State PCS - Bihar (BPSC)

• 06 Feb 2026

Bihar Government to Open Degree Colleges in 213 Blocks

Why in News? 

The Bihar government has announced a major initiative to open degree colleges in 213 blocks of the state aiming to improve access to higher education, especially in rural and underserved areas. 

Key Points. 

• Addressing Inequality: Out of 534 blocks in Bihar, 213 currently lack degree college facilities, and this gap is being addressed through the first phase of expansion to promote equitable access to higher studies. 
• Programme Framework: This initiative is part of ‘Saat Nischay-3’ under the theme “Advanced Education – Bright Future (Unnat Shiksha – Ujjwal Bhavishya)”.  
  • This initiative was announced by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar. 
• Focus: The key objective is to make higher education more accessible to girls and rural students, who often face challenges traveling long distances for college. 
  • This will support gender equity in education and contribute to broader socio-economic development. 
• Centres of Excellence: Alongside new colleges, the government will develop 55 existing prestigious educational institutions as Centres of Excellence to provide quality, employment-oriented higher education. 
• Human Capital: By expanding higher education infrastructure, Bihar aims to build a skilled workforce equipped for employment opportunities and economic growth.  

Read More:  Gender equity, Centres of Excellence 

Bihar Economic Survey 2025-26

Why in News? 

Bihar Economic Survey 2025‑26 was presented in the Bihar Assembly by Finance Minister Bijendra Prasad Yadav on 2 February 2026. 

Key Points 

• This is the 20th Economic Survey of the state, which presents a detailed analysis of Bihar’s economic performance, macro trends, sectoral growth, public finance and development priorities. 
• BIHAR ECONOMY’s OUTLOOK: 
  • Bihar's economic growth outpaced the national average with growth of 14.9% compared with India's 12.0%. 
  • The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) for 2024–25 is estimated at ₹9,91,997 crore at current prices and ₹5,31,372 crore at 2011–12 constant prices. 
  • Growth recorded at 13.1% (current prices) and 8.6% (constant prices). 
  • The Net State Domestic Product (NSDP) for 2024–25 is estimated at ₹8,99,020 crore at current prices and ₹4,71,322 crore at 2011–12 constant prices. 
  • Bihar's per capita NSDP at constant prices (2011-12) is estimated at Rs. 36,342, which is 31.7 % of the all-India average for states. 
  • Per capita income rose to ₹76,490 (current prices) and ₹40,973 (constant prices). 
    • Top 3 Districts: Patna, Begusarai, Munger 
    • Lowest 3 Districts: Sheohar, Araria, and Sitamarhi 
    • Patna: Highest Petrol, Diesel and LPG consumption. 
  • The tertiary sector contributes 54.8% of GSDP, Secondary sector 26.8%, Primary sector 18.3%. 
  • Sectoral Growth: At current prices for 2024-25, the primary sector in the state grew by 9.6 %, the secondary sector by 15.5 %, and the tertiary sector by 13.5 % over the previous year. 
  • Employment: The tertiary sector contributes 22%, Secondary sector 24%, Primary sector 54%. 
  • The Gross Fixed Capital Formation has nearly doubled in the recent five years from ₹17,416 crore to ₹34,905 crore in 2024-25. 
• State Finance 2024-25: 
  • Total Receipts Revenue Account: 218658 Crore (22% of GSDP) 
  • Capital Receipts: 66165 Crore (6.7% of GSDP) 
  • Total Expenditure: 281939 Crore (28.4% of GSDP) 
  • Revenue Expenditure: Rs. 2,19,015 crore (22.1% of GSDP) 
    • 77.7% of Total Expenditure 
  • Capital Expenditure: 62924 Crore (6.3% of GSDP) 
    • 22.3% of Total Expenditure 
  • Total Borrowings: 66049 Crore (6.7% of GSDP) 
  • Debt Outstanding: 374134 Crore (37.7% of GSDP) 
  • Gross Fiscal Deficit: 41223 Crore (4.2% of GSDP) 
  • Primary Deficit: 21544 Crore (2.2% of GSDP) 
  • Revenue Deficit: 357 Crore  
• Agriculture: 
  • Gross Sown Area: 8207.27 Thousand Hectare 
  • Net Sown Area: 5411.96 Thousand Hectare 
  • Cropping Intensity: 1.52 Thousand Hectare 
  • Cropping Pattern in Bihar (2020-21 to 2024-25): Foodgrains(95.2), Cereals(89.2), Pulses (6.0). 
  • Milk production rose by 4.2 percent, egg production by 10.0 percent, and fish production by 9.9 percent. 
  • The fisheries sector recorded a total fish production of 960 thousand tonnes with Madhubani as leading producer. 
    • Scheme: Mukhyamantri Samekit Chaur Vikas Yojana, River Ranching Programme, Jalashay Matsyki Vikas Yojana. 
  • Government Initiative: Jaivik Kheti Protsahan Yojana, Jaivik Corridor Yojana, Paramparagat Krishi Vikas Yojana (PKVY). 
• ENTERPRISES SECTOR:  
  • Sugar Industry: The Riga Sugar Mill was reopened in 2024-25.  
  • Dairy Industry: The aggregate daily average milk procurement 2,252.28 thousand kg in 2024-25. 
  • Textile Industry: The State government introduced the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy (Textile and Leather Policy, 2022) under the broader framework of the Bihar Industrial Investment Promotion Policy, 2016. 
  • Tourism Development: Takht Sri Harimandir Ji, Matsyagandha Lake in Saharsa district, Luv-Kush Eco Tourism Park in Valmikinagar. 
  • Eco-tourism: In 2024-25, the total outlay for eco-tourism and park development was Rs. 100.00 crore. Bihar's third biological park at Raniganj in Araria. 
  • Initiative: Bihar State Khadi and Village Industries Board (KVIB), Industrial Promotion in Bihar, Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA),  
• LABOUR, EMPLOYMENT AND SKILL:  
  • In Bihar, the male labour force participation rate (LFPR) was 76.8 percent in rural areas and 67.8 percent in urban areas. 
  • Bihar's female LFPR being 11.2 percent lower than the all-India average. 
  • In rural Bihar, the unemployment rate for males was 3.3 percent, while the female unemployment rate was just 0.9 percent. 
  • In urban areas about 6.9 percent of male workers and 9.1 percent of female workers in urban Bihar are unemployed. 
• PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE: 
  • Bihar shares 5.5% of the total road network of India.  
  • A 6-lane Bihar New Ganga bridge is being constructed at an estimate of Rs. 4988 Crore with the support from ADB. 
  • Construction of expressways and national highways continues. 
  • The road transport sector recorded a high growth of 13.4% annually during the last decade. 
  • Bihar constituted 5.4 percent of the rail network of the country. 
  • Bihar has recorded a high growth rate of 20 percent in the air transport sector. 
  • Initiative: PM e-Bus Sewa, Mukhya Mantri Gram Parivahan Yojana (MMGPY). 
• E-GOVERNANCE: 
  • E-governance initiatives: CCTNS, CFMS, Cyber Cell, e-Challan, Bihar AI Mission 
  • Tele Density coverage 57.23%, Internet density coverage 43.10%. 
  • Initiatives: Bihar State Data Centre (BSDC 2.0), Bihar State Wide Area Network (BSWAN 3.0), Bihar Aadhaar Authentication Framework (BAAF), Emergency Response Support System (ERSS),  
• POWER SECTOR: 
  • Per capita energy consumption increased to 374 kilowatt-hours. 
  • 13 Innovation & Impact Award for DISCOMs 2025 at 19th India Energy Summit - Won by both NBPDCL & SBPDCL in different categories. 
  • BSPTCL has been awarded A+ certificate from PFC consecutively for 5 years from the year 2020 to 2025. 
  • Initiative: Floating Solar Power Plant, Solar Water Pumps, Mukhyamantri Solar Street Light Scheme, Smart Metering. 
• RURAL DEVELOPMENT: 
  • Rural development is fundamental to Bihar's inclusive growth, as nearly 90 percent of the population lives in rural areas. 
  • JEEVIKA: It implements the National Rural Livelihoods Mission (NRLM) in Bihar. JEEVIKA has mobilized 1.40 crore families into 11.03 lakh Self-Help Groups (SHGs), supported by Village Organizations and Cluster-Level Federations. 
  • Initiatives: Didi-Ki-Rasoi Initiative, Pashu Sakhi Model, One Stop Facility Centre, Satat Jeevikoparjan Yojana, Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan. 
• URBAN DEVELOPMENT: 
  • The total population growth rate in Bihar declined to 14.4 per cent during 2021-25. 
  • The Total Fertility Rate (TFR) in Bihar will reach the replacement level of 2.1 by 2039. 
  • Initiatives: Mukhyamantri Samagra Shahari Vikas Yojana, Mukhyamantri Shahri Naali-Gali Pakkikaran Nishchay Yojana, Rainwater Harvesting and Artificial Recharge of Ground Water, Solid Waste Management, Smart City Mission, Patna Metro Rail Project . 
• FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS:  
  • Initiatives: ATM infrastructure in Bihar, Microfinance Institutions (MFI), Kisan Credit Card (KCC), National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD). 
• HUMAN DEVELOPMENT: 
  • Women Empowerment:The total expenditure on women has increased 3.45 times between 2018-19 and 2023-24. 
    • Under Mukhyamantri Kanya Vivah Yojna, financial assistance of Rs. 5,000 is provided to girls from BPL families who marry at the age of 18 years or above. 
    • Initiative: One-Stop Centre, Palna Ghar, Mahila Thana, Pink Bus Initiative, Nayika Apne Jeevan Ki. 
  • Education & Health Sector:The Life Expectancy at Birth in Bihar in 2019-23 has been 68.9 and 69.7 years for males and females respectively. 
    • Bihar recorded significant improvement in literacy during 2001-11, rising from 47% to 61.8%, the highest among all states. 
    • Initiatives: E-Shikshakosh, PM Poshan Scheme, BHAVYA initiative, Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), Immunisation, National Health Mission, Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Bihar Student Credit Card Yojana (BSCCY).  
• CHILD DEVELOPMENT: 
  • NFHS-5 (2019-21): Children under 5 Years who are Stunted (42.9%), Wasted (22.9%) and Underweight(41%). 
  • Initiatives: Anganwadi Services (AS), Poshan Pakhwada, POSHAN Tracker, Mission Vatsalya, Establishment of Child Protection Unit, Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2015. 
• ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE AND DISASTER MANAGEMENT: 
  • The forestry sector registered an average annual growth of 10.6% between 2011-12 and 2024-25. 
  • Forest cover increased by 689 sq km in 12 years. 
  • Initiative: Environment Forest and Climate Change Department, Forest Management Information System (FMIS), Bihar-VanMitra App, e-Parivesh Portal, Hariyali Mission, Bamboo Mission, Wetland Conservation and Development in Bihar, Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin Sanctuary. 
  • Disaster Management Initiatives: State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) in 2010, Bihar Disaster Risk Reduction Road Map (2015-2030), Modernisation of State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). 

Kalpetta Becomes India’s First Fully Paperless District Court

Why in News? 

The Kalpetta judicial district in Wayanad, Kerala has become India’s first fully paperless district court. 

Key Points 

• Historic Achievement: Kalpetta has become the first district court in India to function completely without paper, transitioning to a fully digital judicial system. 
• Inauguration: The paperless court system was virtually inaugurated by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant. 
• Functioning: All stages of court proceedings — including pre‑trial processes, recording of evidence, interlocutory orders, and final adjudications — are now conducted electronically without the use of physical files.  
  • The digital platform, known as the District Court Case Management System (DCMS), was developed in‑house by the Kerala High Court’s IT department to ensure secure and efficient digital operations. 
• Technology: The system integrates AI‑based judicial assistance tools that help generate structured case summaries, assist with annotation, query case details, and support judges with faster access to digital records. 
• Benefits: Going paperless is expected to reduce litigation costs, eliminate delays in transferring files, enhance access to justice, and contribute to “green jurisprudence” by lowering the environmental impact of judicial processes.  
• Model for Other Districts: The initiative is being seen as a model for other judicial districts across India, with the potential to transform traditional court operations into efficient digital systems nationwide. 

Read More: District court, AI, Chief Justice of India 

Tamil Nadu Launches India’s First Deep Tech Startup Policy

Why in News? 

Tamil Nadu unveiled India’s first dedicated Deep Tech Startup Policy at the UmagineTN 2026 technology summit in Chennai. 

Key Points 

• Policy Launch: The Deep Tech Startup Policy 2025‑26 was launched by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin at the UmagineTN 2026 summit held in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.  
  • Tamil Nadu became the first Indian state to introduce a dedicated deep tech startup policy. 
• Implementation: The policy will be coordinated and facilitated by the Tamil Nadu Technology (iTNT) Hub, the nodal agency under the state government.  
• Investment & Startup Support: The policy targets support for 100 deep tech startups and plans to mobilise ₹100 crore in public and private investment over the next five years to bridge the gap between research and market deployment. 
  • The policy emphasises cutting‑edge sectors such as artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors, biotechnology, space technologies, and clean energy, which typically involve advanced scientific research and long gestation periods. 
• Ecosystem Development: It aims to facilitate technology transfer from academic and research institutions to startups, encourage patent creation, and strengthen infrastructure and capital support for innovation. 
• Government Support: The policy includes provisions like a “Government as Early Adopter” programme to pilot and validate deep tech solutions in select government departments, aiding startups in proving their technologies. 

Read More:  Startup , AI, Semiconductors,  Biotechnology, Space technologies 

World Cancer Day 2026

Why in News? 

World Cancer Day was observed on 4 February 2026 to raise awareness about cancer, promote early detection, and encourage equitable access to cancer care worldwide. 

Key Points 

• Theme: The official theme for 2026 is “United by Unique”, part of a three-year global campaign (2025–27) that underscores that everyone’s cancer journey is different but equally deserving of care and dignity. 
  • The theme stresses person-centred care, recognising individual experiences, needs and the importance of dignity in treatment and survivorship planning. 
• Purpose:Raise awareness about cancer prevention, early detection and treatment. 
  • Encourage timely screening and healthy lifestyles. 
  • Break myths, stigma and fear associated with cancer. 
  • Support patients, survivors and caregivers. 
  • Improve access to equitable cancer care worldwide. 
• Participation: Individuals, communities, health institutions and governments take part through awareness campaigns, educational programmes and screening activities to promote action against cancer. 
  • Health experts emphasise that early detection saves lives, and many cancer cases could be prevented or better managed with timely screening and lifestyle interventions. 
• Preventable Causes: According to WHO analyses, an estimated 4 in 10 new cancer cases can be prevented through risk-reducing measures such as avoiding tobacco, unhealthy diets, alcohol and improving physical activity. 
• Equity and Access: World Cancer Day calls for equitable access to high-quality care, especially in low- and middle-income countries where lack of resources and awareness leads to late diagnosis and poorer outcomes.  

Read More: World Cancer Day, WHO 

Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026

Why in News? 

The 25th edition of the Winter Olympic Games will officially begin from 6 February. Milano Cortina 2026 will mark the first time that two cities will jointly host the Winter Olympics, and it is the fourth time Italy will stage the Winter Games.

Key Points:

• Opening Ceremony: Held on 6 February 2026 at the iconic San Siro Stadium in Milan. 
• Closing Ceremony: Scheduled for 22 February 2026 at the ancient Verona Arena. 
• Mascots: Tina and Milo, two stoats whose names are inspired by the host cities (Tina for Cortina and Milo for Milano). 
• Theme: Titled "Armonia" (Harmony), the show is produced by Balich Wonder Studio and features performances by Mariah Carey, Andrea Bocelli, and Laura Pausini. 
• India’s Participation:India is represented by a small but significant contingent at the 2026 Games, continuing its presence in global winter sports.  
• Athletes:Arif Mohammad Khan, the veteran alpine skier, who previously represented India at the Beijing 2022 Winter Games, has qualified in the Alpine Skiing discipline. 
  • Stanzin Lundup: Competing in Cross-Country Skiing. His participation was confirmed after a selection process that involved a Delhi High Court decision regarding the national quota. 
• India participated in the Winter Olympics:While the Winter Olympic Games began in 1924, India made its debut in 1964. 
  •  Including the upcoming Milano Cortina Olympics, India has participated in 12 Winter Olympic editions, with 17 different athletes representing the country over the years.

Read More: Winter Olympics