State PCS - Bihar (BPSC)

• 17 Apr 2026

Project Udaan Launched by Patna Nagar Nigam

Why in News? 

Patna Nagar Nigam has launched Project Udaan to provide free coaching facilities to the children of sanitation workers in Patna, Bihar. 

Key Points 

• Launch: The initiative has been launched by Patna Nagar Nigam. 
• Objective: The main aim of the project is to provide free coaching for competitive exams like UPSC, BPSC, JEE, and NEET to the children of sanitation workers. 
  • The scheme specifically focuses on children of sanitation workers working under the municipal corporation. 
• Support: Complete financial assistance for students’ education, along with other essential expenses, will be extended through CSR partnerships. 
• Selection Process: A preliminary examination will be conducted, followed by the preparation of a final selection list. 

Read More: CSR 

Project Him Sarovar Launched in Ladakh

Why in News? 

Lieutenant Governor Vinai Kumar Saxena launched Project Him Sarovar in the Union Territory of Ladakh to strengthen long-term water security and address water scarcity in the cold desert region.  

Key Points 

• Launch: The project was launched on 10th April 2026 by the Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh.  
• Objective: The initiative aims to strengthen water security in Ladakh through scientific snow-harvesting, addressing water scarcity, improving irrigation, enhancing climate resilience, and promoting the creation of new “green and blue assets” for long-term ecological balance. 
  • The project involves the construction of 50 small water bodies across Leh and Kargil to store snowmelt. 
• Need: Ladakh faces extremely low rainfall and high dependence on glaciers and snowmelt.  
• Institutional Support: The project has received support from the Indian Army, Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and Border Roads Organisation (BRO) along with local communities. 

Read More:  Indian Army, ITBP, BRO 

Sawan Barwal Breaks 48-Year-Old National Marathon Record

Why in News? 

Indian long-distance runner Sawan Barwal broke the 48-year-old national marathon record previously held by Shivnath Singh during the Rotterdam Marathon 2026 in the Netherlands.  

Key Points 

• Achievement: Sawan Barwal clocked 2 hours 11 minutes 58 seconds at the Rotterdam Marathon, setting a new Indian national record in the marathon event. 
  • The earlier national record of 2 hours 12 minutes was set by Shivnath Singh at the National Inter-State Championship in Jalandhar in 1978. 
• Record Duration: Shivnath Singh’s record had remained unbroken for 48 years, making it one of the longest-standing records in Indian athletics. 
• Event: He finished in 20th position in the elite men’s race at the Rotterdam Marathon in the Netherlands.  
• Background:  
  • Sawan Barwal, aged 28, hails from a village in Joginder Nagar located in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh. 
  • He serves in the Indian Army. 
  • Sawan Barwal won his first national title at the Federation Cup 2024, securing gold in the 5000m event. 
  • He won gold medals in both the 5000m and 10000m events at the National Games held in Uttarakhand in 2025. 
  • He also secured gold in the 10000m at the Federation Cup 2025. 

Read More: National Games 

First Semiconductor Fab in India

Why in News? 

India has officially notified the establishment of the country's 1st semiconductor fabrication plant within a new Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Dholera, Gujarat, marking a significant leap forward in India's electronics and IT manufacturing ecosystem. 

Key Points: 

• First Semiconductor Fab in India: The SEZ is dedicated to Electronic Hardware, Software, IT/ITES, and is projected to generate employment for 21,000 people.  
• Semiconductor Fab: A semiconductor fabrication plant, or “fab,” is a highly advanced, multi-billion-dollar facility where microchips (integrated circuits) are produced on ultra-pure silicon wafers using nanoscale precision.   
  • Inside Class 1 cleanrooms, processes like photolithography, doping, and metallization create billions of transistors that power devices from smartphones to AI systems.  
• Progressive SEZ Rule Amendments (June 2025): To facilitate high-value, capital-intensive investments in this sector, the government amended the SEZ Rules, 2006. Crucial reforms include:  
  • Reducing the minimum land requirement for sector-specific SEZs from 50 hectares to 10 hectares.  
  • Permitting domestic sales in the Domestic Tariff Area (DTA) subject to the payment of applicable duties.  
• Strategic Significance: India is building a complete domestic manufacturing ecosystem under the India Semiconductor Mission 2.0, focusing on producing the entire semiconductor value chain from chemicals and gases to chip-making machinery within the country. 

Read More:India Semiconductor Mission 2.0 

Urban Challenge Funds to start flowing from September

Why in News? 

Union Minister for Housing and Urban Affairs,Manohar Lal Khattar, announced that funds for the Urban Challenge Fund (UCF) will start flowing to cities by September 2026. This marks the execution phase of the ₹1 lakh crore initiative aimed at transforming urban infrastructure through market-led financing.

Key Points: 

• Disbursement and Implementation Timeline: The Ministry plans to release 30% of the Central Assistance by September 2026 following the completion of a formal review process for project proposals. 
  • Operational Period: The scheme will be implemented from FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31, with a potential extension of up to three years (until FY 2033–34). 
  • Review Mechanism: A dedicated committee will review submitted projects to ensure they meet the criteria of being "bankable" and "reform-oriented". 
• Funding Model and Strategic Focus:The UCF drives a market-driven model, leveraging a total investment of ₹4 lakh crore by capping central assistance at 25% and requiring cities to secure at least 50% of funds through PPPs, municipal bonds, or loans. The program prioritizes:  
  • Core Infrastructure: Transit-oriented development, greenfield townships, and urban rejuvenation. 
  • Sustainability: Water, sanitation, and waste management projects. 
  • Financial Inclusion: A ₹5,000 crore Credit Repayment Guarantee Sub-Scheme (CRGSS) facilitates market access for smaller cities. 
• Strategic Significance:This initiative marks a shift towards self-reliant urban governance, linking federal funds to reform milestones, digital transparency, and private sector participation.

Read More: Urban Challenge Fund 

Gopi Thotakura: First Indian Space Tourist on Blue Origin’s NS-25 Mission

Why in News? 

Gopichand Thotakura, an entrepreneur and pilot, has been selected as one of the six crew members for Blue Origin’s NS-25 mission. This marks a historic milestone as he becomes the first Indian space tourist and only the second Indian to travel to space, following Wing Commander Rakesh Sharma (1984).

Key Points: 

• Launch Vehicle: The New Shepard rocket, a fully reusable suborbital launch vehicle developed by Jeff Bezos’s space venture, Blue Origin. 
• The Mission (NS-25): This is the 25th flight for the New Shepard program and the seventh human flight for the company. 
• The Experience: The flight follows a suborbital trajectory, crossing the Kármán line (100 km altitude)—the internationally recognized boundary of space—allowing passengers to experience several minutes of weightlessness.  
• Profile of Gopi Thotakura: An avid traveller and professional pilot, Thotakura co-founded Preserve Life Corp, a global wellness centre. 
  • Aviation Credentials: He has experience flying bush planes, seaplanes, and hot air balloons, and has served as an international medical evacuation pilot. 
  • Education: A graduate of Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, he has a long-standing passion for aerospace.  
• Historical and Strategic Significance:While Rakesh Sharma flew as a professional cosmonaut under a government programme (Soviet Union), Thotakura represents the era of commercial spaceflight and private participation. 
  • Indian "Citizen Astronaut": He was selected following a rigorous process by Blue Origin, highlighting the growing presence of the Indian diaspora in the global space economy. 
  • Inspiration for Gaganyaan: His journey coincides with India's own human spaceflight mission, Gaganyaan, boosting public interest in space exploration. 
• The NS-25 Crew: Thotakura will fly alongside five other individuals, including Ed Dwight, who was selected by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 as the first Black astronaut candidate but never had the opportunity to fly until this mission. 

Read More:Gaganyaan, Kármán line 

Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026

Why in News? 

The Union Government has introduced the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026, in Parliament. The bill proposes a significant expansion of the Lok Sabha’s composition, increasing the maximum strength from the current 550 to 850 members.

Key Points: 

• Proposed Composition of the House: Total Seats to be  increased to 850. 
  • State Representation: 815 members to be elected from the States. 
  • Union Territories (UTs): 35 members to be elected from the UTs. 
  • Rationale: The government cited the need to reflect India's current population dynamics, as the existing seat allocation is largely based on the 1971 Census.  
• Constitutional Background 
  • Article 81: This article governs the composition of the House of the People (Lok Sabha). The new Bill seeks to amend this article to accommodate the increased numbers. 
  • The 2026 Freeze: Under the 84th Amendment Act (2001), the number of seats in the Lok Sabha was frozen until 2026. The current Bill marks the first formal legislative step to address the seat allocation post-expiry of this freeze. 
  • New Parliament House: The infrastructure of the newly inaugurated Parliament House already accounts for this expansion, with the Lok Sabha chamber designed to seat up to 888 members.  
• Key Objectives and Implications: The expansion aims to ensure that the ratio between the number of seats and the population of each State remains uniform across the country. 
  • Enhanced Outreach: More MPs per capita are expected to improve the "representative-to-citizen" ratio, facilitating better grievance redressal and localized development. 
  • Delimitation Linkage: The implementation of this Bill will be closely tied to a fresh Delimitation Exercise, which will redefine the boundaries of territorial constituencies based on the latest census data. 

Read More: Delimitation