Bihar

Patna: The Bihar Education Department has released the official holiday calendar for 2026 for all government, aided, Sanskrit, Urdu, and Madarsa schools across the state. According to the notification issued by Sanjay Rao, Director (Secondary Education), students will get a total of 75 holidays, including 10 Sundays. The calendar covers all major festivals and observances, from Makar Sankranti to Diwali, Chhath, and winter break. District Education Officers have been instructed to ensure smooth functioning of schools according to the schedule. Makar Sankranti: 14 January Vasant Panchami: 23 January Republic Day: 26 January (schools to remain closed after programs) Sant Ravidas Jayanti: 1 February Maha Shivaratri: 15 February Holi: 3–4 March Summer Vacation: 1–20 Ju...

Nawada, Bihar: Residents of the Kawakol area in Nawada district are facing a massive wildlife scare as a herd of 30–35 elephants, believed to have strayed from neighboring Jharkhand, has caused widespread destruction in the region. The elephants trampled standing crops, destroyed stored paddy in granaries, and even damaged infrastructure, leaving locals in a state of panic. The herd has particularly affected the Lalpur and Sekhodewara areas, flattening paddy fields and causing significant agricultural losses. They also destroyed part of the boundary wall of the Gram Nirman Mandal Sarvodaya Ashram Sekhodewara and the Agricultural Science Center, including a 150-foot-long wall of the ashram. Arvind Kumar, General Secretary of the Gram Nirman Mandal, urged authorities to reconstruct the wa...

In a major breakthrough, Patna Police have arrested a dreaded criminal who earned the chilling title of “Psycho Killer” after allegedly executing more than 20 murders in a short yet violent criminal career. The accused, identified as Avinash Srivastava alias Amit, was arrested while plotting yet another murder soon after being released on bail. A Killer With an Ordinary Face but a Terrifying Past At first glance, Avinash looks like any ordinary man. There is nothing in his appearance that hints at the brutality associated with his name. But behind that simple face lies a criminal mind that has repeatedly shocked investigators. The term “psycho killer” is often used in films and web series, yet Patna Police have now encountered a real-life figure who fits that description. Police o...

Patna: Amid escalating internal unrest, the Bihar Congress has issued notices to 15 district presidents for failing to attend a crucial review meeting convened by Bihar Pradesh Congress Committee (BPCC) president Rajesh Ram on December 1. The meeting was also attended by Krishna Allavaru, the party’s in-charge for Bihar. In a letter issued by Congress office secretary Nalin Kumar, the district leaders have been asked to explain their absence from the meeting. This move comes in the backdrop of the party’s continued disciplinary action following its humiliating defeat in the 2025 Bihar Assembly elections. Earlier, on November 18, just days after the election results, the Congress had issued show-cause notices to 43 leaders for alleged anti-party activities, including deviating from party...

Kishanganj, Bihar: In a significant anti-corruption operation, a revenue official in Bihar was caught accepting a bribe of Rs 2.5 lakh. The incident took place in Kishanganj, where the officer, Rajdeep Paswan, was allegedly demanding the money to facilitate the mutation (land record modification) process. A surveillance team led by DSP Vinod Kumar Pandey from Patna conducted a trap near Abhishek Hotel in the Kishanganj Sadar block. Acting on a written complaint filed by the victim, Owais Ansari, a resident of Ward No. 22, Khagra, the team apprehended Paswan while he was receiving the bribe. The complaint had initially alleged that Paswan demanded a total of Rs 2.7 lakh, of which Rs 2.5 lakh was paid to expedite the mutation work. Following the arrest, a case has been registered again...

Patna: Senior IAS officer KK Pathak has long been known for his strict administrative style and uncompromising decisions, whether in the Education Department or the Prohibition Department. His firm approach, often appreciated for improving governance, also repeatedly brought him into confrontation with ministers of the Nitish Kumar cabinet. Since the Education Department directly impacts the public, the friction between the minister and the bureaucrat frequently put the government in uncomfortable situations. Ministers vs KK Pathak: The Conflict A number of ministers were reportedly unhappy with KK Pathak’s functioning, though many kept their dissatisfaction behind closed doors. However, two ministers of the Nitish Cabinet openly expressed anger, levelling serious allegations against...

Patna: In the aftermath of Bihar’s assembly elections, the post-mortem meetings held separately by the RJD and Congress raise a crucial question: What is the point of these reviews when the real losers were the alliance itself? The Mahagathbandhan (Grand Alliance) was defeated not by the NDA, but by its own internal conflicts, arrogance, and stubbornness. Friendly Fights That Turned FatalBoth parties were fully aware of the stakes, yet they plunged into electoral battles with unyielding obstinacy. Fights over tickets and internal rivalries were left unresolved until the polls, resulting in pre-determined losses in at least 11 constituencies. In such a scenario, post-election review meetings seem nothing more than a timepass exercise. The focus, experts say, should have been introspectio...

Patna: The Bihar government is set to implement a new policy ensuring long-term quality of urban roads. Under the new rule, contractors and agencies responsible for road construction and maintenance will be required to maintain the quality of roads for seven years. As part of this ambitious plan, nearly 19,000 kilometers of state highways and major district roads across Bihar will come under the maintenance scheme. The Public Works Department (PWD) has allocated approximately ₹23,000 crore for this project. Agencies failing to meet quality standards may face up to 40% deduction in their payment. Cabinet Approval SoonThe proposal for the new policy, based on the OPRMC-3 (Long-Term Performance-Based Road Maintenance Model), will soon be sent for cabinet approval. Under this plan, 19,36...