east India
Bihar
Bihar is an eastern Indian state in the middle Ganga plain, with Patna as capital and a historical identity shaped by Magadha, Buddhism, Jainism, Pataliputra, Nalanda, Champaran, agrarian society, migration, floods, and democratic mobilisation.
Capital
Patna
Population
10.41 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
94,163 sq km
Census of India 2011
Literacy
61.8%
Census of India 2011
Districts
38
State Profile
Bihar overview
Bihar is a densely populated eastern Indian state in the middle Ganga plain, with Patna as its capital and a civilisational profile shaped by Magadha, Pataliputra, Buddhism, Jainism, Nalanda, Champaran, agrarian society, migration, floods, and social justice politics.
Capital
Patna
Region
east
Population
10.41 Cr
Census of India 2011
Area
94,163 sq km
Census of India 2011
Snapshot
Quick facts
Core facts useful for prelims, maps, and state comparison.
- Capital
- Patna
- Largest city
- Patna
- Region
- east
- Population
- 10.41 CrCensus of India 2011
- Area
- 94,163 sq kmCensus of India 2011
- Languages
- Hindi, Maithili, Bhojpuri, Magahi, Angika, Bajjika, Urdu
Snapshot
Economy snapshot
A quick view of source-backed output, income, growth, and major sectors.
- Industries
- Agriculture, Food processing, Dairy, Fisheries
UPSC Focus
Why it matters
Important UPSC-relevant themes connected with this state.
- It is one of the most important states for ancient Indian history: mahajanapadas, Buddhism, Jainism, the Mauryan empire, Gupta-age themes, Nalanda, Vikramshila, and early urbanisation.
- Its geography offers a high-value case study of alluvial plains, transboundary Himalayan rivers, flood management, riverbank erosion, siltation, fertile agriculture, and drought risk in south Bihar.
- Its society and economy are central to UPSC themes such as migration, remittances, agrarian relations, land reform, social justice politics, education, health, and federal development challenges.
UPSC Focus
Identity markers
Cultural, historical, geographical, or economic identifiers.
- Capital: Patna, historically associated with Pataliputra.
- Bihar is located in the middle Ganga plain and is crossed by the Ganga from west to east.
- Bihar and Orissa became a separate province from Bengal in 1912; Orissa/Odisha was separated from Bihar in 1936.
- Jharkhand was carved out of Bihar on 15 November 2000, changing Bihar mineral and industrial geography.
- Patna High Court was created under Letters Patent dated 9 February 1916 and started functioning in 1916; the province of Bihar and Orissa had been made a separate province by proclamation on 22 March 1912.
- Important centres include Patna/Pataliputra, Rajgir, Nalanda, Bodh Gaya, Vaishali, Pawapuri, Vikramshila, Champaran, Gaya, Madhubani, Bhagalpur, Munger, Sasaram, and Sonepur.