Welcome to the Ujiyari Bihar Current Affairs notes for 10 September 2026, prepared for the BPSC Combined Competitive Examination and other Bihar government examinations. The Bihar revenue and land reforms department is set to launch a virtual court system across all revenue courts from the circle officer to the divisional commissioner level in mid-September, in what officials describe as among the most modern land-dispute management systems in the country. The tourism department is marshalling tent cities, e-rickshaws, an influencer contest and a world-class Vishnupad Temple corridor to manage the annual Pitripaksha Mela at Gaya, which draws lakhs of pilgrims for Shraddha rites on the Falgu river from 25 September. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary has written to Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat seeking the repatriation of the Sultanganj Buddha, a 2.3-metre copper statue from the Gupta-Pala transitional period now in Birmingham, England. Bihar’s school examination board is implementing a policy that replaces the word “Fail” on Class 10 and 12 marksheets with “Eligible for Skill Training”, linking non-qualifying students to the BBOSE vocational track. Each item carries a Prelims fact set and a Mains angle, followed by five practice MCQs.

1. Bihar Revenue Department to Launch Virtual Court System for Land Dispute Hearings

Why in News: The Bihar revenue and land reforms department announced on 10 September 2026 that it will launch a virtual court system across all revenue courts, from the Circle Officer (CO) to the Divisional Commissioner level, in mid-September 2026, allowing petitioners in land dispute cases to attend hearings virtually without mandatory physical presence. Revenue Secretary Jai Singh confirmed that all software upgrades under the Revenue Court Management System (RCMS) are complete.

What the system covers. The virtual courts will handle proceedings for mutation (dakhil-kharij), Jamabandi (records of rights) and other related revenue matters. Under the existing system, filing petitions and submission of documents are available online, but petitioners must appear physically at scheduled hearings. The virtual system now extends online attendance to the hearing itself, from the CO court through DCLR (Deputy Collector, Land Records), ADM, DM and the Divisional Commissioner’s court.

Scale of jamabandi work. Bihar has approximately 41 million jamabandis (land ownership records). A large number still carry names of deceased landholders; the department has directed officials to update them at the panchayat level. Approximately 1 million records had been locked due to suspicious entries (fictitious names, encroachment attempts), of which only 40,000-50,000 have been confirmed suspicious after ground verification; the rest are being unlocked progressively.

Why this matters for BPSC. Revenue courts and land records are tested in BPSC because Bihar’s agrarian economy and political economy are deeply tied to land rights. The RCMS digitisation programme is the technology platform; virtual courts are its next tier.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: Bihar’s revenue virtual court system will launch in mid-September 2026 across courts from the Circle Officer (CO) to the Divisional Commissioner level.
  • Prelims: The technology platform is the Revenue Court Management System (RCMS) of the Bihar revenue and land reforms department; Revenue Secretary Jai Singh confirmed the launch.
  • Prelims: Cases covered: mutation (dakhil-kharij), Jamabandi (record of rights) and related revenue matters.
  • Prelims: Bihar has approximately 41 million jamabandis; about 1 million had been locked due to suspicious entries, of which 40,000-50,000 confirmed suspicious.
  • Prelims: In Bihar’s revenue hierarchy: CO (Circle Officer) at block level handles mutation; DCLR is Deputy Collector (Land Records); above them are ADM, DM and Divisional Commissioner.
  • Mains: Digital transformation of revenue courts as a step in land administration reform; the persistence of manual and physical barriers to justice in agrarian states; Bihar’s RCMS as a model for e-governance in district administration (GS Paper 2 governance, GS Paper 3 economy).

2. Bihar Tourism Department Readies Extensive Facilities for Pitripaksha Mela at Gaya

Why in News: Bihar’s tourism department is preparing an extensive package of facilities for the annual Pitripaksha Mela at Gaya Ji, beginning 25 September 2026. Tourism Secretary Lokesh Kumar Singh on 8 September 2026 reviewed the preparation and directed officials to complete all arrangements on schedule. The fortnight-long congregation at Gaya Ji on the banks of the Falgu river draws lakhs of devotees to perform pind daan (Shraddha rites) to seek peace for ancestors.

Short-term arrangements. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) will erect a tent city with 2,500 beds, set up a temporary tourist information centre, launch a dedicated helpline, deploy e-rickshaws along the Falgu for needy pilgrims, station trained guides, and distribute brochures at key points. Travel packages and an e-pind daan option are also being prepared. A maha aarti on the banks of the Falgu is planned as a ceremonial highlight.

The influencer campaign. For the first time, the department is organising a social-media competition: “Pitripaksh Mela: Through the Eyes of an Influencer”, to amplify Gaya Ji’s spiritual and cultural profile.

Longer-term infrastructure. A proposal is under consideration for a world-class corridor around the Vishnupad Temple, modelled on the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, aimed at improving pilgrim movement and aesthetics. A modern 1,000-bed Gaya Dharamshala estimated at Rs 120 crore is being executed by BSTDC. The CM’s homestay incentive scheme (up to Rs 11 lakh financial assistance) has been extended to the Vishnupad Temple, Mahabodhi Temple, Dungeshwari Temple and Gurpa Hill in the district.

Why Gaya Ji matters. Gaya is one of Hinduism’s most significant pilgrimage sites for Shraddha rites. The city also hosts the Mahabodhi Temple (UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2002), where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree; Rajgir and Nalanda are nearby, making this the core of the Buddhist Circuit.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: The Pitripaksha Mela 2026 at Gaya Ji begins 25 September 2026; the Falgu river flows through Gaya.
  • Prelims: BSTDC will erect a tent city (2,500 beds) and a dedicated helpline; the new influencer contest is titled “Pitripaksh Mela: Through the Eyes of an Influencer”.
  • Prelims: The proposed corridor around the Vishnupad Temple is modelled on the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi; a 1,000-bed Gaya Dharamshala at Rs 120 crore is under construction.
  • Prelims: CM’s homestay incentive scheme provides up to Rs 11 lakh per eligible beneficiary in the Gaya Ji area.
  • Prelims: The Mahabodhi Temple in Bodh Gaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site (since 2002) and the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment.
  • Mains: Religious tourism as an economic diversification strategy for Bihar; the infrastructure convergence of heritage, pilgrim services and community livelihoods around major mela sites; the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor model applied to Bihar (GS Paper 1 culture, GS Paper 3 economy).

3. CM Samrat Choudhary Seeks Return of Sultanganj Buddha from Birmingham Museum

Why in News: Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary wrote to Union Culture and Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 11 August 2026 (the letter was reported on 8 September 2026), seeking the repatriation of the Sultanganj Buddha, removed from Bihar during the colonial period and never returned. The statue is a 2.3-metre tall copper figure depicting a standing Gautama Buddha and dating from the Gupta-Pala transitional period (500-700 AD), currently housed at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, United Kingdom.

What the statue is. The statue stands about 2.3 metres tall, over a metre wide, and weighs more than 500 kilograms. It is described as the largest substantially complete copper Buddha image known from early medieval India and ranks among the finest examples of Indian metal casting. It depicts Siddhartha Gautama standing and exhibiting traditional Buddhist hand gestures (mudras).

How it left India. E.B. Harris, a resident engineer of the East Indian Railway, discovered the statue during excavations near Sultanganj station in Bhagalpur district in 1861-62 and transported it to England. The statue became the foundation object of the Birmingham Museum and Gallery and has been a centrepiece of its collections since.

The repatriation argument. Choudhary argued that the return of the statue would reaffirm its association with Bihar’s Buddhist heritage and strengthen cultural ties between India and the UK. He cited its exceptional archaeological, historical, artistic, metallurgical, religious and cultural significance and requested the ministry to initiate diplomatic engagement with UK authorities. Bihar’s standing in Buddhism makes this claim particularly weighty: Bodh Gaya (Buddha’s enlightenment), Nalanda and Vikramshila (ancient centres of Buddhist learning), Rajgir and Vaishali (key sites in the Buddha’s life) are all in Bihar.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: The Sultanganj Buddha is a 2.3-metre copper statue (over 500 kg) from the Gupta-Pala transitional period (500-700 AD), currently at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, UK.
  • Prelims: It was discovered by E.B. Harris of the East Indian Railway near Sultanganj station, Bhagalpur district in 1861-62.
  • Prelims: CM Samrat Choudhary wrote to Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 11 August 2026 seeking its repatriation from Birmingham, where it has been held since the colonial period.
  • Prelims: It is the largest substantially complete copper Buddha image from early medieval India.
  • Prelims: Bodh Gaya (enlightenment site) and Nalanda (ancient university) are in Bihar; the UNESCO-designated Mahabodhi Temple is at Bodh Gaya.
  • Mains: Heritage repatriation as diplomacy: the global debate on colonial-era artefacts and the legal framework of cultural property; India’s track record of bilateral repatriation negotiations and what success requires (GS Paper 1 art and culture, GS Paper 2 international relations).

4. Bihar Board Replaces “Fail” with “Eligible for Skill Training” on Class 10 and 12 Marksheets

Why in News: The Bihar government announced in late August 2026 that the Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) will replace the word “Fail” on the marksheets of students who do not clear the Class 10 and Class 12 examinations with the phrase “Eligible for Skill Training”, allowing them to pursue vocational programmes under the Bihar Board of Open Schooling and Examination (BBOSE). Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari confirmed the change and said the department would issue formal directives for implementation across the September 2026 examination cycle onward.

The BBOSE pathway. Students who receive the “Eligible for Skill Training” annotation can opt for vocational training programmes under BBOSE, the state’s open school established in 2011 as an autonomous body of the Bihar education department. This connects them to the state’s skill development and vocational training infrastructure without the social stigma of a “Fail” classification.

Accompanying measures. Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary approved the initiative. The policy is paired with a month-long special coaching camp for students appearing in the matriculation supplementary examination and the launch of the “Vidya Saathi” app connecting students of Classes 9 to 12 with about 75,000 teachers for around-the-clock academic support.

The BSEB in numbers. The BSEB conducts Class 10 (Matric) and Class 12 (Intermediate) examinations for Bihar’s government and aided schools. It is among India’s largest school examination boards by candidate volume.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: Bihar’s BSEB will replace “Fail” with “Eligible for Skill Training” on Class 10 and 12 marksheets; directives were being issued by the education department in September 2026.
  • Prelims: Non-qualifying students will be directed to BBOSE (Bihar Board of Open Schooling and Examination), established in 2011 as an autonomous body of Bihar’s education department.
  • Prelims: The “Vidya Saathi” app connects students of Classes 9-12 with about 75,000 teachers for round-the-clock support.
  • Prelims: Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari announced the policy; CM Samrat Choudhary approved it.
  • Prelims: The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020 emphasis on vocational pathways and flexible school exit options.
  • Mains: Labelling and stigma in school assessment policy; the open-schooling and vocational integration model as an alternative to failure-based exit in the context of NEP 2020’s competency-based assessment framework (GS Paper 2 education, social issues).

5. Bihar Government Plans Homestay Incentive and Vishnupad Corridor Under Tourism Push

Why in News: As part of its broader religious tourism push, the Bihar government has extended the Chief Minister’s Homestay Incentive Scheme to key sites in Gaya district, including the Vishnupad Temple, Mahabodhi Temple, Dungeshwari Temple and Gurpa Hill, providing eligible beneficiaries financial assistance of up to Rs 11 lakh. Separately, a detailed project for a world-class corridor around the Vishnupad Temple on the Falgu riverbank is under consideration, modelled on the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, and a modern 1,000-bed Gaya Dharamshala at Rs 120 crore is being executed by BSTDC.

What the Vishnupad Temple is. The Vishnupad Temple at Gaya, on the banks of the Falgu, is one of Hinduism’s most sacred sites for the performance of pind daan (Shraddha rituals). The temple complex houses a footprint of Lord Vishnu imprinted in solid rock and is visited by millions annually. The Falgu river is specifically mentioned in the Ramayana as the site where Sita performed pind daan for King Dasharatha.

The CM Homestay Incentive Scheme. The scheme aims to involve local families in tourism, generate employment and self-employment, offer visitors an authentic cultural experience and encourage longer stays to boost the regional economy. Gaya’s extension follows the scheme’s earlier application to Bodh Gaya and Rajgir.

Bihar’s Buddhist Circuit. The Gaya-Bodh Gaya-Rajgir-Nalanda corridor forms the core of Bihar’s Buddhist Circuit, which attracts pilgrims and tourists from Sri Lanka, Japan, Thailand, Myanmar, China, South Korea and other Buddhist-majority countries. The Mahabodhi Temple (UNESCO WHS, 2002) at Bodh Gaya, Nalanda University’s archaeological site (UNESCO WHS, 2016) and Rajgir’s natural hot springs are the anchor attractions.

Bihar Relevance:

  • Prelims: Bihar’s CM Homestay Incentive Scheme provides up to Rs 11 lakh per eligible beneficiary; extended to Vishnupad Temple, Mahabodhi Temple, Dungeshwari Temple and Gurpa Hill in Gaya district.
  • Prelims: The proposed Vishnupad Temple corridor is modelled on the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor (Varanasi); the 1,000-bed Gaya Dharamshala is estimated at Rs 120 crore and is being built by BSTDC.
  • Prelims: The Vishnupad Temple is on the banks of the Falgu river in Gaya; it houses a footprint of Lord Vishnu in solid rock.
  • Prelims: Mahabodhi Temple (UNESCO WHS, 2002) and Nalanda University’s archaeological site (UNESCO WHS, 2016) are in Bihar.
  • Prelims: The Falgu river is a tributary of the Ganga and is mentioned in the Ramayana as the site of pind daan by Sita.
  • Mains: Religious tourism as a state-level economic strategy in a historically revenue-deficient state; the balance between infrastructure-led pilgrim management and community benefit; lessons from the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor model for pilgrimage corridor development (GS Paper 1 culture, GS Paper 3 economy, GS Paper 2 governance).

Practice MCQs

1. Bihar’s revenue department virtual court system, announced on 10 September 2026, is correctly described as which of the following?

a) An online system under the RCMS allowing petitioners in land revenue cases to attend hearings virtually, from CO to Divisional Commissioner level b) A tribunal replacing civil courts in all property disputes above Rs 10 lakh c) A Supreme Court-mandated fast-track court for the disposal of all pending land acquisition cases in Bihar within six months d) A blockchain-based registry replacing all paper-based jamabandis in Bihar with effect from October 2026

Answer: a

Explanation: The Bihar revenue and land reforms department announced on 10 September 2026 that it will launch a virtual court system across all revenue courts from the Circle Officer (CO) to the Divisional Commissioner level in mid-September 2026, using the Revenue Court Management System (RCMS) software. The system will allow petitioners in land dispute cases involving mutation (dakhil-kharij), Jamabandi (records of rights) and related revenue matters to attend hearings virtually, removing the requirement for mandatory physical presence. Revenue Secretary Jai Singh confirmed that RCMS software upgrades are complete and all safeguards are in place to ensure genuineness of online appearances. Bihar has approximately 41 million jamabandis, of which about 1 million were locked due to suspicious entries; around 40,000-50,000 remain confirmed suspicious after ground verification.

2. The Sultanganj Buddha, whose repatriation Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary sought from the UK in August-September 2026, is correctly described as:

a) A carved sandstone image of seated Buddha from the Pala period, currently at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London b) A 2.3-metre copper standing Buddha from the Gupta-Pala transitional period (500-700 AD), currently at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery c) A bronze image of standing Avalokitesvara from the 11th century, discovered in Nalanda and held at the British Museum d) A terracotta panel from Bodh Gaya depicting the Buddha’s enlightenment, currently at the Museum of Oxford

Answer: b

Explanation: The Sultanganj Buddha is a 2.3-metre tall copper statue (over 500 kg, over a metre wide) depicting standing Gautama Buddha from the Gupta-Pala transitional period (approximately 500-700 AD). It is the largest substantially complete copper Buddha image known from early medieval India and is currently at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery in the UK. E.B. Harris, a resident engineer of the East Indian Railway, discovered it during excavations near Sultanganj station in Bhagalpur district in 1861-62 and transported it to England during the colonial period. CM Samrat Choudhary wrote to Union Culture Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on 11 August 2026 requesting diplomatic engagement with UK authorities for its return. Sultanganj in Bhagalpur sits on the Ganga’s south bank; it is the point from which Kanwariyas draw water for the Shravani Mela trek to Deoghar.

3. Bihar’s Pitripaksha Mela, for which the tourism department finalised preparations on 8 September 2026, is correctly identified as:

a) A month-long craft fair held annually at Sonepur on the banks of the Gandak and Ganga confluence, commencing in November b) An annual Buddhist festival at Bodh Gaya commemorating the Buddha’s first sermon, held every June c) A statewide cultural programme at Patna marking Bihar Diwas on 22 March, which commemorates the colonial-era separation of Bihar from Bengal in 1912, with folk arts performances d) A fortnight-long congregation at Gaya Ji on the banks of the Falgu river from 25 September, during which devotees perform pind daan for ancestors

Answer: d

Explanation: The Pitripaksha Mela is a fortnight-long Hindu congregation at Gaya Ji in Bihar, beginning 25 September 2026, during which devotees from across India and abroad travel to perform pind daan, or Shraddha rites, on the banks of the Falgu river to seek peace for their ancestors. The Bihar State Tourism Development Corporation (BSTDC) is erecting a tent city with 2,500 beds, launching a dedicated helpline, deploying e-rickshaws and trained guides, and organising for the first time a social-media influencer contest titled “Pitripaksh Mela: Through the Eyes of an Influencer”. Longer-term plans include a Vishnupad Temple corridor modelled on the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor and a 1,000-bed Gaya Dharamshala at Rs 120 crore. The Sonepur Mela, held at the Gandak-Ganga confluence, is Asia’s largest cattle fair.

4. Bihar’s policy of replacing the word “Fail” with “Eligible for Skill Training” on BSEB marksheets directs non-qualifying students to which institution for vocational training?

a) National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) through a direct central government portal b) Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) affiliated to the NCVT under the Directorate General of Training c) Bihar Board of Open Schooling and Examination (BBOSE), established in 2011 as an autonomous body of Bihar’s education department d) Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana centres directly funded by the Ministry of Skill Development

Answer: c

Explanation: Bihar’s education policy announced by Education Minister Mithilesh Tiwari and approved by CM Samrat Choudhary replaces the word “Fail” on Class 10 and 12 BSEB marksheets with “Eligible for Skill Training”, directing these students to the Bihar Board of Open Schooling and Examination (BBOSE), established in 2011 as an autonomous body of Bihar’s education department. BBOSE offers vocational training programmes that allow non-qualifying school students to pursue skill-based education without the social stigma of a failure classification. The initiative aligns with the National Education Policy 2020’s emphasis on vocational pathways, flexible school exit options and competency-based assessment. The policy is accompanied by a month-long special coaching camp for supplementary exam aspirants and the Vidya Saathi app connecting 75,000 teachers with students of Classes 9 to 12.

5. The Vishnupad Temple at Gaya, for which Bihar is planning a corridor modelled on the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor, is situated on the banks of which river and is significant for which reason?

a) On the banks of the Son river; it marks the confluence of the Son and the Ganga b) On the banks of the Falgu river; it houses a footprint of Lord Vishnu imprinted in solid rock and is a major site for pind daan (Shraddha rites) c) On the banks of the Punpun river; it is the site where the Maurya king Chandragupta II converted to Vaishnavism d) On the banks of the Ganga at Patna; it is the oldest Vishnu temple in Bihar dating to the 3rd century BCE

Answer: b

Explanation: The Vishnupad Temple at Gaya is situated on the banks of the Falgu river and is one of Hinduism’s most sacred sites for the performance of pind daan, or Shraddha rituals. The temple complex houses a footprint of Lord Vishnu imprinted in solid rock and attracts millions of pilgrims annually, particularly during the Pitripaksha Mela. The Falgu river is also mentioned in the Ramayana as the site where Sita performed pind daan for King Dasharatha. Bihar’s tourism department is planning a world-class corridor around the temple modelled on the Kashi Vishwanath Corridor in Varanasi, alongside a 1,000-bed Gaya Dharamshala at Rs 120 crore being built by BSTDC. The Mahabodhi Temple at Bodh Gaya (UNESCO WHS, 2002), the site of the Buddha’s enlightenment, is in the same district and forms part of Bihar’s Buddhist Circuit along with Nalanda (UNESCO WHS, 2016), Rajgir and Vaishali.