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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS (January-2021), 1., , First hilltop monastery found in Gangetic Valley in Bihar, , , , The first hilltop Buddhist monastery of, Pahari in Lakhisarai., , , , The 11th-12th century common era (CE) monastery has some unique features rarely found, elsewhere in the country and certainly not in Bihar. Besides wooden votive tablets found, it is the, first Buddhist monastery which had a woman monk named Vijayashree Bhadra as its chief. She, used to receive donations from Pala queen Mallika Devi. A large number of metal bangles have, been found and all its cells had doors, something unusual for the Buddhist monasteries excavated, so far, suggesting that either it was exclusively for woman monks or a mixed one., , , , The two burnt clay seals recovered from the site record the name Srīmaddharmahāvihārik, āryabhikṣusaṅghasya (the council of monks of Śrīmaddhama vihāra). The language used is, Sanskrit and the script is Siddhamātṛkā of about 8th-9th century CE., , , , The name is equally significant as it indicates how much prestige the Mahāyāna Buddhism, enjoyed in early medieval Magadha., , 2., , the Gangetic, , Valley has, , been, , found, , at Lal, , Patna, Muzaffarpur among 4 most polluted cities, , , , Due to unfavourable climatic conditions in the region, Patna and Muzaffarpur figured among the, four most polluted cities in the country., , , , According to the daily bulletin of Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) mobile application, ‘SAMEER’, the overall air quality index (AQI) level of the state capital was recorded at 345, while it was 372 in Muzaffarpur around 4pm on Tuesday. The other two cities among the four, most polluted were Kanpur (397) and Lucknow (383)., , , , The air quality of both the cities falls under ‘very poor’ category, which can cause respiratory, illness on prolonged exposure., , , , A report in Lancet journal recently underlined that states across Indo-Gangetic Plain, including, Bihar, endure maximum exposure to particulate matters, with an annual mean concentration of, more than 100 units, while the international safe limit for PM2.5 exposure remains 10 units., , 3., , Track doubling work gains pace in Bihar & Jharkhand, , , , Railways has set a deadline for completion of various ongoing projects this year. Work on these, projects is going on in full swing at different places falling under the jurisdiction of the East, Central Railway (ECR) in Bihar and Jharkhand., , , , Giving a momentum to track-doubling work in the ECR region, railways will expedite works on, Kataria– Kursela (seven km), Mahesi—Chakia (nine km), Sugauli–Majhaulia (12km), Chamua–, Harinagar (eight km) and Narkatiaganj—Sathi (eight km ) this year., , , , Under the ‘Make in India’ venture, railways has set the target to produce more electric and diesel, locomotives at the Madhepura Electric Locomotive Factory and Marhaura Diesel Locomotive, Factory in Bihar this year., , 4., , Take steps to promote ethanol production in state, says Bihar CM, , , , M Nitish Kumar said the state has huge potential of ethanol production and asked the industries, department officials to take all necessary steps to boost its production by giving priority to sugar, cane.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , Nitish recalled that he had sent a detailed proposal to the Centre for ethanol production in Bihar, during his first term as the CM between 2005 and 2010, but the UPA government at the Centre, did not accept it., , , , The CM also reviewed the presentations made on the two new entrepreneurship development, schemes, namely the Mukhya Mantri Yuva Mahila Udyami Yojana and the Mukhya Mantri Yuva, Udyami Yojana, which are proposed under the Saat Nischay Part-2 programme of the state, government to provide employment opportunities among the youths., , 5., , Bihar to chalk out tourism road map within 90 days, , , , Bihar’s enormous potential in geo-tourism owing to its rich natural resources is yet to find an, important place on the tourist map of the country, primarily due to lack of infrastructure facilities, at most of the important sites., , , , Experts assert that many important sites can be developed to attract tourists from different parts, of India and abroad. They point out that the oldest surviving rock-cut caves in India —Barabar, caves, Lomas Rishi cave, Sudama cave, Karan Chaupar and Viswa Zopri caves are situated in the, Bela Ganj Block of Gaya district. Carved entirely out of granite these caves have a highly, polished internal surface. But there is no good hotel in the vicinity of these caves, which makes it, difficult for tourists., , , , Karkat waterfall (located on Kaimur hills near wildlife sanctuary), Telhar waterfall (located on, NH-2 in Kaimur District), Manjhar Kund and Dhua Kund Waterfall (located near Sasaram) are, some other waterfalls in the state where geotourism can be promoted., , 6., , Bihar: Remote sensing technology to identify polluting brick kilns, , , , The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) would use remote sensing technology through, satellite for real-time monitoring of brick kilns still using traditional methods and flouting the, mandatory environmental regulations resulting in emission of harmful gases., , , , According to the BSPCB’s clean air action plan, brick kilns are one of the major contributors to, air pollution, besides vehicular emission, domestic burning and dust from construction site., Otherwise, there is no way to check the air pollution caused by any old brick kiln and its impact., , , , The board would sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the UNDP and a UK-based, university for remote sensing technology to track down such brick kilns, which have not been, converted to the less polluting zigzag setting design., , , , As per the clean action plan, 14% of air pollution is caused by brick kilns while 22% by domestic, burning. Transportation causes 19% pollution, dust 15%, industry 14%, waste burning 11% and, diesel generator sets 5%., , 7., , Database to help Bihar govt keep tab on school dropout rate, , , , Concerned over the rise in dropout rates in government schools, the state education department, has planned to create a database for keeping tabs on all students till they reach the higher, secondary classes., , , , According to the data of 2018-2019 available with the department, as many as 24,03,526 children, were enrolled in Class I. This number, however, dipped to 15,37,628 in Class X and 6,31,379 in, Class XII. The dropout rate of girl students was quite high. Of the 11,52,680 girls enrolled in, Class I, only 2,99,672 reached Class XII.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The National Statistical Office of India report (2017-2018) stated that the dropout percentage, in Bihar was 30.5%., , , , A new system is likely to be developed by the Bihar Education Project Council in the next six to, eight months to keep a tab on all the students’ attendance and academic performance., , 8., , Technical education in Hindi need of hour: Deputy CM, , , , Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad said the Centre was committed to imparting technical education in, Hindi and all efforts were being made in this regard., , , , The government is also striving hard to implement all the provisions of New Education Policy, (NEP), 2020 for ensuring all-round development of education right from the primary to higher, level and put the country on the top of the higher education map of the world., , 9., , Drive to tag livestock in Bhagalpur, other districts, , , , The animal and fisheries resources department (AFRD) has launched an intensive drive in several, districts for tagging animals and livestock as well as preparing their health cards. The move is to, prepare the basic information network of animals for their productivity, health as well as, developing methodology to reap optimum benefits from the animal products through healthy, animals/livestock., , , , The plan envisages good health of animals, eradication of foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) and, eventually reaping the benefits through high productivity. FMD is a highly contagious virus, disease of animals and is one of the most serious livestock diseases that has significant economic, impact on farmers and the nation, he said, adding that it affects the cloven-hoofed animals,, including, cows,, buffaloes,, camels,, sheep,, goats,, deer,, pigs, etc., The statistics would be uploaded to the website of Information Network for Animal Productivity, and Health (INAPH) of the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), which is endeavouring, to develop information data of animals in the country., , Bihar: Know live location of bus with ‘Chalo’ app, , 10., , , , In an attempt to switch to the smarter mode of transportation, the Bihar State Road Transport, Corporation Limited (BSRTC) has launched the ‘Chalo’ app and a mobile pass for city-based bus, services. While the former provides live location of all BSRTC city buses, the latter ensures, cashless and contactless ticketing., , , , The digitalization of tickets amid the Covid-19 pandemic will ensure the safety of passengers and, provide a hassle-free experience to them, , Cabinet nod for ‘Didi ki Rasoi’ at govt hospitals in Bihar, , 11., , , , There is good news for patients undergoing treatment at government-run hospitals. The state, cabinet on Tuesday cleared the health department’s proposal to run ‘Didi ki Rasoi’ at such, hospitals across the state to provide hygienic and nourishing food to in-house patients., , , , ‘Didi ki Rasoi’ run by Jeevika Didis was initially started on an experimental basis in Vaishali, district. Later the facility was expanded to Gaya, Saharsa, Purnia, Buxar, Sheohar and Sheikhpura, districts under Bihar Rural Livelihood Promotion Society (BRLPS)., , , , Authoritative sources said around 1.20 crore ‘Jeevika Didis’ are associated with 10.2 lakh women, self-help groups. Sources said the CM during a review meeting had directed to expand the project, to other districts as well.

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MEDHA IAS, , 12., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , The cabinet also approved the transport department’s proposal to allow diesel-run auto-rickshaws, in the areas falling in the state capital and also in Danapur, Khagal and Phulwarisharif Nagar, Parshad for the financial year 2021-22., , Bihar: 4.7 lakh health workers enrolled on CoWin site, , , , Around 4.7 lakh healthcare workers, both private and government, have enrolled in Bihar on the, digital platform CoWIN for the first phase of Covid-19 vaccination to be rolled out in the state on, January 16., , , , The vaccination sites will have the Centre’s list of beneficiaries. For the second dose of vaccine, on the due date, the beneficiaries will get the SMS on their registered mobile number. After the, second dose is administered, beneficiaries will get a link for a digital certificate on their registered, mobile phones., , , , Every detail, from the sites where vaccinations are to be carried out to the number of beneficiaries, and even the batch number, doses per vial and schedule of the vaccine, is being uploaded on the, CoWIN site., , Bihar’s Covid recovery rate touches 98%, , 13., , , , The state’s Covid caseload increased to 2,58,739 on Sunday with 211 more people testing, positive for the virus in the last 24 hours., , , , , Four more Covid deaths, on the other hand, took the state’s toll to 1,457., , , , As per health department’s data, as many as 2,53,569 people have recovered from Covid-19, in Bihar so far, taking the state’s recovery rate to 98%.A 67-year-old man from, Professor Colony in Darbhanga has died at AIIMS-Patna., , 14., , At 383, the number of recovered cases surpassed the fresh cases on Sunday. At least 3,713 people, are still battling the virus across the state., , KSDSU senate approves Rs 327.17 crore deficit budget, , , , The Kameshwar Singh Darbhanga Sanskrit University (KSDSU) senate in its 44th meeting held, under the chairmanship of vice-chancellor, Prof Shasinath Jha, passed a deficit budget of Rs, 327.17 crore for the fiscal 2021-22. The budgetary provision entails a proposed expenditure of Rs, 329.02 crore and an income of only Rs 1.84 crore., , , , As most of the colleges under the university lie in remote villages where there is no computer nor, internet connectivity, students have to go to cyber cafés in urban areas for filling up online, admission and examination forms. Many poor students do not opt for admission due to this, procedure., , Nitish Kumar inaugurates Bihar’s first state bird festival ‘Kalrav’ at Jamui, district’s Nagi bird sanctuary, , 15., , , , Chief minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated Bihar’s first state bird festival ‘Kalrav’ at Nagi bird, sanctuary in Jamui district, about 200 km south-east from the state capital., , , , Though the three-day bird festival began at a colorful event organized by the state’s environment,, forest and climate change department at the famous Nagi bird sanctuary near Nagi dam., , , , The festival, organized with an aim to create awareness among people about the birds especially, migratory birds.

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MEDHA IAS, , 16., , Spread in an area of 2.1 square kilometers, Nagi bird sanctuary is home to over 133 bird species., There are also a variety of dragonflies, damselflies and butterflies., , Post-matric dropout rate of girls declines in Bihar, , , , The intermediate examinations conducted by the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) this, year is expected to witness maximum number of girl students appear, thereby registering a, decline in post-matric dropout cases in the district., , , , ―This year, 41,530 and 31,112 girl students would appear in matriculation and intermediate, examinations respectively. The number of girls appearing at the intermediate examinations this, year is the highest during the last five years. In 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19 and 201920, the number of postmatric dropout cases of girl students was 22,338, 23,712, 24579, 20,302, and 21,804 respectively., , 17., , Rs 27 crore GST evasion detected in Bihar, , , , The state commercial taxes department (CTD) claimed to have unearthed a bogus firm allegedly, indulged in tax evasion to the tune of Rs 27.2 crore. Senior CTD officials said the firm with, registered address at Bhagwat Nagar in Patna had generated e-way bills worth about Rs 173, crore., , , , The CTD also said the bogus firm supported tax evasion of dealers of other states, including, Punjab and Delhi dealing in iron and steel, copper, plastic scraps, clothes, parts and motor vehicle, accessories among others., , 18., , Rs 27 crore GST evasion detected in Bihar, , , , The state commercial taxes department (CTD) claimed to have unearthed a bogus firm allegedly, indulged in tax evasion to the tune of Rs 27.2 crore. Senior CTD officials said the firm with, registered address at Bhagwat Nagar in Patna had generated e-way bills worth about Rs 173, crore., , , , The CTD also said the bogus firm supported tax evasion of dealers of other states, including, Punjab and Delhi dealing in iron and steel, copper, plastic scraps, clothes, parts and motor vehicle, accessories among others., , 19., , 20., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , Katihar tops in paddy procurement in Bihar, , , , The Katihar administration has claimed that 57.08% of the registered farmers have sold their, paddy to the primary agriculture cooperative societies (PACS) at the minimum support price, (MSP), which is the maximum among the 38 districts in the state this year so far., , , , Muzaffarpur (48.99%) was at the second spot, followed by Banka (48.69%), Araria (48.18%) and, Gopalganj (47.59%) districts as far as the number of farmers selling their produce so far is, concerned, , , , In Katihar, 4,073 farmers registered themselves with PACS and 2325 of them have sold their, paddy at the MSP. Around 15,924 MT (metric tonne) paddy has been obtained from farmers, against the target of 37,542 MT in the district., , , , In the neighbouring Purnia, 10,220MT (39.84%) of the targeted 39,818MT paddy was procured., In Kishanganj, around 3,706MT paddy has been procured through PACS against the target of, 17,757MT., , Bihar govt to decide on proposed 15% increase in holding tax

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The Patna Municipal Corporation (PMC) decision to raise the holding tax by 15% is likely to, increase the burden on the salaried class as well as professionals, especially when residents are, still coping up with the Covid-19 pandemic., , , , As per the civic body’s estimation, there are about 2.8 lakh taxpayers registered with the PMC,, while the survey is being conducted to identify more such properties which have been included, recently., , NITI Aayog’s innovation index: State finishes last, , 21., , , , Bihar has finished last by getting 17th rank in the second edition of the India Innovation Index,, 2020 released by NITI Aayog on Wednesday. The state had secured 16th rank in the country in, the first edition of the index in 2019., , , , Interestingly, the overall score of the state has almost doubled in one year from 7.99 in 2019 to, 14.48 now, but its rank has dropped one notch. The state has shown improvement on various, parameters where it fared badly last time., , , , The ranking was done on innovation inputs, including five enabler parameters – human capital,, investment, knowledge workers, business environment, business environment and safety and two, performance parameters – knowledge output and knowledge diffusion. The overall enabler score, of Bihar was recorded at 14.43 with last position while in performance, the state stood 15th spot, with 14.53 score., , , , The state ranked last in investment and business environment with 2.49 and 5.17 scores,, respectively, while it secured 16th rank in knowledge workers with 3.51 score. In human capital, and safety and legal environment, the state has bagged 15th spot with 20.98 and 40.02 scores,, respectively. In the performance parameters, the state has ranked 12th., , , , The NITI Aayog report says that in the offenses under IT/IP related acts, Bihar has tied for the, top position with the lowest proportion of such offenses, which can be accrued to low reporting of, such cases., , Agriculture department grabs ‘best tableau’ tag, , 22., , , , The state agriculture department won the first prize for the ‘best tableau’ during the Republic, Day parade at Gandhi Maidan., , , , While the health department stood second, the tableaux of the Women Development Corporation,, Jeevika and water resources department won the third prize., , , , Besides, SWAT commandos of the anti-terrorism squad and the NCC’s Army wing (girls) won, the ‘best turnout’ prizes in the professional and non-professional categories respectively., The Bihar Regimental Centre grabbed the ‘best parade’ prize in professional category and the, NCC’s air wing in the non-professional category. The CRPF and the NCC’s Army wing (boys), won the ‘best platoon commander’ tags in the professional and non-professional categories, respectively., , Railways installs new surveillance system at Bihar’s Hajpur, 13 stations, , 23., , , , East Central Railway (ECR) inaugurated an internet protocol (IP) based video surveillance, security control centre at the headquarters in Hajipur. It has been made functional at 13 more, stations under the ECR with an aim to further strengthen security system. Railways has already, made this system functional at most of the major stations, including Patna Junction.

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MEDHA IAS, , , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , The IP based security surveillance is functioning at 28 major stations across the country under the, integrated security cover plan with sole objective to keep a close surveillance on the activities of, antisocial people and miscreants involved in pilferage and luggage lifting on station premises, , Bihar, Jharkhand among country’s lightning hotspots, , 24., , , , An idiom which was perhaps coined in 18th century to denote surprise, has come to stay as a, grim reminder of vagaries of nature as lightning strike has become a lurking threat to outdoor, activities, particularly for the farming community in the country., , , , Lightning is the most impressive, commonly experienced geophysical phenomenon, producing, the brightest light and the loudest sound commonly occurring on the Earth. There are, approximately 30 to 100 cloud and cloud-to-ground lightning discharges per second worldwide;, that translates roughly to 9 million discharges per day worldwide., , , , Globally, 85% to 90% of lightning occurs over land because solar radiation heats land faster,, causing convection (thunderstorms) to be taller and stronger. This makes entire India venerable to, lightning strike, but considering the fact that lightning is essentially a product of thunderstorm, so, central and eastern parts of the country, including Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal and, adjoining areas of Bangladesh are the thunderstorm or lightning hotspots., , , , With an elaborate network of ground and space-based observations, meteorological agencies are, able to identify the areas of potential formation of such thunderstorm. For a wider outreach, these, services have been made available free of cost through mobile apps like DAMINI of ministry of, earth sciences and INDRA VAJRA of Bihar government., , 25., , Bihar: Raise health budget to 2.5% of GDP, says experts, , , , Experts and common people expect special attention to health sector in the Union Budget to be, presented by finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman . The Covid-19 pandemic has exposed the, need of strengthening the health infrastructure in the country., , , , Both state IMA as well as the Indian Doctors for Peace and Development (IDPD) demanded, increase in the health budget this time., , , , IDPD members pointed out the loopholes in outsourcing and roping in private players in the field, by giving them subsidy, saying it degraded the country’s capacity to deal with the pandemic., They further stated that the National Health Policy 2017 had committed to raising public health, spending to 2.5% of the GDP, but it was still hovering around 1.2% of the GDP.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS (February-2021), 1., , Nitish congratulates Centre, despite Covid challenges, , , , , , , , , 2., , ‘balanced’, , , , , , , , , Union, , Budget, , Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar congratulated the Centre for coming out, with a ―balanced‖ Union Budget for the financial year 2021-2022 despite, constraints on revenue collection in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic., He also hailed Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman‘s proposal to, increase the budgetary outlay for health to over Rs 2.23 lakh crore in FY22 from, Rs 94,452 crore estimated in the current fiscal., Kumar said the Centre presented a Rs 34.8 lakh crore Union budget for 202122, which is more than the estimated total expenditure of Rs 30.42 lakh crore, in the current financial year, and proposed to increase the capital spending by, 34.5 per cent to Rs 5.5 lakh crore., The Ujjwala Scheme has benefited eight crore poor households across the, country., Kumar said the Centre is promoting solar and renewable energy and will, provide financial assistance to check air pollution, which is an encouraging step, to save the country‘s environment., The Bihar government has already decided to install ―pre-paid smart meter‖, the, CM said, adding that the Centre has also decided to extend it further., , Bihar’s water supply maintenance, employment to 1.14 lakh rural youths, , , , 3., , for, , policy, , to, , provide, , The maintenance policy of the Mukhyamantri Gramin Peyjal Nischay Yojana,, which was discussed and approved before CM., State‘s Panchayati Raj department‘s additional chief secretary Amrit Lal Meena, told that as per the provisions laid down under the policy, a sum of Rs 48,000, per annum per ward would be provided to the ward implementation and, management committee for proper upkeep and maintenance of the piped water, supply scheme under the Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal Nischay Yojana. Thus, a rural, ward would receive a sum of Rs 4,000 per month for maintenance of the water, supply system., There are 13 to 14 wards in each gram-panchayat in Bihar and each ward has, around 200 households. There are a total of 114,691 wards in 8,386 gram, panchayats across the state, he said., A boy or woman from the same village would be appointed as ‗maintainer‘ by, the gram panchayats. Each ward would have one maintainer. As per the policy,, the ward committee would pay Rs 2,000 per month to the maintainer from the, Rs 48,000 it would receive from the fund of the 15th Finance Commission., Besides this, the maintainer would collect a sum of Rs 30 per month per family, as user charge. Thus, he/she would collect around Rs 6,000 per month from, around 200 households in his/ her ward. Of these Rs 6,000 collected from the, users, 50% amount (Rs 3,000) would be paid to the maintainer as incentives to, encourage him/ her. Thus, a maintainer will get Rs 5,000 per month. The rest, of the users‘ charge will be deposited to the ward committee., , Bihar registers 99.09% Covid-19 recovery rate

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The recovery rate in Bihar reached 99.09% as 53 new Covid-19 cases were, registered in the state in the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 2,61,299., Altogether 5,621 beneficiaries, including 3,380 frontline workers and 2,241, healthcare workers, took the Covid-19 vaccine shots in the state.They, accounted for 31% of the targeted beneficiaries., , , , New Covid-19 cases were reported from 19 districts, including 16 from Patna,, where the tally reached 52,468. However, with 51,593 recoveries and 426, deaths, there are 449 active cases in Patna., , 4., , 45k villages in Bihar to get high-speed internet connectivity:, Minister, , , , , , , , , 5., , Union electronics and information technology minister Ravi Shankar, Prasad said around 45,000 villages in state would be connected through, optical fibres to provide high-speed internet connectivity under the central, government‘s Bharatnet project., Now, the central government has decided to provide high-speed internet, connectivity to around six lakh villages as well, the IT minister said, adding it, was a matter of great pride for him that the project would be launched from, Bihar soon., Prasad said there has been a hike of around 355% in budget allocation for, Bihar when compared to period between 2009 and 2014., He said around Rs 3,061 crore was allocated to Bihar by the Centre every year, for railway projects during 2014-19., The minister said the smartphone users in the country would soon avail the, facility of Indian languages, including regional ones, as work on the project was, under way., , With a focus on quality education, Bihar to start new, universities, , , , , , , , 6., , The Bihar government is expected to place bills to set up four new universities, for medical, engineering, fine arts and skill development in the state in the, upcoming budget session. Having new universities is a welcome move, but the, state also needs to uplift the existing education institutes that are crying for, attention., The proposed bills to set up four new universities, says Gyandeo Mani Tripathi,, dean School of Educational Training and Research, Aryabhatt Knowledge, University (AKU), says is a welcome move to minimise the pressure on the, existing universities. He adds that instead of calling it a new university it is, better to call it the decentralisation of the existing AKU which was established, in 2010., Bihar, being home to old educational institutions needs to think of reviving the, old educational institutions. ―Bihar Vidyapeeth, set up by Mahatma Gandhi in, 1921 and has been lying defunct since 1942, can be revived. The government, can consider developing this as an institute to offer teaching courses., , Former Governor of Bihar and Jharkhand M Rama Jois passes, away, , , , Former Governor of Bihar and Jharkhand M Rama Jois has passed away after a, prolonged illness.

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MEDHA IAS, , , , 7., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , He also served as the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Retired Justice Rama Jois had also served as a Rajya Sabha member., During the Emergency he was imprisoned at Bengaluru along with Atal Bihari, Vajpayee, , ‘Bihar model’ adopted by five states for beggary eradication, , , , Even as the state government launched its Mukhyamantri Bhikshavriti Nivaran, Yojana (MBNY) way back in 2011-12 underlining it with the compassionate and, humane approach to be adopted by treating beggary as a ‗human tragedy‘ that, falls on a person, its bright spot marked by poignancy appeared four years, later, when a strayed old-age ‗crorepati‘ was made to join with his family living, in Dubai and, still later, an equally old retired DSP-ranked official was also, restored., , , , However, if the beggar is unwilling to join the parent family, we alternatively, provide food and healthcare and also suitable skill to help in his or her, employment, or create self-employment opportunity by providing working, capital for sustainability. Their activities are monitored. The government‘s, existing social security programmes — like old-age pension, skilling and other, schemes — are also dovetailed with it., , 8., , Bihar’s traditional toys like ‘Kaniya-Putri’ on display in India, Toy Fair, , , , , , 9., , Participants from Bihar are also showcasing their toys in the ongoing virtual, event – India Toy Fair., Some participants have come up with traditional doll making art like KaniyaPutri which is an important part of folk-culture in the state., Kaniya-Putri is an old doll making tradition which signifies the importance and, prestigious place of women in the societies of Champaran area of the state., The event is also an opportunity to revive the old tradition of Bihar, once very, popular in the society., , Caste-based Census must be done at least once: Nitish Kumar, , , , , , , One-and-a-half months before the beginning of Census India-2021, Bihar chief, minister Nitish, Kumar on, Wednesday, advocated, for, a, castebased census across the country. ―A caste-based Census will give a correct, figure about the population of each caste. It will help governments take a better, decision for the development and welfare of people., The CM also said the Centre should implement the Karpoori Thakur formula of, reservation to the extremely backward classes (EBCs) in central government, jobs., The Census India-2021 will be conducted from April 1 to September 30 through, a mobile phone application, moving away from the traditional pen and paper., , 10., , Bihar: Education department gets highest 21.94% of total, scheme budget, , , , In his maiden Budget presented in the state assembly, deputy CM-cum-finance, minister Tarkishore Prasad pitched for a big push on reforms after the, disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

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MEDHA IAS, , , , , , , , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , The aim is to bring education, health and labour resources activities, commensurate with the educated, healthy and forward- looking state, besides, creating 20 lakh job and work opportunities for youths and women., Referring to the Good Governance Programme (GGP) announced last year and, to be implemented over the five-year period beginning 2020, Prasad said the, Covid-19 pandemic threw up new challenges for the state, which has to be met, to build new future, he told the media after presenting the Budget., Incidentally, the allotments made for scheme expenditures for education is the, highest (21.94% of the total scheme budget) at Rs21,939 crore among all the, departments. However, the allotment for the scheme activities in the health, department is Rs6,927 crore (6.93% of the total scheme expenditure) and that, for the labour resources department is Rs766.17 crore (0.44%)., The implantation and the revival of the state‘s entrepreneurial activities by, giving loans to trained, skilled and educated youths and women is to be done, by the industries department, which has been allotted Rs1,190 crore (0.59%)., , 11., , Bihar CM Nitish Kumar pitches for ‘one nation, one rate’ policy, for electricity, , , , Chief minister Nitish Kumar pitched for ‗one nation, one rate‘ policy in the, power sector across the country., Addressing the sixth governing council meeting of the NITI Aayog through, videoconferencing, Nitish said, ―The rate of electricity supplied from different, power plants of the central government varies in different states. Bihar also gets, electricity from the central government‘s power plants at a higher rate, compared to other states. There should be a policy of ‗one nation, one rate., Nitish further said Bihar has achieved several milestones in the power sector., The state government provided electricity connection to each household across, the state in October, 2018., He praised the Narendra Modi government for allowing production of ethanol, from sugar cane juice, which would lessen the dependency on petrol and diesel., , , , , , 12., , , , , 13., , , , , , Micro containment zones, area sealing to be back in Bihar, Taking a cue from the spurt in Covid-19 cases in other parts of the country, the, Bihar health department has decided to create micro containment zones and, seal nearby houses if a new Covid-19 case is detected in any locality., Implementation of Covid-19 protocols in public vehicles and massive checking, of masks has also started from Saturday across the state., Though Bihar is registering less than 100 new cases in a day, health, department principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit said all officials have been, alerted, and they are watching the developments in other states closely., Bihar’s growth story not gloomy despite Q1 dip: Experts, Even as the state‘s growth rate recorded a plunge of -18.2% in the first quarter, (Q1) of the current fiscal due to the coronavirus impact on the economy, experts, say the situation is likely to improve by the fourth quarter, ending March 31, this year., The combined growth witnessed in all sectors had given Bihar the highest, growth rate of 10.47% in 2019-20 among 20 states and Union Territories whose, data were available with the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO).

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MEDHA IAS, , , , , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , The capacity of Bihar to bounce back on the economic front is not in doubt,, even as the continued rise in the prices of petrol, diesel and LPG has been, giving a cause for concern. The work on expansion and extension of the, agriculture feeder of electricity has been somewhat affected due to the paucity, of funds., Nonetheless, as to an indication of the strength of Bihar‘s agriculture sector, and its crop production that proved to be a major shock absorber amid the, coronavirus pandemic, Nitish in December last year had fixed the paddy, procurement target at 30 lakh metric tonne for 2020-21., , 14., , Bihar Budget 2021-22: Govt to give Rs 25,000 to girls on, passing intermediate exam, , , , Call centres to be established to ensure door-step treatment for animals. Mobile, apps will also be launched to ensure the same., All villages to have solar street lights., Rs 250 crores allocated to build links roads in rural areas., Budget allocates Rs 90 crore for old-age homes., Govt to give Rs 25,000 to unmarried women on passing intermediate exams and, Rs 50,000 after they have completed their bachelor‘s exam., Govt has approved 1,15, 116 applications for students credit card scheme., Budget allocates Rs 500 crore animal husbandry and fish farming., A sports university to be set up in Rajgir., Budget allocates Rs 110 crore for new engineering colleges in the state., Three new medical colleges are under-construction in the stat, says Tar Kishore, Prasad., All 38 districts declared ODF (Open Defecation Free)., , , , , , , , , , , , , 15., , , , , , , , , , , Bihar budget: ‘Raising expenditure a promising move’, Bihar budget is the fifth policy document released in less than a month, which, not only has key information about the economy but also presents an outline, for the future path of development of the state as well as the country., Therefore, the state budget needs to be analysed using the other four, documents – the Economic Survey of India, the Union Budget, the Centre‘s, approval of the 15th Finance Commission recommendations and the Economic, Survey of Bihar., This year, the budget comes on the back of the Covid-19 pandemic-led, economic slowdown and the full recovery of the Indian economy is expected to, take at least two years. However, it is heartening to note that the Bihar, government has budgeted a higher level of expenditure and receipt for 2021-22., Also, the real growth rate numbers in the primary sector that includes, agriculture and allied activities remained much lower at 3.6% than the, manufacturing and services sectors. Therefore, it is the services sector that is, the major contributor to the high real economic growth of 10.5% during 201920., However, the fiscal space for revenue constrained states such as Bihar is, limited and, therefore, it is unlikely to see an increase in the actual numbers for, the capital outlay in the absence of a special financial help by the Centre even, though the budgeted estimates are higher. The capital receipt of the state as a

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , share of its GSDP increased from 2.8% in 2017-18 to 4.7% in 2019-20, whereas, the capital expenditure has declined from 7.2% of GSDP to 3.3% during the, same period., , 16., , Bihar: Administer 1st dose to all frontline workers by March 1,, hospitals told, , , , Health department principal secretary Pratyaya Amrit has directed all the, centres to complete the process of administering the first dose of Covid vaccines, to frontline workers by March 1. He has also urged people to get inoculated in, order to protect themselves from coronavirus., Health facilities will start vaccinating people above the age of 50 years in Phase, III of the drive., Meanwhile, private hospitals in the state capital claim that they have witnessed, a tremendous improvement in the rate of vaccination., , , , 17., , , , , 18., , , , , , Use technology for investigating crime in Bihar’, Additional chief secretary (home) Amir Subhani underlined the need for use of, more technology for investigating incidents of crime in the state., Speaking at the launch of the Police Week at the Bihar Veterinary, College ground, Subhani said it was a matter of satisfaction that more and, more scientific evidence was being gathered against the accused, leading to, their conviction. He also assured that funds would not be a problem in, purchasing more technical devices, if required, for investigating incidents of, crime., , 42% kids malnourished in Bihar: Health minister, Nearly 42% of children in Bihar are malnourished, and 63.5% of kids in the age, bracket of six months to five years are suffering from anaemia, health minister, Mangal Pandey said in Bihar Vidhan Parishad. Also, 58% of pregnant women in, the state are anaemic, Giving a break-up of issues due to malnourishment, Pandey said as per NFHS5 in Bihar, there‘s stunting among 42.9% kids, thinness 22.9%, extreme, thinness 8.8%, underweight 41% and obesity 2.4%., , 19., , Bihar’s ‘Praveshotsav’ campaign aims to increase enrolments, in schools, , , , To increase enrolments and bring back students, the Bihar government has, launched ‗Praveshotsav‘. Starting March 8, the statewide campaign will, conclude on March 20, where the government will reach out to students and, parents prompting them to return to schools. The campaign will include regular, prabhatpheri, rallies and door to door march to connect with the youngsters., State government is trying to bridge the gap by building schools within 1 km, walking distance from the habitation. After 2005, close to 21,000 new primary, schools have been opened while 19,000 primary schools have been upgraded to, middle schools across the state., Praveshotsav is a special enrolment drive to be conducted in collaboration with, the Rural Development department and the Social Welfare Department is aimed, to ensure that there should not be any child is deprived of school education., , , , , 20., , , , Bihar govt admits state’s low standard of education, The Nitish Kumar-led Bihar government admitted that the level of education in, the state is at a low level in nationwide rankings.

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MEDHA IAS, , , , , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , The minister also listed the steps taken by the state government to enhance the, quality of education in the state., Education, along with the law and order situation in Bihar, is an issue used by, opposition parties to target the Nitish Kumar government., Recently, question papers of social science and Hindi of the Bihar School, Examination Board‘s Class 10 exam were leaked in various places.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS (March-2021), Bihar’s 2nd zoo to come up in Araria, , 1., , , , The government has decided to develop the state‟s second zoo on 289 acre land in Raniganj block, of Araria district, environment, forest and climate change minister Neeraj Kumar Singh Babloo, said in the state assembly. The existing Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park is at Patna. A „Monkey, House‟ will also be developed on the 10 acre land near Raniganj. Babloo also said CM Nitish, Kumar will inaugurate the zoo safari facility at Rajgir next month., , , , The Monkey House will have fruit-bearing trees. The project has been conceived to reduce the, menace caused by monkeys in parts of the state. Once fully developed, it will also become tourist, attraction, he said., , , , He said arrangements will be made to sterilize the „neelgaees‟ (blue bulls) and shift them to the, forest areas., , , , The minister said decision has been taken to install 24 more ambient air quality monitoring, systems will be installed in different towns across the state., , 2., , Universities in Bihar yet to follow UGC directive on cybercrime, , , , Even as the UGC has directed the universities and colleges to take necessary steps for creating, awareness among students and faculty members about cyber security and cybercrime, very few, institutions in the state have come forward to take the initiative so far., , , , Further, the UGC had pointed out that the National Cybercrime Reporting Portal, which provides, a centralized mechanism of complaint reporting by citizens relating to cybercrimes, has been, operationalized by the MHA in August 2019. There is a special focus in the portal on cybercrimes, against women and children and it allows the decentralized dealing of each complaint by the law, enforcement agencies., , , , Universities and colleges were also directed to organize regular competitions, hackathons,, workshops and seminars on cyber security and cybercrimes at regular intervals., , 3., , Rs 842 crore approved for Bihar govt-aided schools, , , , The state cabinet approved a proposal to allow direct benefit transfer (DBT) scheme for, disbursement of funds for the students of government schools to purchase uniform and bicycle for, the academic year 2020-21 without the rider of minimum 75% attendance., , , , The schools had been closed for more than nine months since March last owing to Covid-19 and, most of them reopened in phases from January this year., , , , Besides, an approval was given to a proposal for setting up a medical college in Bhojpur utilizing, funds to the tune of Rs550 crore., , , , Sources said the cabinet also approved a proposal to sanction funds to the tune of Rs112 crore for, procurement of electronic voting machines (EVM) for the upcoming panchayat elections in the, state., , Bihar’s traditional toys like ‘Kaniya-Putri’ on display in India Toy Fair, , 4., , , , Participants from Bihar are also showcasing their toys in the ongoing virtual event – India Toy, Fair., , , , Some participants have come up with traditional doll making art like Kaniya-Putri which is an, important part of folk-culture in the state.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , Kaniya-Putri is an old doll making tradition which signifies the importance and prestigious place, of women in the societies of Champaran area of the state., , , , The event is also an opportunity to revive the old tradition of Bihar, once very popular in the, society., , Regional languages to be medium of instruction in Bihar’s elementary schools, , 5., , , , Regional languages like Bhojpuri, Magahi, Maithili will be the medium of instruction in, elementary schools of Bihar in future, state Education Minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said in, the assembly. Replying to a question during a debate on the budgetary demand of Rs 38,035 crore, for Education Department, the minister said, the idea behind adopting regional language as the, medium of instruction in elementary schools is to teach students in their mother tongue so that, they grasp concepts in a better way., , , , The Education Departments budgetary demand was passed by voice vote, though a cut motion, moved by Congress member Vijay Shankar Dubey was rejected by the House., , , , Stressing the importance that is being given to education by the state government, he said, Rs, 38,035 crore earmarked for 2021-22 fiscal forms 21.9 per cent of the states budget for 2021-22, fiscal., , Bihar govt likely to make Maoists’ rehab policy more rewarding, , 6., , , , Several major proposals are being considered to boost the existing surrender-cum-rehabilitation, policy for Maoists in the state in a bid to encourage more rebels to shun the path of violence and, join the mainstream of society., , , , Home department sources said there are plans that children of surrendered Maoists would be, provided free education and their families free treatment at government hospitals. Sources added, there are also plans to increase the amount which a surrendered Maoist gets as per his rank., , , , As per the present policy, a Maoist (state, regional and central committees) or a politburo member, is eligible for Rs 5 lakh as immediate assistance after surrender. Middle and lower-rank Maoists, like area or regional commanders are eligible to get Rs 2.5 lakh as financial assistance. They are, also eligible for Rs 6,000 monthly financial assistance for a maximum of 36 months in case they, opt for employment-oriented training skills., , 9., , Two new schemes to boost entrepreneurship among youth, women from April, 1: Minister, , , , State industries minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday said to boost entrepreneurship, among women and youths, Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyami Yojana and Mukhyamantri Yuva, Udyami Yojana will be implemented from April 1 this year., , , , Talking about the upcoming scheme for women and youths, he said a maximum of Rs five lakh, will be given as a loan and up to Rs five lakh as a grant. While women will not have to pay any, interest on the loan, youth belonging to the general category will have to pay 1% interest. He, further said there is a provision of a Rs 25,000 stipend for training purposes., , , , On the eligibility to get the benefit under this scheme, Shahnawaz said the beneficiary must be a, resident of Bihar and should have a minimum qualification of intermediate, ITI, polytechnic, diploma or equivalent. The minimum age is 18 years, and the upper age limit is 50 years. The unit, should be either a proprietorship firm, partnership firm, limited liability partnership (LLP) firm or, private limited company.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , Mega skill centre to come up in every district’, , 10., , , , The labour resources department minister, Jibesh Kumar, said on Wednesday that mega skill, centres would be set up in each district headquarters town to impart training to those who missed, the opportunity to get into a government polytechnic college or an Industrial Training, Institute (ITI)., , , , Highlighting the department‟s achievement the after completion of 100 days in office, the, minister told the media that the students enrolled in the mega skill centres would undergo training, in short courses so that they could be able to get jobs based on their skills., , , , While Tata Technology will invest 88% of the total amount, the remaining 12% will be borne by, the state government. The MOU has been signed under the centre of excellence project of the, government., , 11., , Bihar to get 3 more RAF companies from Punjab, , , , The state government‟s long-pending demand of permanent deployment of an entire battalion of, Rapid Action Force (RAF) will be fulfilled soon as the CRPF headquarters in Delhi has given inprinciple nod for movement of three companies of the anti-riot force based in Jalandhar, in Punjab to Bihar., , , , Priyadarshy said the three companies of 114 RAF battalion of CRPF will soon be shifted to Bihar, from Jalandhar. He said one company of the 114 RAF battalion is already stationed at, Muzaffarpur., , ‘Handloom haat’ to come up on Fraser Road soon, , 12., , , , On the lines of Dilli Haat or Khadi Mall, the state industries department is to open a „handloom, haat‟ on Fraser Road in the city. Clothes like Tussar silk of Bhagalpur, handloom items with, Madhubani paintings, tikuli art, block printing and appliqué work will be available there, sources, said., , , , The handloom haat is being developed by Infrastructure Development Authority (IDA) in, the Bihar State Finance Corporation building near SP Verma Road roundabout., Officials said nearly 65% of the construction work is completed. It will be operated by Upendra, Maharathi Shilp Anusandhan Sansthan (UMSAS), which comes under industries department., , 13., , Govt working to improve quality of education: Bihar minister, , , , State education minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary on Saturday said the government is working on, different parameters to improve quality of school education which includes the launch of Vidya, Vahini app, providing e-content of textbooks and Unnayan scheme for smart classes and, recruitment of teachers on sanctioned posts., , , , The education minister said there are 30,020 vacant posts of teachers in secondary and higher, secondary schools and 90,762 in primary and middle schools and the process for their recruitment, is on. “In 5,646 secondary and higher secondary schools, Unnayan scheme has been implemented, and e-content of all the books from classes I to XII was available on Bihar Text Book Publishing, Corporation‟s website. The department is also preparing to start three-month catch up classes., , 14., , Over 13 lakh vaccinated in Bihar so far, says health department, , , , Over 13.9 lakh people, including more than 4.06 lakh senior citizens, have so far been vaccinated, in the state. Thanks to continuous efforts of the government, the daily vaccination figure has, significantly increased in Bihar and crossed 80,000-mark in last few days.

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MEDHA IAS, , , As per the latest data provided by the health department, 4,06,306 senior citizens and 62,333, people in the age group of 45 to 59 years with comorbidities have taken the vaccine jab in the last, 13 days. Altogether 50,251 individuals above 60 years of age had taken vaccine shots on, Saturday. Only 91 adverse event cases have been reported in the state so far., , , , In Patna, 41,959 people have received their first dose, including 28,953 senior citizens. Also,, 21,090 healthcare and frontline workers have got their second dose in the district., , , , In a bid boost inoculation coverage in the state, all the districts have started mobilising workers,, local representatives and officials to motivate eligible people to get the shots. The Bihar State, Health Society recently hired 75 e-rickshaws to spread awareness about vaccination., , 16., , Bihar Day is on 22nd March, , , , March 22 is the day when Bihar was established and is called “Bihar Diwas”. March 22, 2021 is, the 109th anniversary of the founding of the country. It was celebrated on a large scale for the, first time in 2010. Background:, , , , On October 22, 1764, between the East India Company led by Hector Munro and the combined, forces of Nawab of Bangladesh, Awad Nawab and Mughal King Shah Alam II The Battle of, Buxar was fought. This battle was fought in Buxar and was a huge victory for the East India, Company. This failure caused the Mughals and Nawabs of Bangladesh to lose control of these, territories and the East India Company under Diwani rights (the right to manage revenue, collection and management). These territories include the current states of West Bengal, Bihar,, Jharkhand, Odisha and Bangladesh., , , , In 1911, King George V was crowned in Delhi, and the capital of British India was transferred to, Delhi. On March 21, 1912, the new governor of Bangladesh, Thomas Gibson Carmichael, (Thomas Gibson Carmichael) took charge and announced that starting from the next day (March, 22), the presidential palace of Bangladesh would be divided into four sub-autonomous regions., , 17., , Bihar: Private operators hike bus fares by 20%, , , , Private bus operators increased fares on interdistrict and interstate routes by up to 20% on, Monday citing rise in fuel prices and the crisis caused by Covid-19 pandemic. Petrol was sold at, Rs 93.64 and diesel at Rs 87.16 per litre in different parts of the state., , , , Fares of ordinary and express buses have increased by 90 and 95 paise per kilometre,, respectively. Passengers of deluxe and semi-deluxe buses will now have to pay 136 and 114 paise, more per kilometre. Fares of deluxe AC buses and super premium buses have been increased by, 150 and 200 paise per kilometre, respectively., , Govt schemes lead to rise in girls’ enrolment in schools: Academics, , 18., , 19., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , Phenomenal rise in the enrolment of girls in secondary schools in the state is not only indicative, of ever-declining gender gap, but also of an imminent social transformation. Education of girls is, vital to the cause of social justice and economic change, social scientists and academics said., , , , They said the level of literacy and educational attainment are important indicators of development, of any given society and one cannot exclude women in the development of any society as they, equally contribute to the progress of the society and the economy., , , , Thakur pointed out that the recent government incentive for women‟s appointment to the extent, of 35% in government jobs has added impetus to the literacy and education of girls., , Khadi malls at all divisional headquarters soon: Bihar minister

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MEDHA IAS, , , State industries minister Shahnawaz Hussain said in the legislative council that the government, has decided to open Khadi malls at all divisional headquarters, for which a blueprint is ready., , , , Hussain responding to a starred question by Congress MLC Prem Chandra Mishra. The minister, added that the planned Khadi malls will be built and operated on the lines of the mall in Patna., , , , The minister also said a training institute spread over 15 kattha land will be established at, Rajnagar in Madhubani district for Rs 5 crore., , , , Hussain said Khadi Board owned chunks of land at 11 places in the state, including at, Purnia, Bhagalpur (two plots), Muzaffarpur, Araria, Chhapra, Madhubani and Darbhanga. He, also said the government will take necessary steps to free Khadi Board at these places from, encroachers if the land has got encroached., , Didi ki Rasoi’ to come up in four Patna hospitals soon, , 20., , , , In a new initiative, four government hospitals in Patna will begin the „Didi Ki Rasoi‟ programme, in which Jeevika workers would be given charge of the hospital‟s canteen to prepare quality, meals for admitted patients there., , , , Cleanliness and hygiene will be maintained and the canteens would be inspected by the DM, civil, surgeon and other senior officials at regular intervals., , , , To launch the programme, a memorandum of understanding (MOU) was signed between, the Bihar Rural Livelihoods Promotion Society and the State Health Society on February 21., , , , As per the MOU, „Didi Ki Rasoi‟ would cost Rs 150 per day per patient. Instructions have been, issued to the hospitals to arrange the basic requirements for the Jeevika canteens, Singh said., , 21., , Govt working to improve quality of education: Bihar minister, , , , State education minister Vijay Kumar Choudhary said the government is working on different, parameters to improve quality of school education which includes the launch of Vidya Vahini, app, providing e-content of textbooks and Unnayan scheme for smart classes and recruitment, of teachers on sanctioned posts., , , , The education minister said there are 30,020 vacant posts of teachers in secondary and higher, secondary schools and 90,762 in primary and middle schools and the process for their recruitment, is on. “In 5,646 secondary and higher secondary schools, Unnayan scheme has been implemented, and e-content of all the books from classes I to XII was available on Bihar Text Book Publishing, Corporation‟s website. The department is also preparing to start three-month catch up classes,” he, said., , 23., , 24., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , CM Nitish Kumar opens Nature Safari, cabin ropeway at Rajgir, , , , Chief minister Nitish Kumar inaugurated two of his dream projects at Rajgir – Nature Safari and, new cabin ropeway., , , , Developed by the department of forests, environment and climate change department with an, expenditure of Rs 19 crore, the Nature Safari is spread over an area of 500 acres in the hills of, Rajgir. It is located in thick jungles on Rajgir-Jethian Buddha Marg., , , , The various recreational amenities at the Nature Safari include suspension bridge, zip-lining, rock, climbing wall, archery range, wrestling zone, watch tower and children‟s park., , Bihar: Rs 216 crore incentive for 3 firms gets cabinet nod

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MEDHA IAS, , , The state cabinet gave clearance to the payment of financial incentives to three companies on, their combined private capital investment worth Rs 216.90 crore in three separate units for, ethanol production, food processing, and a rice mill., , , , The cabinet approved the SC\ST welfare department‟s proposal for the payment of Rs 11.43 crore, in 2021-22 fiscal for a 720-bed residential school at Pirpainti in Bhagalpur for boys and girls. The, school proposed in 2017-18 was under construction for Rs 34.83 crore, which has been revised to, Rs 46.24 crore., , , , Similarly, Rs 16.55 crore will be paid for the additional expenditure in 2021-22 on the, construction of 720-bed state Ambedkar residential school for boys at Jhapaha in Muzaffarpur, district., , , , through local area engineering organization, while another chunk of Rs 35 crore was sanctioned, to complete the Panchayat Sarkar Bhavans in 12 project districts., , , , Creation of 264 regular posts of fishery extension officers that include regularisation of 100 posts, under the contract system, approved., , , , The cabinet approved the urban development department‟s proposal to create 4,503 posts. This,, along with the personnel working at the existing 2,850 posts, will entail an annual expenditure of, Rs 76.35 crore. The cabinet also sanctioned the creation of the post of Director (Electrical, Systems) at the Metro Rail Corporation., , 25., , 26., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , Patna, Muzaffarpur among 32 most polluted cities across world, , , , The state capital and Muzaffarpur figure among the 32 most polluted cities globally, according to, the „World Air Quality Report, 2020‟ released by a Swiss company., , , , The report shows an alarming level of poor air quality in both cities as the average annual PM 2.5, (particulate matter less than 2.5 microns) was recorded above 55.5 micrograms per cubic metre, (µg/m3), which comes under the „unhealthy‟ category., , , , Muzaffarpur ranked 28th with an average annual PM 2.5 level of 74.3ug/m3 last year (81.2 in, 2019), while Patna stood at 32nd spot with 68.4 ug/m3 (82.1 in 2019) of PM 2.5 level. With, PM2.5 levels of 54ug/m3 and 46.3 ug/m3, Hajipur and Gaya respectively ranked 68th and 135th, in the world., , , , Compared to 2019, the data shows a gradual improvement due to the Covid-19 lockdown for over, four months starting mid-March., , , , Muzaffarpur has also shown poor performance in the Ease of Living Index 2020, a government, survey of cities across the country released on March 4. The city found itself at the bottom of the, list when surveyed on 13 different categories, including quality of life, sustainability, health,, education among other parameters., , , , As per the report, Patna and Muzaffarpur did not record a single day in 2020 where the pollution, level was at the World Health Organization standard. Muzaffarpur‟s air quality in January 2020, turned entered the „very unhealthy‟ category while in other months, it was in the „unhealthy‟ zone, and unhealthy for sensitive groups., , , , The global cities ranking report is based on PM2.5 data from 106 countries measured by groundbased monitoring stations, mostly operated by government agencies., , Transport department set to introduce more e-buses in Bihar

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , Encouraged by the positive response from commuters, the state transport department has decided, to roll out more e-buses on different city routes., , , , The BSRTC is running four buses from Bankipore bus depot near Gandhi Maidan to Danapur via, Bailey Road (route number 111A) and two buses from Gandhi Maidan to Patna airport (route, number 100). According to BSRTC officials, average 800 to 900 passengers have travelled in the, buses daily., , 27., , Centre clears mega food park at Motipur in Muzaffarpur, , , , The Centre has cleared the state government‟s bid for the construction of a mega food park on the, 78-acre land of Bihar Industrial Area Development Authority (BIADA) at Motipur in, Muzaffarpur district with an overall investment of Rs 403 crore., , , , As envisaged by the just cleared mega food park project, the Centre and state government, together would make initial expenditure of Rs 103 crore. Of the sum, the Centre would provide, Rs50 crore as grant for the project., , , , Tomar said Rs103 crore would be utilized on the construction of the common structure on the, land. Following this, investors would pump in Rs300 crore in as many as 30 food processing, units to be established there. Together, the two kinds of investments would add up to Rs403, crore, overall., , 28., , Bihar on top in tap water supply to rural households, , , , Bihar is on top in the country in terms of the functional household tap connections under the, Centre‟s „Har Ghar Jal‟ scheme. It aims at providing safe and adequate tap water to all, households in rural India by 2024., , , , According to the latest report of Jal Jeevan Mission of Union Ministry of Jal Shakti, Bihar has, provided tap water connections to 67.03% of the total rural households in the state till February, 27. Total 6.89 crore households across the country have got water supply connections since the, launch of the scheme., , , , The state demonstrates a substantial improvement in access to clean water in the last 18 months, by providing tap water connections to 1,31,98,267 households, compared with 3,16,391 (2%), only as on August 15, 2019, according to the official dashboard. This represents an impressive, over 50% jump in providing tap water in the last 18 months., , , , The state has set the goal to provide drinking water to all the 1.96 crore rural households in, 56,079 wards by 2024., , , , Potable water supply to water quality-affected habitations is a top priority under the Jal Jeevan, Mission. As per the latest National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20), Bihar topped the list with, 99% population having access to improved drinking water sources., , , , Meanwhile, about 89% of the state households in urban areas are covered under water supply, scheme, ensuring availability of drinking water in each household., , 30., , Indian-Americans donate over Rs 1 crore for health sector in Bihar,, Jharkhand, , , , An Indian American couple has donated over Rs 1 crore for healthcare works in Bihar and, Jharkhand, the Bihar Jharkhand association of North America (BJANA) announced.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The generous donation of $150,000 by the Ramesh and Kalpana Bhatia Family Foundation to the, BJANA would be used for healthcare efforts in the rural areas of the two states through the, PRAN-BJANA clinic initiative., , , , The Pravasi Alumni Nisshulk (PRAN) is an initiative by like-minded Indian-American physicians, who are working to provide healthcare to the underprivileged and underserved in Bihar and, Jharkhand., , , , These doctors have set up a PRAN clinic in Ranchi, providing free healthcare services to the, needy. Their endeavour is to provide free healthcare services across the states., Now, mutation with registration of land in Bihar, , , , In a bid to reduce land-related disputes, the revenue and land reforms department is all set to, unveil a new software today that will connect the offices of the sub-registrar with the circle, offices to ensure land mutation at the time of registration., , , , CM Nitish Kumar had recently cited land-related disputes as the main reason behind 60% of, crimes committed in the state., , , , The sellers/buyers will have to fill up mutation forms along with the documents for registration of, the land. The forms will be simultaneously forwarded to the circle office from the sub-registrar‟s, office for simultaneous registration and mutation., , , , In the new system, a mutation form will have details of the land, names of the buyer/seller among, other relevant information. The copies of the sale/purchase deeds will be sent to the respective, circle offices by NIC within hours of the registration., , 31.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS (April-2021), 1., , Financing Agreement for Digha & Kankarbagh Sewage Projects, , , , A financing agreement was signed for the development of STP and sewage treatment networks, for the Digha and Kankarbagh areas of Patna. Highlights:, , , , The scope of the project includes the development of a Sewage Treatment Plants with a capacity, of 150 MLD and a sewage treatment network of more than 453 kilometers in the Digha and, Kankarbagh areas of Patna State, which is one of the most populous cities on both sides of the, Ganges., , , , This is the first of its kind and consists of the Design, Build, Operate and Transfer (‘DBOT’), scope and the Hybrid Annuity Model (HAM) scope., , , , After implementation, all sewage areas in Patna City will be covered by the sewage pipe network, and sewage treatment capacity., , , , It should help achieve the goal of the Namami Gange plan, which is to prevent any untreated, wastewater from entering the Ganga River., , Bihar’s biggest lake dying despite Ramsar tag last year, , 2., , , , Kanwar lake, Asia’s largest freshwater oxbow lake and Bihar’s only Ramsar site, located in, Begusarai district, is facing threat of running dry., , , , Originally spread over 6,786 hectares, the lake has been a preferred destination for migratory, birds and home to several rare aquatic species. In 1986, the state government notified it as a, protected area. Later, the central government declared it as a sanctuary to stop poaching of birds., , , , The lake, also known as Kabartal jheel, was declared a Ramsar site in July last year following a, sustained campaign by environmentalists from across the world, who hoped that the state, government might step in to conserve the wetland once it was designated as a wetland of, international importance., , , , The huge stretch of wetland also absorbs considerable amount of water during the flooding and, offers land for cultivation during the summers. About 165 plant species, 394 animal species,, including 221 varieties of birds, were recorded to be present around the lake, which is also home, to 53 migratory birds, including some rare ones., , 3., , Bills propose new mechanism for appointment of college principals, , , , Apart from the appointment of assistant professors, the Bihar State University Service, Commission will also carry out appointment of principals in colleges, who have been included as, teachers under the Bihar State University Service Commission Act, 2017, through an amendment, Bill which was passed by the Legislative Assembly along with six other Bills amid Opposition’s, walkout., , , , In April 2017, both the Houses of Bihar legislature had passed the Bihar State Universities, (Amendment) Bill, 2017, and the Patna University (Amendment) Bill, 2017, to bring principals, back into the teaching fold., , , , The amendments were significant, as the government had itself removed principals from the, teaching cadre through the 2012 amendment to the two Acts., , , , The Bihar State Higher Education Council (Amendment) Bill, 2021, makes provision for, reappointment of the vice chairman of the council.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The government had already reappointed the vice chairman prior to Assembly election through an, ordinance, which the bill repeals., , , , Under the new bill, the vice chairman can hold office for a maximum of two terms of five years, each., , , , The Bihar Panchayati Raj (Amendment) Bill, 2021, makes provision, constitution/reconstitution of the gram panchayat area even with population less than 7,000., , , , The Bihar Fiscal Responsibility and Budget Management (Amendment) Bill, 2021, proposes to, increase the fiscal deficit target and annual borrowing limit for the year 2020-21 by 2% over and, above the limits prescribed earlier., , 4., , for, , CM opens nature safari at Rajgir, first in state, , , , Chief minister Nitish Kumar said that the state government’s sustained effort to promote tourism, had started showing results as more and more tourists were visiting the state., , , , The nature safari, which has been developed by the department of forests, environment and, climate change in over 500 hectares of land at a cost of with ₹19 crore, also has a suspension, bridge, adventure park and butterfly zone., , , , The site also has an archery range, rock climbing walls and wrestling zone, among other, attractions., , , , According to Indian Tourism Statistics 2019 prepared by Ministry of Tourism, Government of, India, more than 3.24 crore domestic and 1.08 lakh foreign tourists visited Bihar in 2017 while in, 2018, the number of domestic tourists increased further to more than 3.36 crore and those of, foreign tourists marginally to 1,08,7971. Rank wise, Bihar was placed 14 in domestic tourists, visit and ninth in terms of visit by foreign tourists., , 5., , Ethanol policy launched; 30 investors show interest, , , , Two days after Bihar Cabinet approved its own ethanol policy, called Ethanol Production, Promotion Policy, 2021, the state industry department formally launched the policy in presence of, prospective investors., , , , The new policy would permit ethanol production in Bihar from all feed stocks permitted by, National Policy on Biofuels, 2018, and subsequently by the National Biofuel Co-ordination, Committee., , , , Introducing the policy to investors, industry minister Shahnawaz Hussain said that once these, factories start functioning, no foodgrains will be wasted as the new ethanol promotion policy, allows investors to directly make ethanol from maize, molasses, broken rice and rotten grains., , 6., , Rajgir, Bodh Gaya set to be green energy towns, , , , Rajgir and Bodh Gaya, important tourist hubs, are set to become the country ’s first fully green, energy efficient towns, as Bihar vies with Delhi, Goa and Odisha to supply 24×7 clean power, round the year through the first of its kind renewable energy hybrid model., , , , The Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), a central government PSU, which will develop the, system in Andhra Pradesh, has agreed in principle to Bihar’s proposal to feed clean power to the, two towns and some important government installations in Patna, including the Raj Bhawan,, chief minister’s house, Legislative Assembly, MLA quarters, Patna high court, Gyan Bhawan,, Bihar museum and the Vidyut Bhawan.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The state pays an annualised average power purchase at the cost of ₹4.90 to ₹4.96 per unit, with, thermal power contributing to 78% of the state’s power share., , , , The Centre has also waived off the ₹1 per unit interstate transmission charges to encourage, renewal energy projects commissioned by June 2023. It will also bear the transmission and, distribution loss, which is generally up to 2%, in ferrying power from the south Indian state., , , , The SECI had floated the tender last year, inviting stakeholders to avail of green power round the, clock through renewable energy. Bihar showed interest in February, this year., , , , What is delaying the SECI nod, said officials, was Bihar’s insistence on customised power supply, — 160 MW solar and 39.93 MW hydel — as against the SECI formula to give 37.5 MW through, hydel pump storage plant in a 200 MW renewable energy hybrid package., , 7., , After outcry, top officials defend new police Bill, , , , following chief Minister Nitish Kumar’s statement that the top brass of the state administration, and police should clear misunderstandings about the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021,, which triggered a huge row in the State Legislative Assembly and outside., , , , The BMP Act, 1892, has been changed into the Bihar Special Armed Police Bill, 2021, after 129, years as it was needed in view of the state’s development and requirement of protecting important, installations like Darbhanga airport and Mahabodhi Temple., , , , On the lines of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), now State Industrial Security Force, (SISF) will be deployed, with adequate powers to take anyone in custody or carry out search on, suspicion without warrant., , 8., , Two new schemes to boost entrepreneurship among youth, women from April, 1: Minister, , , , State industries minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain on Tuesday said to boost entrepreneurship, among women and youths, Mukhyamantri Mahila Udyami Yojana and Mukhyamantri Yuva, Udyami Yojana will be implemented from April 1 this year., , , , Talking about the upcoming scheme for women and youths, he said a maximum of Rs five lakh, will be given as a loan and up to Rs five lakh as a grant. While women will not have to pay any, interest on the loan, youth belonging to the general category will have to pay 1% interest. He, further said there is a provision of a Rs 25,000 stipend for training purposes., , , , On the eligibility to get the benefit under this scheme, Shahnawaz said the beneficiary must be a, resident of Bihar and should have a minimum qualification of intermediate, ITI, polytechnic, diploma or equivalent. The minimum age is 18 years, and the upper age limit is 50 years. The unit, should be either a proprietorship firm, partnership firm, limited liability partnership (LLP) firm or, private limited company., , 9., , Online system to speed up green clearance for entrepreneurs, , , , The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) on Saturday announced that the process for, environmental clearance sought by entrepreneurs has been simplified with the introduction of the, online consent management and monitoring system., , , , The online facility aims to remove the delays in the issuance of environmental clearance to, entrepreneurs for their projects.

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MEDHA IAS, , 10., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , Under the manual system, the delay was often caused by errors made in filling the forms and, documents, which delayed the process of issuing clearance certificate., , Increase milk and fish production in Bihar: Nitish kumar, , , , CM Nitish Kumar asked the state government officials to work in mission mode to achieve the, targets fixed under different development schemes., , , , Presiding over the 8th governing body meeting of the Bihar Vikas Mission (BVM) through, videoconferencing, Nitish also called for taking all necessary steps to increase the milk, processing capacity in the state., , , , The BVM was formed in January, 2016 for proper implementation and monitoring of the, schemes under the ‘Saat Nischay’ (seven resolves) programme of the erstwhile grand alliance, government also headed by Nitish., , 11., , Will acquire land for elevated road by next month: BSRDCL, , , , The Bihar State Road Development Corporation Limited (BSRDCL) said land acquisition for, construction of Mithapur-Mahauli elevated road would be completed by May., , , , The 8.86km-long elevated road from south-western flank of Mithapur flyover to Ramgovind, Singh Mahuli railway halt is proposed to be constructed with an expenditure of Rs 668 crore., , 12., , Availability of vaccines, data entry operators worry for state, , , , Bihar is left with around 8 lakh doses of Covid-19 vaccine as it prepares to vaccinate the target, group of 1.80 crore population of 45 years and above., , , , The state’s immediate concern remains availability of vaccines as well as sufficient number of, data entry operators as it plans to ramp up its vaccination session sites from existing 1,700 to, 2,500 in the next few days to meet the vaccination requirement of the 45 years and above age, group., , , , Given the shortage, the state is rotating vaccines from underperforming cold chain points to, districts where vaccine utilisation was more, adding to logistics issues., , , , The health department plans to use its existing health sub-centres as session sites. Of the 10,800, health sub-centres, there are only around 3,000 facilities housed in three-room accommodation,, which is the minimum requirement for a vaccination session site., , 13., , Two mega food park at Bihar, , , , The MFP at Motipur will be developed on 78 acres of land along the national highway. There will, be 30 food-processing units inside the park, having the potential to generate a minimum of 5,000, employment., , , , , A similar park is being developed in the Khagadia district in Bihar., , , , Though the central scheme on MFP is being implemented by the ministry of food processing, industries since 2008, it has now become a component of the new central sector umbrella scheme, – Pradhan Mantri Kisan Sampada Yojana (PMKSY)., , , , The MFP scheme has multiple components including the creation of processing infrastructure, near the farm, transportation, logistics, centralized processing centres, effluent treatment plant, and other enabling facilities such as roads, electricity and water., , These two MFPs will be in addition to an Agro-Processing Cluster (APC) which is being, developed in the Begusarai district of the state.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS (May-2021), 1., , Online system to speed up green clearance for entrepreneurs, , , , The Bihar State Pollution Control Board (BSPCB) on Saturday announced that the process for, environmental clearance sought by entrepreneurs has been simplified with the introduction of the, online consent management and monitoring system., , , , A BSPCB communique released on Saturday said a Suvidha Kendra set up at the Board, headquarters on the Patliputra Industrial Area road will facilitate the filing of applications by, entrepreneurs. It will become operational from April 15. Suvidha Kendras have also come up at, Muzaffarpur and Barauni., , , , The communique said the entrepreneurs will be able to file their applications, along with scanned, documents, by paying a fee of Rs 1,000., , , , The online facility aims to remove the delays in the issuance of environmental clearance to, entrepreneurs for their projects., , , , Under the manual system, the delay was often caused by errors made in filling the forms and, documents, which delayed the process of issuing clearance certificate, the communique stated., , , , For environmental clearance from the pollution control authority, a separate set of forms would, have to be filled through the online process, coupled with the submission of scanned documents, for a fee of Rs 1,000 would be charged., , 2., , Increase milk and fish production in Bihar: Nitish kumar, , , , CM Nitish Kumar asked the state government officials to work in mission mode to achieve the, targets fixed under different development schemes., , , , Presiding over the 8th governing body meeting of the Bihar Vikas Mission (BVM) through, videoconferencing, Nitish also called for taking all necessary steps to increase the milk, processing capacity in the state., , , , The CM asked them to fast increase the number of women milk cooperative societies in order to, enhance milk production in the state. “Work for improving the breed of cows through artificial, insemination while keeping in mind the state’s climate. Another aim is to improve the breed of, indigenous cows,” Nitish told the officials and asked them to work for the improvement of, facilities at different gaushalas., , 3., , 4., , Bihar: Private oxygen plants told to divert supply from industries to hospitals, , , , The state government on Thursday diverted 90% of oxygen manufactured by three private plants, in Patna for use by all hospitals treating Covid-19 patients in Patna as demand for medical oxygen, has skyrocketed in the last few days, and suppliers are unable to meet the requirement., , , , Industries department additional chief secretary Brijesh Mehrotra directed Patna DM, Chandrashekhar Singh to divert the oxygen supply from industrial units to hospitals at a highlevel virtual meeting held., , , , At the meeting, the industries department authorities established contact with multinational gas, plants outside the state who agreed to supply liquid oxygen for Patna hospitals., , Experts: Stricter curbs, not lockdown, need of the hour in Bihar

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The alarming rise in number of Covid-19 positive cases in the state has refreshed the memory of, last year’s lockdown. Experts and residents, however, believe re-imposition of lockdown is not a, suitable option. Instead, stricter surveillance, containment and caution are the way forward., , , , While states like Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh have already imposed weekend lockdowns,, night curfews and stricter curbs to break the chain of transmission, the Bihar government has so, far not announced any major step to contain the pandemic., , , , Bihar Industries Association (BIA) president Ram Lal Khaitan said small businesses which bore, the brunt of the pandemic last year can no longer survive another lockdown., , 5., , Bihar: Manjhi demands allowance for state unemployed youths, , , , Former CM and Hindustani Awam Morcha (Secular) chief Jitan Ram Manjhi has not been, ceasing to surprise CM Nitish Kumar and the NDA government, as on Friday he demanded that, the government pay Rs 5,000 as unemployed allowance to unemployed youths in the state., , , , Manjhi said his demand was in tune with his party’s poll manifesto for the assembly elections., The HAM(S), along with Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP), is a smaller constituent in the four-party, NDA combine that includes JD(U) of Nitish and also the BJP.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS (June-2021), 1., , All schools to have headmasters soon: Bihar education minister, , , , With a view to ensuring regular classes and enforcing discipline among the students, the state, government has decided to appoint regular headmasters in all the schools., , , , The minister also pointed out that the government had decided to set up at least one +2 school in, every panchayat with a view to promoting education, especially among girls, in rural areas., , , , Meanwhile, the Bihar State Higher Education Council (BSHEC) has constituted four committees, that can suggest ways for bringing the much-needed reforms to ensure qualitative improvement in, higher education. According to a notification issued by the education department on Monday,, BSHEC’s vice-chairman, Kameshwar Jha, has been authorized to coordinate the activities of the, committees and ensure implementation of their recommendations., , , , The academic reforms committee will help prepare the state’s higher education plan and provide, inputs to the council for smooth functioning of universities and research institutions. It will also, undertake a comprehensive study on the state’s higher education system and submit an annual, report for its improvement. Besides, it will suggest measures for implementation of the semester, and choice-based credit systems. The NAAC committee will assess the baseline of all the, institutions of higher education in the state and ensure their assessment and accreditation. The, quality assurance committee, on the other hand, will suggest steps for stimulating the academic, environment for improvement in learning and research. The fourth committee will suggest policy, measures and prepare the road map for implementation of the NEP., , 2., , Bihar Agricultural University develops black guava rich in minerals, vitamins, , , , A unique variety of guava developed by the scientists at Bihar Agricultural University (BAU) is, not only drawing attention of denizens but also the researchers due its anti-ageing factors and rich, nutritional value to combat besides extraordinary external appearance., , , , The exclusive variety of black guava with red pulp inside is claimed to be rich in antioxidants,, minerals and vitamins. It has been developed with more than three years of scientific research at, BAU and is likely to be launched for commercial farming soon following some improvement in, its size, fragrance and longer shelf life., , , , The newly developed black guava has drawn the attention of medical fraternity and needs further, exploration in view of its antioxidants, vitamins and minerals and can be helpful in combating, human diseases., , Bihar’s ganja, charas consumption much below national average: NCB, , 3., , 4., , , , The percentage population consuming gang and charas in the state is much below the national, average but, of late, it is showing a rising trend, as per the Narcotics Control Bureau figures., , , , The national average is 1.2% of the population, which consumes ganja and charas as per a study, of the ministry of social justice and empowerment in 2019. “Bihar’s average that time was 1.1%., But it has been observed later that there has been a rising trend., , , , As per the NCB data, drug abuse and trafficking has increased since 2020 Covid-19 pandemic, and lockdown, but it has also created unprecedented public awareness about health and measures, for staying healthy and protecting each other., , Bihar’s first transgender shelter home set up in Patna

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The state’s first-of-its-kind transgender shelter home-cum-skill training centre has started, functioning at Khagaul in western Patna with five inmates. Set up under the ‘Garima Greh’, scheme of the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, the objective of setting up such a, shelter home is to integrate transgender people into the mainstream., , , , The three-storey building would provide infrastructural support to 25 transgender persons at a, time and make them self-sufficient by empowering with skill training programmes which may, open a range of professions they can choose for their livelihoods. A separate skill training block, has been built to provide soft skills., , 5., , Investment proposals worth Rs 528 crore for Nalanda: Minister, , , 6., , Bihar’s industries minister Shahnawaz Hussain on Sunday said his department recently, received investment proposals worth Rs528 crore for setting up industries in Nalanda district., , More power to women in Bihar as 35% of all field posts go to them, , , , In yet another move to empower women, the Bihar government has decided to depute women, officers on 35% of the field posts of sub-divisional magistrate (SDM), circle officer (CO), block, development officer (BDOs) and the station house officer (SHOs) of police stations., , , , All these posts are considered very crucial in the lower rung of administration as these officers, play the main role in maintaining law and order, solving day-to-day issues of public, upkeep of, land records and execution of most of the development works at block and panchayat levels., , , , Recently, Nitish decided to reserve 33.3% seats for women in admission in all engineering and, medical colleges as well as the first proposed sports university of the state., , , , Within months of taking oath as the CM in 2005, Nitish reserved 50% seats for women in the, panchayat election in 2006. His move resulted in women capturing half of the 2.6 lakh elected, posts in the state three-tier panchayati raj institutions., , 7., , Bihar last in infrastructure, facilities in school education, , , , Bihar has scored the lowest in terms of infrastructure and facilities with a total 81 points out of, 150 in the Performance Grading Index (PGI) 2019-20 for states/UTs in the field of school, education, the report of which was released by the Ministry of Education recently., , , , However, the state saw a marginal improvement in its overall PGI score between 5 to 10%, when, compared to the figures of 2018-19., , , , The overall score of Bihar was 747 out of 1,000, landing the state at the bottom 8th position (with, grade III) among 37 states and UTs. The top-performing state was Punjab with 929 points., , , , The PGI is a set of 70 parameters to catalyse transformational changes in the field of school, education., , 8., , Bihar CM Nitish Kumar launches loan schemes for business, , , , Bihar government would now provide Rs10 lakh to an unemployed woman or youth to start a, new business or small industries in the state. Out of Rs10 lakh, Rs5 lakh would be subsidy and, the rest Rs5 lakh loan will have to returned in instalments., , , , CM Nitish Kumar announced it while launching two new schemes — the Mukhyamantri Mahila, Udyami Yojana (MMUY) and the Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Yojana (MYUY) — with an aim, to provide more employment opportunities to youths and young women in the state.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The state government has already promised employment opportunities to 20 lakh youths during, its current tenure., , , , Under the MMUY, an unemployed woman would be provided Rs10 lakh interest-free loan with, Rs5 lakh as subsidy to start a new business or small industry. The loan will have to be returned in, in the next seven years from the start of the business., , , , Under the MYUY, an unemployed youth would be provided Rs10 lakh loan with Rs5 lakh, subsidy on simple interest of 1%, to be returned in many instalments.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS (July-2021), Only 14% of school students in Bihar have access to computers’, , 1., , , , At a time when online study has been the only option available for students owing to the Covid, pandemic, only 14% of the school students in Bihar have access to computers., , , , According to the Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) report released, recently, less than one in five schools had working computers and only a limited number of them, had internet connection. It is even more surprising to know that 73% students in, neighbouring Jharkhand have had access to computers, the report said., , , , The minister said the government is already seized of this problem and had, some time back,, requested the central government to sanction necessary funds under Samagra Shiksha Yojana for, providing necessary digital devices like smartphones and laptops to the students and install good, number of computers with internet connectivity in all the schools so that our children do not, suffer., , 2., , Bihar: Railways to start 14 more special passenger trains, , , , 3., , Amid a sharp decline in Covid-19 pandemic cases in Bihar, railways has decided to start services, of at least 14 more special passenger trains originating from different stations falling under the, jurisdiction of the East Central Railway (ECR) to cope with huge passenger rush during the peak, summer. Earlier, railways had extended the services of 36 special passenger trains either till, September end or first week of October 2021 to facilitate long distance travel., , Nearly 5 lakh guest workers register in labour dept portal, , , , early 5 lakh guest workers have registered in the labour department‘s online portal. The exercise, has been expedited to create a complete database of the workforce from other states by the end of, October this year., , , , The department launched the portal in April 2020 to create a realtime database of the guest, workers in the state. ―Within a span of two months from the launch of the portal, the department, has registered 3.49 lakh guest workers., , , , The department has continued the exercise with the help of the district administrations and we, have registered around 5., , 4., , Sales in automobile sector down by over 60% in Patna, , , , The automobile sector in Bihar has been severely hit by the Covid-induced lockdown. It has been, almost five weeks since the state government allowed the automobile showrooms to open on, alternate days, but the footfall is still low. All major automobile dealers in the state capital report, consistent losses and difficulties in making recovery., , , , Industry experts say people, especially of the middle and the lower-middle class, have become, more judicious with their expenditure. It has been reflecting in the steep fall in sales of lower and, mid-range vehicles., , 6., , RT-PCR labs at all sadar hospitals in Bihar soon: Minister, , , , State health minister Mangal Pandey said RT-PCR labs would be set up at all the sadar, hospitals in the state soon to conduct Covid tests., , , , The minister, who inaugurated an RT-PCR lab at Siwan sadar hospital, said Siwan was the 10th, district in the state to get the facility. ―At least 96 samples can be tested at a time and 1,000

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , samples in a day at the lab. While there was just one virology lab in the country before Covid-19, pandemic, it has crossed 2,500-mark now,‖ he said., , , 7., , The minister said health facilities in the state were being strengthened to face any upcoming, challenges. ―Apart from medical colleges and hospitals, modern equipment are being installed, even at public health centres in the state,‖ the minister said., , Bihar: IMA members adopt villages for awareness about immunisation, , , , Doctors under the aegis of Indian Medical Association (IMA) state branch has come forward to, boost the ongoing immunisation drive against the Covid pandemic by adopting villages, mobilise, people of 18 years and above and also make them aware of Covid appropriate behaviour for, saving the humanity., , , , As many villagers wanted to get the vaccines in the village itself, the IMA in association with the, district administration concerned would hold special immunisation camps at the panchayat, bhavans or any other government premise very soon., , 8., , Bihar 8th among 31 states in availing digital health service, , , , 9., , Bihar has bagged eighth rank in the country among 31 participating states in utilising, ‗eSanjeevani‘, a digital health service platform of the Union ministry of health and family, welfare. As per the data shared by the ministry, around 2,23,197 people from Bihar have so far, availed consultation on free telemedicine platform. The 31 states together account for 70 lakh, doctor-to-patient tele-consultation since the launch of the scheme., , Eight power substations in rural Gaya soon, , , , Eight new power substations are being set up in Bodh Gaya, Manpur, Khizarsarai, Banke Bazar, and Wazirganj blocks of the district, South Bihar Power Distribution Company, Limited (SBPDCL) executive engineer (project) Balvir Prasad Bagish said., , , , While power supply will start from two substations at Mahkar (Khizarsarai) and Bakraur (Bodh, Gaya) from July 20, the other six would be functional by the end of this year. The power, substations are being set up at an estimate cost of Rs4 crore each under the Union, government‘s Deen Dayal Gram Jyoti Yojana and the state plan., , , , Each substation would have two power transformers of five MVA each. One transformer can, supply power to 50 transformers of 200 kVA each. The new substations are being set up to meet, the increasing power requirements as every household has got a power connection in the villages., , , , Every year, the load on transformers is increasing and infrastructure to meet the requirement has, to be kept ready. Within the last three years, 24 new power substations have been set up across, the district under Deen Dayal Jyoti Yojana and the state plan., , 10., , Fly ash from power plants remains a worry for human health, crops, , , , Villagers and farmers residing around Kahalgaon super thermal power station in Bhagalpur, district are living in constant fear of health hazards and damage to their standing crops due to, improper management of fly ash generated at the plant in course of production of electricity, a, study has claimed., , , , Apart from the health hazard caused due to heavy concentration of small particles in ambient air,, standing crops on around 80 hectares field near the plant was damaged last year and early this, year as the ash dyke breached its embankment and pipe of ash slurry burst owing to technical, fault near Chaitola and Masdaha near Kahalgaon.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The plant is owned and run by National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC), a central public, sector enterprise., , , , Similarly, several houses were flooded with ash slurry in Bokaro after a pond built to store the fly, ash near the Bokaro thermal power station, also run by NTPC, overflew in September 2019., Power station authorities attribute the accident to excessive rains., , , , These are a few incidents of fly ash management at coal-fired power stations in Bihar and, Jharkhand featured in a study carried out jointly by advocacy groups like Asar Social Impact, Advisors, Research on Energy and Clean Air and Manthan Adhyay Kendra recently. The study,, titled ―Lest we Forget – A status report of neglect of coal ash accidents in India (May 2019-May, 2021)‖, was released recently., , , , The report says penalties being levied on coal-based power plant operators have hardly improved, things. ―Despite clear rules for fly ash management, villagers and farmers are exposed to suffer,‖, it says., , , , ―Power plants have failed at not only removal of ash, remediation of sites, addressing health, impacts but also in paying full compensation to affected villages,‖ report said., , 11., , Bihar heading for financial crisis, says CAG official, , , , Bihar is heading towards a financial crisis as the state has shown trends of revenue deficit in the, fiscal year 2019-2020, even though there was no pandemic, against the revenue surplus in fiscal, 2018-19, said additional deputy (eastern region) Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG), Rakesh Mohan ., , , , Revenue deficit is when the government has less income to meet its expenditure, whereas revenue, surplus is when its net income is higher than projected expenditure., , , , The revenue deficit in 2019-20 is expected to be around ₹2000 crore as against the revenue, surplus in 2018-19 of ₹6897 crore., , , , In 2018-19, the total budget was ₹2,09,490 lakh crore whereas the actual spending was ₹1.60 lakh, crore. The saving was ₹49,000, which is 23% of the total budget. In 2019-20, there are, projections that the state government could have saved more than 30%. Many departments have, not been able to spend even 40% of their allotted funds. This is wrong because the budgets in the, last few years are being prepared unrealistically without taking into account how much funds are, available., , 12., , CM trashes law route to curb population, , , , Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar said the state emphasized on educating girls to bring down the, rate of reproduction to check population growth and refused to endorse the new population policy, in Uttar Pradesh unveiled by its chief minister Yogi Adityanath., , , , Every state is free to do whatever they can to check population growth. Laws alone can‘t check, population. It was found after a lot of research work that the rate of reproduction comes down, effectively if women are educated. Bihar has experimented with this by promoting education, among girls and achieved success. If it continues, the state would have a negative growth of, population after 2040., , 13., , New Patna-Bettiah NH gets approval, , , , The National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has notified Patna-Bettiah road as National, Highway 139W, setting the state for construction of a high-quality four-lane road between the

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , two towns that would reduce the distance between them to 167 kilometres from the current 200odd km and travel time to around 2.5 hours from the current five hours, officials familiar with the, matter said., , , , The NHAI is also likely to build a four-lane bridge over the river Ganga, parallel to JP Setu,, which would also ease traffic load on the proposed outer ring road in the state capital. The road, construction department (RCD) has already submitted the detailed project report (DPR) for the, proposed bridge, estimated to cost ₹1,900 crore., , Persons with more than 2 kids to be disqualified for Panchayat polls in Bihar’, , 14., , , , Bihar Panchayati Raj Minister Samrat Chaudhary has said that the state government is going to, introduce an Act under which a person having more than two children would not be entitled to, contest Panchayat elections., , , , Chaudhary‘s statement came a day after Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar said that the new, population control policy would not help to check the population of the country. Population could, be controlled only through education and awareness of women., , , , Bihar is the first state where such a law was introduced in the past. It has helped to control the, birth rate in urban areas. As education is lacking in rural areas, such a law should be implemented, there to check population., , 15., , Bihar health dept sets up 3-tier committee to update Covid toll, , , , Shortly after the Patna high court‘s flak over inconsistencies in the Covid-19 related death toll,, the Bihar health department has set up a three-tier committee to compile, verify and update the, details of Covid-19 deaths in the second wave of the pandemic., , , , The state-level committee, comprising administrative officer of the state health societies and the, additional director, health department, has been asked by the department to scrutinise the claims, of deaths recommended by the district magistrates (DMs) based on reports submitted by the, committees set up at medical colleges and hospitals and the district levels., , 16., , Political parties in Bihar divided over policy on population control, , , , Political leaders of Bihar are divided over the population control policy brought about by the, Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh. There are different views and opinions among the, allies of the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with regard to the new policy in Bihar., , , , Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar, while expressing his views on population control, said on, Monday that population control cannot be achieved only by enacting a law unless women are, educated and made aware about it., , , , Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath released ‗Population Policy Uttar Pradesh 2021-30‘, on World Population Day. Since then there has been a debate over population control in the, country., , Education system in Bihar has ‘derailed’: High court, , 17., , , , The Patna high court has come down heavily on the education system in the state, observing that, the poor children have to remain content with ‗madhyan bhojan‘ (midday meal), free books,, uniform, bicycle but poor or no teaching in government schools., , , , The court was hearing a batch of writ petitions filed by more than 100 guest teachers who were, first appointed at district level two years back and then were fired by the state government, allegedly in an extremely arbitrary manner. The process to appoint more than 4000 guest teachers

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , was started in 2018. The court had stayed their sacking on February 17 this year. It said guest, teachers‘ engagement was an ad hoc arrangement but they were terminated at the cost of students, in government institutions and somebody in the system is required to take responsibility., , 18., , Eight power substations in rural Gaya soon, , , , Eight new power substations are being set up in Bodh Gaya, Manpur, Khizarsarai, Banke Bazar, and Wazirganj blocks of the district, South Bihar Power Distribution Company, Limited (SBPDCL) executive engineer (project) Balvir Prasad Bagish said., , , , While power supply will start from two substations at Mahkar (Khizarsarai) and Bakraur (Bodh, Gaya) from July 20, the other six would be functional by the end of this year. The power, substations are being set up at an estimate cost of Rs4 crore each under the Union, government‘s Deen Dayal Gram Jyoti Yojana and the state plan., , , , The other power substations are being set up at Alipur and Bhore (Manpur), Sakardas Nawada, and Tarwan (Wazirganj), Dhangain (Barachatti) and Karchoi (Banke Bazar). Those at Mahkar,, Bakraur, Alipur and Sakardas Nawada are being set up under Deen Dayal Gram Jyoti Yojana and, the remaining from the funds made available by the state government., , Bihar’s traditional toys like ‘Kaniya-Putri’ on display in India Toy Fair, , 19., , , , Participants from Bihar are also showcasing their toys in the ongoing virtual event – India Toy, Fair., , , , Some participants have come up with traditional doll making art like Kaniya-Putri which is an, important part of folk-culture in the state., , , , Kaniya-Putri is an old doll making tradition which signifies the importance and prestigious place, of women in the societies of Champaran area of the state., , , , The event is also an opportunity to revive the old tradition of Bihar, once very popular in the, society., , 20., , Bihar: Hold caste-based census, CM Nitish Kumar urges Centre again, , , , Chief minister Nitish Kumar urged the Centre to reconsider its decision of no enumeration other, than that for the SCs and STs in the forthcoming decennial census., , , , Reiterating his demand for a caste-based census in the country, Nitish said Bihar assembly had, unanimously passed a resolution on February 18, 2019 and again on February 27, 2020, seeking, caste-wise enumeration of population. He said both the resolutions were sent to the Centre with a, request to hold caste-wise enumeration., , , , Nitish also pointed out that the socio-economic caste census (SECC) was conducted in the, country after 2010. ―As the SECC was not conducted properly, no meaningful result came out of, it. The SECC‘s report was prepared in 2013, but it was never published or put in public domain., The caste-based census must be conducted once so that people could be aware of the population, of poor families (except SC/ ST). Once a caste-based census is conducted, people and planners, would know the accurate population of any specific caste,‖ the CM said., , 800 times jump in Bihar’s agricultural produce exports in last 15 years, , 21., , , , Bihar has recorded over 800 times jump in the agricultural produce exports in the last 15 years,, from Rs 3 crore in 2006 to Rs2,617 crore in 2020, state‘s agriculture secretary N Sarvana Kumar, revealed.

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MEDHA IAS, , , 22., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , He was making a presentation before CM Nitish Kumar on the works being done in the area of, agricultural marketing. Sarvana gave detailed information about the future schemes, Bihar agri, export policy, development of infrastructure in marketing yards, rules for allotment of properties, in the agri-marketing yards, agri-market information system, implementation of eNAM, rules for, contract farming and strengthening of Bihar agricultural produces value addition system., , Expedite development works: Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad to Bhagalpur, officials, , , , Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad, who was on a two-day visit to the district, asked the officials, concerned to intensify developmental works., , , , At a review meeting with the Bhagalpur Smart City Limited and district officials on Thursday, evening, Prasad said, ―Our focus is on ‗Atmanirbhar Bihar‘ (self-sufficient Bihar) along with, ‗Atmanirbhar Bharat‘ (self-sufficient India). Any laxity on the part of officials in executing, developmental works will not be tolerated.‖, , , , The deputy CM also directed the officials concerned to solve the problem of waterlogging at, Bholanath underpass near Ishakchak and issues related to traffic jam in city areas and, the Vikramshila Bridge over the Ganga., , 23., , Expedite development works: Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad to Bhagalpur, officials, , , , Deputy CM Tarkishore Prasad, who was on a two-day visit to the district, asked the officials, concerned to intensify developmental works., , , , At a review meeting with the Bhagalpur Smart City Limited and district officials on Thursday, evening, Prasad said, ―Our focus is on ‗Atmanirbhar Bihar‘ (self-sufficient Bihar) along with, ‗Atmanirbhar Bharat‘ (self-sufficient India). Any laxity on the part of officials in executing, developmental works will not be tolerated.‖, , , , The deputy CM also directed the officials concerned to solve the problem of waterlogging at, Bholanath underpass near Ishakchak and issues related to traffic jam in city areas and, the Vikramshila Bridge over the Ganga., , No ‘kanwar yatra’ & fairs in Bihar this year, , 24., , , , There will be no ‗kanwar yatra‘ and Shrawani Mela in the state this year due to Covid pandemic., The devotees will have to offer prayers at home and only priests will be allowed to perform, rituals in temples., , , , Important temples which used to attract large number of devotees with ‗kanwar‘ in the state, during the month of Shrawan were Garibnath Dham (Muzaffarpur), Kusheswar Sthan, (Darbhanga), Harihar Nath Temple (Sonepur) and Bihta temple., , , , According to Hindu traditions, Shrawan is the dearest month of Lord Shiva and that is why, devotees hold special prayers in different temples., , 25., , Plea to open tourist info centres at Buddhist sites, , , , Tourist Guide Association of Bihar has urged the state government to open tourist information, centres at important sites of Bihar under Buddhist circuit. The association has also demanded, introduction of bus services between Bodh Gaya and tourist destinations like Rajgir, Nalanda,, Dhungeshwari, Vanavar and Gurpa.

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MEDHA IAS, , , 26., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , The tourist information centre in Bodh Gaya is at a distance of about 1km from the Mahabodhi, temple. It should be located around the Mahavihara near the office of Bodh Gaya Temple, Management Committee so that tourists can easily get information about other nearby sites and, modes of communication. The centre should provide information about flights, trains, buses and, foreign exchange., , Bihar has over 50 lakh hepatitis patients, , , , Bihar has more than 50 lakh patients of hepatitis that claims approximately 15 lakh lives across, the world every year., , , , Revealing this figure on the occasion of World Hepatitis Day , Dr Dineshwar Prasad, the, principal of Government Ayurvedic College and Hospital (GACH), claimed that 5 out of every, 100 people suffered from the disease in Bihar., , , , Hepatitis, which may happen due to consumption of alcohol, epilepsy drugs, and AIDS or TB, medicines, can be deadly in case of late detection. It has four types — hepatitis A, B, C and E.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS (August-2021), 1., , 1.32 lakh mosquito nets allotted to Bihar districts, , , , Health minister Mangal Pandey said on Monday that all preparations had been made to, tackle dengue in the state and 1.32 lakh medicated mosquito nets allotted to different districts., , , , All government health facilities have been put on alert and district hospitals directed to create, five-bed wards to treat dengue patients. Besides, nine nodal centres have been set up where the, facility of Elisa test, which detects recent or past dengue infections, is available. These include, the Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Indira, Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences., , 2., , Only 3% labourers got jobs under MNREGS in Bihar in 2014-19: CAG, , , , Bihar‘s Nitish Kumar government managed to gave only 3 per cent employment to labourers, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme between 2014 to, 2019, the Comptroller and Auditor General said in a report., , , , As per the report, there were 26 to 36 per cent people in Bihar who applied for 100 days, guaranteed employment under the MNREGS but only 3 per cent got work., , , , The report further said that 86.61 per cent labourers do not have land in Bihar and were, completely dependent on the scheme. It conducted a survey among 60.88 lakh labourers before, preparing the report., , , , The CAG has also found financial irregularities in the Nitish Kumar government‘s ambitious, project, Lohia Path Chakra, the multi-purpose grade separator on Bailey Road near Raj Bhavan in, Patna., , , , The government auditor said that construction company Bihar Rajya Pul Nirmaan Nigam Ltd, (BRPNNL) has taken some wrong decisions during planning, preparation of Detail Project Report, (DPR) and construction, wrongly expending Rs 6.04 crore in design, Rs 10.86 crore on specialist, observers, and Rs 1.52 crore on other expenses., , 3., , Bihar has third highest Covid antibodies : Survey, , , , In the midst of fears of a third Covid wave by September/October, there is good news for Bihar as, 75.9 per cent of its population has antibodies against the coronavirus, , , , This has been revealed in the report of sero survey conducted by the Indian council of Medical, Research (ICMR) last month., , , , The Sero survey report further says that the highest number of antibodies across the country have, been found in the people of Madhya Pradesh, which is around 79 per cent of the population., Rajasthan comes second after Madhya Pradesh. Similarly, the lowest antibody count has been, found in Kerala which is just 44 per cent., , , , According to the report, Madhya Pradesh leads the chart with 79 per cent of its population having, antibodies, while Rajasthan comes second with 76.2 per cent sero prevalence. Bihar has 75.9 per, cent, Gujarat 75.3 per cent, Chhattisgarh 74.6 per cent, Uttarakhand 73.1 per cent, Uttar Pradesh, 71 per cent and Andhra Pradesh 70.2 per cent sero prevalence., , , , Similarly in Karnataka, it is 69.8 per cent, Tamil Nadu 69.2 per cent, Odisha 68.1 per cent,, Punjab 66.5 per cent, Telangana 63.1 per cent, Jammu and Kashmir 63 per cent, Himachal, Pradesh 62 per cent, Jharkhand 61.2 per cent, West Bengal 60.9 per cent, Haryana 60.1 per cent,

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , Maharashtra 58 per cent, Assam 50.3 per cent and Kerala 44.4 per cent. Kerala has the least, antibodies among the states., , 4., , 1.32 lakh mosquito nets allotted to Bihar districts, , , , Health minister Mangal Pandey said on Monday that all preparations had been made to, tackle dengue in the state and 1.32 lakh medicated mosquito nets allotted to different districts., , , , All government health facilities have been put on alert and district hospitals directed to create, five-bed wards to treat dengue patients. Besides, nine nodal centres have been set up where the, facility of Elisa test, which detects recent or past dengue infections, is available., , 5., , De-centralised biomedical waste incinerator opened in Buxur, , , , the waste incinerator would be useful at a time when the problems associated with handling and, disposing biomedical waste are exacerbated due to the Covid-19 pandemic in small towns and, villages that do not have access to central biomedical waste treatment facilities., , , , This is a pilot project with portable, forced draft incinerator capable of handling 50 kg per hour of, biomedical waste with the provision of waste heat recovery. It can process waste made of cotton,, plastic, or similar materials in a batch of 5 kg. The unit requires a 2 sq mt area and only 0.6 kWh, electricity for initial ignition of the waste with an option of auto electricity turn-off., , , , The technology was selected through the Biomedical Waste Treatment Innovation Challenge, launched in June 2020 by the ‗Waste to Wealth‘ mission., , 6., , Covid: Low vaccination among women worries Centre, , , , Even as India is inching closer to covering almost half of its adult population with at least the first, dose of Covid vaccines, the Centre is concerned about the low uptake of jabs among women,, particularly in states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh. Overall, about 46% of total, 52.2 crore doses administered so far have been given to women., , , , At present, the gap between the coverage among male and females is about 7-8%. This is slightly, on the higher side given that there is not much difference in the overall adult male and female, population ratio. The gap in immunisation coverage between the two genders should not be more, than 2-3%., , , , The current gender distortion is also more significant among elderly population than in younger, females., , 7., , Bihar edu dept to conduct survey to upgrade schools, , , , With a view to provide adequate infrastructure and other facilities, the state education department, has directed the officials concerned to take stock of the physical status in higher secondary and, secondary schools and create a database., , , , There are 9,361 higher secondary and secondary schools in Bihar, out of which 2,948 middle, schools have been upgraded to secondary schools to admit students from the academic session, 2020-21. In these upgraded schools, a survey would be conducted for providing necessary, facilities to ensure education up to class XII., , , , The Bihar Education Project Council has also asked the district education officers (DEOs) to, conduct survey and collect information from government schools on various parameters,, including enrolment of students (as on September 30, 2020), infrastructure — number of, buildings, status, condition, number of classrooms, scope of expansion and year of construction,, and availability of land among other things.

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MEDHA IAS, 8., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , Bihar CM Nitish Kumar opens, lays foundation for health projects worth Rs, 2,705 crore, , , , Chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar inaugurated and laid foundation stones for 989 health projects, worth Rs 2,705 crore. He congratulated the health department for implementing various projects, to strengthen health infrastructure in the state., , , , Among the projects inaugurated by the CM included a state cancer institute at Indira Gandhi, Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS), which has been set up with an expenditure of Rs 120, crore., , , , The health department has expanded the service provided under ‗Didi ki Rasoi‘ to 32 other, hospitals. Under this service, Jeevika didis are roped in to provide fresh cooked meals to patients, and their attendants in hospitals., , 9., , Bihar govt to take Rs 2,000 crore loan for Ganga Path from HUDCO, , , , The state cabinet on Friday approved the government‘s proposal to raise a loan of Rs2,000 crore, from Housing and Urban Development Corporation (HUDCO) to be used on the construction of, 20.5-km-long J P Ganga Path between Digha and Deedarganj along the Ganga at Patna., , , , The transport department‘s proposal to give relief in penalty and interest charged on the owners, of different kind of vehicles concerned, if they made payment of road tax and other dues in one, instalment, was also cleared. The vehicle owners could not make timely payment of taxes due to, the lockdown arising from Covid-19. Similarly, relief will be provided to the owners of the, rickety or 15-year-old vehicles, if they decided to end the registration and also dispose of their, vehicles., , , , The cabinet approved the proposal to increase the annual income limit from Rs1.5 lakh to Rs2.5, lakh for the availing of post-matric scholarship to the students from the backward and extremely, backward classes., , 10., , Bihar govt okays Rs 598 crore for alternative approach road to J P Setu, , , , The state cabinet on sanctioned Rs 598.10 crore for the construction of 12.409km of approach, road as an alternative route to the Sonepur-Digha Ganga rail-cum-road bridge (J P Setu) from the, Sonepur side., , , , The proposal was moved by the road construction department. The project involves bitumen and, PCC works, construction of culverts, drain, safety points, underpass, road overbridge (ROB) and, elevated structure., , , , With regard to another proposal moved by the road construction department, the cabinet, sanctioned Rs210.13 crore for the construction of approach road cum two-lane bridge on river, Sone near Panduka in Rohtas district. This bridge will connect to Jharkhand near Japla town., , , , Besides, the cabinet also sanctioned the release of state share worth Rs38.17 crore for the, construction of a road overbridge between Danapur and Neura railway stations. The total, expenditure on the ROB is Rs60.80 crore., , 11., , Nitish government likely to conduct caste census on its own, , , , Bihar‘s Nitish Kumar government is likely to conduct a caste-based census in the state on its own, expense, say ruling Janata Dal-United leaders.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The leaders said that Nitish Kumar has a clear stand on this issue, and is waiting for the Centre‘s, response on his proposal. If it refuses, he will activate ―Plan B‖ for the state to conduct the, exercise on its own., , , , A section of people argue that caste-based census may allow social tension to develop between, the communities in the country. I want to ask them that if religion-based census had not created, division in the society as per their claim, how caste-based census can create differences in the, society., , , , ―Our Chief Minister Nitish Kumar advocated caste-based census to help people on the last levels., He is having support of opposition parties leaders in Bihar. Leader of Opposition Tejashwi Yadav, met the Chief Minister on this issue and demanded the same. Nitish Kumar also assured him and, other political parties leaders to take time with Prime Minister for the issue. Nitish Kumar sent, the letter to PM Narendra Modi in this regard,‖ Kushwaha said., , 12., , Six years on, central university at Vikramshila site yet to take shape, , , , The announcement made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi almost six years ago regarding, establishment of a central university at the historic site of Vikramshila University in Bhagalpur is, yet to take shape. The central government had also allocated Rs 500 crore for the purpose., , , , The committee constituted by the Union HRD ministry more than 18 months ago for selecting the, final site for the proposed university submitted its report to the Centre recently., , , , The Centre had asked Bihar to provide 500 acres of land for setting up the university. The state, government, however, expressed its inability in procuring this much land in Bhagalpur and, offered 200 acres for the purpose as most of the lands are agricultural and fertile. The central, government accepted the proposal and asked the state to provide two to three alternative, locations.‖, The state government in December 2018 furnished the details of three locations in Kahalgaon, circle of Bhagalpur district., , , , The entire project is being monitored by the Union HRD ministry and the state government has, been providing all the required facilities to the Centre. Moreover, the allocated fund of Rs 500, crore has not been received by the state till date., , Education department targets to increase Bihar’s GER to 30%, , 13., , , , The education department has launched an intensive drive to enhance the state‘s gross enrolment, ratio (GER) from 14.5% to 30% by the end of the decade., , , , The state‘s GER would be equal to the national average (27.1%) soon as ―the results of the, sincere efforts being made by the government have already started bearing fruit‖. ―The state‘s, GER has increased from 13.6% to 14.5% in just one year., , , , The government has already decided to open eight new model degree colleges in different areas, of the state for promoting quality education. Four of these have been set up in Gaya, Araria,, Katihar and Purnia and sites for the remaining are being identified., , 14., , Only 3% labourers got jobs under MNREGS in Bihar in 2014-19: CAG, , , , Bihar‘s Nitish Kumar government managed to gave only 3 per cent employment to labourers, under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme between 2014 to, 2019, the Comptroller and Auditor General said in a report.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , As per the report, there were 26 to 36 per cent people in Bihar who applied for 100 days, guaranteed employment under the MNREGS but only 3 per cent got work., , , , The report further said that 86.61 per cent labourers do not have land in Bihar and were, completely dependent on the scheme. It conducted a survey among 60.88 lakh labourers before, preparing the report., , , , The CAG has also found financial irregularities in the Nitish Kumar government‘s ambitious, project, Lohia Path Chakra, the multi-purpose grade separator on Bailey Road near Raj Bhavan in, Patna., , , , The government auditor said that construction company Bihar Rajya Pul Nirmaan Nigam Ltd, (BRPNNL) has taken some wrong decisions during planning, preparation of Detail Project Report, (DPR) and construction, wrongly expending Rs 6.04 crore in design, Rs 10.86 crore on specialist, observers, and Rs 1.52 crore on other expenses., , , , As a result, the state exchequer bore a loss of Rs 18.42 crore, it said., , 15., , Tag Garuda with GPS Trackers, , , , Bihar has decided to tag the greater adjutant storks domestically recognised as ‗Garuda‘ with GPS, trackers to screen their motion as part of efforts to conserve them., Key Points:, , , , , Scientific Name: Leptoptilos dubius, , , , , They are long-necked massive birds., , , , Threat: The huge destruction and degradation of the wetlands that this scavenger bird desires to, forage (i.e. search for food) & the loss of its nesting trees, led to a decline., , , , IUCN Red List: Endangered, , 16., , The increased adjutant belongs to member of the stork family, Ciconiidae. There are nearly 20, species in the family., Habitat: Once located across South and Southeast Asia, the Greater Adjutant is one of the most, threatened stork species in the world. There are only three regarded breeding grounds – one in, Cambodia and two in India (Assam and Bihar)., , Laggard Bihar ranks 4th among states in providing tap water in rural areas, , , , Bihar has emerged as one of the top performing states in terms of providing safe drinking water, through taps, with 87 per cent of its rural households having access to the amenity, a key aide of, chief minister Nitish Kumar said on Wednesday but insisted it was largely on account of a state, scheme and not the Centre‘s Jal Jeevan Mission., , , , State water resources minister Sanjay Kumar Jha made the averment on his official twitter, handle, sharing a newspaper report that put Bihar among the ―top four‖ states of the country in, terms of availability of tap water to rural households., , , , The report was based on data provided by the website of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM), an ambitious, project of the Narendra Modi government launched two years back which aims at providing tap, water to all rural households by 2024., , , , According to the JJM data, Bihar, often accused of administrative lethargy, accounts for 1.46, crore water connections out of 4.73 crore for the entire country, placing it well above the national, average of 41.57 per cent since the launch of the mission in 2019.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , Only Goa and Telangana with a 100 per cent success rate besides Haryana (99.25 per cent) have, performed better than Bihar., , , , Besides, the Union territories of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Puducherry, Dadra and Nagar, Haveli and Daman and Diu have provided water connections to cent per cent households,, according to the JJM website., , , , The JJM website shows that it has been a giant leap for Bihar, one of the most populous states in, the country, where only 1.84 per cent households had access to tap water as on August 15, 2019., Since then, a staggering number of over 1.46 crore water connections have been added., Jha, however, insisted that much of the state‘s spectacular success was owing to ―Har Ghar Nal, Ka Jal‖ scheme of the Bihar chief minister which predated the Centre‘s JJM., , , , According to Jha, the scheme was launched in September 2016 and was responsible for ensuring, availability of tap water in most rural areas of the state., , 17., , 43 spinning-weaving training centres for women soon: Bihar industries, minister, , , , Altogether 43 new centres are to be set up in the state to impart three months‘ training in spinning, and weaving cotton-khadi and silk yarn to women and girls to make them economically selfreliant., , , , The minister said more khadi malls like the one at Patna would come up in Muzaffarpur,, Bhagalpur and Gaya to make khadi products more popular and create job opportunities in the, state. He said the industries department would lay emphasis on promoting the traditional, industries such as khadi and handloom in the state as well. ―The demand of trained workers in, khadi and handloom sectors will be higher in the days to come,‖ he asserted., , , , Shahnawaz said the industries department is contemplating setting up exhibition-cum-sale centres, of khadi and handloom products at the railway stations outside the state to benefit the workers, associated with the traditional industries., , , , The Bihar State Khadi Gramodyog Board has already been sanctioned Rs1 crore for the purpose., In addition, Rs1.25 crore has been sanctioned for imparting training to women and girls during, 2021-22 fiscal, Hussain said., , 18., , Ganga continues to show receding trend in Bihar, , , , The state water resources department (WRD) heaved a sigh of relief as contrary to forecasts, no, moderate or heavy rainfall occurred in the catchment areas of the north Bihar rivers in Nepal and, Bihar., , , , Meanwhile, the Ganga was flowing below the danger level at Digha and Gandhi Ghat in Patna, and also at Munger on Sunday. However, it was flowing 63cm above the danger mark at, Hathidah, 30cm at Bhagalpur, 1.20 metres at Kahalgaon, and 1.54 metres at Farakka., , 19., , Railways plans to build MEMU terminal on Hardinge Park land in Patna, , , , The ambitious plan of the railways to build a mainline electric multiple unit (MEMU) terminal on, the Hardinge Park land in Patna on the pattern of Mumbai‘s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, Terminus is likely to gain momentum with the Patna high court recently allowing the state, government to transfer the land, measuring about 4.5 acres, to the railways for the expansion of, Patna Junction.

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MEDHA IAS, , , 20., , The railways will build office complex and other utilities, including ticket booking centre, at the, proposed terminal. A multi-storey building will also be built on the land., According to the CPRO, initial consultations with technical experts focused on the need to, develop ―crowd management programme‖ at the Hardinge Park land. ―The proposed terminal, will be located close to main roads leading towards Patna Junction and other prime locations in, the city. Railways intends to build a multi-purpose terminal, ensuring smooth flow of traffic, during peak hours,‖ he said., , Special postal cover on Sikki art released in Darbhanga, , , , With a view to going ‗vocal for local‘, a special cover on Sikki grass products was released at the, Postal Training Centre in Darbhanga., , , , Such special postal covers were necessary for making the traditional products of Bihar popular at, the national level., , , , The special cover would help create awareness about Sikki craft and provide a fillip to the cottage, industries. ―Most Sikki artists belong to the lower strata of society‖., , , , The traditional craft, which received the geographical indication tag in 2007, is made from a, special kind of grass called Sikki. The products are eco-friendly, natural, stylish, attractive, and, affordable., , 21., , 534 blocks to get 1 modern ambulance each: Bihar health minister, , , , The 534 blocks of the state will now get one advance life support ambulance each for transporting, serious patients from remote villages to the nearest district hospital or medical college and, hospital for treatment., , , , State health minister Mangal Pandey said these ambulances would be equipped with cardiac, units, portable ventilators, monitors, oxygen and other life-saving medical devices. The initiative, is part of the state government‘s preparation to face the likely third wave of, , , , , Covid pandemic., , 22., , 23., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , As health experts have expressed fears that the third wave of the pandemic might affect children, the most as they have not been immunised yet, the state government has launched an initiative to, set up paediatric intensive care units (PICUs) at all the important government hospitals., , Bihar CM Nitish Kumar conducts aerial survey of flood-hit Darbhanga,, Madhubani, , , , Bihar CM Nitish Kumar made an aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Darbhanga and, Madhubani districts and asked the district magistrates concerned to ensure that the people staying, at the relief camps do not face any inconvenience., , , , The CM also inspected the flood situation in Kusheshwar Asthan Purvi block‘s Adalpur and, Sahorawa village by the NDRF boat. Accompanied by state‘s water resources minister Sanjay, Kumar Jha and several senior officials, the CM inquired about the facilities and relief being, provided to the flood-affected people camping on the nearby roads. He also visited the flood, relief camp at Masankhor High School under Kusheshwar Asthan Purvi block and also inspected, the temporary shelter made for the flood-affected pregnant women, community kitchen and a, smart class being run in the school., , Oyster mushroom farming picking up in Bihar’s Katihar district

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , Oyster mushroom farming has been picking up in Katihar district for the past 3-4 years., ―The gestation period as well as critical input cost for oyster mushroom farming is less, compared, to milky white and button mushrooms. Oyster mushrooms get ready for harvesting in 20-25 days., The oyster mushroom is sold at Rs200/kg while milky white mushroom is available at Rs300/kg, and button mushroom at Rs150-200/kg., , , , Mushroom farming is also good for landless people as well as residue crop management, besides,, keeping the ecology and environment safe. The burning of crops residue such as stubble of maize,, wheat and paddy causes environment pollution. But, stubbles are used in the mushroom farming., , 24., , Govt to boost sports infra in Bihar: Deputy CM Tarakishore Prasad, , , , Deputy CM Tarakishore Prasad felicitated 74 sportspersons of the state at the ‗Bihar Khel, Samman 2021-2022‘ function organised at Premchand Rangshala here by the art, culture and, youth affairs department on the occasion of National Sports Day., , , , Prasad distributed prize money worth Rs 26.7 lakh among the players. Among the 74, sportspersons who were honoured at the event, 15 were from general and 59 from differentlyabled categories. These players, who have excelled in various fields of sports, were given cash, prizes, mementos and certificates., , , , Ranjan added Eklavya State Residential Sports Training Centre scheme is being run for the, talented schoolchildren of the state. ―So far, 41 centres have been approved in 23 districts – 29 for, boys and 12 for girls. Thirty centres are already operational,‖ he added., , NACHA receives ‘Organisation of the Year’ award, , 25., , , , The North America Chhattisgarh Association (NACHA), a grouping of non-resident Indians from, Chhattisgarh, was awarded ‗Organisation of the Year‘ title in the 10th Annual Global Community, Oscars Award., , , , Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel has congratulated all members of NACHA for, winning the award., , , , ―We take pride in glorifying the beauty of our culture across the world. It is a matter of pride for, Chhattisgarh that NACHA is promoting Chhattisgarhi culture on a global level,‖ he said., , , , This is the first award for NACHA, which was set up in Chicago in 2017 to promote the heritage, and culture of Chhattisgarh outside of India.

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS (SEPTEMBER-2021), 1., , Bihar govt sanctions Rs 97 crore for establishment of centres of excellence, , , , The state cabinet sanctioned Rs67.13 crore as its share for expenditure on the construction of, three road overbridges (ROBs) between two railways stations each in Bhagalpur, Rohtas, (Sasaram) and Buxar districts., , , , The total expenditure on the three ROBs is to the tune of Rs145.56 crore to be shared jointly by, the railways and the state. The state share for the ROB between Naugachhia and Kataria railway, stations in Bhagalpur district is Rs.2.92 crore against the total cost of Rs41.65 crore., , , , The cabinet also approved the allotment of Rs.97 crore for the establishment of centres of, excellence at the state industrial technology institutes (ITIs), besides nominating the ITI Patna as, the project executing agency., , , , The money is to be utilized between 2021-22 and 2025-26., , 2., , Deliver impartial justice to women in need, say experts, , , , , 3., , Legal experts and academics laid emphasis on the need to develop a foolproof mechanism for the, delivery of impartial justice to women in need. They observed that easy access to the legal system, could allow women to safeguard their interests., Participating in a two-day national conference on „Women‟s Access to Justice through Legal Aid‟, organised by Central University of South Bihar (CUSB) and Bihar Legal Network, the experts, maintained that judiciaries would have to find innovative ways of handling cases of domestic, violence, rape, child custody, divorce, right to alimony and property., , New Patna airport not being shifted to Chapra, says Bihar govt, , , , The Bihar government on Friday clarified that the upcoming new Patna airport will be, constructed in Bihta and there is no plan to shift it to Chapra in Saran district., , , , Water Resources Development Minister Sanjay Jha said that the state government has handed, over the required 4,905 acre land to Airport Authority of India (AAI)., , , , Besides Bihta, the Bihar government has also earmarked 50 acres for Purnea airport, 121 acres, for the expansion of Raxaul airport and 75 acres for Muzaffarpur airport. It is also providing 78, acres for the expansion of Darbhanga airport, where the AAI will construct a new civil enclave, terminal building, cargo, multi level parking and fire station., , Patna’s first double-decker flyover will be completed in 3 years: CM, , 4., , , , Bihar CM Nitish Kumar laid foundation stones for a Rs 422 crore double decker flyover from, Kargil Chowk (Gandhi Maidan) to Science College via Patna Medical College Hospital (PMCH), on the historic Ashok Rajpath in Patna., , , , It will be the first double-decker flyover in the state capital and the second in Bihar., Bihar‟s first double decker flyover (total length 3.5 KM), which is coincidentally India‟s longest, double decker flyover, is coming up in Saran district‟s Chapra town., , 5., , Nitish: Identify places for installation of solar lights, , , , Chief minister (CM) Nitish Kumar asked the panchayati raj department (PRD) to make a, foolproof, plan, for, the, installation, of, solar, lights, across, the, state., He also directed the officials concerned to initiate the process of opening a manufacturing unit for, the production of solar plates and other accessories.

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MEDHA IAS, , 7., , While watching a virtual presentation on the status of the Mukhyamantri Gramin Solar Street, Light Scheme, the CM said a detailed survey should be done to identify all the places where solar, lights can be installed., , No need of too much debates on issues like price rise in this difficult phase of, Covid-19, says Nitish Kumar, , , , Bihar CM Nitish Kumar said since the country is passing through difficult times due to the, prolonged covid-19 pandemic, the prices of certain commodities would increase and different, types of hurdles might come up, but there should not be unnecessary and too much debates on, issues like price rise and increase in the rate of unemployment., , , , On being asked whether he would suggest the Centre to take a step to provide certain relief to the, common people in the wake of recent increase in the rate of unemployment and frequent rise in, the prices of petroleum products, Nitish said the country has been facing Covid-19 pandemic for, the last one and a half years. There have been hurdles on several things after the start of the, pandemic. Naturally, it has put adverse effect on the country‟s economic situation., , 9., , Govt to help farmers who could not plant crops: Nitish Kumar, , , , State farmers who could not plant their crop(s) due to flood would also be provided financial, assistance from the state government., , , , CM Nitish Kumar asked all the district magistrates (DMs) and the agriculture, department officials to consider „non-planting of crops due to flood‟ as the „case of crop loss‟ and, provide adequate assistance to such farmers., , , , Nitish asked the officials of disaster management department (DMD), agriculture department and, the DMs to do proper panchayat-wise assessment of crop losses in the next three to four days, so, that all affected farmers could be provided financial assistance., , , , A population of 69.63 lakh in altogether 26 districts has so far been affected by flood in Bihar., The number of affected families is 16.60 lakh. All possible help is being provided to these, families,, , 10., , Bihar govt aims to vaccinate 1.25 crore people this month, , , , After administering record 36.56 lakh vaccine doses against Covid-19 in a week, the state has set, the target to vaccinate 1.25 crore eligible people by the end of this month., , , , The state is set to achieve the target of administering „6 crore doses to 6 crore people in six, months‟ by December-end. In the last two months, around 2.16 crore population have been, vaccinated and total 4.21 crore people in the state have received the jabs, , 11., , 12., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , Ormer Bihar assembly speaker Sadanand Singh passes away, , , , Former Bihar assembly speaker and veteran Congress leader Sadanand Singh died here on, Wednesday after prolonged illness, party sources said. He was 76., , , , , Singh breathed his last at a hospital here where he had been admitted for more than a month., An OBC leader in a party which has been associated mostly with the upper castes, he was chosen, for the speaker‟s chair by the party leadership in 2000 when it was seeking to reinvent itself by, projecting a pro-backward image in alliance with the RJD., , Land acquisition still a major hurdle for Patna metro rail project

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , Only 5% of overall work on Patna metro rail project has so far been completed in the state., Officials of the Patna Metro Rail Corporation (PMRC) have cited various reasons for slow pace, of work, including delay in land acquisition, non-availability of funds and the Covid-19, pandemic., , , , The construction work on the first phase of the project was initiated in September last year. The, 6.6-km long elevated metro line (priority corridor) will have five stations from Malahi Pakri to, Patliputra ISBT via Khemni Chak and Zero Mile. It also includes a viaduct leading to the ISBT, metro rail depot, as well as a small rake-interchange viaduct at Khemni Chak to connect Corridor, I., , , , The Corridor I will be 17.9-km-long from Danapur to Khemnichack via Meethapur – 7.3km, elevated and 10.5km underground., , ‘Fortified food on midday meal platter in Bihar soon’, , 14., , , , The state where proper nutrition has always been an issue has found a solution to it in the form of, fortified grains. Atal Incubation Centre, run by Bihar Vidyapeeth, has come up with this, solution. Bihar Vidyapeeth president Vijoy Prakash said many such innovative experiments were, being done by the institution for the benefit of people of the state., , , , According to experts, fortifying means adding in nutrients that don‟t occur naturally in the food., Most refined grains are enriched and many enriched grains also are fortified with other vitamins, and minerals, such as folic acid and iron., , Cricket stadium in Bihar likely to be ready before March ’22, , 15., , , , Over 75% of the work on construction of the international cricket stadium-cum-sports academy in, Rajgir has been completed. If all goes well, it will be ready before the March 22, 2022 deadline, set by art, culture and youth minister, Alok Ranjan., , , , Spread over 90 acres of land, the state-of-the-art stadium at Pilkhi panchayat in Rajgir will, accommodate 45,000 people at a time. It will also have indoor and outdoor sports complexes and, facilities like a playground, research centre, latest equipment, fitness centre, library, and, motivation centre., , , , The CM had laid the foundation for the international cricket stadium-cum-sports academy in, 2018 and its implementing agency, Shapoorji Pallonji Group, was supposed to complete its, construction in 2020. However, the work was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic., , 16., , Centre allows Bihar to raise Rs 1,699 crore from market, , , , The department of expenditure (DoE) under the Union finance ministry has allowed the Bihar, government to raise Rs 1,699 crore through market borrowing, as it has met the target of, achieving 15% of the capital expenditure that had been earmarked for the first quarter of the, current fiscal. The amount will be incrementally increased during the remaining three quarters., , , , On account of this, the 11 states have been allowed, as an incentive, an opportunity to raise, Rs15,721 crore overall through market borrowing from financial institutions. The money so, raised will be spent as capital expenditure for the creation of assets like bridges, hospitals and, other infrastructural entities, as well as to meet the costs of loan repayment and other such, expenditures.

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MEDHA IAS, , , This has been done after the first review of the capital expenditures made by the respective state, governments. Subsequently, the reviews will be made in December to assess the capital, expenditure made till September, followed by that in March next year, and finally in June., , , , The Centre allows the states to raise money from the open market, but the cap on the total amount, that can be raised in a financial year is 4% of the Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP)., , , , During the 2021-22 budget presented in the state assembly on February 22, the estimated GSDP, was put at over Rs7.57 lakh crore. The estimated outlay for capital expenditure for the creation of, assets and loan repayment was Rs41,231 crore, including Rs30,786 crore for expenditure on the, creation of productive assets, sources said., , , , Bihar and the states concerned will be allowed to raise money in an incremental manner over the, current fiscal in consonance with the achievement made in the subsequent quarters., , 17., , Sports University in Bihar by April next year, says minister, , , , State art, culture and youth affairs minister Alok Ranjan Jha said the government was committed, to establishing a sports university in Bihar by April next year. The minister made the statement, while addressing an event organised by the Bihar Industries Association (BIA)., , , , The government is making all efforts to establish a sports university in Bihar by April next year, in order to promote all types of sports. Steps will also be taken for more facilities at Patliputra, Sports Complex in Patna and other stadiums elsewhere in the state., , , , The BIA acts as a bridge between the government and youth and this scheme covers training in, tally, computer and basics of accounting., , Bihta ESIC hospital gets Centre’s nod to start medical college, , 18., , , , The Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, headed by Bhupender Yadav, gave a nod to the, Bihta ESIC hospital to start its own medical college., , , , Once made functional, ESIC will be the 18th medical college and hospital in Bihar, including six, private ones. During the first and second waves of the pandemic, it was made a dedicated Covid, hospital., , 19., , 21., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , NCRB report: Bihar tops in ATM fraud, attacks on cops, , , , Bihar was at the top in ATM fraud, property dispute and attacks on police categories in the, „Crime in India-2020‟ report released by the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB)., , , , Bihar also held a top position in rioting and communal/religious riots with 9,422 and 117 cases,, respectively. As many as 1,286 riots related to agrarian, 234 money dispute and 42 studentrelated riots were recorded last year., , , , The state witnessed 2,619 cases of crimes against women and stood second after Uttar Pradesh, (UP) with 3,077 cases in this category., , , , There was, however, a slight decline of 4.3% in criminal cases in the state under the Indian Penal, Code (IPC) or under the Special and Local Laws (SLL) in 2020, when 2,57,512 crimes were, registered against 2,69,109 in 2019. However, the murder cases saw an increase of 0.4% with, 3,150 incidents reported in 2020 against 3,138 in 2019. Bihar was second after UP in murder, cases., , Family planning day on 21st of every month in Bihar

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The state government has decided to celebrate „Family Planning Day‟ on 21st of every month, from September 21, health minister Mangal Pandey said. The move is to create awareness about, family planning at the community level. Various activities will be organised on this day at all the, health units to promote fertility awareness based methods and contraception., , , , “Under this initiative, cases of unwanted pregnancies, maternal mortality, neonatal mortality and, complications related to child birth can be reduced. With awareness and acceptance of family, planning among the people, the health workers will be able to reduce the number of unsafe, abortions in the state. Special attention will be given to target groups like women who have been, identified as having a high-risk pregnancy and newly married couples,” Pandey said., , , , To ensure the successful implementation of the Family Planning Day, preparations have been, completed in the districts. Similarly, under the Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan,, arrangements for counselling of pregnant women will be ensured at all health facilities on the 9th, of every month. The women and their families coming for ANC (antenatal care) check-ups will, be made aware of the family planning-related measures,” the minister said., ASHAs and Jeevika didis would have an important role in implementing this initiative as they, will do the line listing of women of rural and urban areas., , 22., , Only six out of 83 Patna smart city projects completed in 4 years, , , , Four years since its selection under the Smart Cities Mission (SCM) by the Centre, only 20%, funds have been utilised and six out of the 83 projects could be completed under the Patna Smart, City Limited (PSCL)., , , , The city is entitled to get Rs1,000 crore over a period of five years from the Centre as well as the, state government as its share for the redevelopment of selected areas with smart civic facilities., The Centre, however, has given two years‟ extension for completion of the projects., , , , The six completed projects include a mega screen (75x42ft) installed at Gandhi Maidan at the, cost of around Rs7 crore, rejuvenation of Adalatganj pond, remodelling of 1.25-km-long, Beerchand Patel Path, wall art or painting for social awareness, integrated solid waste, management system and integrated control and command centre (ICCC)., , , , According to PSCL officials, work would begin soon on more projects as many of them were in, the final stages of the bidding process. The bidding has been issued for almost 40 projects while, 31 are on work order stage., , 23., , Blueprint ready to create export hub in every district: Bihar minister, , , , The state government has prepared a blueprint for creating export hub in every district with the, aim to export district-specific products to 75 countries, state industries minister Shahnawaz, Hussain said., , , , The exhibition was organized by the Union commerce ministry under the guidance of its, additional secretary Amrit Lal Meena on the Adhiveshan Bhavan premises. Among the, participants were entrepreneurs, representatives of business and industrial organisations,, exporters and importers, manufacturers and traders., , , , Hussain said Bihar will also contribute to the Centre‟s „Make in India for the world export‟, project that has put the export target of US$400 billion. Some products from the state were being, already exported, but the present aim of the state government is to increase the volume of export, by accessing the market potential in 75 countries.

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MEDHA IAS, , 24., , Highlighting the emerging industrial scenario in the state, Hussain said the industries department, has cleared proposals worth Rs35,019 crore, while the companies interested in ethanol production, have proposed to produce 187 crore litres of it for supply., , FSSAI report: Bihar ranks lowest in ensuring food safety, , , , Bihar ranked the lowest among the large states in ensuring food safety in 2020-21, according to, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) report released by the Union Ministry of, Health and Family Welfare. The overall score of the state was 35 whereas Gujarat topped with 75, points., , , , The third edition of the State Food Safety Index ranked the states on five parameters of food, safety, which included human resources and institutional data (20% weightage), compliance, (30%), food testing facility (20%), training and capacity building (10%) and consumer, empowerment (20%). The ranking is an effort of the Union government to galvanize the states to, work towards ensuring safe food for citizens., , , , The state has secured only 5 points each in human resources and institutional data and food, testing facility, 2 in training and capacity building, 11 in compliance and 12 in consumer, empowerment. The separate teams of experts for food testing and food & nutrition professionals,, in addition to FSSAI officials, conducted the assessment and evaluation in each category. The, teams examined the details received and also interacted with the states/UTs through web, meetings., , 25., , Govt to develop Sonnagar-New Andal stretch of Eastern Freight Corridor on, PPP in 1st phase, , , , The government has decided to take up the development of the Sonnagar (Bihar) and New, Andal (West Bengal) stretch of Eastern Dedicated Freight Corridor (EDFC) in the first phase, rather than laying the rail corridor up to Dankuni., , , , Sources in the DFCCIL, which is implementing the project, said they have about 95% of land, available with them for the 374 km stretch between Sonnagar and New Andal and hence it can be, bid out quickly. For the remaining stretch, they have hardly 55% land under their possession., , , , The private player will be responsible for design, finance (for 75% of project cost), build,, operation and maintenance for the contract period and then will transfer the project to the, DFCCIL., , 26., , 28., , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar reiterates demand for caste census, says, this is in national interest, , , , Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar reiterated his demand for a caste census, saying it is in, national interest and will facilitate development of the communities lagging in development., , , , Asked about the Centre‟s affidavit in the Supreme Court that virtually ruled out census on the, caste lines, he told reporters that it was “absolutely not correct” but added that the matter was not, directly related to the issue of caste census., , , , In the national capital to attend home minister Amit Shah‟s meeting with the chief ministers of, naxal-affected states, the JD(U) leader also rejected arguments against caste census and asserted, that the demand for it has been coming from not only Bihar but many states., , EC introduces biometric system to stop bogus voting in Bihar elections

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MEDHA IAS, , BIHAR CURRENT AFFAIRS, , , , The Election Commission has introduced biometric system for the first time in the ongoing, panchayat election to check bogus voting in the state., , , , State panchayati raj minister, Samrat Choudhary, said the biometric technology was used during, the first phase of the panchayat election., , , , Advocating the system, the minister said it was the best method to stop bogus voting in elections., , 29., , Bihar govt gets cold chain equipment to fight Covid, , , , In a symbolic handover, the state government on Monday received the first tranche of the cold, chain equipment (CCE) procured by UNICEF as part of the Government of Japan assistance to, the Covid-19 vaccination drive across India. The first tranche comprises around 20,000 vaccine, carriers., , , , Health minister Mangal Pandey received these vaccine carriers from UNICEF India deputy, representative Yasumasa Kimura. “The state government is committed to fighting Covid-19 and, making all efforts to meet the target of six crore vaccination in six months. The CCE will, augment the state‟s vaccination capacity,” Pandey said., , , , Bihar government will receive one lakh freeze-free vaccine carriers, two walk-in coolers, three, walk-in freezers, 20 cold chain equipment repair and maintenance toolkits and 2100 freeze tags (a, vaccine-freeze prevention monitoring device) as part of the overall US$9.3 million assistance, announced by the Government of Japan to support India‟s response to Covid pandemic., , 30., , Gujarat, Bihar, Ladakh head to become carbon neutral, , , , Progressive climate actions being undertaken by many Indian states as they strategically shift, towards increased use of renewable energy., , , , This came to light on Friday at a discussion organised by The Climate Group on the sidelines of, the annual New York Climate Week, and at a time when the UN calls for no further build of coal, across the world and countries, companies, states and regions world over are committing to, bringing down emissions to net zero by mid century., , , , , The plans of states are well placed to achieve long-term energy transition and net zero targets., , , , New analysis from GERMI shows that the share of coal power generation in the state will come, down to 16 per cent by 2030, from the current 63 per cent as it aligns with the 450GW revised, national renewable energy target., , , , The state is also setting up the world‟s largest grid-scale battery storage in the Kutch region and is, one of India‟s largest markets for electric two-wheelers., , , , The analysis shows that not only will Gujarat not need to build any further thermal coal assets,, but it will also have to consider retirement of plants which are either old or polluting., , , , Developing a retirement package for these coal plants will hold the key. This will make economic, sense given that the cost of renewable energy is less than new coal power., , , , , Electricity sector in India contributes to 40 per cent of emissions., , For instance, Gujarat is on the path to significantly reducing emissions as they choose to rely on, renewable energy alone to meet all future power needs., , Ladakh is working towards an enormous 10 GW of renewable energy capacity with solar and, wind power, and it is setting up a 50MWh battery storage capacity –India‟s largest so far.