State PCS - Bihar (BPSC)

• 09 Jan 2026

Solar-Plus-Battery Storage Project Commissioned in Bihar

Why in News?

Bihar has successfully commissioned the first phase of a large solar-plus-battery storage project in Kajra, Lakhisarai district.

Key Points

• Implementing Agency: The project is being executed by Bihar State Power Generation Company Limited (BSPGCL), the state-owned power utility.
• Project Capacity: The total project capacity is 301 MW solar power combined with 495 MWh battery storage.
  • This makes it one of the largest solar-plus-storage projects in eastern India.
• Phase-I: The first phase consists of 185 MW solar capacity with 254 MWh Battery Energy Storage System (BESS).
• Technology Used: The battery storage system uses Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO₄) technology, known for higher thermal stability and safety.
• BESS Function: The BESS enables storage of excess daytime solar power and supplies electricity during peak evening demand hours.
• Grid Integration: Power from the project is evacuated through a 132 kV transmission system, ensuring seamless integration with the state power grid.
• Second Phase: The remaining 116 MW solar and 241 MWh BESS will be commissioned in the next phase, expected by January 2027.
• Strategic Importance: The project supports Bihar’s long-term goal of increasing the share of renewable energy and reducing dependence on conventional fossil-fuel-based power.
• Environmental Significance: Solar-plus-storage projects help reduce carbon emissions, improve energy security, and promote sustainable power generation.

Sacred Piprahwa Relics Exposition Inaugurated

Why in News?

India inaugurated the Grand International Exposition of Sacred Piprahwa Relics of Bhagwan Buddha in New Delhi, showcasing the country’s Buddhist heritage and spiritual legacy.

Key Points

• Title: Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the exposition titled “The Light & the Lotus: Relics of the Awakened One”.
• Significance of Relics: The sacred relics, repatriated from the United Kingdom after 125 years.
• Venue: Organized at the historic Rai Pithora Cultural Complex, New Delhi.
• Discovery:  The Piprahwa relics were excavated in 1898 from a Buddhist stupa in Piprahwa village, Uttar Pradesh.
• Buddhist Linkages: India’s efforts to preserve Buddhist heritage globally strengthen cultural ties with countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Mongolia, and Russia, attracting international devotees.
• Classical Language: Buddha’s teachings were originally in Pali, and India is promoting Pali globally, recognizing it as a classical language in 2024.
• Significance: The exposition reinforces India’s position as a custodian of Buddhist heritage, promoting peace, harmony, and global cultural unity.

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Buddhism

Classical Language