Bihar Current Affairs 24 July 2026

Welcome to the Ujiyari Bihar current affairs brief for 24 July 2026, prepared for BPSC Prelims and Mains aspirants. Today’s edition covers a science and sustainability partnership signed at Nalanda University, a new permanent skilling campus for women near Patna, the state’s freshly launched helicopter and air tourism scheme, the concluding stage of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls, and the digitisation of primary agricultural cooperatives in Bhagalpur. Each item carries a Background note, a Prelims plus Mains relevance box and a quick-revision fact table, followed by five practice MCQs.

1. CSIR and Nalanda University Sign MoU for Science-Led Sustainable Development

Why in News: The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) and Nalanda University signed a Memorandum of Understanding to promote science-led sustainable development, with a “CSIR Technology Gallery” to be set up on the university campus.

Background: The partnership focuses on deploying indigenous technologies for rural development, skill enhancement, model village development, solid waste management and water quality improvement. CSIR is an autonomous body registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, established in September 1942, with its headquarters in New Delhi. The Prime Minister of India serves as its ex-officio President. Nalanda University at Rajgir is a revived institution inspired by the ancient Nalanda Mahavihara, established through a dedicated Act of Parliament and supported by East Asia Summit nations. The tie-up aims to translate laboratory research into field-level environmental and livelihood outcomes across Bihar villages. It also strengthens scientific outreach and technology demonstration for students and local communities.

Bihar Relevance:

• Prelims: CSIR founding year (1942), parent statute (Societies Registration Act, 1860), ex-officio President (PM); Nalanda University located at Rajgir in Nalanda district.
• Mains: How science and technology institutions can drive sustainable rural development, waste management and water security in Bihar; role of academic-scientific partnerships in bridging research and grassroots delivery.

2. Permanent Campus of NSTI (Women) and Skill India International Centre in Patna Region

Why in News: Bihar Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary and Union Minister Jayant Chaudhary announced a permanent campus for the National Skill Training Institute for Women (NSTI-W) at Bihta, along with a Skill India International Centre (SIIC).

Background: The NSTI-Women permanent campus is being built at Bihta near Patna with an investment of about 99.97 crore rupees. It is designed to train roughly 435 women annually across 13 trades, adding new-age sectors such as Artificial Intelligence, drone technology and solar systems. The Skill India International Centre, funded with about 7 crore rupees of central support, will offer German, Japanese and French language training along with pre-departure orientation and safe-migration tracking. Together the two facilities target women’s employability and internationally benchmarked occupational standards. The initiative aligns Bihar’s skilling ecosystem with global placement opportunities and formal overseas mobility. It also complements the Skill India Mission and the National Education Policy focus on vocational readiness.

Bihar Relevance:

• Prelims: NSTI-W campus at Bihta, investment 99.97 crore rupees, 435 women per year across 13 trades; SIIC offers German, Japanese and French.
• Mains: Skilling of women as a driver of female labour force participation in Bihar; managing safe and legal international migration through structured pre-departure training.

3. Bihar Launches Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026

Why in News: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary launched the Bihar Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026 to improve connectivity to key religious, cultural and historical destinations across the state.

Background: The scheme was launched at the ‘Samvad’ Hall of the Chief Minister’s Secretariat in Patna. It provides subsidised helicopter and air services to make faster and more affordable travel available to domestic and international visitors. The programme links major pilgrimage and heritage circuits, including sites associated with Bihar’s Buddhist, Jain and Sikh heritage, with quicker air access. It builds on the state’s earlier flag-off of helicopter joyrides from Patna Airport and the inauguration of a state hangar. The scheme is expected to boost tourist footfall, generate local employment and support the hospitality sector. It positions air mobility as a tool for both tourism promotion and improved regional connectivity.

Bihar Relevance:

• Prelims: Scheme name (Bihar Heli-Tourism and Air Tourism Service Scheme 2026), launch venue (‘Samvad’ Hall, CM Secretariat, Patna), subsidised helicopter and air services.
• Mains: Role of niche tourism products in diversifying Bihar’s economy; leveraging the state’s Buddhist and heritage circuit for revenue and employment through better connectivity.

4. Special Intensive Revision of Electoral Rolls Nears Completion in Bihar

Why in News: The Election Commission of India reported that the enumeration stage of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls has concluded across all 243 Assembly constituencies of Bihar, with the draft roll to be published on 1 August 2026.

Background: The SIR is a house-to-house verification exercise conducted by the Election Commission to update and clean the electoral rolls ahead of the 2026 Bihar Assembly elections. Electors submitted enumeration forms to Booth Level Officers or through the online portal, and coverage crossed well over 99 percent of listed electors. The drive deployed District Election Officers, Electoral Registration Officers, Assistant Electoral Registration Officers and about 78,000 Booth Level Officers. Names of electors who filed forms will appear in the draft roll, after which a claims and objections window opens before the final roll. The exercise is administered under the Representation of the People Act framework and the ECI’s constitutional mandate under Article 324. The revision aims to remove duplicate, shifted and untraceable entries and ensure an accurate voter list.

Bihar Relevance:

• Prelims: SIR conducted across 243 Assembly constituencies; draft roll publication date (1 August 2026); Booth Level Officers as field agents; ECI’s constitutional basis (Article 324).
• Mains: Importance of accurate electoral rolls for free and fair elections; procedural safeguards and grievance-redress steps between draft and final roll.

5. Bhagalpur Drives Digitisation of Primary Agricultural Credit Societies

Why in News: Bhagalpur district reported progress in modernising its cooperative sector, with Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) transitioning to a cloud-based ERP system under the national cooperative computerisation programme.

Background: Bhagalpur has 788 registered cooperatives, of which 728 are fully operational. The Union Government allocated about 53.90 crore rupees to Bihar for digitising 4,495 PACS across the state. PACS are the grassroots-level credit institutions in the three-tier short-term cooperative credit structure, linked upward to District Central Cooperative Banks and State Cooperative Banks, and refinanced through NABARD. The digitisation moves record-keeping, loan processing and audits to a standardised cloud platform to improve transparency and speed. The effort is part of the “Sahakar-se-Samriddhi” vision, which promotes multipurpose PACS engaged in dairy, fishery and diversified agricultural activities. Strengthening PACS is seen as central to rural credit delivery and financial inclusion in Bihar.

Bihar Relevance:

• Prelims: PACS as the base of the three-tier cooperative credit structure; apex refinance agency (NABARD); central allocation of 53.90 crore rupees for digitising 4,495 PACS; “Sahakar-se-Samriddhi” vision.
• Mains: Role of cooperative computerisation in transparent rural credit; how multipurpose PACS can diversify farmer incomes in Bihar.

Practice MCQs

1. With which university did the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) sign an MoU for science-led sustainable development, including a CSIR Technology Gallery? A) Patna University B) Nalanda University C) Central University of South Bihar D) Aryabhatta Knowledge University

Answer: B) Nalanda University. CSIR and Nalanda University at Rajgir signed the MoU to set up a CSIR Technology Gallery and promote sustainable rural development.

2. Consider the following about CSIR:

1. It was established in September 1942.
2. It is registered under the Societies Registration Act, 1860.
3. The President of India is its ex-officio President. Which of the statements is/are correct? A) 1 and 2 only B) 2 and 3 only C) 1 and 3 only D) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A) 1 and 2 only. CSIR was set up in 1942 under the Societies Registration Act, 1860, but its ex-officio President is the Prime Minister, not the President of India.

3. The permanent campus of the National Skill Training Institute for Women (NSTI-W) announced with an investment of about 99.97 crore rupees is being set up at which location in Bihar? A) Rajgir B) Bihta C) Begusarai D) Muzaffarpur

Answer: B) Bihta. The NSTI-W permanent campus is coming up at Bihta near Patna, with capacity to train about 435 women annually across 13 trades.

4. The Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, whose draft roll was scheduled for publication on 1 August 2026, was conducted across how many Assembly constituencies? A) 200 B) 225 C) 243 D) 250

Answer: C) 243. The SIR covered all 243 Assembly constituencies of Bihar, with the draft roll to be published on 1 August 2026.

5. In the three-tier short-term cooperative credit structure, Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS) are refinanced ultimately through which apex institution? A) RBI B) SIDBI C) NABARD D) SEBI

Answer: C) NABARD. PACS link upward to District Central Cooperative Banks and State Cooperative Banks and are refinanced through NABARD.