Bihar

Bihar (/bɪˈhɑːr/; Hindi pronunciation: [bɪˈɦaːr] (listen)) is a state in eastern India. It is the third-largest state by population and twelfth-largest by territory, with an area of 94,163 km² (36,357 sq mi). It is contiguous with Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West Bengal to the east, and with Jharkhand to the south. The Bihar plain is split by the river Ganges, which flows from west to east.^[11] Three main cultural regions converge in the state: Magadh, Mithila, and Bhojpur.^[12] Bihar is also the world’s third-most populous subnational entity.

On 15 November 2000, southern Bihar was ceded to form the new state of Jharkhand.^[13] Only 11.3% of the population of Bihar lives in urban areas, which is the lowest in India after Himachal Pradesh.^[14] Additionally, almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, giving Bihar the highest proportion of young people of any Indian state.^[15] The official languages are Hindi and Urdu, although other languages are common, including Maithili, Magahi, Bhojpuri and other Bihari languages.

In ancient and classical India, the area that is now Bihar was considered a centre of power, learning, and culture.^[16] From Magadha arose India’s first empire, the Maurya empire, as well as one of the world’s most widely adhered-to religions: Buddhism.^[17] Magadha empires, notably under the Maurya and Gupta dynasties, unified large parts of South Asia under a central rule.^[18] Another region of Bihar is Mithila which was an early centre of learning and the centre of the Videha kingdom.^[19][20]

Since the late 1970s, Bihar has lagged far behind other Indian states in terms of social and economic development.^[21] Many economists and social scientists claim that this is a direct result of the policies of the central government, such as the freight equalisation policy,^[22][23] its apathy towards Bihar,^[24] lack of Bihari sub-nationalism,^[25] and the Permanent Settlement of 1793 by the British East India Company.^[23] The state government has, however, made significant strides in developing the state.^[26] Improved governance has led to an economic revival in the state through increased investment in infrastructure,^[27] better health care facilities, greater emphasis on education, and a reduction in crime and corruption.^[28]

Economy

Langra mango from a farm in Shivnarayanpur, Bhagalpur, Bihar

Bihar accounts for 71% of India’s annual litchi production.^[105]

Barauni Petrolium Oil Refinery in Begusarai

Bihar’s gross state domestic product (GSDP) for fiscal year (FY) 2013–14 was around ₹3,683.37 billion. By sectors, its composition is 22% agriculture, 5% industry and 73% services.^{[citation needed]} Bihar has the fastest-growing state economy in terms of GSDP, with a growth rate of 17.06% in FY 2014–15.^[106] The economy of Bihar was projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 13.4% during 2012–2017 (the 12th Five-Year Plan). Bihar has experienced strong growth in per capita net state domestic product (NSDP). At current prices, per capita NSDP of the state grew at a CAGR of 12.91% from 2004 to 2005 to 2014–15.^[107] Bihar’s per capita income went up by 40.6% in FY 2014–15.^[108] The state’s debt was estimated at 77% of GDP by 2007.^[109]

Agriculture

Among the states of India, Bihar is the fourth-largest producer of vegetables and the eighth-largest producer of fruits. About 80% of the state’s population is employed in agriculture, which is above the national average.^[107] The main agricultural products are litchi, guava, mango, pineapple, brinjal, lady’s finger, cauliflower, cabbage, rice, wheat, sugarcane, and sunflower. Though good soil and favourable climatic conditions favour agriculture, this can be hampered by floods and soil erosion.^[110] The southern parts of the state endure annual droughts, which affect crops such as paddy.^[111]

Industry

Hajipur, Dalmianagar and Barauni are the major industrial cities in Bihar^[112] The capital city, Patna, is one of the better-off cities in India when measured by per capita income.^{[relevant?][113]}^

The Finance Ministry has sought to create investment opportunities for big industrial houses like Reliance Industries. Further developments have taken place in the growth of small industries, improvements in IT infrastructure, a software park in Patna, Darbhanga, Bhagalpur,^[114] and the completion of the expressway from the Purvanchal border through Bihar to Jharkhand. In August 2008, a Patna-registered company called the Security and Intelligence Services^[115] took over the Australian guard and mobile patrol services business of American conglomerate, United Technologies Corporation (UTC). SIS is registered and taxed in Bihar.^{[116][relevant?]}

Prior to prohibition, Bihar emerged as a brewery hub with numerous production units.^[117] In August 2018, United Breweries Limited announced it would begin production of non-alcoholic beer at its previously defunct brewery in Bihar.^[118][119]

Income distribution

In terms of income, the districts of Patna, Munger, and Begusarai placed highest among the 38 districts in the state, recording the highest per capita gross district domestic product of ₹31,441, ₹10,087 and ₹9,312, respectively, in FY 2004–05.^[113]

List of districts of Bihar

Bihar, a state of India, currently has 38 administrative districts Districts of Bihar, 101 subdivisions (अनुमंडल) and 534 CD blocks.

A district of an Indian state is an administrative geographical unit, headed by a district magistrate or a deputy commissioner, an officer belonging to the Indian Administrative Service. The district magistrate or the deputy commissioner is assisted by a number of officials belonging to different wings of the administrative services of the state.

A superintendent of police, an officer belonging to Indian Police Service, is entrusted with the responsibility of maintaining law and order and related issues.

3 to 6 districts are comprised to form a division (प्रमंडल). Each district is divided into sub-divisions (अनुमंडल), which are further sub-divided into CD blocks (प्रखण्ड).

Summary[edit]

Division	Headquarters	Districts	District map of Bihar
Patna	Patna	Bhojpur, Buxar, Kaimur, Patna, Rohtas, Nalanda
Saran	Chapra	Saran, Siwan , Gopalganj
Tirhut	Muzaffarpur	East Champaran, Muzaffarpur, Sheohar, Sitamarhi, Vaishali, West Champaran
Purnia	Purnia	Araria, Katihar, Kishanganj, Purnia
Bhagalpur	Bhagalpur	Banka, Bhagalpur
Darbhanga	Darbhanga	Darbhanga, Madhubani, Samastipur
Kosi	Saharsa	Madhepura, Saharsa, Supaul
Magadh	Gaya	Arwal, Aurangabad, Gaya, Jehanabad, Nawada
Munger	Munger	Begusarai,Jamui, Khagaria, Munger, Lakhisarai, Sheikhpura

Detailed List[edit]

#	Code	District	Headquarters	Sub-Division(Taluka)	Population (2011)	Area (km²)	Density (/km²) (2011)	Map
1	AR	Araria	Araria	Araria Jokihat Kursakanta Raniganj Sikti Palasi Forbesganj Narpatganj Bhargama	2,811,569	2,829	751
2	AW	Arwal	Arwal	Arwal Kaler Karpi Kurtha Sonbhadra Banshi Suryapur	699,000	637	918
3	AU	Aurangabad	Aurangabad	Aurangabad Barun Navinagar Kutumba Madanpur Deo Rafiganj Obra Daudnagar Goh Haspura	2,540,073	3,303	607
4	BA	Banka	Banka	Amarpur Banka Barahat Belhar Bounsi Chandan Dhoraiya Fullidumar Katoriya Rajoun Sambhuganj	2,034,763	3,018	533
5	BE	Begusarai	Begusarai	Begusarai Barauni Teghra Matihani Bachhwara Mansurchak Naokothi Cheriabariyarpur Sahebpur Kamal Bakhari Birpur Dandari Garhpura Balia Chhorahi Khodawandpur Bhagwanpur Samho Akha Kurha	2,970,541	1,917	1,222
6	BG	Bhagalpur	Bhagalpur	Goradih Jagdishpur Nathnagar Sabour Shahkund Sultanganj Kahalgaon Pirpainty Sanhaula Bihpur Gopalpur Ismailpur Kharik Narayanpur Naugachhiya Rangrachowk	3,037,766	2,569	946
7	BJ	Bhojpur	Arrah		2,728,407	2,473	903
8	BU	Buxar	Buxar		1,706,352	1,624	864
9	DA	Darbhanga	Darbhanga	Darbhanga Sadar Benipur Baheri Ali Nagar Hanuman Nagar Bahadurpur Hayaghat Keoti Singhwara Jale Manigachhi Tardih Biraul Ghanshyampur Kusheshwar Asthan Kusheshwar Asthan East Kiratpur Gaura Bauram	3,937,385	2,278	1,442
10	EC	East Champaran	Motihari		5,099,371	3,969	991
11	GA	Gaya	Gaya		4,391,418	4,978	696
12	GO	Gopalganj	Gopalganj		2,562,012	2,033	1,057
13	JA	Jamui	Jamui		1,760,405	3,099	451
14	JE	Jehanabad	Jehanabad		1,125,313	1,569	963
15	KH	Khagaria	Khagaria		1,666,886	1,486	859
16	KI	Kishanganj	Kishanganj		1,690,400	1,884	687
17	KM	Kaimur	Bhabua		1,626,384	3,363	382
18	KT	Katihar	Katihar		3,071,029	3,056	782
19	LA	Lakhisarai	Lakhisarai		1,000,912	1,229	652
20	MB	Madhubani	Madhubani		4,487,379	3,501	1,020
21	MG	Munger	Munger		1,367,765	1,419	800
22	MP	Madhepura	Madhepura		2,001,762	1,787	853
23	MZ	Muzaffarpur	Muzaffarpur		4,801,062	3,173	1,180
24	NL	Nalanda	Bihar Sharif		2,877,653	2,354	1,006
25	NW	Nawada	Nawada		2,219,146	2,492	726
26	PA	Patna	Patna	Patna Sadar Sampatchak Phulwarisarif Fatwah Daniyawan Khusrupur Athmal gola Mokama Belchhi Ghoswari Pandarak Bakhtiyarpur Barh Masaurhi Punpun Dhanarua Danapur Maner Bihta Naubatpur Paliganj Dulhinbazar Bikram	5,838,465	3,202	1,471
27	PU	Purnia	Purnia		3,264,619	3,228	787
28	RO	Rohtas	Sasaram		2,959,918	3,850	636
29	SH	Saharsa	Saharsa		1,900,661	1,702	885
30	SM	Samastipur	Samastipur	Tajpur Morwa Khanpur Sarairanjan Pusa Warishnagar Kalyanpur Rosera Hasanpur Bithan Shivajinagar Singhiya Bibhutipur Dalsingsarai Ujiyarpur Vidyapatinagar Patori Mohanpur Mohiuddin Nagar	4,261,566	2,905	1,175
31	SO	Sheohar	Sheohar		656,916	443	1,161
32	SP	Sheikhpura	Sheikhpura		634,927	689	762
33	SR	Saran	Chhapra		3,951,862	2,641	1,231
34	ST	Sitamarhi	Dumra, Sitamarhi		3,423,574	2,199	1,214
35	SU	Supaul	Supaul		2,229,076	2,410	724
36	SW	Siwan	Siwan		3,330,464	2,219	1,221
37	VA	Vaishali	Hajipur		3,495,021	2,036	1,332
38	WC	West Champaran	Bettiah		3,935,042	5,229	582

See Also