BPSC Bihar Special • Current Affairs05 October 2026
Bihar Current Affairs: Gayaji Nomenclature, Nuclear SMRs, Naxal-Free Transition & Bihar Civil Courts Act
Source: Information & Public Relations Department (IPRD Bihar) / Official Gazettes•Exam Target: BPSC 71st & 72nd CCE Prelims
Bihar Special Current Affairs — Day 3 Dossier
1. Renaming of Gaya City to 'Gayaji' & Constitutional Mechanism
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Cabinet Decision: The Bihar State Cabinet formally approved the renaming of the historic city of Gaya to ‘Gayaji’ (गया जी). Importantly, only the city’s municipal name has been renamed; the district remains officially designated as Gaya.
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Background: The proposal was originally cleared on May 11, 2022, by the Standing Committee of the Gaya Municipal Corporation, responding to long-standing demands of local Gayawal Pandas, saints, and pilgrims honoring the spiritual seat of Pind Daan and salvation.
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Constitutional Dimensions:
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Seventh Schedule (State List, Entry 5): The authority to alter or confer names of municipal cities, towns, and villages within a state lies squarely within the competence of the State Government under Local Government powers.
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Article 3 Distinction: Article 3 of the Indian Constitution exclusively empowers the Parliament to alter the names, boundaries, or areas of a State (e.g., Bihar, Uttar Pradesh). Renaming a city or municipality does not attract Article 3 and requires no constitutional amendment or parliamentary legislation.
2. Nuclear Energy Roadmap in Bihar & Small Modular Reactors (SMRs)
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Proposed Nuclear Installations: Bihar’s maiden nuclear power generation facility is proposed to be developed in Banka and Nawada districts.
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Thermal & Generation Ecosystem Context:
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Pirpainti (Bhagalpur): 2,400 MW super-critical plant under construction (targeted commissioning: 2029–30).
2.
Nabinagar (Aurangabad): 2,400 MW capacity expansion by NTPC.
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Barauni (Begusarai): 800 MW expansion stage.
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Nuclear Plant Metrics & Agency: Envisaged with a target capacity of 2,000 MW, to be developed under a Joint Venture between Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC).
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Mission Small Modular Reactors (SMRs):
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Target: Development and commissioning of at least five indigenously developed SMRs by 2033.
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Technical Specifications: SMRs are advanced nuclear fission reactors producing less than 300 MWe per module, whereas conventional Pressurized Heavy Water Reactors (PHWRs) typically generate 500–700 MWe or more.
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Key Advantages: Compact physical footprint, modular factory-assembled manufacturing, lower initial capital expenditure, passive safety systems, and flexible grid integration.
3. Declaration of Bihar as a 'Naxal-Free' State
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Milestone Classification: According to the latest assessments by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), Bihar has officially transitioned out of the list of states severely afflicted by Left-Wing Extremism (LWE).
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Timeline & Progress: In lockstep with the Union Government's national mission of achieving a "Naxal-Free India" by March 2026, active armed insurgent cadred networks and violent extremism across Bihar dropped to near-zero levels during 2024–25.
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Operational Indicators:
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Over 90% contraction in violent incidents compared to baseline levels in 2010.
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Neutralization and arrest of key central/regional military commanders across former strongholds (Chakarbandha, Bhimbandh, Jamui, Gaya, Aurangabad, Nawada, Rohtas).
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Sustained operational deployment of the Bihar Police Special Task Force (STF) and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
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Comprehensive rollout of the multi-pronged SAMADHAN doctrine (Smart leadership, Aggressive strategy, Motivation, Actionable intelligence, Dashboard KPIs, Harnessing tech, Action plan per theatre, No access to financing).
4. Bihar Civil Courts Act, 2026 (बिहार सिविल न्यायालय अधिनियम, 2026)
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Legislative Transition: The Bihar State Legislature passed the landmark Bihar Civil Courts Act, 2026 (Bihar Act No. 12 of 2026), repealing the colonial-era Bengal, Agra and Assam Civil Courts Act, 1887.
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Legislative Trajectory: Unanimously cleared by the Bihar Legislative Assembly on February 24, 2026; passed by the Legislative Council; received Presidential Assent on June 16, 2026; and notified in the Bihar Extraordinary Gazette on June 30, 2026.
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Four-Tier Judicial Hierarchy:
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Court of the Principal District Judge (प्रधान जिला न्यायाधीश)
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Court of the District Judge (जिला न्यायाधीश)
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Court of the Civil Judge (Senior Division) (सिविल जज - वरिष्ठ प्रभाग)
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Court of the Civil Judge (Junior Division) (सिविल जज - कनिष्ठ प्रभाग)
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Constitutional Cadre & Jurisdiction Rules:
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Cadre strengths determined by the State Government in direct consultation with the Patna High Court; appointments regulated under Articles 233 and 234.
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Pecuniary Jurisdiction: Civil Judge (Junior Division) exercises jurisdiction in civil suits valued up to ₹10 Lakh (extendable by High Court notification up to ₹50 Lakh). Civil Judge (Senior Division) hears suits exceeding this threshold.
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Appellate Forum: Appeals from decisions of Civil Judges in suits valued below ₹50 Lakh lie before the Principal District Judge; suits valued above ₹50 Lakh appeal directly to the High Court of Judicature at Patna.
5. Bihar Geographical Indications (GI) Portfolio — Expansion to 16 Products
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2026 Expansion: Bihar's total GI tag tally reached 16 with the formal certification of three new indigenous products by the Geographical Indications Registry, Chennai (facilitated by NABARD):
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Bawan Buti Sari & Fabric (बावन बूटी साड़ी व वस्त्र) — Nalanda (Baswan Bigha handloom clusters).
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Patharkatti Stone Craft (पत्थरकट्टी प्रस्तर शिल्प) — Gaya (traditional black stone carving).
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Peediya / Pidiya Painting (पीढ़िया लोक चित्रकला) — Bhojpur (sacred ritual folk art executed primarily by women).
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Comprehensive Breakdown of Bihar's 16 GI Tags:
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Agriculture (6): Mithila Makhana (2022), Shahi Litchi of Muzaffarpur (2018), Bhagalpuri Zardalu Mango, Katarni Rice, Marcha/Mircha Rice of West Champaran (2023), Magahi Paan.
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Handicrafts & Art (7): Madhubani Painting, Sujini Embroidery, Sikki Grass Craft, Applique (Khatwa) Work, Manjusha Art (Bhagalpur), Patharkatti Stone Craft (2026), Peediya Painting (2026).
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Textiles (2): Bhagalpuri Silk (Tussar), Bawan Buti Sari & Fabric (2026).
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Food Confectionery (1): Silao Khaja (Nalanda).
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Pipeline Applications (~28): Sonachur Rice (Rohtas), Dudhiya Malda Mango (Digha/Patna), Bhagalpur Malbhog Rice, Samastipur Bathua Mango, Champaran Meat initiative.
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