Punjab Facts and Information
General Information
| Additional Official Language | English |
|---|---|
| Area | 50,362 km² |
| Capital | Chandigarh |
| Formation Dates | 15 August 1947 |
| ISO Code | IN-PB |
| Largest City | Ludhiana |
| Official Language | Punjabi |
| Population | 27,743,338 (2011 Census) |
| State Name | Punjab |
| Time Zone | IST (UTC+5:30) |
| Vehicle Registration | PB |
| Website | https://punjab.gov.in/ |
Government and Administration
| Assembly Seats | 117 |
|---|---|
| Backward caste support | Various welfare schemes by the Department of Social Justice |
| Chief Minister | Bhagwant Mann |
| Council Seats | Not Applicable |
| Deputy Chief Minister | Not Applicable |
| Governor | Banwarilal Purohit |
| Legislature Type | Unicameral |
| Lok Sabha Seats | 13 |
| Rajya Sabha Seats | 7 |
| Start-up company support and website | https://investpunjab.gov.in/ |
Geography and Environment
| Average Annual Rainfall | 649 mm |
|---|---|
| Beaches | None |
| Borders | Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan, and Pakistan |
| Caves | None significant |
| Climate | Subtropical |
| Coastline | None |
| Gorges | None significant |
| Highest Point | Shivalik Hills (~1,500 m) |
| Hill Stations | Kasauli, Morni Hills (nearby in Himachal Pradesh and Haryana) |
| Major Hills | Shivalik Hills |
| Major Rivers | Sutlej, Beas, Ravi |
| Scenic Drives | Amritsar to Pathankot, Chandigarh to Anandpur Sahib |
| Soil Types | Alluvial |
| Wildlife Sanctuaries | Abohar Wildlife Sanctuary, Harike Wildlife Sanctuary |
Demographics and Social Structure
| City/Town and Population | Ludhiana (1,618,879), Amritsar (1,132,761), Jalandhar (873,725) |
|---|---|
| Human Development Index | 0.721 |
| Literacy Rate | 75.84% |
| Major Religions | Sikhism, Hinduism, Islam, Christianity |
| Population | 27,743,338 (2011 Census) |
| Rural Population | 17,344,192 (62.5%) |
| Scheduled Castes | 31.9% |
| Scheduled Tribes | 0% |
| Sex Ratio | 895 females per 1,000 males |
| Urban Population | 10,399,146 (37.5%) |
Economy and Industry
| Agricultural Products | Wheat, Rice, Maize, Sugarcane, Cotton |
|---|---|
| Fisheries | Significant inland fisheries |
| Gross State Domestic Product | ₹5.18 lakh crore (2023-24) |
| Major Industries | Agriculture, Textiles, Manufacturing, Information Technology |
| Major export | Textiles, Agricultural products, Handicrafts |
| Major farming / crop | Wheat |
| Mineral Resources | Salt, Limestone, Gypsum |
| Per Capita Income Rank | 13th among Indian states |
| Real estate hotspots | Chandigarh, Mohali, Ludhiana |
| Top Employers | Trident Group, Vardhman Group, Punjab National Bank |
Education and Research
| Any IIT or IIMs or REC | IIT Ropar, IIM Amritsar |
|---|---|
| Best Engineering College | Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology |
| Best Medical College | Government Medical College, Amritsar |
| Major IT Companies | Infosys, Tech Mahindra, Net Solutions |
| Major Universities | Punjab University, Guru Nanak Dev University |
| Prominent scholars | Bhagat Puran Singh, Dr. Manmohan Singh |
| Research Institutes | Central Institute of Post-Harvest Engineering and Technology, Institute of Nano Science and Technology |
Infrastructure and Connectivity
| Healthcare Facilities | PGIMER Chandigarh, Fortis Hospital Mohali |
|---|---|
| Hydro power plants | Ranjit Sagar Dam |
| Major Airports | Sri Guru Ram Dass Jee International Airport (Amritsar), Chandigarh International Airport |
| Major Ports | None (landlocked state) |
| Major Rail Junction | Ludhiana Junction, Amritsar Junction |
| Major Road Junction | Chandigarh, Ludhiana |
| Mobile penetration | Approximately 90% |
| Power Generation | Thermal and Hydroelectric power plants |
| Thermal power plants | Guru Gobind Singh Super Thermal Power Plant |
Culture and Heritage
| Buddhist Sites | None significant |
|---|---|
| Classical Dance | Bhangra, Giddha |
| Classical Music | Punjabi Folk Music |
| Freedom fighters | Bhagat Singh, Udham Singh, Kartar Singh Sarabha |
| Geographical Indications | Phulkari, Amritsari Papad |
| Historic reference in Mahabharat & Ramayan | Associated with the kingdom of Gandhara |
| Influential personalities | Bhagat Singh, Lala Lajpat Rai, Guru Nanak Dev |
| Local Staple food | Makki di Roti and Sarson da Saag |
| Major Festivals | Lohri, Baisakhi, Gurpurab, Diwali |
| Movie Industry Name | Pollywood |
| Notable Mosques / Churches / synagogues | Jama Masjid Ludhiana, Christ Church Amritsar |
| Notable Temples | Golden Temple (Harmandir Sahib), Durgiana Temple |
| Popular Sweet or Dessert | Jalebi, Gur (jaggery) based sweets |
| Popular actors | Diljit Dosanjh, Gippy Grewal, Amrinder Gill |
| Traditional outfit of men | Kurta-Pajama with Turban |
| Traditional outfit of women | Salwar Kameez with Dupatta |
Tourism and Places of Interest
| Best time to visit | October to March |
|---|---|
| Crime areas to avoid | Exercise caution in border areas |
| Other interesting facts | Known as the Granary of India |
| Things to do | Visit historical sites, Enjoy Punjabi cuisine, Attend cultural festivals |
| Top tourist spots | Golden Temple, Wagah Border, Jallianwala Bagh |
Fun facts
| fun fact 1 | Punjab has the highest number of NRIs in India |
|---|---|
| fun fact 2 | The Golden Temple serves free meals to over 100,000 people daily |
| fun fact 3 | Punjab is known for its vibrant Bhangra dance |
| fun fact 4 | The state has a rich tradition of folk music and dance |
| fun fact 5 | Punjab's cuisine is renowned for its rich flavors and hearty dishes |