Silk City of India: Bhagalpur’s title backed by history from Vedic era to British exportsBhagalpur silk dates back to the Vedic era, flourished under Mauryas & Mughals, and was a prized British Raj export for luxury home furnishings. Today the city houses a Silk Institute, and weaving remains part of daily life for thousands.
Bhagalpur weaving clusters keep 100-year-old handloom saree tradition aliveBhagalpur produces Tussar silk, cotton, linen, and printed sarees. It’s one of India’s largest Tussar silk producers, exporting worldwide. Weaving on 4-shaft handlooms, artisans create stripes, checks, and Madhubani prints. The slightly rough, uneven texture gives each saree a unique handcrafted feel.
Bhagalpuri Silk: The GI-tagged ‘Queen of All Silks’ carrying centuries of craftsmanshipAlso called Tussar silk, Bhagalpuri silk holds Geographical Indication status certifying its unique origin and quality. Made from wild Antheraea paphia cocoons, it has a natural gold sheen and nubby texture. Called “Ahimsa” or Peace Silk, it’s cruelty-free and eco-aligned, loved by designers for breathable, organic feel.
Rahul Gandhi meets Bhagalpur silk weavers, raises issues of handloom vs synthetic competitionCongress MP Rahul Gandhi interacted with Bhagalpur weavers who flagged challenges faced by the silk industry. Weavers said Bhagalpuri silk competes with modern synthetics and needs greater govt support. Bhagalpur, globally recognized for Tussar silk from Antheraea papia silkworms, is a key contributor to Bihar’s economy.
Political Spotlight Read More »
The focus on industries like textiles is set to bolster Bihar’s economy and reinforce its historical association with silk, especially Bhagalpuri Silk—a globally recognized symbol of India’s rich heritage in traditional craftsmanship. Many companies have shown interest in investing in the logistics sector, and the textile industry of Bihar may benefit from it.
Business & Industry Boost Read More »
Four killed, eleven injured in high-speed bus crash on NH-31 in BhagalpurState alert issued after major bus accident on NH-31 in Bhagalpur district left 4 dead and 11 injured.
The Ministry has also approved the construction of the Bhagalpur Bypass (13.38 km) in Eastern Railway at an estimated cost of ₹303.20 crore. The bypass will connect Gonudham Halt on the Barahat-Bhagalpur section with Sabour on the Bhagalpur-Sahibganj section, thereby easing congestion at Bhagalpur junction. At present, the Barahat–Bhagalpur section is operating at more than 125 percent capacity utilisation, leading to severe congestion. Trains moving between the Barahat–Bhagalpur and Bhagalpur–Sahibganj sections require engine reversal at Bhagalpur, resulting in detention and operational inefficiencies. The approved bypass will significantly improve operational fluidity and punctuality. These infrastructure works will strengthen rail connectivity in Gujarat and Bihar, enhance safety, reduce congestion, and improve overall efficiency of train operations. The Ministry of Railways continues to prioritise capacity augmentation and network decongestion to meet the growing passenger and freight transportation demands of the country.
Railway Infrastructure Read More »
The Bihar government awarded the 2,400 MW Bhagalpur (Pirpainti) power project to Adani Power Ltd after a competitive bidding process in which the Ahmedabad-based company quoted a lower electricity tariff than three other bidders, including Torrent Power and JSW Energy, sources said. The Bihar government had floated an open tender for the Bhagalpur project to meet the state’s electricity demand, projected to double to over 17,000 MW by 2034-35. Four qualified bidders participated in the tender, with Adani Power quoting the lowest electricity tariff of Rs 6.075 per kWh (or per unit), sources with direct knowledge of the bidding process said.Adani Power emerged as the lowest bidder (L1) with a tariff of Rs 6.075 per kWh, comprising a fixed charge of Rs 4.165 and a fuel charge of Rs 1.91 per unit. The state government described the tariff as “highly competitive”, noting that similar recent bids in Madhya Pradesh quoted higher fixed charges. Torrent Power was the second lowest bidder offering power at Rs 6.145 per unit, while Lalitput Power Generation Co Ltd quoted Rs 6.165 and JSW Energy Rs 6.205 per unit. The e-bidding process was conducted under standard government procedures to ensure transparency, sources said, adding that all bids were evaluated using the e-bidding procedure, ensuring full transparency and equal opportunity.
Adani Power won Bihar’s 2,400 MW Bhagalpur project with lowest bid Read More »
Fresh cases of H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, have been detected in crows in Bihar’s Bhagalpur and Purnia districts, taking the total number of affected districts in the state to six.The latest cases were reported from Sultanganj block in Bhagalpur and Banmankhi in Purnia after around 50 crows were found dead in the two districts. “We had sent samples of the dead crows to the Regional Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (RDDL) in Kolkata over a fortnight ago. The laboratory confirmed the presence of the H5N1 virus on Saturday,” an official of the department said. Sultanganj is the second block in Bhagalpur to report bird flu. Around 22 crows had died there over the past fortnight, prompting authorities to send samples for testing. Earlier, Naugachhia block in the district had reported the virus after around 70 crow deaths last month.
Over 22,000 hectares of Rabi crops damaged by storms in Bhagalpur, govt starts surveyUnseasonal cyclonic rain + strong winds damaged maize, wheat across 22,220 hectares in 140+ panchayats of Bhagalpur. District agriculture officer said block-wise surveys started to assess farmer losses as harvest season neared
Agriculture Hit by Storms Read More »