BPSC Bihar Special • Current Affairs23 September 2026
Bihar Current Affairs: Maratha Military Landscapes (UNESCO), Bandipur Tiger Reserve & Bihar Welfare Schemes
Source: Information & Public Relations Department (IPRD Bihar) / Official Gazettes•Exam Target: BPSC 71st & 72nd CCE Prelims
BPSC 72nd Special Dossier — Track A, Day 14
1. Maratha Military Landscapes: India's Official UNESCO World Heritage Nomination
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Nomination Framework (2024-25 Cycle): India officially nominated the 'Maratha Military Landscapes of India' under the cultural criteria for inscription on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
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Architectural & Strategic Genius: Represents the visionary military concepts developed under Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in the 17th century, exploiting the rugged terrain of the Sahyadri mountains (Western Ghats), Konkan coastline, and Deccan plateau to evolve guerilla warfare (Ganimi Kava).
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The 12 Nominated Forts:
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11 Forts in Maharashtra:
1.
Salher: Highest fort in the Sahyadris; scene of the historic 1672 Battle of Salher.
2.
Shivneri: Birthplace of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.
3.
Lohagad: Formidable hill fortress controlling trade passes.
4.
Khanderi: Island sea fort fortified to counter British and Siddi naval forces.
5.
Raigad: Sovereign capital of the Maratha Empire; site of Shivaji's coronation in 1674.
6.
Rajgad: Shivaji's capital for over 25 years; masterpiece of defensive architecture.
7.
Pratapgad: Famous for the defeat of Bijapur general Afzal Khan in 1659.
8.
Suvarnadurg: Marine fortress safeguarding Maratha naval dockyards.
9.
Panhala: Historic stronghold defending the southern Deccan frontier.
10.
Vijaydurg: Triple-walled naval fortress dubbed the 'Eastern Gibraltar'.
11.
Sindhudurg: Monumental island fortress built by Shivaji in 1664 using molten lead foundations.
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1 Fort in Tamil Nadu:
12.
Gingee Fort (Villupuram district): Known as the 'Troy of the East'; celebrated by the Mughals as the most impregnable fortress in peninsular India.
2. Bandipur Tiger Reserve: Commemorating 50 Years of Project Tiger
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Golden Jubilee Milestone: Established as one of the original nine tiger reserves in 1973-74 at the launch of Project Tiger, Bandipur completed 50 years of conservation excellence.
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Geography & Fluvial Networks:
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Located in the Chamarajanagar district of Karnataka, situated at the tri-junction of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala.
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Flanked by the Kabini River to the north (separating it from Nagarahole) and the Moyar River to the south (separating it from Mudumalai).
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Tri-State Conservation Landscape: Forms a continuous wildlife corridor within the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, seamlessly connecting with Nagarahole National Park (Karnataka), Mudumalai Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu), and Wayanad Wildlife Sanctuary (Kerala), hosting the world's largest contiguous population of wild tigers and Asiatic elephants.
3. Bihar Social Welfare & Cultural Preservation Policies
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Bihar Patrakar Samman Pension Yojana:
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Monthly financial pension of ₹6,000 per month granted to veteran accredited journalists who have attained 60 years of age and have completed at least 20 years of continuous journalistic service in Bihar.
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Includes family pension provisions: upon the demise of the accredited beneficiary, 50% of the pension is disbursed to the surviving spouse.
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Mukhya Mantri Kalakar Pension Yojana (Bihar):
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Provides monthly financial sustenance of ₹4,000 per month to traditional folk artists, performing artists, and craftsmen aged 50 years and above living in indigent conditions.
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Mukhya Mantri Guru-Shishya Parampara Yojana:
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Aims to prevent the extinction of Bihar's rich heritage crafts and traditional folk arts (such as Madhubani painting, Manjusha art, Tikuli craft, Sujani embroidery, and folk theater).
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Guru (master craftsman) receives a monthly honorarium of ₹15,000, while enrolled Shishyas (apprentices) receive monthly stipends to ensure inter-generational transmission of artistic skills.
4. Global Geopolitics & Modern Infrastructure
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World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos 2026:
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Held annually in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland; convened world leaders to debate geoeconomic fragmentation, AI safety governance, and transition towards green energy.
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Geopolitical Significance of Greenland:
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Autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark; rich in unexplored critical minerals, especially Rare Earth Elements (REEs), neodymium, and uranium; critical strategic crossroads in the Arctic Council as ice melts.
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INS Anjadip: Commissioned as the 3rd Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC) built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata, equipped with light torpedoes and rocket launchers to safeguard coastal approaches.
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India's First Underwater Metro Rail:
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Operationalized under the Hooghly River in Kolkata as part of Kolkata Metro's Green Line corridor.
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Connects Howrah and Kolkata via twin underwater tunnels built 32 metres below ground level, traversing a 520-metre submerged stretch under the river bed in just 45 seconds.
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