Bihar

Patna / Delhi: Bihar’s traditional “white gold,” makhana (fox nuts), will take center stage at the 77th Republic Day Parade in Delhi this year. The central government has selected Bihar’s tableau, themed “Makhana: From Local to Global – A Superfood on the Plate”, to showcase the state’s rich agricultural heritage. Journey of Makhana on Display The tableau will narrate the entire journey of makhana—from cultivation to processing. Visitors will see detailed representations of harvesting, roasting, popping, and packaging processes. Local labor, women’s participation, and traditional agricultural knowledge will be highlighted. For instance, one part of the tableau will depict a woman roasting makhana on a clay stove using an iron pan, while another will show a man pounding makhana with a...

Patna: Banking services in Bihar and across India are set to be severely disrupted on 27 January as the United Forum of Bank Unions (UFBU) has called a nationwide strike. In Bihar alone, nearly 50,000 bank employees are expected to participate, affecting operations in approximately 8,100 branches, including public, private, foreign, and regional rural banks. Key Demands: Implementation of Five-Day Work WeekThe primary agenda of the strike is the implementation of a five-day work week in banks. Bank unions have emphasized that agreements reached on 7 December 2023 and 8 March 2024 recommended this change, but it has yet to be enforced. Employees have now expressed readiness for a decisive confrontation to ensure their demands are met. Impact on Public and BusinessesThe strike is expec...

A heartwarming yet sensitive love story from Bihar’s Banka district has drawn widespread attention, where a young man waited for four years for his girlfriend to attain legal age before marrying her. The couple solemnised their marriage at a local temple and later approached the police seeking protection, fearing opposition from their families. The incident took place on Thursday evening in Shambhuganj, when the couple tied the knot at the Someshwarnath Mahadev Temple, making the deity their witness. Love Blossomed on Facebook According to police, Dharmveer Kumar, son of Birendra Singh and a resident of Karsop village, first came into contact with Kumkum, daughter of Raghav from Raipura village, through Facebook. What began as casual online conversations gradually developed into a...

Patna: In a landmark decision aimed at addressing Bihar’s chronic water crisis, the Central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has approved an ambitious Ganga Water Supply Project. The Central Water Commission (CWC) has given its nod to the project’s Preliminary Project Report (PPR), paving the way for surplus Ganga water to be transported to the state’s dry reservoirs through an extensive pipeline network. Under the scheme, excess water from the Ganga during the monsoon season will be diverted to reservoirs in southern Bihar. The state’s Water Resources Department is now preparing to translate the plan into action, with a Detailed Project Report (DPR) expected to be finalized within the next two to three months. 132-Km Pipeline in First Phase In the first phase of the...

Siwan: The woman police officer who once scripted a historic chapter in Bihar policing by arresting former MP Mohammad Shahabuddin is back in the spotlight. Gauri Kumari, fondly remembered as “Super Cop Gauri,” has now been promoted and is currently serving as a Sub-Divisional Police Officer (SDPO). She took charge as SDPO of Maharajganj subdivision in Siwan district last year. On November 5, 2005, Gauri Kumari led a five-member special task team of the Bihar Police and arrested the then RJD MP Mohammad Shahabuddin from his official residence in Delhi. The arrest of one of Bihar’s most powerful and controversial political figures was considered nearly impossible at the time—until Gauri Kumari made it happen. When a Woman Officer Made History The incident dates back more than two d...