Following the delimitation exercise based on the 2021 Census, Bihar's Lok Sabha constituencies increased from 40 to 42, reflecting population growth.
BSDMA is responsible for coordinating disaster management, including mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery from natural disasters like floods and droughts in Bihar.
Jehanabad is known for limestone and stone quarrying. Historically, the Jehanabad jail gained notoriety during the freedom struggle and bandit operations.
Bihar shares borders with 5 states: Uttar Pradesh (west), Jharkhand (south), West Bengal (east), and Nepal (north). It also borders Madhya Pradesh indirectly through Jharkhand.
# PHED Bihar - Primary Responsibility Analysis
The Public Health Engineering Department operates under specific constitutional mandates to address basic public health infrastructure needs.
## Step 1: Understanding PHED's Constitutional Mandate
PHED is a state-level department established under the Public Health Act to provide essential services to the population. Its primary focus is on two critical aspects of public health infrastructure.
## Step 2: Analyzing the Scope of Operations
While PHED handles both urban and rural areas, its core mandate is explicitly defined as providing safe drinking water and sanitation services. This includes water treatment, distribution networks, sewage management, and waste disposal systems across the state.
Answer: (A) providing safe drinking water and sanitation services.
PHED's fundamental responsibility is to ensure every citizen has access to potable water and proper sanitation facilities, making option (A) the most comprehensive and accurate answer. Though they may operate in both urban and rural areas, the defining characteristic of their primary responsibility is the delivery of safe water and sanitation services.
# Agricultural Districts of Bihar
Bihar's districts have specialized agricultural production based on soil quality, climate, and irrigation facilities.
Nalanda district is renowned as Bihar's primary vegetable production hub due to its fertile soil and well-developed irrigation infrastructure.
Nalanda district, located in central Bihar, has historically established itself as the state's leading vegetable-producing region. The district benefits from nutrient-rich alluvial soil deposited by the Ganges River system and extensive irrigation facilities from the Son River and other water sources. Major vegetables produced include tomatoes, onions, potatoes, and leafy greens, which are supplied to markets across Bihar and neighboring states. The district's agricultural economy is primarily driven by vegetable cultivation rather than cereal crops.
While other districts like Vaishali, Madhubani, and Samastipur are important agricultural zones in Bihar, they are better known for cereal production (wheat, rice, maize) and pulses rather than vegetables specifically. Madhubani is famous for its mithila paintings and traditional agriculture, Vaishali for litchi production, and Samastipur for general farming.
Answer: (A) Nalanda — Bihar's leading vegetable production district.
The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act (1992) provides the constitutional framework for Panchayat Raj system across India, including Bihar. This amendment established the three-tier system of local governance.
Bihar has a significantly higher infant mortality rate compared to the national average, which is a critical health indicator reflecting challenges in maternal and child healthcare in the state.
The Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY) is a national scheme implemented in Bihar to provide skill development training to rural and urban youth to enhance their employability.
Bihar's urban water supply faces challenges due to inadequate infrastructure development and contamination of groundwater sources, including arsenic contamination in certain regions.
