Bihar

Bihar (/bɪˈhɑːr/; Hindustani pronunciation: [bɪˈɦaːr] (listen)) is a state in the Republic of India, covering an area of 38,202 mi² (99,200 km²). The capital is Patna. Bihar is bordered by the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the west, Jharkhand to the south, and West Bengal to the east. To the north of Bihar is the country of Nepal. In traditional Indian geography it falls under the East Indian zone. It is one of the poorest regions in India.

Bihar बिहार 𑒥𑒱𑒯𑒰𑒩𑓂
State
Clockwise from top: Great Buddha Statue at Bodh Gaya, ruins of ancient Nalanda University, Madhubani painting from Mithila region, Brahma Kund hot springs in Rajgir
Emblem
Location of Bihar in India
Coordinates (Patna): 25.4°N 85.1°E / 25.4; 85.1
Country	India
Formation	22 March 1912 (Bihar Diwas)
Statehood	26 January 1950
Capital	Patna
Largest city	Patna
Districts	38
Government
• Governor	Phagu Chauhan (BJP)[1]
• Chief Minister	Nitish Kumar (JD(U))
• Deputy Chief Minister	Sushil Kumar Modi[2] (BJP)
• Legislature	Bicameral Legislative Council 75 Legislative Assembly 243
• High Court	Patna High Court
Area [3]
• Total	94,163 km2 (36,357 sq mi)
• Rank	12th
Population  (2011)[4]
• Total	103,804,637
• Rank	3rd
• Density	1,102/km2 (2,850/sq mi)
• Major Ethnolinguistic Groups	Bhojpuris Maithils Magahis
Demonym	Bihari
GDP (2017–18) [5]
• Total	₹4.88 lakh crore (US$64 billion)
• Per capita	₹38,860 (US$510)
Languages
• Official	Hindi
• Additional official	Maithilia,[6] Urdub
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
UN/LOCODE	INBR
ISO 3166 code	IN-BR
Vehicle registration	BR
HDI (2017)	0.566[7] (medium) · 29th
Literacy (2011)	63.82%[8]
Sex ratio (2011)	918 ♀/1000 ♂[9]
Website	gov.bih.nic.in
a. Recognized under the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution of India b. In 15 districts

Population

A census in 2023 of the 130 million people in the state collected information about castes for the first time since 1931. 15.5% were upper caste. 27.1% were other backward class. 36% were extremely backward class and 21.4% were scheduled castes or scheduled tribes. Brahmins, the highest caste, were less than 4% of the population.^[10]

Provincial symbols of Bihar

• 
  Indian Roller, Provincial bird of Bihar
• 
  Gaur or Indian bison, Provincial animal of Bihar
• 
  Sacred fig, Provincial tree of Bihar
• 
  White Orchid-tree, Provincial flower of Bihar

Related pages

• Sasaram