Introduction
The subtopic "Bihar-specific current events & schemes" is one of the most dynamic and high-yield areas of the BPSC Current Affairs paper. Over the years, a staggering 57 questions have been drawn from this domain across multiple examination cycles (2018–2025), making it a non-negotiable priority for serious aspirants. The questions test not just rote memorisation of government schemes, budget figures, and census data, but also the ability to connect these facts to broader constitutional, economic, and social contexts. For instance, a question on the Green Budget (BPSC 2024) requires understanding of environmental fiscal policy, while a question on the Tanti-Tantwa community (BPSC 2024) demands knowledge of Article 341 and the limits of state power in modifying the Scheduled Castes list.
The official BPSC syllabus for this subtopic is deceptively simple: "Bihar-specific current events & schemes". However, the PYQs reveal a layered pattern. Questions span:
- Flagship schemes (Saat Nischay Part-1 & Part-2, Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana, Satat Jivikoparjan Yojana, Mission Daksh)
- Economic indicators (GSDP, sectoral growth rates, FDI inflows, budget allocations)
- Social indicators (literacy rate, sex ratio, child sex ratio, urbanization level, Health Index score)
- Infrastructure and energy (Madhepura locomotive, Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation, National Dolphin Research Centre, Ghar Tak Fibre)
- Environment and conservation (Vulture Conservation Plan, Nagi Bird Sanctuary, Kosi Mechi Link Project, pollution-free target)
- Culture, tourism, and awards (Sujini embroidery, Bihula Festival, Vishnupad Yojana, Takhat Sri Harimandir, Brand Ambassadors)
- Legal and policy developments (Operation Prahar, SC categorization, Comprehensive Financial Management System)
The difficulty level is moderate to high — not because the facts are obscure, but because the exam often presents plausible distractors that differ by a single decimal point (e.g., literacy rate 50.50% vs 51.50%) or a single year (e.g., Green Budget introduced in 2020-21 vs 2019-20). The exam also tests negative questions ("which is not true?" or "which is not included?") and matching/grouping (e.g., districts benefiting from Kosi Mechi Link Project).
This chapter is designed to give you a first-principles understanding of every concept tested, along with memory aids, comparison tables, and worked examples from actual PYQs. By the end, you will be able to not only recall the exact facts but also anticipate the kinds of twists BPSC may introduce in future exams.
Core Concepts & Foundations
Before diving into specific schemes and events, it is essential to build a conceptual toolkit. Every PYQ in this subtopic rests on a few foundational ideas. We define each key term below, using blockquote callouts, and then explain how they apply to Bihar.
Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP): The total monetary value of all goods and services produced within the geographical boundaries of a state in a given financial year. It is the state-level equivalent of GDP. GSDP at current prices includes inflation, while GSDP at constant prices adjusts for inflation. In BPSC, GSDP figures are often asked at current prices (e.g., ₹4,87,628 crore for 2017-18, tested in BPSC 2019).
FDI Equity Inflow: Foreign Direct Investment refers to investment by a foreign entity into the equity capital of a company resident in India. "Equity inflow" means the portion of FDI that comes as equity (as opposed to reinvested earnings or other capital). Sector-wise FDI data is released by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). In Bihar, the service sector attracted the highest FDI during April-June 2018 (tested in BPSC 2018).
Sex Ratio: The number of females per 1,000 males in a population. It is a key indicator of gender balance. As per Census 2011, Bihar's sex ratio is 918 (tested in BPSC 2024). The child sex ratio (0-6 years) is 935 (tested in BPSC 2019). Note the distinction: sex ratio is for the entire population, while child sex ratio is for the 0-6 age group.
Literacy Rate: The percentage of persons aged 7 years and above who can read and write with understanding. As per Census 2011, Bihar's overall literacy rate is 61.80% (male 71.20%, female 50.50%). The female literacy rate of 50.50% was tested in BPSC 2021 and 2022. Bihar ranks first (lowest) among states in terms of lowest literacy rate (tested in BPSC 2018).
Urbanization Level: The percentage of a state's population living in areas classified as urban. According to the Bihar Economic Survey 2021-22, the urbanization level in Bihar is 22.4% (tested in BPSC 2022). Earlier surveys had reported 18.6% (tested in BPSC 2021), indicating a revision in methodology or data.
Green Budget: A budget that allocates a specific portion of public expenditure towards environmental protection and climate change mitigation. Bihar became the first state in India to introduce a Green Budget in the Financial Year 2020-21 (tested in BPSC 2024). It includes a separate chapter on environmental sustainability.
Comprehensive Financial Management System (CFMS): A digital platform that integrates all financial transactions of the state government, including those of local bodies, into a single online system. Launched on 1 April 2019, its objective is to make financial activities paperless and transparent (tested in BPSC 2020). Note: the correct answer in the PYQ was "will manage State Government finances including local bodies" — not just making things paperless.
Operation Prahar: A special enforcement drive launched by the Bihar government to enforce the total prohibition of alcohol in the state. It involves raids, surveillance, and strict legal action against illegal liquor production and sale. Tested in BPSC 2021 and 2022.
Saat Nischay (Seven Resolves): The flagship governance framework of the Bihar government, introduced in two phases. Part-1 (2015) includes seven promises such as electricity to all, clean drinking water, toilets, etc. Part-2 (2020) adds seven more resolves including irrigation water to every field, youth power, strong woman-capable woman, etc. The phrase "Airways to everyone" is NOT part of Part-2 (tested in BPSC 2021, 2022).
Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana: A scheme aimed at improving the status of the girl child through financial incentives from birth to graduation. The scheme is run by the Education, Health, and Social Welfare departments — this statement was actually the incorrect option in BPSC 2018 (the scheme is run by the Social Welfare Department alone, not three departments). The proposed annual expenditure is ₹7,221 crore, and each girl receives ₹60,000 in total.
Satat Jivikoparjan Yojana: Launched in August 2018, this scheme aims to provide sustainable income-generating assets to extremely poor households. It is not about unemployment allowance or skill training (tested in BPSC 2020).
Mission Daksh: A Bihar government initiative to provide personalized mentoring for students who are lagging behind in grade-level competencies. Its primary objective is not enrollment or vocational training for teachers (tested in BPSC 2025).
YUVA Framework (Bihar Startup Policy 2022): An acronym for Youth Unleashing Vibrant Aspirations. It includes components like Vibrancy in the education system, Regulatory enablers for support, etc. International market expansion schemes are NOT part of YUVA (tested in BPSC 2025).
Vikas Samiksha Yatra: A review and launch initiative by the Chief Minister to monitor development projects. In January 2018, CM Nitish Kumar launched over 750 schemes in Begusarai and Khagaria under this Yatra (tested in BPSC 2018).
Ghar Tak Fibre Scheme: A project to provide broadband connectivity to every household in Bihar, launched on 21 September 2020 via video conferencing. It was started in Bihar (tested in BPSC 2020).
Kosi Mechi Link Project: An inter-linking of rivers project that aims to transfer water from the Kosi River to the Mechi River for irrigation. The benefiting districts are Araria, Purnia, Kishanganj, and Katihar (tested in BPSC 2025).
Nagi Bird Sanctuary: Located in Jamui district, Bihar. It was recognized as an Important Bird and Biodiversity Area (IBA) by BirdLife International (tested in BPSC 2025).
Vulture Conservation Plan: Initiated at the Valmiki Tiger Reserve in Bihar to protect critically endangered vulture species (tested in BPSC 2021).
Sunandini Program: A training and capacity-building program for Auxiliary Nurse Midwives (ANMs) in Bihar (tested in BPSC 2021).
Sujini: A traditional embroidery craft from Bihar, particularly associated with the Buxar and surrounding regions. It is a type of embroidery, not glassware or pottery (tested in BPSC 2023).
Bihula Festival: A folk festival celebrated mainly in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar, usually in August. It is associated with the legend of Bihula and the snake goddess Manasa (tested in BPSC 2024).
Takhat Sri Harimandir Ji Patna Sahib: The second holiest Takhat (seat of authority) in Sikhism, located in Patna (tested in BPSC 2024).
Brand Ambassador of Khadi in Bihar: Manoj Vajpayee, a noted actor and singer from Bihar, was appointed as the brand ambassador for Khadi in the state (tested in BPSC 2021).
Dadasaheb Phalke Indian Television Award (2022) from Bihar: Deep Shrestha, a television actor from Bihar, received this award (tested in BPSC 2021).
Shreyasi Singh: A Member of the Legislative Assembly from Jamui constituency in Bihar, who also represented India in shooting at the Paris Olympics 2024 (tested in BPSC 2024).
Manvi Madhu Kashyap: Bihar's first transgender bus driver in state transport (tested in BPSC 2024).
Tanti-Tantwa community: A community that was categorized as Scheduled Caste by a 2015 Bihar government notification, but the Supreme Court quashed this in July 2024, ruling that states cannot modify the SC list published under Article 341 (tested in BPSC 2024).
Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation: Established in 1982 to develop hydroelectric power projects in the state (tested in BPSC 2024).
National Dolphin Research Centre: Located in Munger, Bihar, inaugurated to study and conserve the Gangetic dolphin (tested in BPSC 2024).
NITI Aayog's Health Index (2019): Bihar scored 32.11, reflecting improvements in health outcomes but still among the lower ranks (tested in BPSC 2019).
Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation tagline: "Blissful Bihar" (tested in BPSC 2019).
First newspaper published in Bihar: Bihar Bandhu (tested in BPSC 2025).
Megalithic site documentation (July 2019): Experts documented a Megalithic site in Kaimur district for the first time (tested in BPSC 2019).
Krishi Kumbha Mela 2019: Held in Motihari, Bihar (tested in BPSC 2019).
Patna district boundaries (till July 2018): Patna was bounded by 7 districts (tested in BPSC 2018).
Sulabh Jal project: Sulabh International launched the cheapest drinking water project in Patna (tested in BPSC 2018).
Bihar's first Start-up Hub: Inaugurated in Patna on 16 March 2018 by Deputy CM Sushil Modi (tested in BPSC 2018).
Madhepura Locomotive Factory: Produces India's most powerful electric locomotive with 10,000 HP capacity (tested in BPSC 2018).
Book "Neel Ke Dhabbe" unveiled on Bihar Day 2018: Vice President Shri Venkaiah Naidu unveiled the book on 22 March 2018 (tested in BPSC 2018).
4G signal availability in Patna (Dec 2017–Feb 2018): Patna ranked first among 20 cities (tested in BPSC 2018).
Bihar Legislative Assembly election 2020 press note: Election Commission issued the press note on 25 September 2020 (tested in BPSC 2020).
Chief Justice administering oath to Governor Fagu Chauhan (July 2019): Hon. A. P. Sahl, Chief Justice of Patna High Court (tested in BPSC 2019).
Bihar Budget 2024-25: Presented by Shri Vijay Kumar Choudhary (Deputy CM and Finance Minister). Highest allocation to Infrastructure sector (tested in BPSC 2024).
World's tallest statue of Mother Sita (251 m): To be constructed in Sitamarhi district (tested in BPSC 2021, 2022).
Vishnupad Yojana (Union Budget 2024): Proposed to develop Gaya as a tourism centre (tested in BPSC 2024).
Pollution-free Bihar target: The government planned to make Bihar pollution-free by reducing carbon emissions by 2024 (tested in BPSC 2023).
North India's first bird ringing station: Opened in West Champaran (tested in BPSC 2021).