Bihar: General Introduction & Key Facts

Bihar-specific GK is what separates BPSC from every other exam — and this is where toppers score. This chapter gives you the foundation facts about Bihar that appear in almost every BPSC prelims: formation, geography, census numbers and state symbols.

Formation of Bihar

  • 22 March 1912 — Bihar (with Orissa) was separated from the Bengal Presidency. This day is celebrated every year as Bihar Diwas.
  • 1 April 1936 — Orissa was separated from Bihar and became a separate province.
  • 15 November 2000 — Jharkhand was carved out of southern Bihar (India's 28th state).
  • Patna High Court was established in 1916.
🧠 Remember the trio of dates
1912 (born from Bengal) → 1936 (Orissa left) → 2000 (Jharkhand left). Three dates, three separations — asked in some form in almost every BPSC exam.

Location, Borders & Administration

  • Area: 94,163 sq km — 12th largest state of India. Bihar is a landlocked state.
  • Borders: Nepal (north) — an international border; West Bengal (east); Uttar Pradesh (west); Jharkhand (south).
  • Administrative units: 9 divisions, 38 districts. Capital: Patna.
  • The Ganga flows west-to-east and divides Bihar into the North Bihar plain and South Bihar plain.
  • North-flowing tributaries: Kosi ("Sorrow of Bihar"), Gandak, Bagmati, Kamla. South of the Ganga: Sone, Punpun, Falgu.

Census 2011 — Bihar Highlights

Bihar in Census 2011 (very high yield)
IndicatorBihar figure
Population10.41 crore (104 million) — 3rd most populous state (after UP, Maharashtra)
Population density1,106 per sq km — the highest among Indian states
Decadal growth (2001–11)25.4% — among the highest in India
Sex ratio918 females per 1,000 males
Literacy61.8% (male 71.2%, female 51.5%) — the lowest among states in 2011
Urban populationAbout 11.3% — one of the least urbanised states
🧠 Exam trick
For Bihar in 2011, remember the pattern of extremes: density highest, literacy lowest, urbanisation among the lowest, population 3rd. BPSC frames questions exactly around these superlatives.

State Symbols of Bihar

SymbolBihar
State animalGaur (Indian bison)
State birdHouse sparrow (Gauraiya)
State treePeepal (Ficus religiosa)
State flowerKachnar (Bauhinia variegata)

Bihar's identity runs deep in Indian history — ancient Magadha, the Nalanda and Vikramshila universities, and Pataliputra (modern Patna) as the capital of the Maurya and Gupta empires. We will cover the history of Bihar in a dedicated chapter.

Physiography: Relief Regions of Bihar

Bihar is overwhelmingly a plain state — over 90% of its area is flat alluvial plain — but it can be divided into three physiographic regions from north to south, each with a distinct origin and character.

Three physiographic regions of Bihar
RegionDescription
Himalayan Terai fringe (extreme north)A thin strip along the Nepal border (parts of West/East Champaran, Sitamarhi) — forested, marshy, low-lying land at the foot of the Himalayan foothills.
North Bihar (Ganga) PlainFormed by the Kosi, Gandak, Bagmati, Kamla and Mahananda — new alluvium, extremely fertile but flood-prone; the most densely populated part of the state.
South Bihar PlainDrained by the Sone, Punpun and Falgu; slightly higher and undulating towards the south, merging into the Chota Nagpur plateau fringe (rocky, older Gondwana-era terrain) near the Jharkhand border (e.g. Rajgir, Kaimur hill ranges).
💡 Picture it as a tilted plate
Think of Bihar as a shallow, gently tilted plate: the Himalayan rim in the far north, the low centre where the Ganga and its tributaries pool and flood, and a slightly raised, rockier southern edge grading into the Chota Nagpur plateau.

Transport & Connectivity

  • East Central Railway (ECR), one of the 19 zones of Indian Railways, is headquartered at Hajipur — a frequently-tested standalone fact since most students expect a railway zone HQ to be in a bigger city.
  • Mahatma Gandhi Setu (Patna–Hajipur, across the Ganga) was, at the time of its construction, one of the longest river bridges in India; more recently, new Ganga bridges have been added at multiple points to ease north-south connectivity.
  • Airports: Jay Prakash Narayan International Airport (Patna) is Bihar's only international airport; other operational airports include Gaya (Bodh Gaya, serving Buddhist-circuit international tourism), Darbhanga, Purnia and Bihta (near Patna).
  • The Ganga (National Waterway-1) runs through Bihar, with Patna hosting a multi-modal terminal under the Jal Marg Vikas Pariyojana, linking river transport to rail/road.
⚠️ Exam trap
A classic trap: students assume a railway zone HQ must sit in the state's biggest city. ECR HQ = Hajipur, not Patna — remember this exception explicitly.

Key takeaways

  • 22 March 1912 — Bihar separated from Bengal (Bihar Diwas). Orissa separated 1936; Jharkhand separated 15 Nov 2000.
  • Area 94,163 sq km (12th largest); landlocked; borders Nepal, WB, UP, Jharkhand.
  • 9 divisions, 38 districts; capital Patna; Patna High Court est. 1916.
  • Ganga divides Bihar into North & South plains. Kosi = "Sorrow of Bihar"; Sone, Punpun, Falgu flow south of the Ganga.
  • Census 2011: population 10.41 crore (3rd); density 1,106 (highest); sex ratio 918; literacy 61.8% (lowest).
  • State symbols: animal Gaur, bird house sparrow, tree Peepal, flower Kachnar.
  • Three physiographic regions (north to south): Himalayan Terai fringe → North Bihar Plain (Kosi/Gandak/Bagmati, new alluvium) → South Bihar Plain merging into the Chota Nagpur plateau fringe.
  • East Central Railway HQ = Hajipur (not Patna). Only international airport: Patna (Jay Prakash Narayan Airport); Gaya airport serves Buddhist-circuit tourism. Ganga = National Waterway-1.

Practice questions (10)

Attempt each one before opening the answer. Every explanation names the tempting wrong option as well as the right one, because that is where marks are lost.

  1. Bihar Diwas is celebrated on which date?

    1. 22 March
    2. 1 April
    3. 15 November
    4. 26 January
    Show answer

    Answer: A — 22 March

    Bihar was separated from the Bengal Presidency on 22 March 1912 — celebrated as Bihar Diwas.

  2. Jharkhand was separated from Bihar in which year?

    1. 1998
    2. 2000
    3. 2001
    4. 1996
    Show answer

    Answer: B — 2000

    Jharkhand became a separate state on 15 November 2000 (birth anniversary of Birsa Munda).

  3. Which river is called the "Sorrow of Bihar"?

    1. Gandak
    2. Sone
    3. Kosi
    4. Bagmati
    Show answer

    Answer: C — Kosi

    The Kosi frequently changes course and causes devastating floods in north Bihar, earning the name "Sorrow of Bihar".

  4. As per Census 2011, the population density of Bihar was:

    1. 904 per sq km
    2. 1,106 per sq km
    3. 1,001 per sq km
    4. 1,286 per sq km
    Show answer

    Answer: B — 1,106 per sq km

    Bihar's density of 1,106 persons per sq km was the highest among Indian states in Census 2011.

  5. How many administrative divisions (pramandal) does Bihar have?

    1. 7
    2. 8
    3. 9
    4. 10
    Show answer

    Answer: C — 9

    Bihar has 9 divisions — Patna, Tirhut, Saran, Darbhanga, Kosi, Purnia, Bhagalpur, Munger and Magadh — and 38 districts.

  6. The state bird of Bihar is:

    1. Peacock
    2. House sparrow
    3. Sarus crane
    4. Indian roller
    Show answer

    Answer: B — House sparrow

    The house sparrow (gauraiya) is Bihar's state bird; the state animal is the gaur, tree is peepal, flower is kachnar.

  7. Consider the following statements:
    1. Bihar shares an international border with Nepal.
    2. As per Census 2011, Bihar's literacy rate was the lowest among Indian states.
    Which is/are correct?

    1. Only 1
    2. Only 2
    3. Both 1 and 2
    4. Neither 1 nor 2
    Show answer

    Answer: C — Both 1 and 2

    Both are correct: Nepal lies to Bihar's north (international border), and Bihar's 61.8% literacy was the lowest among states in 2011.

  8. Patna High Court was established in which year?

    1. 1912
    2. 1916
    3. 1935
    4. 1947
    Show answer

    Answer: B — 1916

    Patna High Court was established in 1916, four years after Bihar became a separate province.

  9. The headquarters of the East Central Railway (ECR) zone is located at:

    1. Patna
    2. Hajipur
    3. Gaya
    4. Muzaffarpur
    Show answer

    Answer: B — Hajipur

    The East Central Railway zone is headquartered at Hajipur, not Patna — a commonly tested exception.

  10. Which of the following best describes the South Bihar Plain's relation to its neighbouring physiographic region?

    1. It merges into the Himalayan Terai
    2. It merges into the Chota Nagpur plateau fringe
    3. It merges into the Thar desert
    4. It merges into the Deccan plateau
    Show answer

    Answer: B — It merges into the Chota Nagpur plateau fringe

    The South Bihar Plain, drained by the Sone, Punpun and Falgu, becomes slightly higher and undulating towards the south, merging into the rocky Chota Nagpur plateau fringe near the Jharkhand border.