Welcome to the Ujiyari Bihar Current Affairs notes for 8 September 2026, prepared for the BPSC Combined Competitive Examination and other Bihar government examinations. The Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur crossed its all-time Highest Flood Level on the morning of 8 September, taking the state’s tally to 34.31 lakh people affected across 480 gram panchayats in 13 districts. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on 7 September inspected flood relief operations at Hajipur in Vaishali and Sonpur in Saran, ate at a community kitchen and handed over Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia cheques to families of those who drowned. A small boat carrying 10 people capsized at Kharik Raghopur in Bhagalpur on 8 September morning; all were rescued by the SDRF. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency held its East Region Influencers’ Conclave 2026 at Patna as a precursor to Energy Conservation Day. The Kosi and its tributaries continue above danger levels. Each item carries a Prelims fact set and a Mains angle, followed by five practice MCQs.

1. Ganga at Sultanganj Crosses All-Time HFL; 34.31 Lakh Affected Across 13 Districts

Why in News: At 8 a.m. on 8 September 2026, the Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district stood at 36.80 metres, crossing the site’s previous Highest Flood Level of 36.75 metres, a historic mark recorded on 17 August 2021. The trend was described as stable. This follows the earlier record at Gandhi Ghat, Patna on 5 September 2026, where the Ganga had touched 50.53 metres against a previous HFL of 50.52 metres of 21 August 2016.

The scale, as recorded. The State Disaster Management Department bulletin put the affected population at 34.31 lakh across 480 gram panchayats in 13 districts. The districts named in reporting include Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Bhagalpur, Begusarai, Buxar, Samastipur, Munger, Katihar, Araria and Khagaria. That was up from about 29.13 lakh the previous day.

The rivers running above danger. The Gandak, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, Ganga, Punpun, Bagmati and Ghaghra were flowing above their danger marks at multiple locations.

The deployment. 27 SDRF and 10 NDRF teams were on the ground, with 1,832 boats operational, 432 community kitchens running, 14 relief camps in place, 1.29 lakh polythene sheets distributed and 22,900 dry ration packets issued.

Why Sultanganj matters, in the terms BPSC asks. Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district sits on the south bank of the Ganga and is best known for the temple-topped Ajgaibinath rock, from which Kanwariyas draw Ganga water for the annual Shravani Mela and carry it to the Baba Baidyanath temple at Deoghar (Jharkhand), about 105 km away. It is also the source of the famous Sultanganj Buddha, a copper alloy image of about the sixth to seventh century CE, from the Gupta to Pala transition, now in the Birmingham Museum, United Kingdom, discovered during the building of the East Indian Railway in 1861.

Why floods run this way in Bihar. Bihar is India’s most flood-prone state. North Bihar rivers rise in Nepal and the Himalaya, so the rain that produces the flood usually falls outside the state; they carry very heavy sediment loads that raise their beds and make them prone to avulsion on the flat plain, which is why the Kosi is called the Sorrow of Bihar. South Bihar rivers rise in the Chhotanagpur plateau. The Ganga running west to east across the state acts as the base level for every tributary, so a high Ganga backs water up into the tributaries and prevents them draining, which is the mechanism producing the present distress.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: The Ganga at Sultanganj, Bhagalpur touched 36.80 m on 8 September 2026, crossing the previous HFL of 36.75 m of 17 August 2021.
  • Prelims: The Ganga at Gandhi Ghat, Patna had touched 50.53 m on 5 September 2026, crossing the previous HFL of 50.52 m of 21 August 2016.
  • Prelims: 34.31 lakh people across 480 gram panchayats in 13 districts were affected; deployment stood at 27 SDRF + 10 NDRF teams with 1,832 boats.
  • Prelims: Sultanganj is famous for the Ajgaibinath rock temple and is the origin point of the Shravani Mela Kanwar route to Baba Baidyanath, Deoghar (about 105 km).
  • Prelims: The Sultanganj Buddha, a copper alloy image of about the sixth to seventh century CE, was discovered during construction of the East Indian Railway in 1861 and is now in the Birmingham Museum, UK.
  • Prelims: The Kosi is the Sorrow of Bihar; the Kosi Agreement, 1954 and the Gandak Agreement, 1959 with Nepal govern the barrage projects on those rivers.
  • Mains: Structural versus non-structural flood management, backwater flooding as a mechanism, and the transboundary dimension of a river system whose catchment lies largely in Nepal (GS1 geography, GS3 disaster management).

Source: Deccan Chronicle and Business Today

2. CM Samrat Choudhary Inspects Relief at Hajipur and Sonpur; Rs 4 Lakh Ex-Gratia

Why in News: On 7 September 2026, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected flood relief camps in Hajipur (Vaishali district) and Sonpur (Saran district), taking stock of the community kitchen, food distribution counter and registration-cum-control room at the camp near the old toll plaza in Hajipur and inspecting the anganwadi centre and educational camp on the site. He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, local MLAs, the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police.

What he handed over. The Chief Minister distributed ex-gratia cheques of Rs 4 lakh each to families of about six persons who had drowned in the flood waters, and shared a meal with those in the camp after checking the quality of the food.

The water level trend during the visit. The Ganga level was recorded as receding by 17 to 18 centimetres, indicating that the Patna stretch had begun to fall off its 5 September peak, even as the Sultanganj crest was still building downstream.

Where relief authority sits in Bihar. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) is chaired by the Chief Minister, and each district has a District Disaster Management Authority chaired by the District Magistrate. Ex-gratia rates for deaths, injuries and house damage in a state-declared disaster follow the norms of the State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs and revised at each Finance Commission cycle.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary inspected flood relief operations at Hajipur (Vaishali) and Sonpur (Saran) on 7 September 2026.
  • Prelims: The state provided Rs 4 lakh ex-gratia to families of those who drowned; six such cases were named in reporting from the visit.
  • Prelims: The State Disaster Management Authority (BSDMA) is chaired by the Chief Minister under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
  • Prelims: Hajipur is the headquarters of Vaishali district; Sonpur in Saran district is famous for the Sonepur Mela, one of Asia’s largest cattle fairs, held annually on Kartik Purnima.
  • Prelims: The State Disaster Response Fund (SDRF) operates under the Ministry of Home Affairs norms and is separate from the National Disaster Response Fund (NDRF).
  • Mains: Chief Minister-led camp inspections as a mode of executive accountability during a rolling disaster, and the sufficiency of SDRF ex-gratia rates for a state with recurring floods (GS2 governance, GS3 disaster management).

Source: ANI News and Punjab Kesari

3. Boat Capsize at Kharik Raghopur, Bhagalpur; All 10 Rescued by SDRF

Why in News: On the morning of 8 September 2026, a small boat capsized in a flood-hit area of Kharik Raghopur in Bhagalpur district. Personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) rescued all 10 people aboard.

What the incident says about flood-country boat practice. In north and eastern Bihar, boats remain the only practical link between diara villages, embankment-side settlements and the main road during a flood. Overloading, ageing timber and the absence of a life-jacket regime combine into a recurring risk profile. The State Disaster Management Authority guidelines require passenger caps, licensed boatmen and life jackets during flood, but enforcement in remote diara villages is thin.

The lesson in the near-miss. All ten were rescued because an SDRF team was already deployed at Kharik Raghopur under the enhanced flood posture ordered by the Chief Minister on 5 September. The incident is an unusually clean illustration of what a pre-positioned response force buys in flood-country: the difference between a rescue and a mass casualty.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) is a state-level force raised under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and functions under the state government; the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • Prelims: A diara is a floodplain island or low-lying stretch of the Ganga and its tributaries, typically cultivated in the dry season and evacuated in the flood.
  • Prelims: Bihar’s principal riverine districts include Patna, Bhojpur, Saran, Vaishali, Samastipur, Begusarai, Munger, Bhagalpur, Katihar and Khagaria.
  • Prelims: The NDRF is headquartered at New Delhi, with its Bihar-serving battalion at the 9th Battalion NDRF, Patna.
  • Mains: Pre-positioning response forces before the peak of a slow-onset disaster, and the case for a statutory life-jacket and passenger-cap regime for country boats during declared flood periods (GS3 disaster management).

Source: Deccan Chronicle

4. BEE Holds East Region Influencers’ Conclave 2026 at Patna

Why in News: On 8 September 2026, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the Ministry of Power, held its Influencers’ Conclave 2026 - East Region at Hotel Maurya, Patna, bringing together digital creators and influencers to strengthen public conversations around energy efficiency, conservation and sustainable living. The conclave was held as a precursor to the 36th National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2026, scheduled for 14 December on Energy Conservation Day.

Where BEE sits in the energy governance chain. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was established under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, and functions under the Ministry of Power. Its principal instruments are the Standards and Labelling programme (the star ratings on air conditioners, refrigerators and geysers), the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme for industry, the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and, following the 2022 amendment, the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).

Why the conclave is being held in Patna. Eastern India, and Bihar specifically, has a lower per-capita electricity consumption than the national average and a higher share of low-efficiency appliances in the residential sector. BEE’s outreach model shifts from paid advertising to trusted local creators speaking in Hindi and Bhojpuri, on the theory that appliance-choice behaviour changes fastest when the advice comes from a familiar voice.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) was established under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001, under the Ministry of Power.
  • Prelims: The 36th National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2026 is scheduled for 14 December, observed as Energy Conservation Day.
  • Prelims: BEE’s principal programmes include Standards and Labelling, Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT), Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS).
  • Prelims: Bihar’s per-capita electricity consumption is significantly below the national average, though it has risen sharply since the launch of universal metering.
  • Prelims: The Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022 empowered the central government to specify carbon markets.
  • Mains: Behavioural interventions for household energy efficiency, and the role of state discom-driven appliance-exchange programmes in a low-consumption state (GS3 energy, environment).

Source: The Tribune

5. Central Water Commission Flood Watch: Multiple Rivers Above Danger

Why in News: The Central Water Commission (CWC) flood advisories through 7 and 8 September 2026 placed the Gandak, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, Ganga, Punpun, Bagmati and Ghaghra above their danger marks at multiple locations, with the Ganga stretch from Buxar to Bhagalpur on continuous watch under Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary’s direction of 5 September.

How CWC’s warning system works. The Central Water Commission, under the Ministry of Jal Shakti, operates a national flood forecasting network of 360 stations, 201 level-forecast and 159 inflow-forecast, that issue level and inflow forecasts up to 24 to 48 hours in advance. Each station has a defined warning level, danger level and Highest Flood Level (HFL). When a station crosses the danger level, an orange bulletin is issued; when it crosses the HFL, a red bulletin.

Correction, 10 September 2026. An earlier version of this page gave the CWC network as 325 stations (197 level-forecast and 128 inflow-forecast). That is wrong on both counts. The network is 360 stations, 201 level-forecast and 159 inflow-forecast; 197 is the number of low-lying areas and towns the forecasts serve and 128 the number of reservoirs receiving inflow forecasts. Learn the four numbers separately.

What crossed HFL on this cycle. In Bihar, Gandhi Ghat, Patna crossed its HFL on 5 September, and Sultanganj, Bhagalpur on 8 September. On the Punpun, the level was well above danger at multiple locations along its lower stretch upstream of its confluence with the Ganga near Fatuha, Patna.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: The Central Water Commission (CWC) functions under the Ministry of Jal Shakti and operates India’s national flood forecasting network from 360 stations, 201 level-forecast and 159 inflow-forecast. Do not confuse these with the 197 low-lying towns covered and the 128 reservoirs that receive inflow forecasts, which are a different count.
  • Prelims: Rivers above danger at multiple locations in Bihar as of 7-8 September 2026: Gandak, Kosi, Burhi Gandak, Ganga, Punpun, Bagmati and Ghaghra.
  • Prelims: The Punpun joins the Ganga near Fatuha downstream of Patna; the Sone joins the Ganga near Maner; the Gandak joins near Hajipur.
  • Prelims: The Kosi enters India at Bhimnagar in Supaul district; the Kosi Barrage that regulates it stands at Hanumannagar on the Nepal side of the border. It joins the Ganga near Kursela in Katihar district.
  • Prelims: The Ghaghra joins the Ganga near Chhapra; the Sone rises at Amarkantak in Madhya Pradesh.
  • Mains: Modernisation of the CWC flood forecasting system with satellite-based inflow modelling, and its use for embankment-district communication and evacuation planning (GS3 disaster management, water resources).

Source: Central Water Commission bulletins, September 2026 and The Week

Practice MCQs

1. On 8 September 2026, the Ganga in Bihar crossed its all-time Highest Flood Level at which location, and what was the water level recorded?

a) Gandhi Ghat, Patna at 50.53 metres b) Sultanganj, Bhagalpur at 36.80 metres c) Digha Ghat, Patna at 51.20 metres d) Kahalgaon, Bhagalpur at 34.10 metres

Answer: b

Explanation: At 8 a.m. on 8 September 2026, the Ganga at Sultanganj in Bhagalpur district stood at 36.80 metres, crossing the site’s previous Highest Flood Level of 36.75 metres, a historic mark recorded on 17 August 2021. The Ganga at Gandhi Ghat, Patna had earlier touched 50.53 metres on 5 September 2026, crossing that station’s HFL of 50.52 metres of 21 August 2016, so option (a) is factually correct but relates to 5 September rather than 8 September. Sultanganj is famous for the Ajgaibinath rock temple, the starting point of the Shravani Mela Kanwar route to Baba Baidyanath at Deoghar in Jharkhand, and for the Sultanganj Buddha, a copper alloy image of about the sixth to seventh century CE now in the Birmingham Museum, discovered during the construction of the East Indian Railway in 1861. The Central Water Commission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti issues the flood advisories.

2. During his flood inspection of Hajipur and Sonpur on 7 September 2026, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary announced ex-gratia compensation for families of those who drowned in the flood waters. The amount was:

a) Rs 1 lakh per family b) Rs 2 lakh per family c) Rs 4 lakh per family d) Rs 5 lakh per family

Answer: c

Explanation: During his 7 September 2026 inspection of flood relief camps at Hajipur in Vaishali district and Sonpur in Saran district, Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary handed over ex-gratia cheques of Rs 4 lakh each to families of about six persons who had drowned in the flood waters. He also inspected the community kitchen and food distribution counter at the camp near the old toll plaza in Hajipur, shared a meal with those affected, and inspected the anganwadi centre and educational camp on the site. He was accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Vijay Kumar Chaudhary, local MLAs, the District Magistrate and the Superintendent of Police. The Ganga level was recorded as receding by 17 to 18 centimetres during the visit. Under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the State Disaster Management Authority is chaired by the Chief Minister and each District Disaster Management Authority by the District Magistrate.

3. Sonpur, where Bihar’s Chief Minister inspected flood relief camps on 7 September 2026, lies in which district and is best known for which annual event?

a) Vaishali district; the Rajgir Mahotsav on Buddha Purnima b) Muzaffarpur district; the Shahi Litchi Festival c) Patna district; the Chhath Puja at Ganga Ghats d) Saran district; the Sonepur Mela on Kartik Purnima

Answer: d

Explanation: Option (d) is correct. Sonpur lies in Saran district and is best known for the Sonepur Mela, one of Asia’s largest cattle fairs, held annually on Kartik Purnima at the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak rivers. It is also known for the Hariharnath temple. Hajipur, where the Chief Minister also inspected a relief camp on 7 September 2026, is the headquarters of Vaishali district. Rajgir in Nalanda district hosts the Rajgir Mahotsav in October, not on Buddha Purnima; Chhath Puja is observed across Bihar rather than being specific to any one district; and Muzaffarpur is known for its Shahi litchi. The ex-gratia payment of Rs 4 lakh per family to those who drowned in the current flood follows norms under the State Disaster Response Fund operated under the Ministry of Home Affairs.

4. In the boat-capsize incident at Kharik Raghopur in Bhagalpur on 8 September 2026, all 10 people aboard were rescued by which force?

a) The State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) b) The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) c) The Indian Coast Guard d) The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF)

Answer: a

Explanation: All 10 people on the small boat that capsized in a flood-hit stretch at Kharik Raghopur in Bhagalpur district on the morning of 8 September 2026 were rescued by personnel of the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF). The SDRF is a state-level force raised under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and functions under the state government, whereas the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) is under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, with its Bihar-serving battalion at the 9th Battalion NDRF, Patna. Across Bihar, 27 SDRF and 10 NDRF teams were deployed alongside 1,832 boats, 432 community kitchens and 14 relief camps to manage a flood that had affected 34.31 lakh people across 480 gram panchayats in 13 districts. The Central Water Commission under the Ministry of Jal Shakti issues the flood advisories from its national network of 360 forecast stations.

5. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency, which held its East Region Influencers’ Conclave 2026 at Patna on 8 September 2026, was established under which statute and functions under which Ministry?

a) The Electricity Act, 2003; Ministry of New and Renewable Energy b) The National Solar Mission, 2010; Ministry of Coal c) The Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change d) The Energy Conservation Act, 2001; Ministry of Power

Answer: d

Explanation: The Bureau of Energy Efficiency was established under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 and functions under the Ministry of Power. Its principal programmes include the Standards and Labelling scheme (star ratings on appliances), the Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) scheme for industry, the Energy Conservation Building Code (ECBC) and, following the Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022, the Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS). The East Region Influencers’ Conclave at Hotel Maurya, Patna on 8 September 2026 brought together digital creators and influencers as a precursor to the 36th National Energy Conservation Awards (NECA) 2026, scheduled for 14 December, which is observed as Energy Conservation Day. Eastern India, and Bihar specifically, has a lower per-capita electricity consumption than the national average and a higher share of low-efficiency household appliances, which is what the conclave-and-creator outreach model is designed to shift.