Welcome to the Bihar Current Affairs edition for 07 July 2026, prepared for BPSC Prelims and Mains aspirants. Today’s roundup covers a new Down to Earth report that Bihar could host 9 to 12 data centres on its existing power surplus, the flood-like situation as the Kosi, Ganga and other rivers cross danger marks, the rollout of the Viksit Bharat rural employment guarantee replacing MGNREGA, the Bihar Cabinet’s new state-highway toll rules, and the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls that anchors the state’s election preparedness. Each item carries background, BPSC relevance and a Prelims fact table.
1. Bihar Could Host 9 to 12 Data Centres on Power Surplus, Says Report
Why in News: On 7 July 2026, a Down to Earth report cited a policy brief finding that Bihar’s surplus power and low tariffs could support 9 to 12 mid-sized data centres without adding new generation, positioning the state as a tier-two cloud hub.
Background: The brief, released by One Trillion Bihar in consultation with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and Energiva Ventures, notes that eastern India holds over a quarter of India’s population but less than 3 per cent of its data-centre capacity. A 200 MW ecosystem could draw about $4 billion in investment and around 51,500 jobs by 2035. It proposes a phased rollout of 50 MW by 2030, 200 MW by 2035 and 800 MW by 2047. Gaya is the preferred first location for its lower seismic risk, Patna is suitable with earthquake-resistant design, while Muzaffarpur is advised only for edge computing and disaster recovery due to higher seismic and flood risk. This connects to Bihar economy, digital infrastructure and its status as a power-surplus state.
BPSC Relevance: Prelims Bihar power surplus, data centres, Gaya, seismic zones. Mains GS3 infrastructure, IT economy and energy; GS1 industrial location factors.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Report | Down to Earth, 7 July 2026 |
| Finding | Bihar can host 9 to 12 mid-sized data centres |
| Basis | Existing power surplus, low tariffs |
| Policy brief by | One Trillion Bihar (with CII, Energiva Ventures) |
| 200 MW ecosystem | About $4 billion, 51,500 jobs by 2035 |
| Rollout | 50 MW (2030), 200 MW (2035), 800 MW (2047) |
| Preferred site | Gaya (lower seismic risk) |
2. Flood-Like Situation: Kosi, Ganga and Bagmati Cross Danger Marks
Why in News: In early July 2026, continuous rain triggered a flood-like situation in Bihar, with the Ganga, Kosi and Budhi Gandak flowing above the danger mark and record discharge from the Kosi’s Birpur Barrage.
Background: The Ganga crossed the danger line at Buxar, Gandhi Ghat in Patna, Hathidah and Kahalgaon, while in the Seemanchal region the Kosi and Mahananda flooded parts of Kishanganj, Araria and Katihar. In Sitamarhi, rivers including the Bagmati rose above danger levels. Record water discharge led authorities to open all 56 gates of the Birpur (Kosi) Barrage in Supaul, releasing more than 5.33 lakh cusecs, the highest this year. The Kosi, called the “Sorrow of Bihar” for shifting its course and causing chronic floods, originates in the Himalayas and drains north Bihar. This connects to Bihar geography, Himalayan rivers and disaster management.
BPSC Relevance: Prelims Kosi (Sorrow of Bihar), Birpur Barrage, Ganga danger points, Seemanchal. Mains GS1 Himalayan drainage and floods; GS3 flood management and river engineering.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rivers above danger | Ganga, Kosi, Budhi Gandak, Bagmati |
| Ganga danger points | Buxar, Gandhi Ghat (Patna), Hathidah, Kahalgaon |
| Seemanchal rivers | Kosi, Mahananda |
| Barrage | Birpur (Kosi) Barrage, Supaul |
| Gates opened | All 56 |
| Discharge | Over 5.33 lakh cusecs (highest this year) |
| Kosi nickname | Sorrow of Bihar |
3. Viksit Bharat Rural Employment Guarantee Rolls Out in Bihar
Why in News: From 1 July 2026, Bihar began implementing the Viksit Bharat - Guarantee for Rozgar and Aajeevika Mission (Gramin), or VB-G RAM G, a new rural employment law replacing MGNREGA after two decades.
Background: Approved by the Cabinet chaired by CM Samrat Choudhary, the scheme guarantees 125 days of employment a year for unskilled rural workers, up from 100 days under MGNREGA. Workers not given work within 15 days of applying qualify for an unemployment allowance, set at one-fourth of wages for the first 30 days and half of wages thereafter in the financial year. Funding is shared 60:40 between the Centre and the state, and Bihar is expected to contribute around Rs 4,500 crore towards wages. This connects to Bihar welfare governance, rural livelihoods and Centre-State fiscal relations.
BPSC Relevance: Prelims VB-G RAM G, 125-day guarantee, unemployment allowance, 60:40 funding. Mains GS2 rural welfare schemes and social security; GS3 rural economy and employment.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Scheme | VB-G RAM G (Viksit Bharat rural jobs) |
| Effective | 1 July 2026 in Bihar |
| Replaces | MGNREGA |
| Guaranteed days | 125 (up from 100) |
| Allowance trigger | No work within 15 days of applying |
| Funding | Centre 60, State 40 |
| Bihar wage share | About Rs 4,500 crore |
4. Bihar Cabinet Approves New State-Highway Toll Rules
Why in News: In early July 2026, the Bihar Cabinet, chaired by CM Samrat Choudhary, approved the Road User Fee (Determination and Collection of Rates) Rules, 2026, enabling FASTag-based toll collection on state highways.
Background: The new rules replace an outdated 1979 framework and set per-kilometre user-fee rates for different vehicle categories, formalising electronic toll collection on state-highway stretches maintained by the Bihar government. The move aims to fund road maintenance and upgrade Bihar’s highway network, complementing central-highway tolling already run through FASTag. The same Cabinet also cleared amendments to the Bihar State University Service Commission rules to broaden interview boards with professor-level experts. This connects to Bihar governance, infrastructure financing and administrative modernisation.
BPSC Relevance: Prelims Road User Fee Rules 2026, FASTag, state highways. Mains GS3 infrastructure financing; GS2 state governance and rule-making.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rules | Road User Fee Rules, 2026 |
| Approved by | Bihar Cabinet (CM Samrat Choudhary) |
| Purpose | FASTag toll on state highways |
| Replaces | 1979 framework |
| Basis | Per-kilometre rates by vehicle type |
| Also cleared | Bihar State University Service Commission amendments |
| Goal | Fund road maintenance and upgrades |
5. Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls Anchors Election Prep
Why in News: As Bihar heads toward its assembly polls, the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls remains central, having been upheld by the Supreme Court on 27 May 2026.
Background: The SIR, ordered by the Election Commission of India, was carried out in Bihar to include all eligible voters and remove ineligible ones ahead of the assembly elections. The Supreme Court held that adopting a different procedure from routine revisions does not make the exercise unconstitutional, finding it consistent with the Representation of the People Act and the ECI’s mandate under Article 324 to conduct free and fair elections. The finalised roll lists about 7.42 crore voters. This connects to Bihar polity, electoral administration and the constitutional role of the Election Commission.
BPSC Relevance: Prelims SIR, Election Commission of India, Article 324, Representation of the People Act. Mains GS2 electoral reforms, constitutional bodies and free-and-fair elections.
| Prelims Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Exercise | Special Intensive Revision (SIR) |
| Ordered by | Election Commission of India |
| SC verdict | Upheld on 27 May 2026 |
| Legal test | Consistent with Representation of the People Act |
| ECI mandate | Article 324 (free and fair elections) |
| Finalised voters | About 7.42 crore |
| Purpose | Add eligible, remove ineligible voters |
BPSC Practice MCQs
Q1. According to a Down to Earth report of 7 July 2026, Bihar could host 9 to 12 data centres mainly because of which advantage?
- (a) Coastal location
- (b) Existing power surplus and low tariffs
- (c) Highest per-capita income
- (d) Largest IT workforce in India
Answer: (b) The report attributes Bihar’s potential to host 9 to 12 mid-sized data centres to its power surplus and low tariffs, without adding new generation.
Q2. All 56 gates were opened at which barrage in Supaul during the July 2026 floods, releasing record discharge?
- (a) Farakka Barrage
- (b) Gandak Barrage
- (c) Birpur (Kosi) Barrage
- (d) Sone Barrage
Answer: (c) Record discharge led authorities to open all 56 gates of the Birpur (Kosi) Barrage, releasing over 5.33 lakh cusecs.
Q3. The VB-G RAM G scheme rolled out in Bihar from 1 July 2026 guarantees how many days of rural employment a year?
- (a) 90 days
- (b) 100 days
- (c) 120 days
- (d) 125 days
Answer: (d) The Viksit Bharat rural employment guarantee provides 125 days of work a year, up from 100 days under MGNREGA.
Q4. The Bihar Road User Fee Rules, 2026 approved by the Cabinet enable toll collection on state highways using which system?
- (a) Manual cash booths
- (b) FASTag
- (c) Prepaid smart cards only
- (d) Monthly passes only
Answer: (b) The new rules enable FASTag-based toll collection on state highways, replacing the outdated 1979 framework.
Q5. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar was upheld by the Supreme Court as consistent with which law?
- (a) Representation of the People Act
- (b) Citizenship Act
- (c) Aadhaar Act
- (d) Registration of Births and Deaths Act
Answer: (a) The Supreme Court, on 27 May 2026, upheld the SIR as consistent with the Representation of the People Act and the ECI’s Article 324 mandate.
