EHA

Bihar is located in the eastern part of the country (between 83°-30' to 88°-00' longitude). It is an entirely land–locked state, although the outlet to the sea through the port of Kolkata is not far away. Bihar lies mid-way between the humid West Bengal in the east and the sub humid Uttar Pradesh in the west which provides it with a transitional position in respect of climate, economy and culture. It is bounded by Nepal in the north and by Jharkhand in the south. The Bihar plain is divided into two unequal halves by the river Ganga which flows through the middle from west to east.

Major State Indicators

• The name Bihar is derived from the word ‘vihara’, meaning monastery. Bihar was a great religious center for Buddhists. It was at Bodhgaya in Bihar that Buddha attained enlightenment. Nearby Nalanda was a world famous Buddhist university in the 5th century AD.
• Despite its ancient religious links it is the poorest and least developed of Indian states today.
• Notorious for caste related conflicts, kidnappings and Naxalite activity.
• Population of 82 million; approximately 87% of the population in Bihar resides in rural areas, isolated from information, services, and supplies, which support survival.
• 57% of the population is below the poverty line
• Has the lowest literacy rate – 47%.
• In rural Bihar, the infant mortality rate is 63 deaths per 1000 live births, under 5 mortality rate is 105 and the maternal mortality ratio is 451 deaths per 100,000 live births.