Bihar, is a state of 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 bounded
by Nepal to the north and by the Indian states of West
Bengal to the northeast and Uttar Pradesh to the west. The Bihar
plain is split by the river Ganges, which flows from west to east. The
capital of Bihar is Patna. The Area measures 38,301 square miles (99,200
square km). with a Population of 103,804,637.
LAND AND CLIMATE
Bihar has three parts on the basis of physical and
structural conditions: the Southern Plateau, the Shivalik Region,
and Bihar’s Gangetic Plain. Furthermore, the vast stretch
of fertile Bihar Plain is divided by the Ganges
River into two unequal parts – North Bihar and South
Bihar. The Ganges flows west–east and, along with its tributaries,
regularly floods parts of the Bihar plain. The main northern tributaries are
the Gandak and Koshi, which originate in the Nepalese Himalayas,
and the Bagmati, which originates in the Kathmandu Valley. Bihar has
an average daily high temperature of only 26 °C with a yearly average of
26 °C. The climate is very warm, but has only a very few tropical and
humid months. Several months of the year it is warm to hot at temperatures
continuously above 25 °C, sometimes up to 29 °C. Due to less rain the
best time for traveling is from October to April. The most rainy days occur
from May to September.
Bihar has reserved Forest area of
6,845 km2 (2,643 sq mi), which is 7.27% of its geographical
area. The sub-Himalayan foothill of Someshwar and the Dun ranges in the
Champaran district have belts of moist deciduous forests, mixed with shrubs,
grass and reeds. High rainfall (above 1,600 mm [63 in]) promotes
forests of Sal (Shorea robusta) in these areas. Other important trees are Sal
Cedrela Toona, Khair, and Semal. Deciduous forests also occur in
the Saharsa and Purnia districts, with common trees
including Shorea robusta (sal), Diospyros
melanoxylon (kendu), Boswellia serrata (salai), Terminalia
tomentose (asan), Terminalia bellerica (bahera), Terminalia
arjuna (arjun), Pterocarpus marsupium (paisar), and Madhuca
indica (mahua).
Valmiki National Park covers about 800 km2 (309 sq mi) of
forest and is the 18th Tiger Reserve of India, ranked fourth in terms of
density of tiger population. It has a diverse landscape and biodiversity in
addition to sheltering the protected carnivores. Vikramshila Gangetic Dolphin
Sanctuary in Bhagalpur region is a reserve for the endangered South Asian river
dolphin. Other species in Bihar include leopard, bear, hyena, bison, chital and
barking deer. Crocodilians including gharials and muggers as well as Gangetic
turtles can be found in the river systems.
DEMOGRAPHIC PATTERN
The state is primarily rural, with the vast majority of the
population living in compact or clustered villages in
the cultivated plains. The harnessing of the Kosi River has
stabilized settlement in its valley, while a highly developed system of
irrigation supports a large population on the South Bihar Plain. The major
cities in Bihar
are Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur, Muzaffarpur, Darbhanga, Munger,
and Bihar Sharif.
ECONOMY OF BIHAR
The Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) of Bihar for 2021-22
(at current prices) is projected to be Rs 7,57,026 crore. This is an
annual increase of 11% over the GSDP in 2019-20. As per the revised estimates,
in 2020-21, GSDP is estimated to increase by 4.7% over the previous year
(budget estimate was 11.1%). By sectors, its composition is 22% agriculture, 5%
industry and 73% services. Bihar has the fastest-growing state economy in terms
of GSDP.
According to the Economic Survey, Bihar’s Gross State
Domestic Product (GSDP) grew by 2.5 percent in 2020-21 and the growth
rate is better than the national average, despite the effect of the ‘LOCKDOWN’
imposed to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic.
1) 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. 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 The southern
parts of the state endure annual droughts, which affect crops such as paddy.
2) Industry
The capital city, Patna, is one of the better-off cities in
India when measured by per capita income. 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 and Bhagalpur. Most workers in the manufacturing sector are employed
in household industries; the rest are employed in steel and other metal-based and
food-processing industries.
3) Resources and power
Bihar’s mineral wealth was virtually depleted when the
mineral-rich Chota Nagpur plateau became part of Jharkhand. Still, there
are a few pockets in the state where minerals are found. Bauxite is found
in Munger. The Rohtas district has dolomite, glass sand, cement mortar,
and other minerals. Mica deposits are found in Gaya, Nawada, and Munger.
Gaya and Munger also produce salt, as does Muzaffarpur.
Bihar’s energy is provided by a small number of thermal
and hydroelectric power stations, but these do not meet the needs of
the entire state. Several power stations were lost with
the partitioning of Jharkhand. In the early 21st century less than
half of the state’s villages had regular electricity.
4) Transportation
The waterways, once important, are now of little
significance. Although all-weather roads reach just over one-third of Bihar’s
villages, several national highways pass through the state, including
the venerable Grand Trunk Road, which is one of India’s oldest
roadways. Road service is best around Patna. The rail line between Kolkata
and Delhi, which crosses Bihar, which was opened in 1864. Because of the
dense population, the railways carry a heavy load of traffic. They generally
run parallel to the rivers because of the difficulty of constructing bridges.
Consequently, travel between important towns is often long and tedious.
Regularly scheduled airlines serve Patna.
SOCIAL INFRASTRUCTURE
1) Health and welfare
Medical facilities, though improving, are still inadequate
outside the towns. Villages are served mainly by allopathic (traditional
Western) and ancient Indian medical (Ayurvedic) dispensaries. Unanī) and
homeopathic systems of medicine are also popular. Large and well-equipped
hospitals and medical colleges are located at Patna, Darbhanga,
and Bhagalpur.
2) Education
Although the literacy rate has nearly tripled in the second
half of the 20th century to nearly half the state’s population, Bihar still
ranks low in literacy among Indian states. The rate for men is significantly
higher than that for women. The state’s general aim is to educate all children
at least up to the age of 14. In the early 21st century most of those eligible
were enrolled in the primary schools. However, only a small proportion were
able to continue to the secondary level, as economic necessity forced them to
work. Vocational and technical schools are sponsored by government departments.
Prominent institutions of higher learning in Bihar include Patna University
(1917), the oldest and most important, at Patna; Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar
Bihar University (formerly Bihar University; 1960), at Muzaffarpur; and Tilka
Manjhi Bhagalpur University (formerly Bhagalpur University; 1960), at
Bhagalpur. The latter two schools offer graduate programs and have a number
of affiliated colleges.
KEY INDUSTRIES
• Food Processing
• Textile
• Leather
• Petrochemical
• Cement and chemicals
• Paper
POTENTIAL INDUSTRIES
• Agro-food processing
• Power
• Tourism
• Telecom
• Film and Music
• Information Technology and Electronics
