BPSC Bihar Special • Current Affairs03 October 2026
Bihar Current Affairs: QS World Rankings 2027, Sahitya Akademi Awards, FIFA World Cup & Ramanathaswamy Temple
Source: QS Quacquarelli Symonds / Sahitya Akademi / FIFA / Ministry of Finance•Exam Target: BPSC 71st & 72nd CCE Prelims
BPSC 72nd Special Dossier — Track B, Day 7
1. QS World University Rankings 2027: Historic Ascent of Indian Academia
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Global Release: Released on 18 June 2026, evaluating over 1,500 universities across 106 nations.
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Global Leadership: Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) reigned at #1 globally for a record 15th consecutive year, followed jointly at #2 by Imperial College London and Stanford University.
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India's Phenomenal Ascent:
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India emerged as the 5th most represented nation globally with 52 institutions (a 271% expansion from 11 universities in 2015—the fastest growth among G20 economies).
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IIT Delhi achieved Rank 118 (improving from 123)—marking the highest-ever global ranking achieved by any Indian educational institution in QS history.
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Other Top Indian Performers: IIT Bombay (134), IIT Madras (170), IIT Kharagpur (205), IISc Bengaluru (221), IIT Kanpur (221), Delhi University (322), IIT Roorkee (335), and Shoolini University (452, top Indian private institution).
2. Sahitya Akademi Awards 2025: Literary Pan-Indian Laureates
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Institutional Foundation: Conferred by the Sahitya Akademi (established 12 March 1954 under the Ministry of Culture) across 24 recognized languages (22 Eighth Schedule languages + English and Rajasthani). Carries a casket containing an engraved copper plaque (tamra-patra), a shawl, and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000.
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Eminent Awardees for 2025:
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Hindi: Veteran author Mamta Kalia for her evocative memoir Jeete Ji Allahabad (जीते जी इलाहाबाद).
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English: Former diplomat Navtej Sarna for his historical novel Crimson Spring (centering on the 1919 Jallianwala Bagh massacre).
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Maithili: Eminent writer Mahendra for his literary memoir Jatri Paat San Gaam (यात्री पात सन गाम).
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Sanskrit: Mahamahopadhyaya Sadhu Bhadreshdas for his monumental philosophical poetry Prasthanachatusthaye Brahmaghosha (प्रस्थानचतुष्टये ब्रह्मघोषः).
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Urdu: Poet Pritpal Singh Betab for his collection Safar Jari Hai (सफ़र जारी है).
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Rajasthani: Administrator-poet Jitendra Kumar Soni for his short story collection Bharakhma (भरखमा).
3. FIFA World Cup 2026: Tri-Nation Mega-Tournament
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Tournament Matrix: 23rd edition hosted from 11 June to 19 July 2026 across three co-host nations: the United States, Canada, and Mexico (the first tournament featuring 48 participating nations).
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Champion: Spain secured their 2nd title (defeating defending champions Argentina), becoming the first country in football history to simultaneously hold both the Men’s and Women’s (2023) FIFA World Cup crowns.
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Apex Individual Accolades:
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Golden Ball (Best Player): Rodri (Midfield maestro, Spain).
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Golden Boot (Top Goalscorer): Kylian Mbappé (France) with 10 goals—becoming the first footballer to win back-to-back Golden Boots and the all-time leading scorer in World Cup history.
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Golden Glove (Best Goalkeeper): Unai Simón (Spain).
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Best Young Player: Pau Cubarsí (Spain).
4. Heritage & Sacred Architecture: Ramanathaswamy Temple Replica
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Diplomatic Showcase: A stunning scaled architectural replica of the Ramanathaswamy Temple was showcased at Bharat Mandapam during the 2026 BRICS Summit.
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Sanctity & Geospiritual Setting: Situated on Pamban Island (Rameswaram) in Ramanathapuram District, Tamil Nadu.
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One of the sacred 12 Jyotirlingas and the only Jyotirlinga in South India.
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Anchor of the Char Dham pilgrimage (Badrinath, Dwarka, Puri, Rameswaram), serving as the sole Shaivite shrine among the four.
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Architectural Marvel: Built in Dravidian style; features the world's longest temple corridor (outer pillared hall stretching 3,850 feet / 1.17 km supported by 1,212 intricately sculpted granite pillars), constructed in the 18th century by King Muthuramalinga Sethupathi of Ramnad.
5. Critical Minerals & Macroeconomic Policy: Project Vault, GDP & GST 2.0
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Project Vault (US Strategic Mineral Stockpile): A $12 billion public-private strategic initiative unveiled in February 2026 (10 billion loan from US EXIM Bank + 2 billion private equity) to stockpile critical minerals (Lithium, Cobalt, Gallium, REEs) to insulate industries against Chinese supply embargos (China commands 70% of mining and 90% of processing).
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India’s Real GDP Growth (Q1 FY 2026-27): Expanded at 7.8% in the April–June 2026 quarter, outperforming the Reserve Bank of India’s 7.0% baseline projection, powered by manufacturing expansion and Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF).
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GST 2.0 Reform: Approved by the 56th GST Council and implemented on 22 September 2025, restructuring multiple tax brackets into a modernized 4-tier model:
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Nil (0%): Individual term life and health insurance premiums, basic milk/dairy.
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5% (Merit Rate): Essential foods, generic pharmaceuticals, apparel up to ₹2,500.
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18% (Standard Rate): Two-wheelers up to 350cc, capital machinery, cement.
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40% (Demerit / Sin Rate): Luxury vehicles, aerated sugary beverages, pan masala. (Phased out 12% and 28% slabs).
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PM Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana: Formulated to generate 3.5 crore formal jobs within 2 years. Provides first-time EPFO enrollees earning under ₹1 lakh with one month's wage subsidy up to ₹15,000 in two tranches, and reimburses employers ₹3,000 per month for each additional worker for two years via DBT/ABPS.
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