Welcome to the Ujiyari Bihar Current Affairs notes for 16 September 2026, prepared for the BPSC and other Bihar government examinations. The day is anchored by the Bihar Council of Ministers meeting of 15 September 2026, chaired by Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary in Patna, which cleared 17 proposals. The headline sanctions are Rs 2,520 crore for a Vishnupad Corridor at Gaya on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and Rs 996.05 crore for the Son-Falgu river link, together Rs 3,516.05 crore, alongside a new silt management policy. On the same day the state transferred Rs 579.23 crore of flood ex-gratia by Direct Benefit Transfer to 8,27,472 families, and on 16 September Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan toured the flood-hit districts with the Chief Minister. The fourth item covers the Cabinet’s other decisions, on medical colleges, regional air connectivity, agriculture schemes and flood funding. Each item carries a Prelims fact set and a Mains angle, followed by five practice MCQs.
1. Bihar Cabinet Approves Rs 2,520 Crore Vishnupad Corridor at Gaya on the Kashi Vishwanath Template
Why in News: The Bihar Council of Ministers on 15 September 2026 gave administrative approval of Rs 2,520 crore to develop the Vishnupad Temple precinct at Gaya on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor at Varanasi. The decision was briefed by the Additional Chief Secretary of the Cabinet Secretariat Department, Arvind Kumar Chaudhary.
The works. The corridor includes redevelopment of the temple complex, a multi-level car park, an elevated pathway, a ramp from the Mansarovar-Manpur bridge, ghat development, a dormitory and canteen for pilgrims, a foot bridge, and the construction of a Sita Kund.
About the temple. The Vishnupad Temple stands on the bank of the Phalgu at Gaya. The present structure was rebuilt in 1787 by Ahilyabai Holkar, the Maratha ruler of Indore. It is central to the Pind Daan rites performed at Gaya, especially during Pitripaksha.
Bihar Relevance:
- Prelims: Vishnupad Corridor outlay: Rs 2,520 crore; model: Kashi Vishwanath Corridor.
- Prelims: With the Son-Falgu river link (Rs 996.05 crore), the two approvals total Rs 3,516.05 crore.
- Prelims: Vishnupad Temple: on the Phalgu, Gaya; present structure rebuilt in 1787 by Ahilyabai Holkar.
- Prelims: 17 proposals cleared at the same meeting.
- Mains: Temple corridors on the Kashi Vishwanath and Mahakal Lok pattern can revive local economies through pilgrim spending, but they raise questions of heritage conservation in dense old towns, displacement of traders and residents, and the carrying capacity of a pilgrimage town during peak season (GS1 art and culture; GS3 tourism-led development).
2. Son-Falgu River Link Gets Rs 996.05 Crore; Cabinet Adopts the Water Resources Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026
Why in News: The 15 September 2026 Cabinet approved Rs 996.05 crore for the Son-Falgu river link scheme and adopted the Bihar Jalsrot Punarsthapan evam Gaad Prabandhan Niti, 2026 (Bihar Water Resources Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026).
Son-Falgu link. Water from the Sone will be taken to the Falgu through the North Koel canal. An intake well is to be built about 23 km upstream of the Indrapuri barrage, from where water will be moved by pipeline to the North Koel main canal. The scheme also includes an artificial reservoir of about 10 million cubic metres on the Morhar river. The Falgu at Gaya runs largely dry outside the monsoon, so the link is aimed at water availability in south Bihar.
Silt policy. The government cited erratic rainfall and a fall in average rainfall linked to climate change. Under the policy, silt will be removed from rivers, barrages and reservoirs to restore their water-holding and carrying capacity. The removed silt will be used as filling material in road, railway, irrigation, flood-protection and building construction works, reducing the use of fertile soil for such filling.
Bihar Relevance:
- Prelims: Son-Falgu river link: Rs 996.05 crore; Sone water to the Falgu via the North Koel canal; intake well about 23 km upstream of Indrapuri barrage; reservoir of about 10 MCM on the Morhar.
- Prelims: Official name of the policy: Bihar Jalsrot Punarsthapan evam Gaad Prabandhan Niti, 2026.
- Prelims: Silt to be reused in road, railway and other construction works.
- Prelims: The Indrapuri barrage is on the Sone in Rohtas district.
- Mains: Silt is both a flood driver (it raises riverbeds and cuts channel capacity in north Bihar) and a resource; treating desilted material as a construction input can lower the cost of desilting, but needs safeguards against sand-mining abuse and ecological damage to riverbeds (GS3 water resources, disaster management and environment).
3. Rs 579.23 Crore Flood Ex-Gratia Transferred to 8.27 Lakh Families; Union Agriculture Minister Tours Flood-Hit Areas
Why in News: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary on 15 September 2026 transferred Rs 579.23 crore by Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) into the bank accounts of 8,27,472 flood-affected families, at Rs 7,000 per family, at a programme in Patna. On 16 September 2026, Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, deputed by the Prime Minister, made an aerial and ground survey of flood-affected areas with the Chief Minister, including crop fields around Hajipur.
Scale of the flood. The floods have hit 15 districts, affecting about 49.46 lakh people. Relief arrangements include 1,260 community kitchens and 13 relief camps. As of 15 September, rivers above the danger mark included the Kosi at Baltara, the Bagmati at Benibad, the Punpun at Sripalpur and the Ghaghara at Darauli.
The Central survey. The Union Minister said banana and maize crops had been destroyed after more than ten days under water, and that teams of the Ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development were assessing losses, with an inter-ministerial Central team to visit the state. He said the Centre would support the state’s proposal for assistance from the National Disaster Response Fund for damage to roads, houses and crops.
Institutional framework. The Disaster Management Act, 2005 set up the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and State Disaster Management Authorities (SDMAs). It also provides for the National Disaster Response Fund (Section 46) and the State Disaster Response Fund (Section 48). Allocations to these funds follow Finance Commission recommendations, now those of the 16th Finance Commission for 2026-27 to 2030-31. A state first meets relief from its SDRF; an inter-ministerial Central team’s assessment is the basis for additional NDRF assistance in a disaster of severe nature.
Bihar Relevance:
- Prelims: DBT transfer: Rs 579.23 crore to 8,27,472 families at Rs 7,000 each, on 15 September 2026.
- Prelims: Affected: 15 districts, about 49.46 lakh people; 1,260 community kitchens, 13 relief camps.
- Prelims: Above danger mark (15 September): Kosi (Baltara), Bagmati (Benibad), Punpun (Sripalpur), Ghaghara (Darauli).
- Prelims: NDRF (fund) under Section 46 and SDRF under Section 48 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005.
- Mains: Cash transfers put money in flood-hit households’ hands faster than in-kind relief; the harder question is compensation for crop and livelihood loss and the pace at which Central assessment turns into NDRF release (GS3 disaster management).
4. Other Cabinet Decisions: 366 Medical Faculty Posts, Modified UDAN MoU, Makhana and Horticulture Funds, Rs 1,000 Crore Flood Advance
Why in News: The remaining decisions of the 15 September 2026 Cabinet cover health, air connectivity, agriculture, flood works and transparency institutions.
Health. Contractual appointment of assistant professors against 366 vacant posts in five government medical colleges at Bettiah, Purnea, Madhepura, Chhapra and Samastipur, and recruitment to faculty posts in government dental colleges.
Air connectivity. Approval of an MoU among the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, the Airports Authority of India and the Bihar government under the Centre’s Modified UDAN scheme, and of the Bihar State Aviation Cadre Recruitment Rules, 2026.
Agriculture. About Rs 89.79 crore for implementing the Central Sector Makhana Development Scheme in 2026-27; Rs 78.34 crore under the Mission for Integrated Development of Horticulture (MIDH) for 2026-27 and 2027-28, of which about Rs 68.66 crore is for 2026-27; and Rs 2.10 crore under the National Mission on Edible Oils-Oil Palm.
Flood works and institutions. An advance of Rs 1,000 crore from the Bihar Contingency Fund to the Water Resources Department for flood protection, irrigation and Jal-Jeevan-Hariyali works; two additional posts of State Information Commissioner in the Bihar Information Commission; a Paravet School at Bihar Animal Sciences University, Patna, with six posts; and grievance redressal rules for the Viksit Bharat Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (Gramin) in Bihar.
Bihar Relevance:
- Prelims: 366 assistant professor posts in medical colleges at Bettiah, Purnea, Madhepura, Chhapra, Samastipur.
- Prelims: Modified UDAN MoU: Ministry of Civil Aviation, AAI and Bihar. The Modified UDAN scheme was announced in the Union Budget 2025-26 to connect 120 new destinations over ten years.
- Prelims: Makhana Development Scheme: about Rs 89.79 crore for 2026-27; MIDH: Rs 78.34 crore for 2026-27 and 2027-28.
- Prelims: Rs 1,000 crore advance from the Contingency Fund of the State, which is placed at the disposal of the Governor under Article 267(2).
- Mains: An advance from the Contingency Fund lets the executive meet an urgent flood-protection need before legislative authorisation, which must follow through a supplementary demand; filling medical faculty posts on contract is a quick fix that does not solve the long-run shortage of teaching staff in new medical colleges (GS2 state finances and health governance).
Practice MCQs
1. The Bihar Cabinet on 15 September 2026 gave administrative approval of Rs 2,520 crore to develop which pilgrimage precinct on the lines of the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor?
a) Mahabodhi Temple precinct, Bodh Gaya b) Vaishali Ashokan pillar precinct c) Vishnupad Temple precinct, Gaya d) Takht Sri Harmandir Sahib precinct, Patna
Answer: c
Explanation: The Cabinet approved Rs 2,520 crore for the Vishnupad Temple precinct at Gaya, with a multi-level car park, elevated pathway, ghats, dormitory, canteen and a Sita Kund. The separately approved Son-Falgu river link (Rs 996.05 crore) takes the two sanctions to Rs 3,516.05 crore.
2. The flood ex-gratia transferred by the Bihar government on 15 September 2026 is correctly described by which of the following?
a) Rs 5,000 per family in cash through block offices to about 1 lakh families b) Rs 7,000 per family by Direct Benefit Transfer to 8,27,472 families, totalling Rs 579.23 crore c) Rs 10,000 per family by postal money order to about 3 lakh families d) Foodgrain in place of cash through fair price shops to about 5 lakh families
Answer: b
Explanation: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary transferred Rs 579.23 crore by DBT to 8,27,472 flood-affected families at Rs 7,000 each on 15 September 2026. The floods have affected about 49.46 lakh people in 15 districts, with 1,260 community kitchens and 13 relief camps running.
3. Under the Son-Falgu river link scheme approved by the Bihar Cabinet on 15 September 2026, water from the Sone is to reach the Falgu through which channel?
a) The North Koel canal b) The Eastern Kosi canal c) The Gandak main canal d) The Upper Ganga canal
Answer: a
Explanation: The Rs 996.05 crore scheme will carry Sone water to the Falgu through the North Koel canal, using an intake well about 23 km upstream of the Indrapuri barrage. It also includes an artificial reservoir of about 10 million cubic metres on the Morhar river.
4. The Bihar Jalsrot Punarsthapan evam Gaad Prabandhan Niti, 2026, adopted by the state Cabinet on 15 September 2026, provides for which of the following?
a) Auction of river sand by panchayats without state supervision b) A ban on all desilting inside wildlife sanctuaries of the state c) Exemption of desilting projects from environmental clearance d) Removal of silt from rivers, barrages and reservoirs and its use as filling material in road, railway and construction works
Answer: d
Explanation: The Bihar Water Resources Restoration and Silt Management Policy, 2026 aims to restore the water-holding and carrying capacity of rivers, barrages and reservoirs by desilting them, and to use the removed silt in road, railway, irrigation, flood-protection and building works, reducing the use of fertile soil for filling. It does not provide for unsupervised sand auctions or clearance exemptions.
5. The Bihar Cabinet on 15 September 2026 approved an advance of Rs 1,000 crore to the Water Resources Department from the Contingency Fund of the State. Under which Article of the Constitution is a Contingency Fund of the State established and placed at the disposal of the Governor?
a) Article 266(1) b) Article 267(2) c) Article 202 d) Article 293
Answer: b
Explanation: Article 267(2) allows the state legislature to establish a Contingency Fund of the State, placed at the disposal of the Governor, to meet unforeseen expenditure pending authorisation by the legislature. Article 266(1) deals with the Consolidated Fund, Article 202 with the annual financial statement of a state, and Article 293 with borrowing by states.
