Jharkhand (formerly Bihar)
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| Name | Jharkhand (formerly Bihar) |
| Native name | झारखंड (पूर्व में बिहार) |
| Settlement type | State |
| Subdivision type | Country |
| Subdivision name | India |
| Established title | Formation |
| Established date | 15 November 2000 |
| Capital | Ranchi |
| Largest city | Jamshedpur |
| Area total km2 | 79716 |
| Population total | 32988134 |
| Population as of | 2011 |
| Official languages | Hindi; Santali; Odia; Bengali |
| Time zone | Indian Standard Time |
Jharkhand (formerly Bihar) is a state in eastern India formed on 15 November 2000 from southern districts of Bihar. The state is known for extensive mineral deposits, dense forests and a large population of Scheduled Tribes including Santhal people, Munda people and Ho people. Major urban centers include Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro Steel City, and Jharia.
Etymology and Historical Background
The name "Jharkhand" derives from Sanskrit roots meaning "land of forests" and is associated with tribal polities such as the Kol uprising, Birsa Munda's movement and the Santhal rebellion; earlier administrative links include Bihar and Orissa Province, North-Western Provinces, and the Bengal Presidency. Prehistoric sites connect to Chota Nagpur Plateau archaeology, Madhubani painting influences contrast with tribal art, while medieval connections include contacts with the Magadha and Maurya Empire and later the Bengal Sultanate and Mughal Empire. Colonial-era extraction and revolts involved East India Company operations, the Champaran Satyagraha context in adjacent regions, and labor movements tied to Tata Group establishments and steel industry developments.
Geography and Environment
Jharkhand lies on the Chota Nagpur Plateau and borders West Bengal, Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Uttar Pradesh, and Bihar. Topography includes the Hazaribagh hills, Netarhat plateau, and river systems like the Subarnarekha River, Damodar River, Koel River, and Barakar River. Protected areas include Betla National Park, Palamau Tiger Reserve, and Hazaribagh National Park; biodiversity links to species studied by institutions such as the Zoological Survey of India and Botanical Survey of India. Environmental challenges intersect with projects by Central Pollution Control Board reports and disputes involving Coal India Limited mining around Dhanbad coalfield and Jharia coalfield.
Demographics and Society
Population data from the 2011 Census of India shows a mix of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other communities; prominent tribal groups include Santhal people, Munda people, Ho people, Oraon (also known as Kurukh), Kharia and Bedia. Urbanization concentrates in Jamshedpur, Ranchi, Dhanbad, and Bokaro Steel City while rural life centers on panchayats interacting with Ministry of Panchayati Raj schemes and National Rural Employment Guarantee Act implementations. Social movements reference leaders such as Birsa Munda and organizations like the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, labor unions linked to Indian National Trade Union Congress and Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh.
Economy and Natural Resources
Jharkhand's economy is driven by mining and industry with major operators like Coal India Limited, Steel Authority of India Limited, Tata Steel, and Adani Group projects; mineral wealth includes coal, iron ore, mica, copper, bauxite, and uranium reserves. Industrial complexes include Bokaro Steel Plant and Ranchi-based Heavy Engineering Corporation while energy infrastructure features NTPC thermal plants and hydroelectric projects related to the Damodar Valley Corporation. Agricultural output includes rice and maize; development initiatives include schemes by the NITI Aayog and investments tracked by the Reserve Bank of India and Ministry of Commerce and Industry.
Governance and Administrative Divisions
The state has a legislative assembly at Ranchi and is represented in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha; political parties active include Jharkhand Mukti Morcha, Bharatiya Janata Party, Indian National Congress, All Jharkhand Students Union, and Jharkhand Vikas Morcha. Administrative divisions comprise districts such as Ranchi district, Dhanbad district, East Singhbhum district, West Singhbhum district, Hazaribagh district, Palamu district, Garhwa district, and Bokaro district; governance frameworks intersect with the Ministry of Home Affairs for law-and-order and with judicial matters in the Jharkhand High Court.
Culture, Languages, and Religion
Cultural life includes tribal song and dance forms such as Jhumair and Paika, and handicrafts like Tassar silk weaving and woodwork associated with local craftspeople; festivals involve Sarhul, Karma, Tusu Parab, Holi, and Diwali. Languages spoken include Hindi, Santali, Nagpuri, Bengali, Odia, Kurukh, and Ho language with literary outputs connected to figures like Phanishwar Nath Renu and institutions such as Sahitya Akademi. Religious practices range across Hinduism, Christianity, Islam, indigenous Sarnaism traditions, and syncretic forms; pilgrimage sites include Jagannath Temple, Ranchi and Parasnath Hill (associated with Jainism).
Infrastructure and Development
Transport corridors include the Howrah–Delhi main line rail links, regional stations like Ranchi Junction and Tatanagar Junction, and highway links via National Highway 33 and Asian Highway Network corridors; air connectivity involves Birsa Munda Airport. Urban projects include industrial townships by Tata Steel in Jamshedpur and planned developments influenced by Smart Cities Mission and state-level Jharkhand Industrial Area Development Authority initiatives. Water projects relate to the Subarnarekha Multipurpose Project and electrification programs by Power Grid Corporation of India Limited.
Health, Education, and Social Indicators
Healthcare infrastructure features institutions such as Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Tata Main Hospital, and public programs under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare including National Health Mission initiatives; challenges include malnutrition and endemic diseases documented by the National Family Health Survey. Higher education includes Indian Institute of Management Ranchi, Indian School of Mines (IIT Dhanbad), Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, and state universities like Ranchi University and Vinoba Bhave University. Social indicators are monitored by agencies like the Census of India, National Sample Survey Office, and policy bodies such as the Planning Commission (historical) and NITI Aayog.