Bihar (/bɪˈhɑːr/; Hindi: [bɪˈɦaːr] ) is a state in Eastern India. It is the third largest state by population, the 12th largest by area, and the 15th largest by GDP in 2021.[11][12][13] Bihar borders Uttar Pradesh to its west, Nepal to the north, the northern part of West Bengal to the east, and Jharkhand to the south. Bihar is split by the river Ganges, which flows from west to east.[4] On 15 November 2000, southern Bihar was ceded to form the new state of Jharkhand.[14] Only 11.27% of the population of Bihar lives in urban areas as per a 2020 report.[15] Additionally, almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, giving Bihar the highest proportion of young people of any Indian state.[16] The official language is Hindi, which shares official status alongside that of Urdu. The main native languages are Maithili, Magahi and Bhojpuri. But there are several other languages being spoken at smaller levels.
In Ancient and Classical India, the area that is now Bihar was considered the centre of political and cultural power and as a haven of learning.[17] From Magadha arose India's first empire, the Maurya empire, as well as one of the world's most widely adhered-to religions: Buddhism.[18] Magadha empires, notably under the Maurya and Gupta dynasties, unified large parts of South Asia under a central rule.[19] Another region of Bihar, Mithila, was an early centre of learning and the centre of the Videha kingdom.[20][21]
However, since the late 1970s, Bihar has lagged far behind other Indian states in terms of social and economic development.[22] 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,[23][24] its apathy towards Bihar,[25] lack of Bihari sub-nationalism,[26] and the Permanent Settlement of 1793 by the British East India Company.[24] The state government has, however, made significant strides in developing the state.[27] Improved governance has led to an economic revival in the state through increased investment in infrastructure,[28] better healthcare facilities, greater emphasis on education, and a reduction in crime and corruption.[29]
- ^ Porwal, Vikas (22 March 2022). "Bihar Diwas State Anthem: क्या है बिहार का राज्यगीत, यहां जानिए इसकी दिलचस्प कहानी". Zee News (in Hindi). Retrieved 27 September 2024.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
BiharCensus2023was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ ""Happy To Work...": Rajendra Arlekar On New Role Of Bihar Governor". NDTV. PTI. 12 February 2023. Archived from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 12 February 2023.
- ^ a b "State Profile". Government of Bihar. Archived from the original on 22 September 2017. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
- ^ "Bihar Location - Geographical Location Bihar India". www.bharatonline.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2023. Retrieved 24 March 2023.
- ^ Mandal, R. B. (2010). Wetlands Management in North Bihar. Concept Publishing Company. ISBN 978-81-8069-707-4. Archived from the original on 8 April 2023. Retrieved 25 March 2023.
- ^ "Bihar Profile" (PDF). census.gov.in. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2021. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
- ^ "Bihar Budget Analysis 2024-25".
- ^ "Sub-national HDI – Area Database". Global Data Lab. Institute for Management Research, Radboud University. Archived from the original on 23 September 2018. Retrieved 28 September 2024.
- ^ "Sex ratio of State and Union Territories of India as per National Health survey Phase I (2019-2020)" (PDF). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, India. 10 December 2020. Archived (PDF) from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ Jha, Ramanath (19 July 2022). "Speeding up Bihar's urbanisation". ORF. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ "Table 24: gross state domestic product" (PDF). National Statistical Office, Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India. Archived (PDF) from the original on 20 December 2022 – via Reserve Bank of India.
- ^ "Population Projections For India And States 2011 - 2036" (PDF). Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. July 2020. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2022.
- ^ Dutt, Ashok K. "Jharkhand". Encyclopædia Britannica. Archived from the original on 8 March 2012. Retrieved 18 July 2010.
- ^ Subhash, Pathak (26 December 2020). "Bihar cabinet approves 111 new urban bodies, 5 more municipal corporations". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 25 November 2022. Retrieved 25 November 2022.
- ^ Guruswamy, Mohan; Kaul, Abhishek (15 December 2003). "The Economic Strangulation of Bihar" (PDF). New Delhi, India: Centre for Policy Alternatives. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 30 May 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^ Bihar, Past & Present: souvenir, 13th Annual Congress of Epigraphica by P. N. Ojha, Kashi Prasad Jayaswal Research Institute
- ^ Lopez, Donald (2014). "Magadha". The Princeton Dictionary of Buddhism. ISBN 978-0-691-15786-3.
- ^ "The History of Bihar". Bihar Government. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2008.
- ^ Mandal, R. B. (2010). Wetlands Management in North Bihar. Concept Publishing Company. p. 87. ISBN 9788180697074. Archived from the original on 2 December 2022. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ Kumāra, Braja Bihārī (1998). Small States Syndrome in India. Concept Publishing Company. p. 146. ISBN 9788170226918. Retrieved 16 February 2017.
- ^
- "Bihar's 'first' Economic Survey Report tabled". The Times of India. 7 March 2007. Archived from the original on 18 May 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2008.
- Bal Thackeray (5 March 2008). "Biharis an unwanted lot". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 10 March 2008. Retrieved 5 March 2008.
- Wajihuddin, Mohammed (10 August 2008). "'Bihari' has become an abuse". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 5 May 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2008.
- ^ Das, Arvind N. (1992). The Republic of Bihar. New Delhi: Penguin Books. ISBN 978-0-14-012351-7.
- ^ a b Goswami, Urmi A (16 February 2005). "'Bihar Needs an Icon, a person who stands above his caste' (Dr Shaibal Gupta – Rediff Interview)". Rediff. Archived from the original on 20 February 2005. Retrieved 16 February 2005.
- ^
- Guruswamy, Mohan; Baitha, Ramnis Attar; Mohanty, Jeevan Prakash (15 June 2004). "Centrally Planned Inequality: The Tale of Two States – Punjab and Bihar" (PDF). New Delhi, India: Centre for Policy Alternatives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- Guruswamy, Mohan; Mohanty, Jeevan Prakash (15 February 2004). "The De-urbanisation of Bihar" (PDF). New Delhi, India: Centre for Policy Alternatives. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 March 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2015.
- ^
- Ahmed Farzand and Mishra Subhash, Leaders of Bihar unite to counter Raj Thackeray, India Today, 31 October 2008
- Gupta, Shaibal. "Bihar: Identity and Development". Asian Development Research Institute, Patna. Archived from the original on 30 March 2005. Retrieved 30 April 2006.
- ^ Phadnis, Aditi (26 July 2008). "Lalu in the red". Business Standard. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- ^ Goswami, Urmi A (17 June 2008). "Biharis get work at home, bashers realise their worth". The Economic Times. India. Archived from the original on 13 February 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2008.
- ^
- Dharma, Supriya; Jha, Abhay Mohan (15 July 2008). "Bihar witnesses a quiet transformation". NDTV. Archived from the original on 18 July 2008. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
- Jha, Abhay Mohan (8 March 2008). "English makes inroads in Bihar villages". NDTV. Archived from the original on 9 March 2008. Retrieved 8 March 2008.