Important Years and Events in Bihar: BPSC Examination Notes

I. Political and Administrative History

• March 22, 1912  – Bihar separated from Bengal Presidency; Bihar and Orissa Province created
• 1936 – Bihar and Odisha became separate provinces
• 1947 – India attained Independence; Bihar became a state of the Indian Union
• 1950 – Constitution of India came into force; Bihar became a constitutional state
• 1956 – States Reorganisation Act implemented
• 2000 – Formation of Jharkhand; reorganisation of Bihar

II. Ancient and Medieval Bihar

• 6th Century BC – Rise of Magadha Mahajanapada
• 599 BC – Birth of Mahavira at Vaishali
• 563 BC – Birth of Gautama Buddha (associated with Bihar region)
• 527 BC – Nirvana of Mahavira at Pavapuri
• 483 BC – First Buddhist Council held at Rajgir
• 383 BC – Second Buddhist Council held at Vaishali
• 326 BC – Invasion of Alexander (impact on north-western India)
• 321 BC – Establishment of Maurya Empire by Chandragupta Maurya
• 261 BC – Kalinga War during Ashoka’s reign
• 273–232 BC – Reign of Emperor Ashoka
• 5th Century AD – Golden Age of Gupta Empire; Nalanda University flourished

III. Education and Institutions

• 1818 – First printing press established in Bihar (Patna)
• 1916 – Establishment of Patna High Court
• 1917 – Establishment of Patna University (first university of Bihar)
• 1924 – Bihar College of Engineering established (now NIT Patna)
• 1925 – Patna Medical College established
• 1956 – Bhagalpur University established
• 2008 – IIT Patna established
• 2009 – Central University of South Bihar established
• 2010 – Aryabhatta Knowledge University established

IV. Press, Language and Culture

• 1874 – Publication of Bihar Bandhu, first Hindi newspaper of Bihar
• 1918 – First Hindi Sahitya Sammelan held at Patna
• 1951 – Hindi adopted as the official language of Bihar

V. Transport and Infrastructure

• 1862 – First railway line introduced in Bihar
• 1959 – Rajendra Setu inaugurated (first bridge over the Ganga in Bihar)
• 1982 – Mahatma Gandhi Setu inaugurated
• 2016 – Digha–Sonpur rail-cum-road bridge inaugurated

VI. Industry, Economy and Agriculture

• 1962 – Barauni Oil Refinery established
• 1969 – Barauni Fertilizer Plant established
• 1981 – Flood Control Policy adopted for Bihar
• 2016 – Prohibition policy implemented in Bihar

VII. Religion and World Heritage

• 483 BC – First Buddhist Council at Rajgir
• 5th Century AD – Nalanda University reached prominence
• 2012 – Mahabodhi Temple Complex declared UNESCO World Heritage Site
• 2016 – Nalanda Mahavihara declared UNESCO World Heritage Site

VIII. Social Movements and National Struggles

• 1857 – Revolt of 1857; leadership of Kunwar Singh in Bihar
• 1917 – Champaran Satyagraha led by Mahatma Gandhi
• 1942 – Quit India Movement; significant participation from Bihar
• 1974 – Total Revolution (JP Movement) launched from Bihar

IX. Census and Governance

• 1872 – First Census in India (Bihar included)
• 1951 – First Census after Independence
• 2011 – Latest completed Census of India
• 2023 – Bihar Caste Survey report released

X. Most Repeated Years in BPSC Examinations