TOI Patna

As the 1996 Ganga Water Sharing Treaty with Bangladesh nears its Dec 2026 expiry, Bihar is stepping up its demand for a greater say in how the river’s waters are shared and managed. TOI explores the politics, demands and stakes surrounding the treaty’s renewal

Gaya’s Pitripaksh Mela is a deeply personal journey for thousands who come to honour their ancestors and seek peace for their departed souls. As faith, tradition and family ties converge in the ancient city, TOI explores what keeps this ancient tradition alive across generations

From coded names and hidden compartments to boats, school notebooks and sacks of snacks, liquor smugglers in Bihar are changing their methods to stay ahead of enforcement agencies. TOI explores the ingenious disguises and coded language used in Bihar’s underground liquor trade

This year’s floods in Bihar broke familiar patterns, arriving after prolonged dry spells and a rainfall deficit, before eventually pushing the Ganga beyond its previous high flood level. TOI explores what the unlikely flood season reveals about Bihar’s changing water dynamics

For generations, Chaapa craft has carried the colours, memories and craftsmanship of Bihar into homes and celebrations far beyond the state. TOI explores how this handmade heritage is finding a place in a new generation’s wardrobe

Despite a steady decline over two decades, child marriage remains one of Bihar’s most persistent social challenges. Behind the statistics are stark district-wise disparities, under-reporting and stories of girls fighting back. TOI explores the crisis and the road ahead.

Once seen primarily as a source of floods and hardship, Bihar’s vast water resources are now powering a fisheries boom. From ponds and “chaurs” to modern biofloc systems and cage culture, the state is revitalising its aquatic economy. TOI explores the transformation

Prisons are no longer just about confinement. In Bihar, classrooms, workshops and wellness programmes are opening new pathways for inmates. TOI explores how education and skills are helping turn prison time into an opportunity for change

For centuries, Bihar’s ponds and wetlands sustained its people, culture and ecology. Today, unchecked urbanisation and encroachment are making many disappear. TOI explores Bihar’s vanishing water bodies, the deepening crisis and what it will take to save what remains

As autism diagnosis rises, more families in Patna are seeking help, but experts say city’s schools, public spaces and support systems remain ill-equipped to meet children’s needs. TOI takes a closer look at the gaps in awareness and inclusion

Bihar’s road network is undergoing its biggest infrastructure transformation in modern history, driving a socio-economic development

Bihar’s temples, mutts and dharamshalas are engines of welfare and local economies, generating crores of rupees and supporting hospitals, schools and community kitchens. TOI explores this little-known world of faith and finances

For nearly 400 years, Marufganj has remained at the heart of Bihar’s wholesale trade, weathering political change, shifting transport networks and evolving business practices while preserving its old-world charm. TOI explores the legacy of one of eastern India’s oldest markets

As authorities tighten security to curb question paper leaks, the exam mafia evolves with more sophisticated methods, shifting from paper theft to biometric fraud by exploiting new vulnerabilities. TOI explores how the racket keeps reinventing itself

From Bihar’s backyard nets to global cricket, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s rise showcases years of coaching, discipline and support. TOI explores the mentors and the system behind this teenage prodigy’s remarkable success

Bihar’s rare earth discoveries could reshape its economy, jobs & future growth. TOI takes a closer look

From improving access to boosting enrolment, Bihar’s higher education overhaul could prove transformative for students. TOI explores the scope and significance of the expansion drive

As climate change, erratic weather and a severe stink bug infestation ravage Bihar’s GI-tagged Shahi litchi crop, farmers, scientists and traders confront one of the worst crises in recent memory. TOI explores the challenges and the road ahead