Jharkhand

Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Odisha to the south, and West Bengal to the east. It has an area of 79,710 km2 (30,778 sq mi). The industrial city of Ranchi is its capital and Dumka is sub capital, Dhanbad the coal capital of India, is the most populous city in the state.

History

The region has been inhabited since the Mesolithic and Chalcolithic period, as shown by several ancient cave paintings. During ancient times, the region was ruled by several empires, including the Maurya Empire, Gupta Empire, and Pala Empire. When the Mughal Empire took over the region, it was known as Kukara. After the year 1765, it came under the control of the British Empire and was formally known as South Bihar until after the independence of India in 1947, when the southern part of Bihar was separated to form the state of Jharkhand.

Geography

Jharkhand is located in the eastern part of India and is enclosed by Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Odisha to the south and West Bengal to the east. The state is rich in mineral resources such as coal, iron ore, copper ore, uranium, mica, bauxite, granite, limestone, silver, graphite, magnetite and dolomite.

Economy

Jharkhand has a concentrated industrial sector based on its mineral resources with some of the largest factories, such as Tata Steel, being located in Jamshedpur. Other major industries in the state include Tata Motors, Bokaro Steel Plant, Indian Explosive Limited, UCIL, ECL, and Hindustan Steel.

Culture

The culture of Jharkhand is very diverse and rich. Each tribal community has its own distinct culture. The major cultural events include Sarhul, Karma, Manda, Tusu, Jitia, etc. The cuisine of the region, like the culture, is very diverse. Rice, dal, vegetable curry, and pickles are the common foods of Jharkhand.

Education

Jharkhand has a literacy rate of 67.63% as per the 2011 census. The state has several prestigious educational institutions, such as Indian School of Mines, National Institute of Technology Jamshedpur, Birla Institute of Technology, National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology, Central University of Jharkhand, Birsa Agricultural University, National University of Study and Research in Law, and Central Institute of Psychiatry.

See also

• List of Chief Ministers of Jharkhand
• List of Governors of Jharkhand
• Jharkhand Legislative Assembly
• Jharkhand High Court