Prelims & Mains

Bihar Public Service Commission

Volume - 1

Bihar G.K.
 Bihar Geography
Page
Chapter Name
S.No. No.
1. Bihar At a Glance 1
 State Symbols
 Size and Location of Bihar
2. Geographical structure of Bihar 4
 Geological Structure of Bihar
 Physiographic Divisions of Bihar
3. Drainage System 10
 Major River Basins of Bihar
 River System of Bihar
 Interlinking of Rivers
 Multipurpose River Valley Project
 Waterfalls
 Hotsprings
 Lakes
 Floods in Bihar
4. Climate of Bihar 22
 Seasons in Bihar
 Koppen’s Climatic Classification
 Agroclimatic Zones
5. Soils 26
 Types of Soils in Bihar
6. Natural Resources 29
 Forests in Bihar
 Wildlife of Bihar
7. Agriculture 33
 Major challenges to the Agriculture of Bihar
 Measures to be adopted
 Bihar Agriculture Road Map for holistic development of the Agriculture Sector
 Cropping Pattern
 Crop Diversification
 Organic Farming
 Food Security
 Bringing Green Revolution to Eastern India (BGREI)
 Agriculture Marketing
8. Census of Bihar 44

Bihar Economy
Page
Chapter Name
S.No. No.
9. Overview of Economy of Bihar 50
 Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Bihar
 Sector Wise GDP of Bihar
10. Agriculture and Allied sector 53
 Land Resources
 Crop Sector
 Horticulture
 Animal Husbandry, Fisheries and Dairy Sector
 Irrigation
11. Industries 63
 Industrial growth in Bihar
 Agro-based Industries (Bihar)
 Non-Agro-Based Industries
 Prime Minister's Employment Generation Programme (PMEGP)
 Industrial Promotion in Bihar
 Institutions for Promoting Industrial Development
 Initiatives for Industrial development
 Mining and Quarrying
 Tourism
12. Environment, Climate Change and Disaster Management 83
 Climate Change
 Forest Resources
 Forest Fire
 Initiatives of the Department of Forest, Environment and Climate Change
 Initiatives for the Conservation of Wildlife
 Environmental Pollution
 Disaster Management
13. Labour, Employment and Skill 97
 Labour force and workforce in Bihar
 Employment
 Welfare Schemes for Workers
 Construction of workers
 Minimum Wage Rates
 Skill Development (Initiatives)
 Poverty
14. Infrastructure and Communication 102
 Growth of Transport, Storage and Communication Sectors
 Transport Sector( Bihar)
 Road Safety
 Development of Road Infrastructure
 National Highway Network
 State Highways Network
 Major District Road
 Rural Road Network
 Bihar State Road Development Corporation (BSRDC)
 Bridge Infrastructure
 Road Transportation
 Railway Network
 Air Transport
 Building Construction
 Bihar State Building Construction Corporation
 Communication Sector in Bihar
15. Institutional Structure of Power Sector 117
 Availability of Power
 Projection of Power Requirement
 Institutional Structure of the Power Sector
 Distribution Companies (DISCOMs)
 Programmes of the Power Sector
 Transmission
 Generation
 Consumer Facilitations
 Bihar Renewable Energy Development Agency (BREDA)
 Bihar State Hydroelectric Power Corporation (BSHPC)
 16. Banking and Allied Sectors 126
 Banking infrastructure
 Microfinance Institutions (MFIs)
 Deposits, Credits and Credit Deposit Ratio
 Achievements under Annual Credit Plan (ACP)
 Kisan Credit Card (KCC)
 Non-Performing Assets of Banks
 Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY)
 National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development
17. Rural and Urban Development 134
 Constraints in the Economic Development of Bihar
 Rural Development
 Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
 Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana - Gramin (PMAY-G)
 Distribution of Homestead Land
 Department of Food and Consumer Protection
 Panchayati Raj Institutions
 Rurban Mission
 Lohiya Swachh Bihar Abhiyan (LSBA)
 Rural Drinking Water
 Urban Development
18. Human Development 147
 Demographic Layout of Bihar
 Health Sector in Bihar
 Drinking Water Supply and Sanitation
 Education and Youth
 Bihar Budget 2022-23 156

Bihar Polity
Page
S.No. Chapter Name
No.
19. Governor 158
 Constitutional Provisions
 Constitutional Position
 Appointment of Governor
 Qualifications
 Term of Office
 Conditions of Governor’s Office
 Powers and Functions of the Governor
 List of Governors of Bihar
20. Chief Minister 165
 Constitutional Provisions
 Appointment of CM
 Powers of Chief Minister
 Functions
 Relationship with Governor
 List of Chief Ministers of Bihar
21. State Council of Ministers 168
 Constitutional Provisions
 Composition of Ministers
 Responsibilities of Ministers
 Rights of Ministers
 Cabinet
 List of Cabinet Ministers of Bihar, 2022
22. State Legislature 172
 Constitutional Provisions
 Organization
 Legislative Assembly
 Legislative Council
 Membership in State Legislature
 Vacation of Seats
 Presiding Officers of State Legislatures
 Sessions in State Legislature
 Legislative Procedure in State Legislature
 Privileges of State Legislature
23. Panchayati Raj 186
 Constitutional Provisions
 Evolution of Panchayati Raj
 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992
 Finances of Panchayats
 Panchayati Raj System of Bihar
24. Municipalities 195
 Constitutional Provisions
 Evolution of Urban Bodies
 74th Constitutional Amendment Act, 1992
 Composition
 Duration of Municipalities
 Finances
 District Planning Committee
 Types of Urban Government
 Municipal Personnel
 Municipal revenue
 Central Council of Local Government
25. Bihar High Court and Subordinate Courts 204
 High Court
 Subordinate Courts
 Lok Adalats
 Gram Nyayalayas
26. Bihar State Bodies 212
 Advocate General of Bihar
 Bihar Public Service Commission
 Bihar State Election Commission
 Bihar State Finance Commission
 State Human Rights Commission
 Bihar State Information Commission
27. History of Bihar 218
 Sources of Bihar History
 Pre-History in Bihar
 Neolithic Evidences in Bihar
 Chalcolithic age
 Mauryan Dynasty
 Post Mauryan Age in Bihar
 Gupta Age
 The Palas of Bengal (8th-12th century)
 Medieval History of Bihar
 Modern History of Bihar
 Tribal Revolts in Bihar
 Other major revolts in Bihar
 Mahatma Gandhi’s Arrival in India
 Bihar in Quit India Movement
 Dalit movement in Bihar
 Mahatma Gandhi
  Jawahar Lal Nehru
 Rabindranath Tagore
 Jayaprakash Narayan
 Swami Sahajanand Saraswati
 Rajendra Prasad
 Ram Manohar Lohia
28. Art and Culture of Bihar 258
 Folk Music in Bihar
 Folk dances of Bihar
 Folk drama
 Important Fairs
 Festivals of Bihar
 Foods of Bihar
 Patna Kalam Paintings
 Cultural regions of Bihar
–– 1 BIHAR AT A GLANCE
CHAPTER

● Capital: Patna ○ 1st division: 1 April 1936 (Orissa)

○ Ancient names of Patna: Pataligram, Kusumpur, ○ 2nd division: 15 November 2000 (southern Bihar
Patliputra, Azimabad, Palibothra. was ceded to form the new state of Jharkhand)
● Year of Formation: 22 March 1912 (Bihar and Orissa
as a separate province).
State Symbols
● Viceroy of India at the time of bihar formation: Lord ● State Animal: Ox (Bos indicus).
Hardinge ● State Bird: Sparrow (Passer domesticus indicus).
● Bihar Diwas: 22 March. ○ Bihar Sparrow day: 20 March.
○ The theme of Bihar Diwas 2022 is ‘Jal, Jeevan, ● State Flower: Marigold(Tagetes).
Hariyali ● State Tree: Peepal (Ficus religiosa).
● Division of Bihar ● State Fish: Mangur

Size and Location of Bihar

● Latitudinal extent: 24º20’N to 27º31’N ○ Width:483 km (East to West)

● Longitudinal extent: 83º20’E to 88º18’E ● Rural Area of Bihar: 92,257.51 sq. kms.
● Height above Sea-Level of Bihar: 173 Feet ● Urban Area of Bihar: 1,095.49 sq. kms
● Geographical Extent ● Normal Rainfall in Bihar: 1,205 mm Avg.
○ North: Nepal (46th BPSC 2004). ● Number of Rainy Days in Bihar: 52.5 Days in a Year
○ West: Uttar Pradesh ● Total districts: 38, 45th BPSC Pre 2002
○ East: West Bengal ● 38th district: Arwal,
○ South: Jharkhand ○ Came into existence in August 2001 and was
● 12th largest state in India - 94163 km² (48th-52th earlier part of Jehanabad district.
BPSC Pre 2008, 46th BPSC 2004). ● Districts sharing the border with
○ Length: 345 km (North to South)

1
 ○ Nepal and Uttar pradesh: West Champaran
○ Nepal: West Champaran, East Champaran, ○ West Bengal and Jharkhand: Kathiar
Sitamarhi, Madhubani, Supaul, Araria and ○ Northernmost district: W. Champaran
Kishanganj (7 districts)- 63rd B.PSC 2018 ○ Easternmost district: Kishanganj (56-59th
○ Uttar Pradesh: West Champaran, Gopalganj, B.P.S.C. 2015)
Siwan, Saran, Bhojpur, Buxar and Kaimur (7 ○ Southernmost district: Gaya
districts) ○ Westernmost district: Kaimur
○ West Bengal: Kishanganj, Purnia and Kathiar (3 ○ Capital city Patna: Vaishali, Saran, Bhojpur,
districts) Arwal, Jehanabad, Nalanda, Lakhisarai, Begusarai
○ Jharkhand: Rohtas, Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, and Samastipur (9 districts) 64th B.P.S.C 2018
Jamui, Banka, Bhagalpur and Katihar. (8 districts) ● Administrative uni
○ Nepal and West Bengal: Kishanganj

2
Divisions 9 Aarthik Hal, Yuvaon Ko Bal
Districts 38 (Youth Empowerment)
Sub-Divisions 101 Aarakshit Rozgar Mahilaon Ka Adhikar
CD Blocks 534 (Reservation in Jobs for Women)
Panchayats 8,406 Har Ghar Bijli
Number of Revenue Villages 45,103 (Electricity for each household)
Number of Towns 199 Har Ghar Nal Ka Jal
- Statutory Towns 139 (Piped water supply to each household)
- Non-Statutory Towns 60 Ghar Tak Pakki Gali Naaliyan
Police Stations 853 (Road and drainage facility to households)
- Civil Police Stations 813 Shauchalay Nirman, Ghar Ka Samman
- Railway Police Stations 40 (Toilet facility for each household)
- Police Districts 44 Avsar Badhe, Aage Padhein
Civil Police District 40 (Opportunities through Higher & Technical
Railway Police District 4 Education)
● Saat Nischay Yojna Part I (2015-2020)
● Saat Nischay Part II (2020-2025)
○ To fulfill this vision Program of Good Governance
○ Bihar Government has allocated 4,671 for Saat
(2015-20) has been framed which includes 7
Nischay Yojna Part 2 in the budget of 2021-22.
Nishchay, Agriculture Road map, Human
○ According to the Saat Nischay Yojna Part 2
Development Mission, Skill Development
government is planning for holistic development
Mission and Industrial Incentives Policy.
of the state.

3
––
2 GEOGRAPHICAL
CHAPTER STRUCTURE OF BIHAR
Geological Structure of BEihar ● The four components of Bihar's geological structure
are as follows:
○ Dharwar Rock System
○ Vindhyan Rock System
○ Tertiary Rock System
○ Quaternary Rock System

Rock System Types Description

Dharwar Rock System (Pre ● Formation:

cambrian) ○ The weathering of the Archaean rocks yielded the earliest sediments and
formed the oldest sedimentary strata, the Dharwar system
(The earliest Archaean Rock ● Features:
System's subsystem.) ○ Oldest metamorphosed rocks of India.
○ Formed as a result of the erosion and sedimentation of Archean system rocks
○ Azoic, because either no origin of species during their formation or
destruction of fossils with the passage of time.
● Found in: Southern part of the state, bordering Jharkhand.
○ Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada, Jamui and Munger (SE Bihar)
● Mica & schist dominate the region.
● Minerals: Quartzite, Phyllite, Gneiss, Schist, Shale and Slate

Vindhyan Rock System (Pre ● Formation:

cambrian) ○ The Vindhyan System is separated from Aravallis by the Great Boundary
Fault.
(Purana Rock System was ● Features:
formed between 130 and 600 ○ Named after the Vindhya mountains
million years ago.) ○ Extends from Rajasthan to Bihar (Sasaram) in saucer shape.
○ Ancient sedimentary rocks superimposed on the Archaean base.
○ Unfossiliferous rocks and covered by the Deccan trap.
○ Devoid of metalliferous minerals
● Found in: Kaimur District and the Son Valley of Rohtas district.65th B.P.S.C 2019
● Minerals::Sandstone, Limestone, Dolomite, Quartzite and Shale (47th BPSC 2005).

Tertiary Rock System ● Formation:

○ Formed due to down warping of Sediments in the Tethys Sea between
Eurasian Plate and Indian Plate.

4
 (The Tertiary rock system ○ formed between the Eocene and Pliocene periods.
belongs to Cenozoic era,about ● Features:
66 million years back) ● Found in: The Upper North-Western parts of Bihar or the Terai Region of Shivalik
Ranges in Bihar in Western Champaran districts.
● Minerals:Sandstone, Sandy Shale, Mudstone & Conglomerate

Quaternary Rock System ● Features:

○ It is a very recent deposit.
(formed during the recent ○ Contains fossils of species with living representatives.
Pleistocene period in last one ● Distribution: Central part of the state (in between Dharwar System and Tertiary
Million) rock system of North-Western Terai Region of Bihar)
● Found in: between Himalayan Terai Region of Bihar in the North and Chota
Nagpur plateau region in the south.
● Minerals: Sandstone, conglomerate, coarse gravel

Physiographic Divisions of Bihar

5
1. Sub-Himalayan foothills (Shiwalik Range) ○ River passes - Bhikhana, Someshwar
● Features: Shiwalik has its origin in the geological and Makhat.
formation found in and around a place called ● Extension: lies between Ramnagar Doon and
Sivabala near DehraDun. Someshwar Ranges.
● Location: North-West Bihar in West Champaran. ● Area: 643 sq. Km.
● Area: 32km in length and 6-8km in width. ● Elevation: Higher than northern plain.
● Hills found: Someshwar and the Dun hills (W. 2. Indo Gangetic Plain (The Bihar Plain)
Champaran). It is further subdivided into three ● Features:
parts ○ Area: 90,650 sq km (95% of total area of
a. Ramnagar Doon Bihar)
● Feature: ○ Slope: 6cm/km.
○ Small hills of maximum height 240 ○ Average height: between 60 to 120 cm.
meter. ● The Ganges bifurcates Bihar Plains into two
● Location: Southernmost part of terai region. parts.
● Area: Spread into 214 sq km. a. Northern Plains of Bihar
● Highest peak: Santpur Peak (240m). ● Formation: due to deposition of alluvium
b. Someshwar Ranges brought by the Northern tributaries of Ganga in
● Features: Bihar i.e. Ghaghara, Gandak, Bagmati, Burhi
○ It is dated between the Pliocene and Gandhak, Kosi, Mahananda etc.
Pleistocene epochs. ● Represents the Quaternary Rock system in
○ Extension of Shiwalik Ranges in Bihar. Bihar.
○ Maximum altitude of the Range is 874 ● General features North Bihar Plain
meter, highest point in Bihar. Location Northside of Ganga.
○ Several Passes formed due to river
erosion. ● Spread over the whole of Tirhut,
● Important passes: Someshwar, Bhikhnathori Saran, Darbhanga and Kosi division.
Extent
● Ghaghra-Gandak Doab in the west
and Marawat Pass.
to Mahananda valley in the east.
● Geographical extension: Triveni Canal (in
the West) to Bhikhnathori (in the East). Drainage Ghaghra, Gandak, Bhagmati, Kamla, Kosi
● Location: Northernmost Bihar area and Mahananda rivers.
● Area: over 75 sq. Km.
● Highest point: Someshwar Fort (874m) Marked by Chuar formation (Oxbow lakes)

c. Doon Valley (Harha Valley) Represents Quaternary Rock system

● Features:
○ Known as Harha Valley because the
Harha River flows through it.

6
● Rivers of Northern plains divides Bihar into ■ Milk industry has developed in Barauni
important Doabs: and Muzaffarpur.
○ Ghaghra-Gandak Doab ○ Kosi-Mahananda Doab
■ Districts of this region: Saran, Siwan ■ Districts of this region: Purnia, Araria,
and Gopalganj districts. Kishanganj, Madhepura, Khagaria and
■ Annual rainfall: 120 cm. Saharsa
■ Important crops: Paddy, maize, wheat, ■ Backward area in terms of agriculture,
sugarcane, oilseeds and pulses. industry, and transportation.
■ Rich in agriculture, also has industries ■ Flood affected area: It receives
related to agriculture. excessive rainfall, due to which the Kosi
■ Due to the high production of and its tributaries bring floods every
sugarcane, the sugar industry has year.
developed more in this region. ■ The government has made efforts to
■ Main centers of sugar industry: control the flood situation through the
Gopalganj, Chhapra, Siwan, Mirganj, Kosi project.
Mehraura etc.
○ Gandak-Kosi Doab
■ Districts of this region: East Champaran,
West Champaran, Sitamarhi, Sheohar,
Darbhanga, Muzaffarpur, Vaishali,
Madhubani, Begusarai etc.
■ Sugar industry and fruit processing
industry are the major industries here
■ Centers of sugar industry: Chanpatia,
Sugauli, Samastipur, Motihari, Bagaha
etc.
■ Main crops: Paddy, Maize, Sugarcane,
Wheat, Barley, Pulses, Oilseeds etc.
■ Main cash crops: Sugarcane, tobacco
and red chillies.
■ Districts famous for:
 Darbhanga: Mango,
 Muzaffarpur: litchi
 Hajipur: Banana ● North Bihar plain is divided into following
 Barauni: Fertilizer factory, oil regions:
refinery and thermal power station. ○ Ghagra Plain

7
 ■ Western most part of the North Bihar ● Physical feature: Western part of the Southern
plain. Plains is much wider than the Eastern part.
■ Spread over: Siwan, Gopalganj and ● Slope:
Saran. ○ Southern plain gentler than Northern
○ Gandak Plain plains.
■ Location: between Bagmati and ○ It's slope is about 6cm/Km from South to
Ghaghra plains. North towards Ganga Basin,
○ Bagmati Plain ○ Due to slope formation of numerous
■ Special Features: Chaurs are formed swamps near southern bank of Ganga from
Badh (Patna) to Bhagalpur.
■ Location: Kamala plain in the east and
○ These Swamps in Bihar known as 'Tal'.
Gandak plain in the west.
● South Bihar Plains categorized into 5 different
■ Spread area: Sitamarhi, Muzaffarpur,
plains.
Samastipur, East Champaran and
○ Central South plains:
Sheohar.
■ Shape: Triangular.
○ Kamala Plain
■ Surrounded by: Ganga in the north, Son
■ Special Features: The river Kamala also in the west and Tal region in the east.
changes its course, due to which a large ■ Area: 17000 sq km.
number of chaurs are formed in the ■ Spread area: Aurangabad, Jehanabad,
regions. Patna, Nalanda and Nawada.
■ Location: Central part of the North Bihar ○ Chandan Plains:
plain. ■ Location: Easternmost part of south
■ Surrounded by: Kosi plain in the east, Ganga plain and
Bagmati plain in the west, Indo-Nepal ■ Spread area: Banka and Bhagalpur
border in the north and river Ganga in districts.
the south. ■ River: The Chandan river originates from the
○ Kosi Plain Digharia Hills which is a part of Rajmahal
■ Surrounded by: Mahananda plain in the Hills
east, river Kamala in the west, Nepal ○ Kiul Plains:
border in the north and river Ganga in ■ Location: Western side of Chandan plain and
the south. east of Tal region.
■ Spread area: Supaul, Saharsa, ■ Characteristics: The Kharagpur hills form a
Madhepura, Madhubani, Darbhanga. watershed region between Kiul and Maan
■ The river Kosi is known to change its rivers.
course and hence it is the most flood ○ Shahabad Plains:
affected area of Bihar. ■ Location: Western most part of south Bihar
○ Mahananda Plain plain.
■ Location: Easternmost part of the North ■ Surrounded by: Ganga on the north, Kaimur
Bihar plain. plateau in the south, river Son in the east and
■ Spread area: Indo-Nepal border in the river Karmanasa in the west.
north, river Ganga in the south, West ■ Spread area: Bhojpur, Buxar and some parts
Bengal in the east and river Kosi in the of kaimur.
west. ○ Tal region:
b. Southern Plains of Bihar ■ Surrounded by: East of Tal region is Kiul plain
● Formation: Sandy soil formed out of older and to its west is Magadha plain.
alluvium (Bhangar) brought by Peninsular Rivers ■ Soil: The alluvium deposited is important for
like Son, Punpun, Phalgu, Kiul, Ajay. rabi.
● Physiographic features: Protruding hill due to General features South bihar plains
batholith outflow. Examples Gaya Hills (266 Facts Characteristics
metre), Rajgir Hills (466 meter), Kharagapur (510
metre), Barabar Hills and Giriak Hills.

8
 ○ South Bihar - Brahmayoni hills (Gaya) 67th
● From the Ganga up to Chhota
Extension Nagpur Plateau. B.P.S.C 2020
● Smaller than North Bihar Plains. ● Surrounded by: South of Bihar plains lie in the
plateau region which consists of Kaimur plateau
Shape ● Triangular in shape. also referred as Rohtas Plateau in the west and
Chhota Nagpur plateau in the east.
● Barabar Hills ● Geologically: It is made up of hard rocks -
● Rajgir Hills
Important Gneiss, Schist and Granite.
● Giriak Hills
Hills ● Resources: This region is rich in minerals and
● Kharagpur Hills (Jehanabad,
Nalanda and Munger). almost all mineral resources of Bihar are found
from this region itself. This can be further
● Higher in the south and slopes divided into two parts: -
Elevation
towards Ganga.

3. Southern Plateau region ○ Western Part:

■ Extension of Chhota Nagpur Plateau in
● Features: many conical hills which are made of
Bihar.
Batholith, like Pretshila, Ramshila and Jethian
■ It is spread in Kaimur, Rohtas
Hills etc.
Aurangabad, Gaya, Nawada and some
● Rivers: Sone, Uttari Koel, Pinpun, Panchane and parts of Jamui.
Karmnasha which flow towards north from the
plateau region. ○ Eastern Part
● Hills:
■ It's a continuation of Rajmahal Hills
○ Central Bihar consists of Rajgir Hills and
(Oldest Part in Bihar).
Kharugpur Hills (Munger) which are two ■ It extends from Banka, Jamui, Munger,
parallel ridges extending around 65 kms. and certain areas of Bhagalpur.
These hills are around 300 meters high.