BPSC Bihar Special • Current Affairs29 September 2026
Bihar Current Affairs: GLOF Monitoring, UPI Decadal Milestone, Bihar Sports Policy 2026 & Sarnath UNESCO Site
Source: NDMA / NPCI / Bihar State Sports Authority / UNESCO / Supreme Court of India•Exam Target: BPSC 71st & 72nd CCE Prelims
BPSC 72nd Special Dossier — Track B, Day 3
1. Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOF): Himalayan Geohazard Management
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Phenomenon Defined: A Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF) occurs when a natural dam composed of glacial moraine (loose boulders, gravel, sediment, and ice core) breaches or is overtopped, releasing millions of cubic meters of water and debris downstream at catastrophic velocity.
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Mechanism & Triggers:
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Accelerated glacial retreat due to global warming creates expanding proglacial lakes dammed by fragile moraines.
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Sudden triggers include ice/rock avalanches, permafrost landslides, intense cloudbursts, or seismic activity in the tectonically active Himalayan belt.
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Historic Sikkim Disaster: The October 2023 breach of South Lhonak Lake washed away the Teesta-III hydro dam, prompting the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and ISRO to establish automated early warning sensor networks across high-risk Himalayan glacial lakes.
2. Unified Payments Interface (UPI): 10 Years of Digital Revolution (2016–2026)
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Decadal Milestone: Publicly launched on 25 August 2016 by the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) under RBI regulatory oversight (pilot launched 11 April 2016 with 21 banks), UPI completed 10 monumental years in 2026.
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Monumental Metrics:
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Volume Growth: Annual transactions surged from 1.78 crore in FY 2016-17 to 24,162 crore in FY 2025-26—a staggering ~13,000-fold expansion (CAGR of 188%).
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Value Growth: Annual value jumped from ₹0.07 lakh crore to ₹314 lakh crore (CAGR 155%).
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Daily Velocity: Processes an average of 66 crore transactions daily.
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Global Footprint (IMF Recognition): The International Monetary Fund recognizes UPI as the world's largest real-time payment system, commanding 49% of all global real-time digital payments.
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Domestic Share: Drives 84% of all digital payments in India.
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International Acceptance: Accepted across 11 nations (UAE, France, Singapore, Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Mauritius, Qatar, Cambodia, Greece, Maldives).
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Micro-transaction Engine: Merchant (P2M) payments account for 63% of volume, with 86% of retail transactions under ₹500.
3. Judicial Landmark: Menstrual Hygiene as a Fundamental Right to Health (Article 21)
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Supreme Court Directive (30 January 2026): A three-judge bench affirmed that safe, dignified, and accessible menstrual hygiene management in schools is an indivisible component of girls' Right to Health, Education, and Dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution.
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Binding Directives:
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Mandatory functional, gender-segregated toilets with continuous water and soap in all government and government-aided schools.
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Mandatory free provision of oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins to female students across secondary and higher secondary grades.
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Institutionalization of menstrual hygiene orientation within Rashtriya Kishor Swasthya Karyakram (RKSK) and Samagra Shiksha.
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Affordability Anchor: Over 96.3 crore Suvidha oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins sold through Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras at a subsidized rate of ₹1 per pad.
4. Bihar Sports Policy 2026: "Medal Lao, Naukri Pao" Architecture
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Cabinet Approval: Approved on 29 July 2026 by the Bihar Council of Ministers.
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Apex Slogan: “खेल से गौरवशाली बिहार” (Khel se Gauravshali Bihar).
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Core Institutional Provisions:
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Direct Gazetted & Non-Gazetted Employment: Medalists or national representatives in Olympics, Asian Games, Commonwealth Games, and National Games are granted direct appointment in State Government services across Pay Levels 6 to 9.
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Grassroots Scouting & Monthly Stipends: Structured talent hunt across Panchayats, Blocks, and Districts providing nutrition and kit allowances under a "Catch Them Young" framework.
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World-Class Infrastructure Pipeline:
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Rajgir State Sports Academy and sports university campus.
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Dumri Sports City (Patna) featuring international-standard shooting ranges, water sports facilities, and cycling velodromes.
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District Sports Complexes across all 38 districts.
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Strategic Targets: Spearheaded by the Bihar State Sports Authority (BSSA) to host the 2028 National Youth Games, the 2031 National Games, and secure Olympic podium finishes in 2032 and 2036.
5. Sarnath Inscribed as India's 45th UNESCO World Heritage Site
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Historic Inscription: On 25 July 2026, the Ancient Buddhist Site of Sarnath was inscribed onto the UNESCO World Heritage List during the 48th World Heritage Committee session in Busan, South Korea.
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National Standing: India's 45th World Heritage Site (37 Cultural, 7 Natural, 1 Mixed) and Uttar Pradesh's 4th site (after the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri). India ranks 6th globally and 2nd in the Asia-Pacific.
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Spiritual & Archaeological Heritage:
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Located 10 km from Varanasi; recorded in Buddhist literature as Isipatana / Rishipattana and Mrigadava (Deer Park).
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Venue of the Buddha’s First Sermon: Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta (Setting into Motion the Wheel of Dharma) and establishment of the Buddhist Sangha.
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Part of the Four Great Buddhist Pilgrimage Sites: Lumbini (Birth), Bodh Gaya (Enlightenment - Bihar), Sarnath (First Sermon), and Kushinagar (Mahaparinirvana).
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Iconic Monumental Remains: Dhamekh Stupa, Chaukhandi Stupa, Dharmarajika Stupa, the 3rd-century BCE polished sandstone Lion Capital Ashoka Pillar (India’s National Emblem), and the Mulagandhakuti Vihara.
6. Governance & Science Updates: NITI Aayog CEO, QDENGA Vaccine & Asia Power Index
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New CEO of NITI Aayog: Senior administrator Anurag Jain assumed office on 17 August 2026, appointed by the Prime Minister to head the apex policy think-tank.
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QDENGA (TAK-003) Dengue Vaccine: India's first approved dengue vaccine, developed by Takeda GmbH (Germany) and licensed by CDSCO/DCGI in July 2026. A live-attenuated, recombinant tetravalent vaccine (covering DENV 1-4) administered in 2 doses (0 and 3 months) for individuals aged 4 to 60. Unlike Dengvaxia, it does not require pre-vaccination screening for prior infection.
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Lowy Institute Asia Power Index 2025: Published by Lowy Institute (Sydney); India achieved an overall score of 40.0, crossing the benchmark to be classified as a "Major Power" (ranked 3rd overall behind the USA at 80.5 and China at 73.7, surpassing Japan at 38.8).
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WEF Davos 2026: 56th Annual Meeting held 19–23 January 2026 under the theme "A Spirit of Dialogue".
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