge recuses from coal-scam hearings: Justice K. V. Viswanathan stepped

aside, having earlier appeared as counsel in one case + now a three-judge bench
will decide pending matters​

62.​Railway projects & high-speed train: PM inaugurated a new railway division in

Jammu via video conference + dedicated Charlapalli Terminal in Telangana​

46
63.​New LCO registration rules: I&B Ministry notified amendments to Cable TV
Network Rules, 1994 (effective Friday) + ₹5,000 processing fee + online, pan-India
valid LCO registration + apply for registration/renewal 90 days before expiry​

64.​High Court on loudspeakers: Bombay HC held loudspeakers are not essential to

any religion + ordered strict action for noise-norm violations + UP court had a
similar order earlier​

65.​UCC & opening of National Games: Uniform Civil Code to be implemented in

Uttarakhand from 27 Jan 2024 + on 28 Jan, PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate
the 38th National Games​

66.​Women’s reservation & development in Bihar: since 2013, 35% reservation in

police recruitment → highest share of women in Bihar Police + since 2016, 35%
reservation in all government jobs​

67.​Ganga: lower oxygen & higher BOD: CPCB reports surface BOD doubled
(1981→2024), raising hypoxia risk​

68.​Women’s Gram Sabhas & wage payments: for the first time on 8 March, 8,053
panchayats to hold Women’s Gram Sabhas + chaired by women representatives
(50% reserved) to select schemes​

69.​World’s largest data center in Gujarat: Reliance building a 3 GW data center in

Jamnagar + global DC capacity demand to triple by 2030 to 219 GW + 7,500+ DCs
now use 508 TWh/year + Microsoft (Virginia) 600 MW (122 MW under
construction) currently largest​

70.​India objects on Ladakh & US NSA visit: MEA objected to China creating two
counties in Hotan with parts in Aksai Chin (Ladakh) + said it won’t legitimize
illegal occupation nor affect sovereignty + EAM met Antony Blinken and NSA
Jake Sullivan during US visit​

47
71.​Hiranya Parvat archaeological survey: ASI inspected Hiranya Parvat +
excavations may reveal Buddhist-era evidence​

72.​Genome sequencing data released: PM Modi released 10,000 Indians’ genome

data + a milestone for biotechnology + to aid treatment of genetic/infectious
diseases​

73.​Lauren Powell Jobs’ first ‘Amrit Snan’ at Mahakumbh: to take a holy dip on
Makar Sankranti at the Sangam with Swami Kailashanand Giri + $11 billion net
worth + given the name “Kamala” by her guru​

74.​India’s surge in billionaires: 185 billionaires; doubled since 2015 — 3rd globally​

75.​Bio-bitumen highway inaugurated: Nitin Gadkari opened India’s first

bio-bitumen highway on NH-44 in Nagpur + uses tar from crop residue​

76.​Luma Learn book series: Mitshyor launched Luma Learn for pre-primary,
inspired by NCERT’s ‘Jaadui Pitara’ + designed for play-based learning &
Panchakosha development + teachers can use tools & toys from Jaadui Pitara​

77.​World’s longest Mithila painting: at Madhubani Chitrakala Institute, 910 artists

created a 1,900-ft Mithila painting in one day​

78.​World Meditation Day proposal: to observe 21 December annually + UNGA (193

members) adopted by consensus + initiated by India, Liechtenstein, Sri Lanka,
Nepal, Mexico, Andorra​

79.​Aadhaar free-update window extended: free updates now till 14 June 2025 + can
change photo, address, gender, name, DOB, mobile, email + offline update fee ₹50,
but myAadhaar portal free​

80.​Bihar 2047 Vision Conclave: Season 2 on 22 Dec at Bharat Mandapam, New

Delhi + 600+ Bihar-based entrepreneurs/startups to attend + under ‘Let’s Inspire

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 Bihar’ launched 22 Mar 2021 by IPS Vikas Vaibhav​

81.​‘One Nation, One Election’ Bill introduced: tabled by Law Minister Arjun Ram
Meghwal in Lok Sabha + sent to JPC + to apply from 2029 + Lok Sabha to have
5-year fixed term; all Assemblies to end with Lok Sabha + votes 269 in favour,
198 against + two-phase elections + single electoral roll​

82.​PM attends ‘The Sabarmati Report’ screening: at Parliament House’s Balayogi

Auditorium + film stars Vikrant Massey, based on 27 Feb 2002 Godhra S-6 coach
fire + before screening, Massey announced a break from acting​

83.​75% reservation in private sector stayed: Jharkhand HC stayed the Jharkhand

State Employment of Local Candidates in Private Sector Companies Act, 2021 +
cited Punjab & Haryana HC precedent​

84.​Constitution in Maithili & Sanskrit: President Droupadi Murmu released Maithili

and Sanskrit translations + Maithili is in the Eighth Schedule + first-ever book
edition of the Constitution in Maithili + Bihar Govt approved Maithili as a
Classical Language; urged Centre to notify + contributions by Atal Bihari
Vajpayee & Nitish Kumar noted​

85.​Bihar Tourist Information Centre in Varanasi: to open at Sri Kashi Vishwanath

Temple Chowk, Emporium Building (784 sq ft) + to guide domestic & foreign
tourists on Bihar destinations​

86.​Semiconductor project approval in UP: UP Cabinet okayed Vama Sundari

Investment’s project on 50 acres near Jewar in Yamuna Expressway Industrial
Area​

87.​Oscar-qualifying short film: FTII student Chidananda S. Naik made “Sunflowers

Were the First Ones to Know” + qualified for Oscars 2024 (Live Action Short)​

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88.​British Museum to return Thirumangai Alvar idol: museum agreed to return the
bronze idol to Tamil Nadu​

89.​Sita Circuit in Nepal: to be developed on the lines of the Ramayana Circuit + will
include birthplace, swayamvar site, bow-breaking site, wedding venue, and
palace​

90.​CISF’s first all-women battalion: MHA approved a full women’s battalion with
all ranks women​

91.​Announcement of ‘Gaurav Upvan’: PM Modi announced Birsa Munda Janjati

Gaurav Upvans nationwide + each to plant 500–1,000 trees + to preserve tribal
traditions​

92.​Cyclone ‘Fengal’ alert for South India: cyclone formed in the Bay of Bengal​

93.​Gender Forums to prevent violence against women: to be set up in 8,000

panchayats + to address domestic violence, child marriage, sex-ratio issues +
operated via JEEViKA Didi Adhikar Kendra across 174 blocks​

94.​Postal Department’s new postcard initiative: Bihar Circle formed the first
Postcrossing Society in North-East India​

95.​Guidelines for coaching advertisements: Centre curbs misleading ads for

institutes with 50+ students + 100% selection/job-guarantee claims banned +
must disclose course duration/content + accurate teacher details mandatory +
transparent fees/refund policies​

96.​RCP Singh’s new party: former Union Minister launched “Aap Sab Ki Awaaz,
Party” (ASAP)​

97.​Lymphoma: risks, types, treatment: NIH reports rising cases among 7 months–14
years + two main types: Hodgkin (HL) & Non-Hodgkin (NHL) + symptoms: fever,

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 night sweats, fatigue, painless swollen lumps, etc.​

98.​PM’s address at HT Leadership Summit 2024: Saturday, PM Narendra Modi to

speak at Hindustan Times 100th anniversary event + 22nd edition + major
figures from politics, sports, business, science to attend​

99.​Future of flex-fuel vehicles: several Indian automakers to launch by end-2024 +

run on petrol–ethanol (E0–E100) + with minor engine tweaks, perform like
regular petrol models​

Science & Technology

1.​ Perseverance sets Mars distance record: The Perseverance rover set a new
record by traveling 411 meters on Mars in a single continuous drive + It
surpassed Opportunity (220 m) and Curiosity (214 m) records + With improved
self-driving software, it chooses its path by taking its own images + The rover is
collecting rock and soil samples.​

2.​ Successful test of NISAR mission: ISRO conducted a successful test of the NISAR
mission from Sriharikota, Andhra Pradesh + It will collect data on atmosphere,
water, forests, and agriculture on Earth + The ISRO–NASA partnership will
further strengthen space cooperation.​

3.​ Cell-like vesicles on Titan: NASA noted that lakes on Titan, Saturn’s largest
moon, are filled with ethane and methane + A new study says vesicles,
microscopic structures essential for life, could form there.​

4.​ Agriculture research in space: Shubhanshu Shukla spent 18 days on the ISS
during the Axiom-4 mission + He germinated mung and fenugreek seeds in
Petri dishes and stored them in a freezer.​

5.​ Nayara Energy vs Microsoft: Microsoft stopped services to Nayara Energy,

backed by Rosneft, due to EU sanctions + Nayara Energy filed a lawsuit against
Microsoft in the Delhi High Court + The company says access to its paid-license

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 data and tools has been blocked.​

6.​ LIC launched two new plans: LIC, under CEO Satpal Bhanu, launched two
plans—Nav Jeevan Shri and Nav Jeevan Shri Single Premium.​

7.​ NISAR satellite launch: The ISRO–NASA NISAR satellite will launch on 30 July
from Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota + The 2,392-kg satellite will be
sent to a 743 km orbit by the GSLV-F16 rocket + NISAR is the world’s first
satellite to use SweepSAR technology.​

8.​ Starlink cleared to offer internet in India: IN-SPACe granted Elon Musk’s
Starlink a license for satellite internet in India + Speeds can range from 100
Mbps to 1 Gbps (depends on weather/location) + Considered faster and more
stable than typical broadband/mobile networks + The service requires a dish
and router.​

9.​ Successful test of Pralay missile: DRDO successfully tested the Pralay missile
twice + It can strike up to 500 km in a matter of minutes.​

10.​Private space-station race: Axiom-4 promises hotel-like amenities and science

labs + Includes drug/vaccine R&D, fiber optics, semiconductor manufacturing, a
film studio, and real-time calls + Challenges include radiation protection,
emergency medical support, and supply-chain logistics + Gaganyaan (2027): 3
Indian astronauts to spend 3 days in LEO, making India the 4th
human-spaceflight nation + ISRO’s station targeted by 2035: 20-ton mass, 400
km altitude, 15–20 days capacity + Private stations—Axiom (~$3B), Blue Origin
($2–3B), Starlab ($2.8–3.3B), Haven-1 ($10–20B)—focus on research, tourism,
manufacturing, and film shoots + The ISS retires in 2030 + These private
stations will open a new chapter of human presence in space.​

11.​ Jetpack-powered humanoid robot: The Italian Institute of Technology developed

the world’s first jetpack-powered humanoid robot + Named iRonCub Mk3 +
Weighs about 22 kg.​

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12.​India’s return to space: Shubhanshu Shukla headed to the ISS + Part of the
Axiom-4 mission with three other astronauts + Launched at 12:00 pm IST from
Kennedy Space Center on SpaceX Falcon-9 + Reached the ISS in 28 hours at
Thursday 4:30 am + Will stay 14 days on ISS to conduct 60 experiments +
Studies include effects on seeds of six crops + India returned to human
spaceflight after 41 years.​

13.​Hollowing of glaciers: In the Alps, including Switzerland’s Rhône Glacier,

tunnels and pits are forming + With rapid warming, glaciers are not just melting
but becoming hollow from within.​

14.​Shubhanshu’s space journey: Indian astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla has reached

space + This is the second Indian human spaceflight after Rakesh Sharma 41
years ago + After several delays, the mission departed on 25 June + The
Axiom-4 mission showcases cooperation among the USA, Poland, and Hungary
+ Launched at 12:01 pm IST on 25 June from Kennedy Space Center.​

15.​Shubhanshu’s flight on AX-4 mission: After 41 years, Group Captain Shubhanshu

Shukla will be the first Indian to step onto the space station + A joint mission of
NASA, SpaceX, and ISRO + The Crew Dragon capsule will launch on 11 June
from Kennedy Space Center + The four-member crew will be led by Peggy
Whitson (665 days on ISS) + 60 experiments on ISS, 7 from India + Shukla will
interact with the Prime Minister, schoolchildren, and teachers + Crew Dragon
has 8 SuperDraco engines, supports autonomous docking, and costs ₹500 crore +
This experience will prepare an astronaut for Gaganyaan 2027.​

16.​Bansagar water dispute: Jharkhand has demanded 50% of its 2.75 million
acre-feet share under the agreement + A technical committee headed by the
Central Water Commission has been formed + The Bansagar reservoir is in
Madhya Pradesh and supplies irrigation water to UP, MP, and Bihar.​

17.​Ban on ripening fruits with chemicals: Under the Food Safety Act, only naturally
ripened fruits may be sold + Ripening with carbide and acetylene is illegal +
Violations carry penalties/fines + Yet the Food Preservation Department does not

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 take market samples + Hence chemical ripening often goes undetected.​

18.​Risk from solar-panel waste: Solar panels contain heavy metals like lead,
cadmium, and arsenic + Improper disposal can contaminate soil and
groundwater + Unscientific burning releases toxic gases + The Central Pollution
Control Board has issued guidelines.​

19.​Mini cold storage (SunFridge) for women farmers: JEEViKA groups will set up
mini cold storages (SunFridge) in 24 districts + Each unit costs about ₹20 lakh +
Runs entirely on solar power + Built with U.S. technology + Stores 5,000–10,000
kg of fruits, flowers, and vegetables for several days.​

20.​Cybersecurity operations center: Maharashtra State Co-operative Bank set up the

country’s first cyber security operations center + Named C-SOC + Located at
Vashi, Navi Mumbai, cost ₹50 crore, part of Sahakar Suraksha + Aims to protect
against cyber fraud.​

21.​Oil reserves in Andaman: A large crude oil and gas deposit is indicated in the
Andaman Sea + Estimated at around two lakh crore litres of oil + If confirmed,
India’s GDP could rise by ~5× + Could be comparable to Guyana’s 11.6 billion
barrels.​

22.​Computer training for inmates: The Home Department signed an agreement

with NIELIT to provide practical training in MS Word, Tally, and PowerPoint to
prison inmates.​

23.​India leads in ChatGPT usage: AI adoption is rising rapidly in India + About 1

billion searches daily + ChatGPT is said to be 5.5× faster than Google +
Completed 365 billion searches in 2 years vs 9 years for Google + India’s 13.5%
share of ChatGPT users vs U.S. 8.9%, Indonesia 5.7% + It is the most-downloaded
chatbot globally.​

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24.​World’s tallest 3D-printed building: The tallest 3D-printed building stands in
Zurich + The 98.5-ft concrete structure is called Tor Alva.​

25.​6G wireless symposium for Atmanirbhar Bharat: IIT Patna (Electrical

Engineering) hosted an international 6G symposium + In collaboration with
IEEE, Bharat 6G Alliance, C-DAC, Ministry of Communications, and MeitY + Aim:
spur research, innovation, and policy dialogue.​

26.​LiDAR remote-sensing technology: LiDAR uses laser beams to measure distance

and shape + Provides 3D maps, elevation, and atmospheric data + Can measure
length, width, height of Kila Maidan fort walls + Helps size ancient structures.​

27.​Security guidelines for Starlink: The Ministry of Communications issued

security guidelines for satellite broadband licenses + Services must be restricted
for certain customers/regions on agency inputs + Ensure geo-fencing accuracy
in prohibited areas + Provide service per Survey of India maps in
border/sensitive regions + Starlink agreed to set up servers/gateways in India
and comply with border provisions.​

28.​Digital access as a fundamental right: The Supreme Court recognized access to

digital services as a fundamental right + Ordered banking and e-governance
services be ensured for acid-attack survivors and persons with visual
impairment.​

29.​Meta’s new AI app launched: Meta launched a new AI app to rival ChatGPT +
Based on the LLaMA 4 model + Users can see others’ AI use in a Discover feed +
Talk via voice + Facebook/Instagram links give personalized suggestions + The
app is open-source and free.​

30.​ISRO satellite mission failed: ISRO’s 101st mission, PSLV-C61, was launched +
Carried EOS-09 Earth-observation satellite + Lifted off from Sriharikota at 5:59
am + Normal through Stage-2 + A pressure issue in Stage-3 caused failure.​

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31.​Global Food Crisis 2025 report: In 2024, about 300 million people in 53 countries
faced severe hunger + 13.7 million more than 2023 + Sixth straight year of
worsening + 140 million affected by conflict/violence + About 23% lacked
adequate, safe food + From the UN’s 2025 report.​

32.​Key features of EOS-9 satellite: ISRO will strengthen border/coastal surveillance

with EOS-9 + To be placed at 529 km by PSLV-C61 XL + Equipped with C-band
SAR + Provides high-resolution images day/night, all weather.​

33.​BAVSU adopted two villages: Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna adopted
two villages under Farmer FIRST + The villages: Senduari and Sidhauli (Vaishali
district, Hajipur block).​

34.​Natural farming scheme: In Bihar, natural farming will be implemented via

groups/FPOs in all districts + Each cluster: 125 farmers, with up to 1 acre support
per farmer + Assistance of ₹4,000/ha.​

35.​Turning lead into gold: In CERN’s ALICE, scientists collided lead (82 protons)
nuclei, ejecting 3 protons + The remaining 79-proton nucleus became gold-like +
Electromagnetic dissociation yields extremely unstable gold that decays almost
instantly.​

36.​Charging-station app & service-area development: 72,000 new EV charging

stations in the next year + BHEL named nodal agency + BHEL will build a
super-app listing every station.​

37.​World Health Day & maternal-child health: World Health Day is observed on 7
April + WHO theme: “Healthy beginnings, hopeful future.”​

38.​Dr. K. Kasturirangan’s contributions to space: K. Kasturirangan contributed to

PSLV and GSLV launches + Awards: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma
Vibhushan + Honored by IASc, INSA, TWAS + Studied cosmic X-ray and
gamma-ray sources.​

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39.​Agricultural reforms in India: About 60% of people live in rural areas and depend
on agriculture + Agriculture contributes 18% to GDP + Kisan Credit Card loans +
PM-Kisan support + Per Drop More Crop water savings + Micro-irrigation cuts
costs + High-quality seeds lift yields + Soil Health Card trims fertilizer use +
eNAM enables fair-price direct sales + Crop insurance covers disasters.​

40.​Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital gets NABH accreditation: Mahavir Mandir Nyas-run

Mahavir Vatsalya Hospital received NABH status + North India’s first charitable
hospital with NABH.​

41.​POEM-4 re-entry success: ISRO’s PSLV Orbital Platform Experiment Module

(POEM-4) re-entered Earth’s atmosphere + A major step against space debris.​

42.​Axiom-4: Tardigrades space experiment: Under ISRO’s Axiom-4,

tardigrades—Earth’s hardiest organisms—will go to space + With NASA, pilot
Shubhanshu Shukla will participate + 14 days on the ISS in May + Study:
Voyager Tardigrades + Effects of cosmic radiation on DNA protection, repair,
reproduction + Boosts astronaut safety for Gaganyaan and future missions.​

43.​World’s tallest Huajiang Grand Canyon bridge: Built over the Beipan River +
Clouds appear up close + Will connect rural areas and ease transport + Will
boost tourism.​

44.​Successful de-docking of SPADEx satellites: ISRO launched SPADEx on 30 Dec

2023 + On 16 Jan 2024, the two satellites docked successfully + De-docking
succeeded at 460 km, 45° inclination.​

45.​Age of Shiv Shakti Point: The Shiv Shakti Point near the Moon’s south pole was
studied + ISRO dated it to 3.5 billion years + Published in Nature: “India’s Moon
landing site dated to the dawn of life on Earth.” + Chandrayaan-3 landed here
on 23 Aug 2023 with Vikram and Pragyan + 25 craters analyzed using LRO
cameras.​

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46.​Sunita’s selfie in space: NASA astronaut Sunita Williams took a selfie during her
9th spacewalk on 30 January + The ISS was 423 km above the Pacific + Her
helmet visor showed her reflection with Earth behind + NASA posted it on
Instagram, it went viral.​

47.​Introducing Grok 3: Grok 3 is 10× more powerful than Grok 2 + Strong reasoning
and creativity + Can aid searches of the cosmos and aliens + Modes: Think, Big
Brain, DeepSearch + Think solves complex physics + Big Brain builds games +
DeepSearch does deep math/science/coding + Name from Robert Heinlein’s
Stranger in a Strange Land.​

48.​Swedish company investing in India: Saab will set up a fighter aircraft plant in
India + Already built a rocket-launcher factory in India.​

49.​DeepSeek vs Indian AI: China’s DeepSeek-R1, built with low-cost labor, stirred
debate in the U.S. + Ashwini Vaishnaw says India’s model will surpass it within
a year + India will deliver AI mindful of language, culture, and security.​

50.​ISRO’s 100th mission: ISRO completed its 100th mission + Launched navigation
satellite NVS-02 early Wednesday + Used a GSLV rocket.​

51.​Moon added to heritage list: WMF included the Moon among 25 endangered
heritage sites + List includes 90+ historic places like Tranquility Base (Neil
Armstrong, 1969) + From India: Hyderabad’s Musi riverfront and Bhuj’s
Hamirsar Lake, threatened by climate change.​

52.​Astronaut Sunita Williams’ mission: Sunita Williams and Nick Hague will
conduct two spacewalks on 16 Jan and 23 Jan 2025 + Mission: US Spacewalk 91
+ 6.5 hours outside the ISS airlock.​

53.​India’s space docking milestone: India launched SPaDEX on 30 Dec 2024 + On 12

Jan, India became the 4th country to dock/undock two satellites + Helps space
stations, satellite repair, space-debris cleanup.​

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54.​SPADEx mission highlights: ISRO will launch SPADEx from Satish Dhawan
Space Centre on PSLV-C60 + Two 220-kg craft—SDX01 (Chaser) and SDX02
(Target)—to demo docking.​

55.​Six major space missions: This year ISRO will fly two uncrewed tests within
three Gaganyaan missions + Includes Vyommitra female robot + After success,
astronauts will go for 3 days + NASA’s ESCAPE launches Feb–Mar from Cape
Canaveral + Twin probes travel 230 million miles over 11 months into Mars’
atmosphere + China’s Tianwen-2 to return 100 g asteroid sample in May +
Rocket Lab/MIT to send Venus Life Finder from New Zealand in January +
Haven-1 (on Falcon 9) with beds, gym, large window for 4 + ESA’s Space Rider
(26-ft reusable) from Guiana, 2 months in LEO.​

56.​Third Neuralink chip implant: Neuralink completed a third successful brain

implant + Elon Musk announced it in Las Vegas + 3 implants so far, patients
stable + 20–25 more by 2025 + First in 2024 on Noland Arbaugh + Aimed at
paralysis and brain-injury patients.​

57.​Key facts about HMPV: In India, HMPV accounts for 1%–19% of cases + Identified
in 2001 in the Netherlands + Second leading cause of pneumonia-like illness in
children + Spreads via contact/surfaces—use handwashing, sanitizer, masks,
distancing.​

58.​ISRO–ESA agreement: ISRO signed an agreement with ESA + Enables cooperation

in astronaut training.​

59.​IIT Madras digital human brain atlas: IIT Madras created the world’s most
detailed digital human brain atlas + Brain split into 10,000 parts with 3 PB per
brain + Helps early detection of Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, epilepsy.​

60.​Russia’s mRNA-based cancer vaccine: Russia developed an mRNA-based cancer

vaccine + To be provided free from early 2025 + Suppresses tumor growth and
triggers an immune response.​

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61.​Google’s new Android XR: Google introduced Android XR + Designed for VR
headsets and smart glasses + Powered primarily by Gemini AI.​

62.​NIT Jamshedpur’s first satellite project: NIT Jamshedpur will develop its first
satellite with ISRO + Team to develop technology, mobilize resources, plan the
launch + Alumnus Ashish Sharma was on Chandrayaan-3 + Outreach to expand
space education + Director Prof. Gautam Sutradhar assured support.​

63.​Robotic double-lung transplant: At NYU Langone (New York), the first

double-lung transplant using the da Vinci Xi robot + Successful surgery on
57-year-old Cheryl Mehrker.​

64.​Voyager-1 contacts 43-year-silent transmitter: NASA’s Voyager-1 reconnected

with a radio transmitter silent for 43 years + JPL engineers in California
activated it on 24 October + Off since 1981 + Launched in 1977 + Instruments
shut down to save power + Crossed the asteroid belt before Voyager-2.​

65.​Cervical-cancer figures: 1 in 5 global cervical-cancer patients is in India + More

common in women 40–60 + Bihar ranks 4th in cancer deaths in India.​

66.​First wooden satellite: Japan launched the first wooden satellite, LignoSat + Sent
to the ISS on a SpaceX mission + To test wood’s effectiveness for the Moon and
Mars.​

67.​Google DeepMind’s Project Vaani: Project Vaani draws on India’s linguistic

diversity + Collected dialect data nationwide + Goal: inclusive AI delivering info
in local languages.​

Economy

1.​ India’s economy hits a new milestone: India is now the world’s fourth-largest
economy + at $4.186 trillion, India has overtaken Japan + it was the 10th-largest
in 2014 + became 5th in 2019 + projected to become 3rd by 2027​

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2.​ Postage stamps on four Bihar GI products: India Post has issued a ₹5 stamp for
Muzaffarpur’s Shahi Litchi after its GI tag + ₹5 stamps also released for Zardalu
Mango (Bhagalpur), Mithila Makhana, and Magahi Paan + Acharya Chandra
Kishore Parashar, president of the North Bihar Philatelists Societies, said this
gives Bihar’s products a new identity in the philatelic world​

3.​ Women’s banking & investment: 39.2% of bank accounts are held by women +
in rural areas this is 42.2% + women hold 39.7% of total deposits​

4.​ Bank accounts for minors: The RBI now allows minors aged 10 years+ to
independently open and operate savings/fixed deposit accounts​

5.​ New tax regime: No tax up to ₹12 lakh income + new slabs: 5% on ₹4–8 lakh, 10%
on ₹8–12 lakh, 15% on ₹12–16 lakh, 20% on ₹16–20 lakh, 25% on ₹20–24 lakh, 30%
above ₹24 lakh + expected to benefit 10+ million new taxpayers + under the old
regime, income up to ₹2.5 lakh was tax-free with 80C/80D deductions + Budget
announced no change to the old regime​

6.​ Rise in the number of startups: Piyush Goyal said India could reach 1 million (10
lakh) registered startups in the next 10 years + currently 157,000 (1.57 lakh) are
registered + in 2016 there were only 450 + recognition is granted under Startup
India eligibility norms​

7.​ Super-billionaire ranking: Altrata’s list of 24 super-billionaires places Elon Musk

at #1 with $419.4B + #2–#5 are Jeff Bezos ($263.8B), Bernard Arnault ($238.9B),
Larry Ellison ($237B), Mark Zuckerberg ($220.8B) + from India: Mukesh Ambani
(#17, $90.6B) and Gautam Adani (#21, $60.6B)​

8.​ Work hours & labour laws in India: Average work is 170 hours/month with low
productivity + labour law mandates 9 hours/day + overtime pays 2× wages for
blue-collar workers + white-collar overtime rules are ambiguous + wages are
generally low​

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9.​ UPI cap removed for WhatsApp Pay: NPCI has immediately removed the
user-onboarding cap on WhatsApp Pay + earlier limit was 100 million users +
now UPI services can reach all users in India​

10.​Eighth Pay Commission approved: The Central Government has approved

formation of the 8th Pay Commission + recommendations to take effect from
January 2026 + benefits for about 4.5 million (45 lakh) serving and 6.8 million
(68 lakh) pensioners + 7th CPC applied from January 2016, adding ₹1 lakh crore
in expenditure​

11.​ Women’s unemployment & skills gap: 56.7% of women are unemployed + many
lack jobs or skills​

12.​GST ‘track & trace’ mechanism: The GST Council approved a track-and-trace
system to curb tax evasion + special markings will be applied to suspicious
goods + to be introduced under Section 148A of the CGST Act, 2017 + the Finance
Ministry said the mark will be on the product or packaging​

13.​Bihar: youth away from productive activities: In Bihar, 56.7% of women and 9.6%
of men aged 15–29 are not engaged in any productive activity​

14.​UPI Lite & mutual fund—new rules: From Nov 1, 2024, UPI Lite launched auto
top-up + when balance is low, funds auto-add from the bank account + wallet
balance limit raised to ₹5,000

Books & Authors

1.​ Book release ceremony: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan released three books on
Tuesday at the Durbar Hall, Raj Bhavan, Patna + Titles included “Glimpses of Art
and Archaeology of India and South Asia” edited by Geetha U. Badikillaya and
O.P. Pandey, dedicated to Padma Shri K.K. Muhammed + The second book was
“Ancient Pataliputra” by Dr. Sunil Kumar “Priyabachan” + The third was
“India’s Heritage” by Dr. Kiran Kumari + The Governor praised K.K.
Muhammed’s integrity, impartiality, and sense of responsibility​

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2.​ Manoj Kumar: a brief biography: Manoj Kumar (real name Harikrishna Goswami)
adopted the screen name from the “Manoj” character in Shabnam + In 1965,
played Bhagat Singh in Shaheed; the premiere was attended by Lal Bahadur
Shastri + Inspired by “Jai Jawan Jai Kisan”, he wrote Upkar in 1967, taking
patriotic cinema to new heights + Many of his roles were named “Bharat”,
earning him the title “Bharat Kumar” + As a director he delivered five patriotic
films: Upkar, Purab Aur Paschim, Shor, Roti Kapda Aur Makaan, Kranti + Won
Filmfare Best Actor for Be-Imaan, later received Padma Shri, and in 2016 the
Dadasaheb Phalke Award​

3.​ Discussion on “Veer Kunwar Singh’s Love Story”: At the Patna Book Fair
“Kissagoi” session, author Murli Manohar Srivastava discussed his book “Veer
Kunwar Singh ki Premkatha” + Highlights untold aspects of 1857 hero Veer
Kunwar Singh and dancer Dharaman Bai + Describes heavy losses inflicted on
the British through lathi, stick, sword, and guerrilla warfare + He won 15 battles
in nine months + In the war he lost Dharaman, Karman Bibi, and his grandson
Virbhajan​

MoUs & Agreements

1.​ MoU in Nano-science between IIT Patna & Aryabhatta University: An MoU was
signed in nano-science + The partnership will boost collaboration in
nanoelectronics and nanomedicine​

2.​ India–EFTA Free Trade Agreement: Signed on 10 March 2024 + EFTA has four
European countries + Expected to take effect in 2025 + Lower/zero tariffs on
Swiss watches, chocolate, and polished diamonds​

3.​ Mission Karmayogi for civil-servant upskilling: The Capacity Building

Commission and BIPARD signed a long-term MoU + Will strengthen leadership
and skills of Bihar’s civil servants + Mission Karmayogi is an online learning
platform under the Digital India stack​

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4.​ PM Modi’s Guyana visit & agreements: First Guyana visit by an Indian PM in 50
years + India and Guyana signed five agreements in defense, trade, energy,
pharmaceuticals, agriculture + Modi received Guyana’s Order of Excellence and
Barbados’ Order of Freedom​

5.​ India–Sri Lanka defense & development partnership: Both sides agreed on a
defense pact + The Sri Lankan President assured their soil won’t be used
against India + India offered a US$5 billion credit line and grants​

6.​ India–Kuwait cooperation: During PM Modi’s visit, four MoUs were signed in
defense, sports, culture, solar energy + Both condemned terrorism and pledged to
dismantle terror-financing networks + Kuwait decided to join the International
Solar Alliance​

7.​ New UN cybercrime convention: The UN General Assembly adopted it after five
years of talks + Secretary-General António Guterres urged countries to join and
implement it + Aims to prevent cybercrime and strengthen international
cooperation + Emphasizes technical assistance and capacity building for
developing countries​

Awards

1.​ Arya’s achievement at the science fair: Eastern India Science & Engineering Fair
2025 was held 7–10 January at BITM Kolkata + Bihar’s young scientist Arya
Prasoon won State Best Model, Sormila Mukherjee Science Talent Search, and
the Molinath Memorial Award​

2.​ First Indian ISS traveler: Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla reached the ISS on
Thursday, becoming the 634th space traveler + Flew with Peggy Whitson, Slawoj
Uznanski-Wisniewski, Tibor Kapu aboard SpaceX Dragon​

3.​ Energy Transition Index ranking: India ranked 71st with notable gains in energy
efficiency and investment capacity + Sweden ranked 1st among 118 countries +
Finland, Denmark, Norway, Switzerland in the top five + China 12th, USA 17th,

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 Pakistan 101st + DR Congo last + India was 63rd last year​

4.​ India leads in ChatGPT usage: AI usage is surging; 1 billion searches daily +
ChatGPT said to be 5.5× faster than Google + 365 billion searches in 2 years vs
Google’s 9 years + India’s ChatGPT user share 13.5% (vs USA 8.9%, Indonesia
5.7%) + World’s most-downloaded chatbot​

5.​ World’s tallest 3D-printed building: In Zurich, a 98.5-ft concrete tower named Tor
Alva​

6.​ 6G wireless symposium for Atmanirbhar Bharat: IIT Patna hosted an

international 6G mobile wireless symposium with IEEE, Bharat 6G Alliance,
C-DAC, MoC, MeitY + Aim: foster global research, innovation, policy dialogue​

7.​ India’s HDI ranking improves: Rank moved from 133 → 130 in 2022–23 + The UN
2025 report places India at 130 + Still in Medium Human Development +
Inequalities reduce India’s HDI by 30.7% + Health & education gaps improved;
income & gender gaps persist​

8.​ Ranking in bad driving: Zutobi survey of 53 countries + India improved one
point in 2024, now 5th worst + Norway safest for 4th year; South Africa worst +
USA 51st (third worst) + In India, max speed typically 120 km/h; seat-belt usage
7.3%​

9.​ Cement & Engineering conference: India is the world’s #2 cement producer +
Cement industry contributes 8% to the construction sector’s GDP​

10.​India’s world record in IPOs: In 2024, India raised US$19.5 billion via IPOs (≈
₹1.64 lakh crore), the highest globally + Accounted for 23% of global IPOs +
Largest IPO: Hyundai Motors at ₹27,870 crore​

11.​ World Passport Ranking 2025: Singapore #1 with visa-free access to 195
countries + Japan #2 with 193 + India 85th (down 5 from 80th) with 57 visa-free

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 destinations + Afghanistan last​

Sports News

1.​ Gold for Yash Anand at U.S. Nationals: U.S. Nationals Table Tennis 2025 at
Ontario Convention Center, California + Patna’s Yash Anand won gold in the
Under-2000 Adult Rating event​

2.​ Divya Deshmukh wins Chess World Cup: The 19-year-old clinched the title in
Georgia, becoming the first Indian woman to do so​

3.​ Fastest U-19 ODI century: In Worcester, Bihar’s 14-year-old Vaibhav Suryawanshi
hit a 52-ball hundred vs England U-19 with 10 fours and 7 sixes, beating Kamran
Ghulam’s 53-ball (2013) mark​

4.​ Wimbledon 2024 winners: Veronika Kudermetova & Elise Mertens won the
women’s doubles 3-6, 6-2, 6-4 over Hsieh Su-wei & Jelena Ostapenko +
Kudermetova’s first Grand Slam; Mertens’ fifth and second Wimbledon + Jannik
Sinner beat world No. 1 Carlos Alcaraz 4-6, 6-4, 6-4, 6-4 for the men’s
singles—his fourth Grand Slam, first Italian to win this trophy, achieved in his
100th Grand Slam match; first major since 2023, avenging his French Open final
loss​

5.​ Neeraj back to World No. 1: Neeraj Chopra regains World No. 1 in javelin​

6.​ Asian Snooker team gold: India beat Malaysia 3-1; Pankaj Advani–Brijesh
Damani won the doubles to seal gold​

7.​ Smriti Mandhana’s new milestone: Scored 112 (62) at Nottingham + First Indian
woman with centuries in all three formats, fifth globally​

8.​ Praggnanandhaa now India’s No. 1: Won the UzChess Cup Masters; now India’s
top and world No. 4​

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9.​ Neeraj Chopra’s golden run: Gold at Ostrava Golden Spike with 85.29 m + Second
straight big win + Starred at Paris Diamond League on 20 June + Runner-up
after crossing 90 m at Doha Diamond League in May​

10.​South Africa win WTC: At Lord’s, beat Australia by 5 wickets on Day 4 + Shed
the “chokers” tag, first ICC trophy in 27 years (last: 1998 Champions Trophy)​

11.​ Bihar Sports University 4th in IIRF 2025: Achieved 4th among public sports
universities 9 months 20 days after opening + National Sports University,
Imphal 1st with 89.99​

12.​French Open men’s final: Carlos Alcaraz (No. 2) beat Jannik Sinner (No. 1) to
retain his crown​

13.​RCB’s first IPL title: Beat Punjab Kings by 6 runs + RCB 190/9 (Virat Kohli 43
(35)); Kyle Jamieson & Arshdeep Singh 3 wickets each + PBKS 184/7 (Shashank
Singh 61 (30)) + Josh Hazlewood closed it out in the last over + An emotional
Kohli recalled the 18-year wait​

14.​7th Khelo India Youth Games—highlights: Bihar golds: (1) Shot put (U18 Girls)
Alka Singh 14.73 m (2) 2000 m steeplechase (Girls) Khushi Yadav 9:52.10 (3)
Priya Prerna & Mahika Kumari Thang-Ta gold (4) Rugby sevens (girls): beat
Odisha 22–0 (gold) (5) Rugby sevens (boys): beat Odisha 14–12 (gold) (6) Sepak
Takraw gold + Opening at Patliputra Sports Complex; Maithili Thakur sang
Ganga Aarti & Maa Muneswari hymn + Pankaj Tripathi narrated Bihar’s glorious
past + Cultural acts: Chhath, Jhijhiya, Jhoomar, Kajari, Sama-Chakeva +
Maharashtra won overall trophy (58-47-53 = 158) + Haryana 117 (39-27-51) +
Rajasthan 60 (24-12-24) + Karnataka 58 (17-26-15) + Delhi 68 (16-20-32) + 285
golds across 27 sports + Haryana wrestling 21 medals (8-5-8) + Basketball gold:
Karnataka (girls), Uttar Pradesh (boys)​

15.​Golden day at Asian Athletics: In Gumi (South Korea), Avinash Sable won gold in
3000 m steeplechase—first Indian men’s gold in 36 years, his second Asian
medal + Women’s 100 m hurdles: Jyothi Yarraji gold with a championship

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 record​

16.​Adrian Karmakar wins silver: On debut, took silver in 50 m rifle prone at the
Junior World Cup; son of ex-shooter Jaidip Karmakar​

17.​Angelo Mathews retires from Tests: The 37-year-old quits Test cricket; will
continue in white-ball formats​

18.​Indian success at Archery World Cup (Shanghai): Madhura Dhamangaonkar

returned after three years with 1 gold, 1 silver, 1 bronze in compound​

19.​Fourth international cricket stadium: To be built in Gorakhpur for ₹236 crore, on

50 acres, ready in 18 months​

20.​Khelo India Youth Games in Bihar: First-ever hosting across five

districts—Patna, Rajgir, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Begusarai—4–15 May + Theme: “Khel
ka Rang, Bihar ke Sang” + Mascot Gajsingh, symbolizing strength, courage,
wisdom​

21.​Best of 2024—Wisden: Smriti Mandhana named Women’s Cricketer of the Year

2024 (first Indian woman to win twice) + Jasprit Bumrah named Top Bowler​

22.​Sri Lanka Relays—Bihar bronze: Setu Mishra (West Champaran) won bronze in
U-20 men’s 4×400 m relay at Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, 9–11 April​

23.​Archery World Cup (Auburndale): Four medals for India + Men’s recurve team
silver + Dhiraj Bommadevara bronze (individual recurve)​

24.​Anvita Verma shines: At Kolhapur, NBPDCL accounts assistant Anvita Verma

won gold in 1500 m at the 46th All-India Electricity Sports Control Board
Tournament​

25.​Rajgir events & new posts: Men’s Asia Cup Hockey and rugby to be hosted in
Rajgir + Cabinet led by CM Nitish Kumar approved ₹24 crore for hockey and ₹4

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 crore for rugby + 38 proposals cleared + 460 posts created in the Commercial
Taxes Department with defined jurisdictions​

26.​Women’s Kabaddi World Cup—new schedule: To be held at Rajgir Sports

Academy with teams from India, Poland, Romania, Kenya, Uganda, Argentina,
Iran + Also Chinese Taipei, Nepal, Japan, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia, Bangladesh
+ The first World Cup was in 2012 at Patliputra Sports Complex, won by India​

27.​Sepak Takraw World Cup—India’s medals: One silver and one bronze in the
doubles events​

28.​Rishabh Pant—Laureus nomination: Nominated for Laureus 2025 “Comeback of

the Year” + Scored a century in his first Test back vs Bangladesh + Second
cricketer after Sachin Tendulkar to be nominated + Category includes Rebeca
Andrade, Lara Gut, Ariarne Titmushev​

29.​U-19 Women’s T20 World Cup—India dominate: Under captain Niki Prasad, India
became back-to-back champions in Kuala Lumpur + Bowled out South Africa for
82 and won by 9 wickets​

30.​Khel Ratna honor & PBL fair: Jabir Ansari (Patna University Urdu Dept,
international karate player) received the Rani Lakshmibai Khel Ratna in Siwan
+ All-India Inter-University gold medalist​

31.​Gill tops ODI rankings: Shubman Gill overtook Babar Azam after the England
series, at No. 1 for the second time​

32.​Bid to host the 2036 Olympics: Home Minister Amit Shah closed the 38th
National Games at Haldwani International Sports Complex + Said India has bid
to host the 2036 Olympics​

33.​Bihar at the National Games: 12 medals overall including 1 gold + U-15 girls’
rugby silver + fencing team bronze + Aakash won silver (individual) and bronze

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 (team)​

34.​First Sepak Takraw World Cup in Patna: Cabinet approved hosting 18–26 March
at Patliputra Sports Complex with 16 countries​

35.​BCCI Awards 2023–24: Jasprit Bumrah won Best International Cricketer (Polly
Umrigar Award) + Smriti Mandhana won in the women’s category​

36.​India win the Kho-Kho World Cup: Both men’s and women’s teams won—men
beat Nepal 54–36, women 78–40​

37.​National Sports Awards at Rashtrapati Bhavan: Manu Bhaker, D. Gukesh,

Harmanpreet Singh, Praveen Kumar received Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna +
Murlikant Petkar (injured in 1965 war, 1972 Paralympic gold) received the Arjuna
Award (Lifetime) + Harmanpreet Singh won Olympic bronze at Tokyo and Paris
(captain in Paris) + Praveen Kumar won silver (Tokyo) and gold (Paris) + D.
Gukesh became World Champion, second Indian after Viswanathan Anand +
The President also honored wheelchair athletes​

38.​Arjuna Awards dominated by para-athletes: 10 of 17 awardees are para-athletes +

India won 7 gold and 9 silver at the Paralympics + Aman Sehrawat (Olympic
bronze) among winners + Shooters Swapnil Kusale, Sarabjot Singh + Hockey’s
Gurjant Singh, Sukhjeet Singh, Sanjay, Abhishek + Para athletics’ Dharmbir,
Navdeep Singh, Nitesh Kumar + Athletics’ Jyothi Yarraji, Annu Rani; women’s
hockey captain Salima Tete, boxer Nitu Ghanghas + Swimmer Sajan Prakash,
chess Vantika Agrawal, squash Abhay Singh + Dronacharya Award includes
Deepali Deshpande + Khel Ratna to Gukesh D, Harmanpreet Singh, Praveen
Kumar, Manu Bhaker​

39.​International sports in Bihar, 2025: Seven international tournaments Jan–Sep

across 7 districts—Patna, Nalanda, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Munger, Begusarai,
Darbhanga + Includes Women’s Kabaddi World Cup, Sepak Takraw World Cup,
Rugby 7s Asian Championship, Hero Men’s Asia Cup Hockey + Proposed: Khelo
India Youth Games & Para Games + 8,500+ athletes in 19 disciplines (table tennis,

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 football, volleyball, athletics, archery, kabaddi, mallakhamb, kho-kho, para
sports) + Chief Secretary Amrit Lal Meena urged matching the Women’s Asian
Champions Trophy 2024 success​

40.​National E-Sports Championship in Bihar: To be held in June 2025​

41.​BBC nomination—Bhaker & Mandhana: Manu Bhaker and Smriti Mandhana

nominated for BBC Indian Sportswoman of the Year 2024​

42.​Hockey India revokes Hockey Bihar’s recognition: Secretary-General Bhola Nath

Singh issued a letter on 4 December after complaints + Mushtaque Ahmad failed
to cooperate with organization and meetings​

43.​Khel Ratna & Arjuna Awards—announcement: Manu Bhaker, Praveen Kumar, D.

Gukesh, Harmanpreet Singh chosen for Khel Ratna; to be presented on 17
January by President Droupadi Murmu + Manu Bhaker won two bronze in 10 m
air pistol at the Paris Olympics + D. Gukesh, youngest world chess champion +
Praveen Kumar won T-64 high jump gold at the Paralympics + Of 32 Arjuna
awardees, 17 are para-athletes + Khel Ratna carries ₹25 lakh, medal, citation;
Arjuna ₹15 lakh, statuette, citation​

44.​Cricketer of the Year: Jasprit Bumrah received the award​

45.​World Boxing Cup Final—India to host: India will host next November; earlier,
BFI hosted the Women’s World Boxing Championship 2023​

46.​ICC Test rankings update: Harry Brook leads batting with 898 points (1 ahead of
Joe Root) + Jasprit Bumrah stays No. 1 bowler with 890 + Ravindra Jadeja No. 1
all-rounder with 415​

47.​Suman Kumar’s record: In the Cooch Behar Trophy U-19, took 10 wickets in an
innings including a hat-trick—first from Bihar to do so​

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48.​Goldi Kumari wins Bal Puraskar: From Nalanda, competed at the World Ability
Youth Games 2024 (1–7 December, Thailand) + Won two medals—gold in discus
throw, bronze in javelin + Selected for the Pradhan Mantri Rashtriya Bal
Puraskar 2024​

49.​World-class cricket stadium in Bihar: The state leased Moin-ul-Haq Stadium

land to the BCA for 30 years + ₹37 crore in registry fees waived​

50.​India win Women’s Asian Champions Trophy: In Rajgir, India beat China 1–0 in
the final + Second consecutive and third overall title + Deepika top-scorer with
11 goals​

51.​Grand opening of Women’s Asian Hockey Champions Trophy: Inaugurated at

Rajgir Sports Academy by CM Nitish Kumar + Six teams: India, China, Japan,
Korea, Malaysia, Thailand

Census

Indicator Bihar (2011) India (2011)

Total population 10.41 crore ~121 crore

% of males in total population 52.14% 51.54%

% of females in total population 47.86% 48.46%

Rural population 9.23 crore 83.37 crore

Rural population % (of total) 88.7% 68.8%

Urban population 1.18 crore 37.71 crore

Urban population % (of total) 11.3% 31.2%

Decadal growth rate (2001–11) 25.42% 17.7%

Sex ratio 918 943

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Child sex ratio 935 919

Population density (per km²) 1106/km² 382/km²

Urbanisation 11.3% 31.2%

Decadal growth in urbanisation 0.8% 3.4%

% of population aged 0–14 40.2% 30.9%

% of population aged 15–59 53.5% 60.7%

% of population aged 60+ 6.3% 8.4%

Literacy rate 61.8% 74.04%

Male literacy rate 71.2% 82.14%

Female literacy rate 51.5% 65.42%

Increase in literacy (2001–2011) 17.9% 10.9%

Rural literacy rate 59.8% 67.8%

Urban literacy rate 76.9% 84.1%

Scheduled Castes (SC) as % of 15.72% 16.6%

population

Scheduled Tribes (ST) as % of 1.3% 8.6%

population

Topic 1st place 2nd place 3rd place

Top three districts by Patna (5.84 East Cham. Muzaffarpur

highest population mn)
Top three districts by Sheikhpura Sheohar Arwal
lowest population (0.64 mn)

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Top three districts by Madhepura Kishanganj Araria & Khagaria
highest population (31.1%) (both 30.2%)
growth
Top three districts by Arwal (18.9%) Gopalganj Darbhanga
lowest population
growth
Top three districts by Gopalganj Siwan Saran
highest sex ratio (1021)
Top three districts by Munger (876) Bhagalpur Khagaria
lowest sex ratio
Top three districts by Kishanganj Katihar Gaya
highest child sex (971)
ratio
Top three districts by Vaishali Patna Muzaffarpur
lowest child sex (904)
ratio
Top three districts by Sheohar Patna Darbhanga
highest population (1880)
density
Top three districts by Kaimur (488) Jamui Banka
lowest population
density
Top three districts by Patna (43.1) Munger Bhagalpur
highest
urbanisation
Top three districts by Samastipur + Madhubani Kaimur
lowest Banka
urbanisation (both 3.5)
Top three districts by Rohtas Patna Bhojpur
highest literacy (73.4%)
rate
Top three districts by Purnia (51.1%) Sitamarhi Katihar
lowest literacy rate
Top three districts by Rohtas Bhojpur Buxar
highest male (82.9%)
literacy

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 Top three districts by Purnia Katihar Sitamarhi
lowest male (59.1%)
literacy
Top three districts by Rohtas Munger Patna
highest female (63.0%)
literacy
Top three districts by Saharsa Madhepura Purnia
lowest female (41.7%)
literacy
Top three districts by Rohtas Aurangabad Bhojpur
highest rural (72.5%)
literacy
Top three districts by Purnia Katihar Sitamarhi
lowest rural (48.4%)
literacy
Top three districts by Kaimur Patna Munger
highest urban (82.6%)
literacy
Top three districts by Sheohar Sheikhpura Madhubani
lowest urban (62.0%)
literacy
Top three districts by Gaya (30.39%) Nawada Aurangabad
highest Scheduled
Caste (SC) %
Top three districts by Kishanganj Katihar Bhagalpur
lowest Scheduled (6.69%)
Caste (SC) %
Top three districts by West Katihar Jamui
highest Scheduled Champara
Tribe (ST) % n (6.35%)
Top three districts by Khagaria Samastipur Aurangabad
lowest Scheduled (0.04%)
Tribe (ST) %

ISFR 2023 — India

What: ISFR 2023 (18th in series; biennial since 1987)​

Who/Where: Released by Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav at FRI,

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 Dehradun; compiled by Forest Survey of India (MoEFCC)​
How measured: Satellite remote sensing + National Forest Inventory (NFI) field data

Key Definitions

Term Meaning

Forest Land ≥ 1 ha with tree canopy density ≥ 10%, irrespective of

cover ownership/legal status; mapped wall-to-wall from
satellite imagery and validated by field inventory.

Tree cover Tree patches < 1 ha (and isolated trees) outside Recorded
Forest Area—e.g., farms, roads, urban parks

National Status (2023)

Indicator Area % of India

Forest & Tree Cover 8,27,357 km² 25.17%

(FTC)

— Forest cover 7,15,343 km² 21.76%

— Tree cover 1,12,014 km² 3.41%

Change vs 2021

Component Change (km²)

FTC (total) +1,445

— Forest cover +156

— Tree cover +1,289

Max Forest and Tree Cover increase

Rank State/UT Change (km²)

1 Chhattisgarh +684

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 2 Uttar Pradesh +559

3 Odisha +559

4 Rajasthan +394

Largest forest-cover area

Rank State/UT Area (km²)

1 Madhya Pradesh 77,073

2 Arunachal Pradesh 65,882

3 Chhattisgarh 55,812

Highest % Forest Cover

Rank State/UT % of Geo. Area

1 Lakshadweep 91.33%

2 Mizoram 85.34%

3 Andaman & Nicobar 81.62%

Thresholds: States/UTs with ≥ 33% forest cover: 19. Of these, 8 exceed 75%: Mizoram,
Lakshadweep, Andaman & Nicobar, Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Tripura,
Manipur.

Other Resources & Climate

Metric Value / Note

Mangroves 4,992 km²

NDC progress Cumulative sink 30.43 billion tCO₂e; +2.29 billion tCO₂e
additional sink since 2005 toward the 2.5–3.0 billion
tCO₂e by 2030 target

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 Fire management FSI provides near-real-time fire alerts and related
services

ISFR 2023 — Bihar

Basic Profile

Attribute Detail

Geographical area 94,163 km² (24°16′ N – 27°45′ N; 83°16′ E – 88°30′ E)

Population (2011) 104.10 million — Urban 11.76 m (11.29%), Rural 92.34

m (88.71%), Tribal 1.34 m (1.28%)

Avg. population density 1,106 persons/km²

Livestock (19th Census) 32.93 million

Administrative units 38 districts; no designated hill/tribal districts

Land-Use Pattern (Reporting Area)

Land-use category Area (‘000 ha) Share Remarks

Forests 621.63 6.64% Land with natural

forest cover

Not available for 2,181.11 23.30% Settlements,

cultivation infrastructure, barren
land

Permanent pastures & 14.91 0.16% Grazing land

grazing

Misc. tree crops & groves 250.98 2.68% Orchards, trees

outside natural
forests

Culturable wasteland 43.58 0.47% Potentially cultivable

but unused

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Fallow (other than 174.01 1.86% Left uncultivated for
current) several years

Current fallows 1,002.96 10.72% Left out for a

season/year

Net area sown 5,070.39 54.17% Land under crops

Takeaway: Over half the land is under crops; forests constitute ~6.6%; ~23% is
non-arable (settlements, barren areas, infrastructure).

Forest Cover Categories (2023)

Category Area (km²) % of State GA

Very Dense Forest (VDF) 387.00 0.41%

Moderately Dense Forest (MDF) 3,284.21 3.49%

Open Forest (OF) 3,861.24 4.10%

Total forest 7,532.45 8.00%

Scrub 260.80 0.28%

Forest Cover Inside vs Outside RFA

Forest class Inside RFA (km²) Outside RFA (km²)

VDF 375.79 11.21

MDF 2,445.25 838.96

OF 2,044.70 1,816.54

Total forest 4,865.74 2,666.71

Net change 2021–2023

●​ Inside RFA: VDF +56.47 km²; MDF −32.03 km²; OF −2.10 km²
●​ Outside RFA: VDF −0.40 km²; MDF +19.94 km²; OF +87.31 km²

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 District Forest Rankings (Total of VDF+MDF+OF, 2023)
Rank District Total forest (km²) Notes

1 Kaimur 1,025.68 Plateau forests; sal &

mixed deciduous

2 West Ch. 908.23 Only district with >300 km²

VDF

3 Jamui 670.84 Dense + open forests

36 Buxar 6.01 Minimal forest cover

37 Arwal 4.02 Small open woodland

patches

38 Sheikhpura 0.82 Almost no natural forest

Invasive Species
Invasive plant Extent (km²) Impact

Lantana camara 550.09 Dense shrub outcompeting

natives

Chromolaena odorata 248.80 Siam weed; reduces fodder

Senna tora 36.37 Invades open forest/farmland

Senna occidentalis 18.18 Disturbs regeneration

Ageratum conyzoides 17.77 Weed of cultivated/waste

lands

Council of Ministers

Bihar Government — Key Departments & Ministers:

Department Minister

Home Nitish Kumar

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Finance Samrat Choudhary

Education Sunil Kumar

Health Mangal Pandey

Law (Legal) Mangal Pandey

Agriculture Vijay Kumar Sinha

Road Construction Nitin Nabin

Water Resources Vijay Kumar Choudhary

Energy Bijendra Prasad Yadav

Industries Nitish Mishra

Urban Development & Housing Jeevesh Mishra

Revenue & Land Reforms Sanjay Saraogi

Transport Sheela Mandal

Union Government — Bihar MPs who are Ministers/Ministers of State:

MP (Position) Ministry/Department Lok Sabha (2024)

Giriraj Singh (Cabinet Ministry of Textiles Begusarai

Minister)

Jitan Ram Manjhi (Cabinet MSME Gaya (SC)

Minister)

Rajiv Ranjan Singh ‘Lalan Panchayati Raj; Fisheries, Munger

Singh’ (Cabinet Minister) Animal Husbandry &
Dairying

Chirag Paswan (Cabinet Food Processing Industries Hajipur (SC)

Minister)

Nityanand Rai (Minister of Ministry of Home Affairs Ujiarpur

State)

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Satish Chandra Dubey Coal; Mines — (Rajya Sabha,
(Minister of State) Bihar)

Raj Bhushan Chaudhary Jal Shakti Muzaffarpur

(Minister of State)

Ram Nath Thakur Agriculture & Farmers’ — (Rajya Sabha,

(Minister of State) Welfare Bihar)

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