Bihar Facts and Information
General Information
| Bihar Day | 22 March |
|---|---|
| Capital | Patna |
| Formation Date | 26 January 1950 (formed 22 March 1912) |
| Largest City | Patna |
| Official Language | Hindi (with Urdu as second) |
| State Animal | Gaur |
| State Bird | House sparrow |
| State Name | Bihar |
Government and Administration
| Chief Minister | Samrat Choudhary |
|---|---|
| Governor | Syed Ata Hasnain |
| High Court | Patna High Court |
| Legislature | Bicameral (Vidhan Sabha 243 + Vidhan Parishad 75) |
| Lok Sabha Seats | 40 |
| Number of Districts | 38 |
| Rajya Sabha Seats | 16 |
Geography and Environment
| Area | 94,163 km² |
|---|---|
| Climate | Humid subtropical |
| Forest Cover | ~7.84% |
| Major River | Ganga (Ganges) |
| Wildlife Sanctuary | Valmiki Tiger Reserve |
Demographics and Social Structure
| Density | ~1,106/km² (highest in India) |
|---|---|
| Literacy Rate | 61.8% |
| Population (2011 Census) | 104.1 million (3rd most populous state) |
| Sex Ratio | 918 |
| Urbanization | 11.3% |
Economy and Industry
| Economy Type | Predominantly agricultural |
|---|---|
| Litchi Output | Largest producer in India |
| Major Crops | Rice, wheat, maize, lentils, sugarcane, litchi |
| Makhana Output | ~80% of India's foxnut production |
Education and Research
| Ancient University | Nalanda University (3rd century BCE-12th century CE) |
|---|---|
| Heritage University | Patna University (1917) |
| Modern University | Nalanda University (revived 2014) |
| Premier Institute | IIT Patna, AIIMS Patna, IIM Bodh Gaya |
Infrastructure and Connectivity
| Mahatma Gandhi Setu | Major bridge over the Ganges |
|---|---|
| Major Airport | Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna |
| Rail Hub | Patna Junction |
Culture and Heritage
| Classical Music Origin | Bhojpuri folk traditions |
|---|---|
| Folk Painting | Madhubani / Mithila painting |
| Major Festival | Chhath Puja (devoted to Sun God) |
| Traditional Cuisine | Litti chokha, Sattu, Khaja |
Tourism and Places of Interest
| Buddhist Heritage | Bodh Gaya (UNESCO site where Buddha attained enlightenment) |
|---|---|
| Historic City | Patna (ancient Pataliputra) |
| Jain Pilgrimage | Pawapuri (Mahavira's nirvana site) |
| Ruins | Vikramshila, Nalanda |
| Wildlife | Valmiki Tiger Reserve |
Fun facts
| Aryabhata | The mathematician was born in Patna (Pataliputra) |
|---|---|
| Birthplace of Religions | Buddhism (Bodh Gaya) and Jainism (Pawapuri) crystallized here |
| First Republic | Vaishali had the world's first known republic (~6th century BCE) |