Pragyesh IAS · BPSC Current Affairs

24 August 2026 Current Affairs: BPSC Prelims + Mains

A structured revision dossier combining the supplied class transcript and newspaper cutouts on the Gorkha issue, Farakka Barrage, India–Mauritius fuel pact, Ebola, major Bihar development projects, and Bihar's sand-ghat initiative.

24 August 2026Prelims + MainsBihar Special6 Practice MCQs

How to use this page: The class transcript and the supplied newspaper cutouts have been consolidated topic-by-topic. Where both sources cover the same news, the facts are presented together; any additional detail that appears only in one source is retained as a separate supporting point. Memorize the highlighted facts and then attempt the MCQ.

Gorkha Issue: Permanent Political Solution

Important for both Prelims and Mains because it combines identity, autonomy, representation, development, geography and constitutional mechanisms.

Current development

Siliguri meeting, panel mandate and major demands

A Siliguri meeting discussed the Gorkha issue with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari, hill leaders and other regional stakeholders.
The Centre constituted a panel to prepare a report for a permanent political solution within the constitutional framework and submit its findings to the Union Government.
Former Deputy NSA Pankaj Kumar Singh, who had been appointed by the MHA as interlocutor for issues relating to the Darjeeling hills, Dooars and Terai in 2025, is identified as the panel head.
The demands discussed include a distinct Gorkha identity, constitutional recognition, a permanent political solution and Scheduled Tribe status for 11 Gorkha communities.
Adequate central funding for pending hill-region development issues was also assured in the supplied material.

Core issue

Why the demand persists

The issue is framed around four connected concerns: identity, autonomy, representation and development. The demand for a separate political unit is linked to recognition of Indian Gorkha identity, stronger local decision-making and a larger political voice for the hill region.

Geography

Areas discussed

Core hill areas: Darjeeling and Kalimpong.
Some groups also seek inclusion of Gorkha-populated areas in the Dooars and Terai belt.
The broader demand is presented as a larger Gorkhaland political unit.

Identity
Political recognition

Autonomy
Local decision-making

Representation
Hill voices in governance

Development
Jobs, roads & services

1907

The class discussion places the first formal written demand for a separate administrative arrangement in 1907, through a memorandum by a Darjeeling hill association to the Morley-Minto reform process.

1980s

The movement was revived under Subhash Ghisingh and the Gorkha National Liberation Front, leading to major agitation in the hill areas.

1988

The Darjeeling Gorkha Hill Council (DGHC) was created as an autonomous council arrangement.

2007

The Gorkha Janmukti Morcha revived the statehood movement.

2011–12

The Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) was created under the 2011 arrangement and became operational in 2012; the class discussion says it covers administrative, executive and financial matters across 59 subjects.

2025–26

Pankaj Kumar Singh was discussed as interlocutor in 2025 and later as head of the panel tasked with working toward a permanent political solution.

Prelims Revision

Panel headPankaj Kumar Singh

ST inclusionArticle 342 · President

New state formationArticle 3 · Parliament

Mains angle

Use the issue to discuss how identity-based aspirations interact with federalism, regional development, political representation and demands for meaningful local autonomy within the constitutional framework.

Farakka Barrage & India–Bangladesh Ganga Water Sharing

The issue matters for Bihar because upstream river processes, siltation, floods and lean-season water needs intersect with the broader Ganga water-sharing debate.

Current development

Bihar concerns during treaty renewal and river-project planning

Bihar Deputy CM Vijay Chaudhary is quoted as saying the Centre is serious about Bihar's concerns over the Farakka Barrage and renewal of the India-Bangladesh arrangement.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar is reported to have assured a review of Bihar's concerns when the treaty comes up for renewal at the end of 2026.
The discussion also covered proposed high dams on the Kosi and other rivers in Nepal, long-term flood management and additional central support for irrigation and flood-control works.
Bihar sought representation in the joint project office at Biratnagar dealing with water-resource matters.
The Kosi-Mechi project and other related water projects were also part of the discussion.

Barrage basics

Location, timeline and purpose

Located on the Ganga in Murshidabad, West Bengal.
Construction began in 1961, was completed in 1970, and proper operation began on 21 April 1975, as stated in the class.
A major purpose is to divert Ganga water through a feeder canal toward the Bhagirathi–Hooghly system to support navigability of Kolkata Port.

Bihar concerns

Three issues highlighted

Siltation: sediment deposition can raise the river bed in some stretches.
Flood and erosion risk: reduced carrying capacity can worsen flooding and river-bank erosion.
Lean-season needs: Bihar requires Ganga water for irrigation, drinking water, agriculture and industry.

Treaty Facts to Remember

Signed12 December 1996

Duration30 years

Lean-season sharing1 January to 31 May

Mains angle

Frame Bihar's position around basin-wide river management: siltation, flood control, dry-season water demand and the need for coordination among Bihar, the Union Government, Nepal-related upstream projects and downstream Bangladesh.

India–Mauritius Five-Year Fuel Supply Pact

A strategic energy partnership in the western Indian Ocean, with Indian Oil Corporation at the centre of the long-term fuel-supply arrangement.

Current development

IOC to meet Mauritius fuel import requirements

India and Mauritius entered a five-year fuel supply arrangement during Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri's 20–21 August 2026 visit to Mauritius.
Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) will supply the covered import requirement of petrol, high-speed diesel and aviation turbine fuel (ATF).
The long-term sales and purchase arrangement is designed to provide assured supplies and reduce exposure to fuel-price volatility.
The supplied material describes it as the first such long-term supply agreement by an Indian public-sector oil marketing company outside South Asia in recent years.
A separate government-to-government MoU expands cooperation in oil and gas, petroleum-product supplies, training, capacity building and biofuels.

Mauritius partner

Trading corporation named in the sources

The supplied materials use two renderings for Mauritius's trading partner: State Trading Corporation and “Street Trading Corporation”. Both wordings are retained here rather than silently replacing one with the other.

Strategic relevance

Energy security in the Indian Ocean

The pact strengthens India's role as an energy-security partner in the Indian Ocean region.
The class discussion links the agreement with maritime connectivity and India's wider strategic presence.
Assured long-term supply is presented as a way to reduce uncertainty created by international fuel-price volatility.

Infrastructure

Mer Rouge bunker-fuel storage facility

IOC is associated with a 27,500-tonne bunker-fuel storage facility at Mer Rouge, Mauritius, with an investment figure of US$25 million in the supplied material. Bunker fuel is described in the class as fuel used by ships.

Quick Facts

Mauritius capitalPort Louis

CurrencyMauritian Rupee

Pact duration5 years

Mains angle

Connect the pact with India's Indian Ocean outreach, dependable energy supply chains, maritime connectivity and the use of public-sector energy companies as instruments of strategic partnership.

Ebola Outbreak, Vaccine & Ring Vaccination

A science-and-health topic focused on the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Ebola vaccine, transmission and outbreak-control strategy.

Current development

Congo receives more than 16,000 Ebola vaccine doses

The Democratic Republic of the Congo is reported to have received more than 16,000 doses of an Ebola vaccine during a major outbreak.
The supplied newspaper material describes the country as grappling with the fastest Ebola outbreak in its history.
The supplied materials use the vaccine names “Ebovo”, rVSV-ZEBOV and ERVEBO. These source wordings are preserved without silently reconciling them.
The supplied report says the vaccine had been effective in past outbreaks and cites WHO as saying it may provide some protection against the Bundibugyo virus.

Disease basics

Ebola virus disease

A severe viral disease; the class places Ebola virus in the filovirus family.
Fruit bats are described as the likely natural reservoir.
Transmission is through direct contact with infected blood, body fluids, tissues and contaminated objects.
Symptoms discussed include fever, weakness, vomiting, diarrhoea and bleeding in severe cases.

Outbreak control

Ring vaccination and public-health response

The class explains ring vaccination as vaccinating contacts and contacts of contacts around a confirmed case to create a protective ring. Other measures discussed are isolation, contact tracing and safe burial practices.

Prelims Revision

Likely reservoirFruit bats

Vaccination strategyRing vaccination

Control measuresIsolation + contact tracing + safe burial

Bihar Projects: Kosi High Dam, River Links, Vikramshila & NIFTEM

A Bihar-special cluster covering flood control, irrigation, heritage-led education, tourism, food processing and central financial support.

Current development

High-level review of Bihar's pending projects

The supplied material reports a meeting of Bihar CM Samrat Choudhary with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
A DPR for the Kosi High Dam is expected soon as part of the search for a long-term solution to North Bihar's recurring flood problem.
For the Kosi-Mechi project, the material refers to funds for the first phase and technical approval for the second phase.
The Son-Falgu river link, Mahabodhi corridor and Vishnupad temple corridor are also listed among projects expected to move forward.
Additional central financial assistance and improved financial management were also discussed.

North Bihar

Kosi High Dam & Kosi–Mechi

The Kosi High Dam is presented as a long-term flood-control intervention for North Bihar.
The Kosi–Mechi scheme is explained as a river-linking project that would divert excess Kosi water toward the Mechi, a tributary of the Mahananda.
The class identifies Seemanchal districts such as Araria, Purnia and Kishanganj as beneficiaries.

South Bihar

Son–Falgu link & Gaya tourism

The Son–Falgu river-link proposal is associated with improving water availability and irrigation in southern Bihar.
Mahabodhi and Vishnupad corridor works were discussed as tourism and infrastructure boosters for Gaya.

Education & heritage

Vikramshila University

Bihar is stated to have provided about 219 acres for revival of Vikramshila University. The class links Vikramshila with Buddhist learning, especially the Vajrayana tradition, and with Pala ruler Dharmapala.

Food processing

NIFTEM at Hajipur

The proposed institute at Hajipur is presented as National Institute for Food Technology Entrepreneurship and Management. Bihar is said to have provided about 100 acres, with expected benefits for food processing, value addition, entrepreneurship and jobs.

Additional funding follow-up

SNA and SPARSH implementation

A separate financial-management follow-up says Bihar was asked to implement SNA and SPARSH arrangements by 30 September to facilitate further central fund flow.

Bihar Exam Map

North Bihar problemRecurring floods · Kosi High Dam

South Bihar problemWater stress · Son–Falgu link

SeemanchalKosi–Mechi river link

Bihar Sand Ghats: Scientific Survey, Auction & Digital Monitoring

The initiative is presented as a way to improve legal sand supply for infrastructure while reducing illegal mining, protecting sensitive areas and strengthening state revenue.

Current development

New ghats, fresh auctions and digital enforcement

The Mines & Geology Department has directed district-wise scientific identification of new sand-ghat sites; the supplied material says the exercise could add around 40–50 ghats.
The process includes field inspection, geo-survey, sand-reserve estimation and revision of the District Survey Report (DSR) before suitable sites move toward auction.
The supplied figures list 466 yellow-sand ghats and 541 white-sand ghats; 378 ghats had been auctioned and 78 surrendered ghats were being prepared for fresh auction.
The class also states that firms linked with surrendered ghats were blacklisted.
Sand ghats are expected to reopen after 15 October, with the policy aimed at improving legal supply, state revenue and employment opportunities.

District identifies potential site

Field inspection

Geo-survey & reserve estimate

DSR revision & auction approval

Safety safeguards

What should be excluded or assessed

Zones with risk to life and property.
Areas with severe river-bank erosion.
Distance from settlements and transport routes.
Water level and wider environmental impact.
The class also mentions local dust exposure and silicosis-related lung risk in the context of sand movement.

Digital enforcement

Monitoring tools

Geo-fencing of storage sites.
GPS monitoring of transport vehicles and mining activity.
Transparent mineral movement to curb illegal mining and illegal transport.

Key Numbers

Auctioned378 sand ghats

Surrendered78 ghats

DepartmentBihar Mines & Geology Department

Governance angle

The policy logic combines resource availability, infrastructure demand, environmental safeguards, transparent auctioning, technology-based enforcement and higher state revenue from legal mineral movement.

Source basis: Supplied class transcript for 24 August 2026 and the supplied newspaper cutouts. Overlapping news has been consolidated into one topic, while source-only supporting details are retained separately where needed. The page does not independently verify the factual claims in the supplied materials.