Pragyesh IAS • Daily Current Affairs

BPSC Daily Current Affairs — 25 August 2026

Bihar-focused current affairs for BPSC and State Civil Services: river rejuvenation, exam reform, heritage, space, digital justice, climate resilience and India’s shipbuilding push.

8 Important Topics 8 Interactive MCQs Prelims Revision Focus

Today’s Exam Focus

This edition combines Bihar-specific governance and heritage news with environment, space, justice-system and defence-manufacturing developments. The emphasis is on locations, institutions, dates, numerical facts, implementation mechanisms and common statement-based traps.

Revision method: read the key facts first, note the exam trap, then attempt the MCQ without looking back.

Environment • Bihar & Jharkhand

1. Falgu–Niranjana River Rejuvenation Plan

A Centre-backed plan aims to rejuvenate an approximately 300 km river stretch associated with the Falgu/Niranjana system, beginning around Chatra in Jharkhand and passing through Gaya before joining the Ganga.

Implementation

Necessary NOCs are to be taken from Bihar and Jharkhand.
NHAI is expected to undertake first-phase desilting of the river bed.
Excavated earth and silt may be used in highway construction.
IIT Roorkee is cited for an integrated rejuvenation plan.

Restoration Measures

Groundwater recharge and check dams.
Restoration of the traditional ahar-pyne water-management system.
Revival of dried water bodies and catchment afforestation.
Sewage treatment, green belts, erosion control and solid-waste management.

Problem
Dry and silty river bed; catchment degradation.

Action
Desilting + recharge + water-body restoration.

Outcome
Year-round water in key stretches, cleaner banks and improved ecology.

Cultural Significance

Gaya is presented as a major centre for Pind Daan and Tarpan during Pitru Paksha. Vishnupad Temple is closely linked with Falgu rituals, while Bodh Gaya gives the river corridor Buddhist significance.

Exam trap: The Gaya Ji structure near Vishnupad Temple is a rubber dam, not a concrete gravity dam.

Bihar Governance • Examination Reform

2. Bihar Examination Reform Expert Committee

Bihar is described as setting up a five-member judge-led expert committee to recommend reforms aimed at preventing paper leaks, impersonation, examination-centre manipulation and delays in the examination cycle.

5Members

3 monthsReport timeline

Full chainPaper setting to final result

AI + CCTVProposed monitoring tools

What the Committee Will Review

Secondary and higher-secondary examinations.
University examinations.
Entrance and eligibility tests.
Professional, technical, recruitment and competitive examinations.

Security & Timeline Measures

Biometric verification and CCTV surveillance.
Data analytics and AI-based monitoring.
Cyber-security audits.
Integrated examination calendar from advertisement to final result.

Core objective: restore public trust by making examinations more secure, transparent and time-bound, with accountability for irregularities.

Exam trap: The committee’s mandate is not limited to government recruitment examinations; it also includes school, university, entrance, eligibility, professional and technical examinations.

Bihar Heritage • Sasaram

3. Sher Shah Suri Tomb Faces Pollution and Erosion

The Sher Shah Suri tomb at Sasaram is described as facing deterioration because dirty residential and drainage discharge is entering the artificial lake surrounding the monument, affecting water quality, fish and the visitor experience.

Static Facts

Location: Sasaram, Rohtas district, Bihar.
A 16th-century mausoleum of Sher Shah Suri.
Approximately 122 feet high.
Built mainly of red sandstone in the middle of an artificial square lake.
Presented as an important monument of Sur-period architecture.

Current Problems

Residential drainage into inlet and outlet channels.
Historical drainage system becoming non-functional.
Stagnant polluted water and fish deaths.
Pollution-linked chemical erosion affecting the structure.

Response mentioned: a 2008 Patna High Court direction is noted for preservation and regular sanitation, and to a proposed permanent solution involving a pump station at the Beda canal, clean-water pipeline and contaminated-water outlet.

Exam trap: The monument is stated to be protected and maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), not the National Monuments Authority.

Ancient History • Bihar Heritage

4. Barabar Caves: Push for UNESCO World Heritage Status

Rajya Sabha MP Sudha Murty visited the Barabar Caves in Jehanabad, Bihar and advocated UNESCO World Heritage recognition for the site.

Why Barabar Matters

Among the earliest surviving rock-cut caves in India.
Closely associated with the Mauryan period.
Several caves are linked with Emperor Ashoka and his successor.
Some caves were dedicated to the Ajivika sect.

Important Caves & Features

Lomas Rishi Cave.
Sudama Cave.
Karan Chaupar Cave.
Visvakarma Cave.
Mirror-like Mauryan polish, acoustic/echo effects and fine craftsmanship.

Lomas Rishi Cave: highlighted for its distinctive chaitya-arch-shaped entrance.

Exam trap: The Barabar Caves are associated with the Mauryan period, not primarily with the Gupta period.

Science & Technology • Space

5. Bharatiya Antariksh Station Targeted for 2035

ISRO Chairman Dr. V. Narayanan stated that India aims to establish its indigenous space station, the Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS), by 2035.

23 AugNational Space Day

2035BAS target

GaganyaanHuman spaceflight programme

AhmedabadVenue mentioned for the 3rd celebration

National Space Day

Observed every year on 23 August.
Commemorates the Chandrayaan-3 landing.
The landing site is called Shiv Shakti Point.
The third National Space Day celebration was held in Ahmedabad.

India’s Space Progression

Early emphasis on space applications and satellites.
Gaganyaan as India’s first human spaceflight mission.
BAS as the proposed indigenous space station.
BAS is presented as building on capabilities developed through Gaganyaan.

Exam trap: BAS is not a replacement for Gaganyaan. Gaganyaan is the human-spaceflight programme; BAS is the proposed space station.

Bihar Governance • Digital Justice

6. Nyaya Shruti: Online Testimony and Virtual Court Appearance System

Bihar is described as introducing Nyaya Shruti after a successful trial. The system digitises testimony and court appearances so witnesses and other participants can appear virtually from authorised locations.

How It Works

Witnesses in India can testify from designated authorised locations.
Witnesses abroad may testify through designated Indian embassies or missions.
Prisoners may attend subsequent proceedings virtually from jail.
The system was reviewed under the Inter-Operable Criminal Justice System (ICJS).

Coverage Mentioned

Facilities planned across all 38 districts.
38 civil surgeon offices.
14 observation homes / places of safety.
Beneficiaries include citizens, police, doctors, forensic-lab experts, investigating officers and other witnesses.

Less travel
Reduced repeated physical court visits.

Fewer adjournments
Remote testimony can reduce delays caused by absent witnesses.

Security & cost
Less prisoner transport and lower administrative burden.

State nodal officer mentioned: Sudhanshu Kumar Choubey, also serving as a prosecution director.

Exam trap: Nyaya Shruti is not limited to police officers and government doctors; the beneficiary list is broader.

Bihar Environment • Climate Resilience

7. Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali Campaign: Major Achievements

The Bihar Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali campaign is presented as a major water-conservation, green-cover and climate-resilience programme launched on 2 October 2019, on Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.

5.5 lakh+Water structures developed / renovated / conserved

22.99 croreSaplings planted

11Components

15Departments involved

Key Achievements Mentioned

About 1.10 lakh public ponds, pokhars, ahars and pynes restored.
Public wells renovated.
Over 2.61 lakh soak pits constructed for groundwater recharge.
Public water structures freed from encroachment.

Administrative Facts

Launch: 2 October 2019.
Occasion: Mahatma Gandhi’s 150th birth anniversary.
Nodal department: Rural Development Department.
Campaign structure: 11 components involving 15 departments.

Focus areas: revival of traditional water bodies, removal of encroachment, renovation of public wells, soak pits, plantation, groundwater recharge and environmental balance.

Defence Manufacturing • Shipbuilding

8. India Has Potential to Become a Global Shipbuilding Hub

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said India is capable of becoming a global shipbuilding hub, arguing that India can use the opportunity created as traditional shipbuilding countries gradually reduce production.

5Expansion projects

₹3,500 crApprox. total project value

3 + 2GRSE + Yantra India facilities

₹2,500 cr+Raichak shipbuilding-hub investment

Why India Can Capture the Opportunity

Traditional shipbuilding manufacturers are described as gradually reducing production.
India has a large workforce and a strong steel-industry base.
The government stressed adaptation to new shipbuilding technologies.
The broader aim is to expand indigenous defence-manufacturing capability and employment.

Projects Announced in West Bengal

Foundation stones were laid for five projects worth nearly ₹3,500 crore.
They comprise three facilities of Garden Reach Shipbuilders & Engineers (GRSE) and two of Yantra India Ltd.
GRSE signed lease agreements with Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port, Kolkata (SMPK) for two small shipyards on either bank of the Hooghly.
A 32-acre riverside property at Raichak is also part of GRSE’s expansion plan.

Raichak
A shipbuilding hub is to be developed with investment of over ₹2,500 crore.

Ishapore
Two facilities at Yantra India’s Metal and Steel Factory involve a combined investment of over ₹750 crore.

Industrial impact
The projects are expected to support employment and opportunities for ancillary industries, especially MSMEs.

Prelims focus: remember the five-project split—3 GRSE + 2 Yantra India—and distinguish the ₹2,500 crore+ Raichak investment from the ₹750 crore+ combined investment at Ishapore.

Exam trap: The ₹750 crore+ figure relates to the two Yantra India facilities at Ishapore; the Raichak shipbuilding hub is planned with an investment of over ₹2,500 crore.