BPSC Bihar Special • Current Affairs07 October 2026
Bihar Current Affairs: Padma Awards to Bihar Luminaries, UNESCO World Heritage & Administrative Protocols
Source: Information & Public Relations Department (IPRD Bihar) / Official Gazettes•Exam Target: BPSC 71st & 72nd CCE Prelims
1. Padma Awards to Personalities from Bihar
A. Padma Awards 2026 (Announced 25 January 2026)
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National Summary: Across India, 131 awards were conferred—5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri.
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Bihar's Share: 3 personalities from Bihar received the Padma Shri (No Padma Vibhushan or Padma Bhushan from Bihar in 2026):
1.
Gopal Ji Trivedi (Science & Engineering - Agricultural Science): Former Vice-Chancellor of Dr. Rajendra Prasad Central Agricultural University (RPCAU), Pusa; honored for monumental contributions to agricultural extension, technology adoption, and sustainable farming.
2.
Bharat Singh Bharti (Art): Acclaimed Bhojpuri folk singer; associated with All India Radio (Akashvani) Patna since 1962; popularized Bhojpuri folk music across India and internationally.
3.
Vishwa Bandhu (Posthumous) (Art): Renowned folk dancer hailing from Danapur-Shahpur/Daudpur (Patna); instrumental in popularizing traditional folk dance 'Domkach' and associated with 'Kamala Puja Shat-Chakra Agni Nritya'; founded the cultural institution 'Surangan' in 1959; passed away on 30 March 2025 at the age of 95.
B. Padma Awards 2025 (Announced 25 January 2025) — Comparative Snapshot
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National Summary: 139 awards—7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri.
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Bihar's Recipients (7 Awardees):
1.
Sharda Sinha (Posthumous) — Padma Vibhushan (Art): Revered as the "Bihar Kokila"; immortalized Chhath songs and Maithili-Bhojpuri folk music.
2.
Sushil Kumar Modi (Posthumous) — Padma Bhushan (Public Affairs): Former Deputy Chief Minister of Bihar.
3.
Kishore Kunal (Posthumous) — Padma Shri (Civil Service): Former IPS officer, Sanskrit scholar, and head of the Mahavir Mandir Trust.
4.
Bhim Singh Bhavesh — Padma Shri (Social Work): Journalist and social crusader working for the education and welfare of children from the Musahar community.
5.
Dr. Hemant Kumar — Padma Shri (Medicine): Pioneering nephrologist committed to kidney disease treatment and affordable healthcare awareness.
6.
Nirmala Devi — Padma Shri (Art): Master artisan celebrated for traditional Sujani embroidery folk craft.
7.
Vijay Nityanand Surishwar Ji Maharaj — Padma Shri (Spiritualism): Spiritual preceptor.
2. UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Bihar
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Current Inscribed Sites: Bihar has 2 cultural sites inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List:
1.
Mahabodhi Temple Complex, Bodh Gaya (Gaya district):
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Inscribed Year: 2002 | Category: Cultural.
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Significance: Holy site where Siddhartha Gautama attained Enlightenment (Bodhi); encompasses the sacred Bodhi Tree and the Vajrasana (Diamond Throne). Earliest brick structure traces to the Ashokan era, with the present towering brick temple dating back to the Gupta Empire (5th–6th century CE).
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Buddhist Circuit: One of the four holiest pilgrimage sites associated with the life of Lord Buddha (Lumbini, Bodh Gaya, Sarnath, and Kushinagar).
2.
Archaeological Site of Nalanda Mahavihara (Nalanda district):
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Inscribed Year: 2016 | Category: Cultural.
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Significance: Premier ancient monastic-scholastic center functioning from the 5th to the 12th/13th century CE; preserves remnants of stupas, shrines, viharas (residential monastic cells), and artworks testifying to the golden era of Buddhist intellectual exchange.
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Tentative List & Prospective Sites:
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Vikramshila Ancient University (Bhagalpur) and the Remains of Ancient Vaishali are on the UNESCO Tentative List of India.
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Chhath Mahaparv: Proposed for inscription under UNESCO’s Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity (ICH). The Government of Bihar and INTACH are drafting the formal nomination dossier.
3. New Chief Secretary of Bihar: Pratyaya Amrit
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Appointment & Tenure: Senior IAS officer Pratyaya Amrit assumed office as the Chief Secretary of Bihar on 1 September 2025.
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Predecessor: Succeeded Amrit Lal Meena (1989 batch IAS), who superannuated on 31 August 2025.
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Administrative Role: The Chief Secretary is the highest-ranking civil servant and administrative head of the state government. The post is an administrative position (not a constitutional office) appointed by the State Government on the recommendation of the Chief Minister.
4. Mandatory 'Vande Mataram' Protocol in Schools and State Programs
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Administrative Directive: Issued by the General Administration Department (GAD), Government of Bihar.
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Protocol Sequence: Every official state event, program, and school assembly will mandatorily commence with the singing of the national song 'Vande Mataram', followed immediately by the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana'.
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State Song of Bihar: 'Mere Bharat Ke Kanth Har' (मेरे भारत के कंठहार).
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Historical Milestone: 'Vande Mataram' (composed by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in his 1882 novel Anandamath) completes its 150th anniversary (originally written in November 1875), making it a focal theme for competitive examinations.
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