BPSC Bihar Special • Current Affairs08 October 2026
Bihar Current Affairs: Science, Technology, Wetlands & Regional Connectivity Comprehensive Digest
Source: Information & Public Relations Department (IPRD Bihar) / Official Gazettes•Exam Target: BPSC 71st & 72nd CCE Prelims
1. Science, Technology & Digital Innovation
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Bihar’s First Supercomputer ‘PARAM Rudra’ at IIT Patna: Bihar's inaugural high-performance supercomputer, PARAM Rudra, was operationalised at the Aryabhatta Supercomputing Center (ASC), IIT Patna. Developed under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) by C-DAC Pune, the facility operates at a peak computing speed of approximately 838 Teraflops.
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Technical Architecture & Academic Impact: Built upon indigenous RUDRA servers and an indigenous software stack, the supercomputer supports over 60 faculty members and 400 researchers in advanced domains including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Quantum Computing, Computational Biology, Materials Science, and Fluid Mechanics.
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National Supercomputing Mission (NSM) Framework: Jointly steered by the Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and the Department of Science and Technology (DST), and executed via C-DAC and IISc Bengaluru, NSM aims to establish sovereign high-performance computing (HPC) capabilities across Indian premier academic and research institutions.
2. Environment, Wetlands & Biodiversity
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Three Historic Ramsar Inscriptions for Bihar: With the notification of new sites, Bihar's total tally of international Ramsar wetlands expanded to 6 sites (raising India's nationwide total to 101):
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Gokul Jalashay (Buxar): Designated as India’s 92nd Ramsar site, this 448-hectare natural oxbow lake located on the southern bank of the Ganga river serves as an essential flood buffer and habitat for over 50 avian species.
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Udaipur Jheel (West Champaran): Inscribed as India’s 93rd Ramsar site, this 319-hectare oxbow wetland contiguous with the Udaipur Wildlife Sanctuary supports around 35 migratory waterbird species, including the vulnerable Common Pochard.
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Gogabil Jheel (Katihar): Inscribed as India’s 94th Ramsar site, this 86.63-hectare natural oxbow wetland was notably declared Bihar’s first Community Reserve in 2019 under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, and is a recognized Important Bird Area (IBA).
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Complete Profile of Bihar’s 6 Ramsar Sites:
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Kanwar Lake / Kabartal (Begusarai, 2020) — Bihar’s 1st, India’s 38th.
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Nagi Bird Sanctuary (Jamui, 2024) — India’s 81st.
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Nakti Bird Sanctuary (Jamui, 2024) — India’s 82nd.
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Gokul Jalashay (Buxar, 2025) — India’s 92nd.
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Udaipur Jheel (West Champaran, 2025) — India’s 93rd.
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Gogabil Jheel (Katihar, 2025) — India’s 94th.
3. Green Mobility & Sustainable Transport
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Bihar Electric Vehicle (Amendment) Policy, 2026: The state cabinet approved the updated EV policy to accelerate sustainable mobility under the vision ‘EV 30@30’, targeting at least 30% electric vehicle penetration among all newly registered vehicles in Bihar by the year 2030.
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Fiscal Subsidies & Consumer Incentives (FY 2026–27):
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Two-Wheelers: ₹10,000 for General category; ₹12,000 for SC/ST and Women buyers.
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Goods-Carrying Three-Wheelers: ₹50,000 (General); ₹60,000 (SC/ST).
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Non-Commercial Four-Wheelers: Direct DBT subsidy of ₹1,00,000 exclusively when registered in the name of a female family member.
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Tax Holiday & Infrastructure: 50% rebate on Motor Vehicle Tax for all EVs until 2030, vehicle scrappage bonuses, and capital subsidies ranging from ₹75,000 to ₹2,25,000 for public charging station installations.
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Eco-Friendly Transport Employment Scheme: Sanctioned with an outlay of ₹110 crore, the Mukhyamantri Bihar Paryavaran Anukool Parivahan Rozgar Yojana promotes rural connectivity, commercial EV adoption, and woman-led transport logistics.
4. Women Empowerment, Livelihoods & Social Welfare
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Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana 2025: Launched on 26 September 2025 with the direct DBT release of the first financial installment to 75 lakh women, this flagship scheme aims to ensure sustainable self-employment for at least one woman per household.
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Financial Assistance Model: Beneficiaries receive an initial non-repayable grant of ₹10,000 directly via DBT to launch micro-enterprises. Following performance appraisals and enterprise scaling, additional phased assistance up to ₹2 lakh is provided, bringing aggregate support up to ₹2.10 lakh.
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Institutional Architecture & Eligibility:
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Nodal Department & Agency: Department of Rural Development, implemented through Jeevika (BRLPS) via Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and Village Organizations (VOs); urban facilitation via the Urban Development and Housing Department (UDHD).
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Eligibility: Women aged 18 to 60 years; restricted to non-income taxpaying households with no regular or contractual government employees.
5. Infrastructure & Regional Connectivity
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Redevelopment of Pirpainti Railway Station (Bhagalpur): Virtually inaugurated under the Amrit Bharat Station Scheme at an estimated investment of ₹18.93 crore, Pirpainti (Station Code: PPT) on the Sahibganj Loop under Eastern Railway's Malda Division has been modernized to handle emerging industrial logistics.
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Strategic Significance: Situated on Bihar's eastern border adjacent to Jharkhand, Pirpainti serves as a key freight handling terminal for cement, stone aggregates, and maize. It provides strategic multi-modal logistical support for the upcoming 2,400 MW Pirpainti Super Thermal Power Plant and prospective new railway corridors toward Godda and Jasidih.
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