View source for West Bengal

{{Use Indian English|date=April 2024}}
{{Infobox Indian state or territory
| name = West Bengal
| native_name = {{lang-bn|পশ্চিমবঙ্গ}}<br/>[[Romanization|romanised]]: ''Paścimbaṅga''<!-- ISO 15919 is used. Inherent vowels not pronounced are removed. -->
| image_skyline = {{Photomontage
| photo1a = Kolkata skyline at night.jpg
| photo2a = Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Dakshineswar, West Bengal, India (2007).jpg
| photo2b = Chhau dance.jpg
| photo3a = HAZARDUARI - PALACE.jpg
| photo3b = Durga Puja - 18.jpg
| photo4a = Digha Sankarpur 2Arnab.jpg
| photo4b = Royal Bengal Tiger walking down Mangrove Island in Sundarbans 3.jpg 
| photo5a = Darjeeling.jpg
| spacing                 = 2
| align                   = center
| color_border            = white
| color                   = white
| size                    = 275
| foot_montage = '''Along the clock, from top:'''<br/>View of [[Kolkata]] from [[Howrah]]; [[Chhau dance]], [[Purulia district|Purulia]]; [[Durga Puja]]; [[Bengal tiger]], [[Sundarbans National Park|Sundarbans]]; [[Darjeeling]] from [[Happy Valley Tea Estate]]; [[Digha]]; [[Hazarduari Palace]]; [[Dakshineswar Kali Temple]] 
}}
| type = State
| image_seal = <!-- fair use is not allowed in Simple English Wikipedia, sorry -->
| etymology = Western part of [[Bengal]]
| nickname = "Hub of all cultural [[wikt:trait|traits]]"
| motto = [[Satyameva Jayate]]<br/>([[Truth]] Alone [[wikt:triumph|Triumphs]])
| image_map = IN-WB.svg
| coordinates = {{Coord|22.57|N|88.37|E|type:adm1st_scale:3000000_region:IN-WB|display=inline,title}}
| region = East India
| before_was = [[Bengal Presidency|Bengal Province]]
| formation_date3 = formation
| formation_date4 = 15 August 1947
| capital = Kolkata
| largestcity = capital
| metro = Kolkata Metropolitan Area
| anthem = [[Banglar Mati Banglar Jol]]<br/>(''The Soil of Bengal, The Water of Bengal'')<ref>{{cite news |title=West Bengal Assembly passes resolution declaring Rabindranath Tagore composition as state anthem |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1055604/west-bengal-assembly-passes-resolution-declaring-rabindranath-tagore-composition-as-state-anthem |access-date=8 September 2023 |work=Scroll.in |date=7 September 2023}}</ref>
| districts = [[List of districts of West Bengal|23 (5 divisions)]]
| Governor = [[C. V. Ananda Bose]]
| Chief_Minister = [[Mamata Banerjee]]
| party = [[Trinamool Congress|TMC]]
| legislature_type = Unicameral
| assembly = [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]
| assembly_seats = 294 seats
| rajya_sabha_seats = 16 seats
| lok_sabha_seats = 42 seats
| judiciary = [[Calcutta High Court]]
| area_total_km2 = 88752
| area_rank = 13th
| length_km = 623
| width_km = 320
| elevation_m = 500
| elevation_max_m = 3,636
| elevation_max_point = [[Sandakphu]]<ref>{{cite web |date=25 December 2008 |title=Sandakphu |url=http://www.sandakphu.com/sandakphu/Sandakphu.htm |access-date=24 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081225044655/http://www.sandakphu.com/sandakphu/Sandakphu.htm |archive-date=25 December 2008}}</ref>
| elevation_min_m = 11
| elevation_min_point = Near [[Bay of Bengal]]
| population_footnotes = <ref name="2011 pp tableA2">{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_wb.html |title=Area, population, decennial growth rate and density for 2001 and 2011 at a glance for West Bengal and the districts: provisional population totals paper 1 of 2011: West Bengal |publisher=Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date = 26 January 2012 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120107060612/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_wb.html |archive-date = 7 January 2012}}</ref>
| population_total = {{Increase}} 91,347,736
| population_as_of = 2011
| population_rank = 4th
| population_density = 1,029
| population_urban = 31.87%
| population_rural = 68.13%
| population_demonym = [[Bengalis|Bengali]]
| 0fficial_Langs = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]<ref name=nclmanurep2010/>{{*}}[[English language|English]]
| additional_official = [[Nepali language|Nepali]]{{*}}[[Urdu]]{{*}}[[Hindi]]{{*}}[[Odia language|Odia]]{{*}}[[Santali language|Santali]]{{*}}[[Punjabi language|Punjabi]]{{*}}[[KRNB lects|Kamtapuri]]{{*}}[[Rangpuri language|Rajbanshi]]{{*}}[[Kurmali language|Kudmali/Kurmali]]{{*}}[[Kurukh language|Kurukh]]{{*}}[[Telugu language|Telugu]]<ref name=nclmanurep2010/>
| official_script = [[Bengali–Assamese script]]
| GDP_footnotes = <ref name="EcoSur">{{cite web |url=https://finance.wb.gov.in/writereaddata/Fiscal_Policy/FRBM23_Part1.pdf |title=Financial Statements 2023-24, Government of West Bengal |work=[[Government of West Bengal]] |pages=21 |date=1 February 2023 |access-date=1 February 2023 |url-status=live |archive-date=23 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230223100803/https://finance.wb.gov.in/writereaddata/Fiscal_Policy/FRBM23_Part1.pdf}}</ref><ref name="RBI_Statistics">{{cite web |url=https://rbidocs.rbi.org.in/rdocs/Publications/PDFs/HBS20222023FULLDOCUMENT2FB950EDD2A34FE2BAE3308256EAE587.PDF |title=Handbook of Statistics of Indian States 2022-23 |work=[[Reserve Bank of India]] |pages=11, 33|access-date=15 September 2023}}</ref><ref name="pib-gov-Delhi1">{{cite web |title=STATE-WISE DATA ON PER CAPITA INCOME |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=1942055 |publisher=PIB Delhi |access-date=12 September 2023 |location=Delhi |date=24 July 2023}}</ref>
| GDP_total = {{Increase}}{{INRConvert|17.19|lc|lk=r}}
| GDP_year = 2023
| GDP_rank = 6th
| GDP_per_capita = {{Increase}}{{INRConvert|141373|lk=r}}
| GDP_per_capita_rank = 20th
| HDI = {{Increase}} 0.674 {{color|#fc0|Medium}}<ref name="snhdi-gdl">{{cite web |title=Sub-national HDI – Area Database |url=https://ceda.ashoka.edu.in/hdi-how-states-fare-in-human-development/ |website=Global Data Lab |date= 15 June 2021|access-date=7 March 2023}}</ref>
| HDI_year = 2022
| HDI_rank = 24th
| literacy = {{Increase}} 80.5%<ref name="NSO 2017">{{cite web |url=http://mospi.nic.in/sites/default/files/publication_reports/Report_585_75th_round_Education_final_1507_0.pdf |year=2018 |last=NSO |title=Sex ratio, 0–6 age population, literates and literacy rate by sex for 2001 and 2011 at a glance for West Bengal and the districts: provisional population totals paper 1 of 2011: West Bengal |publisher=Government of India:Ministry of Home Affairs |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120107060612/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_wb.html |archive-date = 7 January 2012}}</ref>
| literacy_year = 2017
| literacy_rank = 19th
| sex_ratio = 950[[female|♀]]/1000 [[male|♂]]<ref name="2021 pp table3A2">{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_wb.html |title=Sex ratio, 0–6 age population, literates and literacy rate by sex for 2001 and 2011 at a glance for West Bengal and the districts: provisional population totals paper 1 of 2011: West Bengal |publisher=Government of India:Ministry of Home Affairs |access-date = 29 January 2012 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120107060612/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_data_products_wb.html |archive-date = 7 January 2012}}</ref>
| sexratio_year = 2011
| sexratio_rank = 8th
| iso_code = IN-WB
| registration_plate = WB
| website = wb.gov.in
| mammal = [[Fishing cat]]
| bird = [[White-throated kingfisher]]
| fish = [[Ilish]]
| flower = [[Nyctanthes arbor-tristis|Night-flowering jasmine]]
| tree = [[Alstonia scholaris|Chhaatim tree]]
| fruit = [[Mango]]
| image_highway = SH IN-WB.png
| SH_numbers = [[List of state highways in West Bengal|WB SH1 to WB SH15]]
| footnotes = {{ref|cap|^}}The ''[[Indian Independence Act 1947]]'' divided the [[Bengal Presidency|Province of Bengal]] into two parts: West Bengal and [[East Bengal]]. East Bengal became [[independence|independent]] to become [[Bangladesh]] in 1971.{{sfn|Mukherjee|1987|p=230}}<br />{{ref|cap|††}} [[Partition of Bengal (1947)]]
}}

'''West Bengal''' ({{IPAc-en|b|ɛ|ŋ|ˈ|ɡ|ɔː|l}} {{respell|beng|GAWL}}; [[Bengali language|Bengali]]: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, [[Romanization|romanised]]: ''Paścimbaṅga'',<!-- ISO 15919 is used. Inherent vowels not pronounced are removed. --> {{IPA-bn|ˈpoʃtʃimbɔŋɡo|pron|LL-Q9610 (ben)-Titodutta-পশ্চিমবঙ্গ.wav}}) is a [[States and union territories of India|state]] in [[India]]. It is in the [[East India|eastern part]] of the country. It is along the [[Bay of Bengal]]. Its area is {{convert|88752|km2|abbr=off}}. Its [[population]] was about 91 million in 2011. It became about 103 million in 2023.<ref>{{cite web|date=13 July 2023 |title=West Bengal Population 2023 |work=World Population Review|url=https://worldpopulationreview.com/world-cities/west-bengal-population |access-date=13 July 2023}}</ref> West Bengal is the [[List of states and union territories of India by population|fourth-largest]] state in India by population. It is the [[List of states and union territories of India by area|thirteenth-largest state]] in India by area. It is also the [[List of first-level administrative divisions by population|eighth-largest]] [[administrative division]] of the world.

Both West Bengal and [[Bangladesh]] are parts of the region of [[Bengal]]. Bangladesh is a country east of West Bengal. [[Nepal]] and [[Bhutan]] are two countries north of the Indian state. [[Bihar]] and [[Jharkhand]] are two Indian states west of West Bengal. [[Odisha]] is another Indian state southwest of West Bengal. [[Sikkim]] is an Indian state north of West Bengal. [[Assam]] is an Indian state east of West Bengal. [[Kolkata]] is the capital city of West Bengal. Kolkata is the [[List of metropolitan areas in India|third-largest metropolis]] and [[List of cities in India by population|seventh-largest city]] by population.

West Bengal is divided into some regions, for example the [[Darjeeling Hills]], the [[Ganges Delta]], the [[Rarh region]], the [[Sundarbans]] and the [[Bay of Bengal]]. West Bengal has a [[tropical climate]], so it is very hot and humid in summer and cool in winter. The people who live here are called [[Bengali people|Bengalis]]. Bengalis also live in [[Bangladesh]].

==History==
The [[British Empire]] once ruled most of the [[Indian subcontinent]]. The Indians wanted freedom, but the [[Hindu]]s and the [[Muslim]]s of India always argued. So it was decided to divide the country into two parts—one part for Muslims and the other part for Hindus. In 1947 [[Bengal]], which was a province of India, was divided into West Bengal and East Bengal,which is now called [[Bangladesh]]. West Bengal went to India, and East Bengal went to [[Pakistan]] and was called East Pakistan. In 1971, Bangladesh became independent, as a result of the [[Bangladesh Liberation War]].

==Geography==
[[File:Kalinagar Floods B.JPG|thumb|left|A [[monsoon]] brings heavy rains in West Bengal. The rains flood many areas.]]
West Bengal is on the [[East India|eastern part of India]]. It stretches from the [[Himalayas]] in the north to the [[Bay of Bengal]] in the south. Its total area is {{convert|88752|km2|sqmi|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name="2011 pp tableA2" /> The [[Darjeeling Hills]] is the most northern region of West Bengal. It is a part of the eastern Himalayas. [[Sandakphu]] is the highest peak in the state. It is a part of the Darjeeling Hills. Its height is {{convert|3636|m|ft|0|abbr=off}}.<ref>{{cite news |title=Top of world in kingdom of cloud |last=Pal |first=Supratim |url=http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070514/asp/ranchi/story_7772890.asp |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Kolkata)|The Telegraph]] |location=Kolkata |date=14 May 2007 |access-date = 16 February 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130731124809/http://www.telegraphindia.com/1070514/asp/ranchi/story_7772890.asp |archive-date = 31 July 2013}}</ref>

The [[Terai region|Terai]] is a narrow region between the hills and the [[North Bengal plains]]. The [[Ganges Delta]] is the most southern region of the state. The [[Rarh region]] is between the Ganges Delta in the east and the [[Chota Nagpur Plateau]] in the west. There is a coastal region south of the state. The [[Sundarbans]] is a [[mangrove]] forest at the Ganges Delta. It forms a geographical landmark of the region.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vFp8FjOaT8QC |title=Impact of Climate Change on Natural Resource Management-west bengal |language=en |access-date=13 December 2017 |isbn=9789048135813 |last1=Jana |first1=Bipal Kr |last2=Majumder |first2=Mrinmoy |publisher=[[Springer Science+Business Media]] |date=27 June 2010 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202001159/https://books.google.com/books?id=vFp8FjOaT8QC |url-status=live}}</ref>

The [[Ganges]] is the main river of West Bengal. It divides into two branches called [[distributary|distributaries]]. One branch enters Bangladesh as the [[Padma River]]. Another branch flows through West Bengal as the [[Hooghly River]]. The [[Farakka Barrage]] is a barrage over the Ganges. A [[canal]] from the Ganges gives water to the Hooghly branch of the river. There is a [[wikt:dispute|dispute]] between India and [[Bangladesh]] on [[sharing the water of the Ganges]] for a long time.<ref>{{cite book |last=Jayapalan |first=N |title=Foreign policy of India |year=2001 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers and Distributors |location=New Delhi |isbn=978-81-7156-898-7 |page=344}}</ref> 

There are some rivers from the northern region, for example the [[Teesta River|Teesta]], [[Torsa River|Torsa]], [[Jaldhaka River|Jaldhaka]] and [[Mahananda River|Mahananda]] rivers. There are also rivers from the Chota Nagpur Plateau, for example the [[Damodar River|Damodar]], [[Ajay River|Ajay]] and [[Kangsabati River|Kangsabati]]. The Ganges Delta has more rivers and creeks. The Ganges River becoms [[water pollution|polluted]] because people throw waste into the Ganges River. It is a main problem in West Bengal.<ref name=gangapoll>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2006/08/04/stories/2006080402921900.htm |title=Alarming rise in bacterial percentage in Ganga waters |access-date = 4 March 2012 |date=4 August 2006 |newspaper=[[The Hindu Business Line]] |location=Chennai |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130507072352/http://www.thehindubusinessline.in/2006/08/04/stories/2006080402921900.htm |archive-date = 7 May 2013}}</ref>

The [[Damodar River]] is a [[tributary]]—a river meeting with another river—of the Ganges. It was once known as the "Sorrow of Bengal" because there were [[wikt:frequent|frequent]] floods on the valley. The river has several [[dam]]s under the [[Damodar Valley Project]].

There amount of [[arsenic]] in the [[groundwater]]s of at least nine districts of West Bengal is very high. As of 2017, about 10.4 million people were poisoned by arsenic.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/104-cr-hit-by-arsenic-contamination-in-bengal/article17530242.ece |title=1.04 cr hit by arsenic contamination in Bengal |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=19 March 2017 |work=[[The Hindu]]|access-date=26 January 2018 |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318215525/http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/104-cr-hit-by-arsenic-contamination-in-bengal/article17530242.ece|archive-date=18 March 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Politics==
[[File:Governor's House.jpg|thumb|[[Raj Bhavan, Kolkata|Raj Bhavan]], where the Governor of West Bengal lives]]
[[File:West Bengal State Legislative Assembly House, Kolkata.jpg|thumb|[[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]]]]
[[File:Calcutta High Court.jpg|thumb|[[Calcutta High Court]], the highest [[law court]] in West Bengal]]
[[File:Nabanna - HRBC Building with Multistorey Car Park - Sibpur - Howrah 2015-03-09 6834.JPG|thumb|[[Nabanna (building)|Nabanna]], the office of the [[Chief Minister of West Bengal]].]]
The [[Government of West Bengal]] is a [[parliamentary system]] of [[representative democracy]]. The same type of government is also found in other Indian states. The residents are given [[universal suffrage]]. There are three branches of government: the [[legislature]], the [[executive (government)|executive]] and the [[judiciary]].

The [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]] is the legislature of the state. It has 295 [[wikt:elected|elected]] members, the [[speaker (politics)|Speaker]] and the [[Deputy Speaker]]. The members are called MLAs.<ref name=295mla>{{cite web |url=http://legislativebodiesinindia.gov.in/States%5Cwestbengal%5Cwesbengal-w.htm |title=West Bengal legislative assembly |access-date = 28 October 2006 |work=Legislative bodies in India |publisher=National Informatics Centre, India |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160313022603/http://legislativebodiesinindia.gov.in/states/westbengal/wesbengal-w.htm |archive-date = 13 March 2016}}</ref> One of the elected members is from the [[Anglo-Indian]] community. The MLAs [[wikt:elect|elect]] Speaker and the Deputy Speaker. The Speaker [[wikt:preside|preside]] over the assembly meetings. The Deputy Speaker would preside over the assembly meetings in the absence of the Speaker.

The [[Council of Ministers of West Bengal|Council of Ministers]] is the executive branch of West Bengal. The [[Governor of West Bengal|Governor]] is the [[head of state]]. The [[President of India]] [[wikt:appoint|appoints]] the Governor. The [[Chief Minister of West Bengal|Chief Minister]] is the [[head of government]]. The Governor appoints the leader of the [[political party]] or [[coalition government|coalition]] with a [[wikt:majority|majority]] in the Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister gives an advice to the Governor to appoint the Council of Ministers. The Governor do so. The Council of Ministers [[wikt:report|reports]] to the Legislative Assembly. The people of the government run the office for five years unless the Assembly is [[wikt:dissolve|dissolved]] before this [[wikt:period|period]].

There are 42 seats to the [[Lok Sabha]]<ref name=pcdelimitgazzette>{{cite web |url=http://ceowestbengal.nic.in/news_pdf/gazette123.pdf |title=Notification: order no. 18 |author=Delimitation Commission |date=15 February 2006 |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] |location=New Delhi |pages=23–25 |access-date = 11 February 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110813092204/http://ceowestbengal.nic.in/news_pdf/gazette123.pdf |archive-date = 13 August 2011}}</ref> and 16 seats to the [[Rajya Sabha]] of the [[Parliament of India]] in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/rsat_work/chapter-2.pdf |title=Composition of Rajya Sabha |work=Rajya Sabha at work |publisher=[[Rajya Sabha]] Secretariat |location=New Delhi |pages=24–25 |access-date = 15 February 2012 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160305020442/http://rajyasabha.nic.in/rsnew/rsat_work/chapter-2.pdf |archive-date = 5 March 2016}}</ref>

The [[Calcutta High Court]] and other lower courts are the judiciary of West Bengal.

The [[All India Trinamool Congress]] (AITC), [[Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP), [[Indian National Congress]] (INC) and the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] [[political alliance]] have [[wikt:control|controlled]] the [[politics of West Bengal]]. The [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)) leads the Left Front. In the [[2011 West Bengal state assembly election]], people elected the [[coalition government|coalition]] of the All India Trinamool Congress and the Indian National Congress to power. [[Mamata Banerjee]] was the leader of the coalition. The coalition won 225 seats of the Assembly.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statewise results – West Bengal |url=http://eciresults.nic.in/statewiseS25.htm |publisher=[[Election Commission of India]] |access-date = 13 May 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110516052659/http://eciresults.nic.in/Statewises25.htm |archive-date = 16 May 2011}}</ref> The Left Front had ruled the state for 34 years (1977–2011) before the election. It was the world's longest-running [[democracy|democratically]] elected [[communism|communist]] government.<ref name="longcommu" />

==Districts and cities==
=== Districts ===
{{Main|List of districts of West Bengal}}
[[File:WestBengalDistricts numbered.svg|right|thumb|Districts of West Bengal]]
{{as of|2023|11|1|post=,}} West Bengal is divided into [[List of districts of West Bengal|23 districts]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://wb.gov.in/government-district-and-localgovt.aspx |title=District Profiles |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170422161508/https://wb.gov.in/portal/web/guest/district |archive-date = 22 April 2017}}</ref>
<br />
{| class="sortable wikitable"
|- style="background:#ccc; text-align:center;"
! District !! Population !! Growth rate !! Sex ratio !! Literacy !! Density per square Kilometer
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[North 24 Parganas district|North 24 Parganas]] || 10,009,781 || 12.04 || 955 || 84.06 || 2445
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[South 24 Parganas district|South 24 Parganas]] || 8,161,961 || 18.17 || 956 || 77.51 || 819
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Purba Bardhaman district|Purba Bardhaman]] || 4,835,432 ||{{endash}} || 945 || 74.73 || 890
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Paschim Bardhaman district|Paschim Bardhaman]] || 2,882,031 ||{{endash}}|| 922 || 78.75  || 1800
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Murshidabad district|Murshidabad]] || 7,103,807 || 21.09 || 958 || 66.59 || 1334
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Paschim Medinipur district|Paschim Medinipur]] || 5,913,457 || 13.86 || 966 || 78.00 || 631
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Hooghly district|Hooghly]] || 5,519,145 || 9.46 || 961 || 81.80 || 1753
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Nadia district|Nadia]] || 5,167,600 || 12.22 || 947 || 74.97  || 1316
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Purba Medinipur district|Purba Medinipur]] || 5,095,875 || 15.36 || 938 || 87.02 || 1081
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Howrah district|Howrah]] || 4,850,029 || 13.50 || 939 || 83.31 || 3306
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Kolkata district|Kolkata]] || 4,496,694 || −1.67 || 908 || 86.31 || 24306
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Malda district|Malda]] || 3,988,845 || 21.22 || 944 || 61.73 || 1069
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;”
| [[Jalpaiguri district|Jalpaiguri]] || 3,872,846 || 13.87 || 953 || 73.25 || 622
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Alipurduar district|Alipurduar]]{{efn|name=b|The district was created after the [[2011 Census of India]].}}|| 1,700,000|| {{Endash}}|| {{Endash}}|| {{Endash}}||400
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Bankura district|Bankura]] || 3,596,292 || 12.64 || 954 || 70.95 || 523
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Birbhum district|Birbhum]] || 3,502,404||16.15||956||70.68 || 771
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Uttar Dinajpur district|Uttar Dinajpur]] || 3,007,134||23.15 ||939 ||59.07 || 958
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Purulia district|Purulia]] ||2,930,115||15.52 || 957||64.48 || 468
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Cooch Behar district|Cooch Behar]] || 2,819,086|| 13.71 || 942|| 74.78 || 832
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Darjeeling district|Darjeeling]] || 1,846,823|| 14.77  || 970 || 79.56 || 586
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Dakshin Dinajpur district|Dakshin Dinajpur]] || 1,676,276||11.52 || 956 ||72.82 || 755
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Kalimpong district|Kalimpong]]{{efn|name=b}} || 202,239 ||{{Endash}}|| {{Endash}} || {{Endash}} ||270
|- style="vertical-align: middle; text-align: center;"
| [[Jhargram district|Jhargram]]{{efn|name=b}} || 1,136,548 || {{Endash}} || {{Endash}} || {{Endash}} || 374
|}
{{notelist}}
A [[district collector]] or district magistrate rule over a district. The [[Indian Administrative Service]] or the [[West Bengal Civil Service]] [[wikt:appoint|appoints]] them.<ref name=panchayatdef>{{cite web |url=http://www.wbja.nic.in/wbja_adm/files/The%2520West%2520Bengal%2520Panchayat%2520Act,%25201973.pdf |title=Section 2 of West Bengal Panchayat Act, 1973 – West Bengal Judicial Academy |publisher=West Bengal Judicial Academy |access-date  = 26 January 2018|url-status     = live |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20161222081452/http://wbja.nic.in/wbja_adm/files/The%20West%20Bengal%20Panchayat%20Act,%201973.pdf |archive-date = 22 December 2016}}</ref> Each district is divided into subdivisions. A [[subdivisional magistrate]] rule over a subdivision. The subdivisions are divided into blocks. Blocks are divided into [[panchayati raj|panchayats]] (village councils) and [[municipality|municipalities]].<ref name=blocdir>{{cite web |url=http://www.webel-india.com/blocks%20n%20grampanchayats.doc |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20131207132226/http://www.webel-india.com/blocks%20n%20grampanchayats.doc |url-status = dead |archive-date = 7 December 2013 |title=Directory of district, sub division, panchayat samiti/ block and gram panchayats in West Bengal, March 2008 |date=March 2008 |publisher=West Bengal Electronics Industry Development Corporation Limited, Government of West Bengal |page=1 |format=DOC |access-date = 15 February 2012}}</ref>

===Cities===
[[Kolkata]] is the capital city of West Bengal. It is also the largest city of the state. Kolkata is the [[List of most populous metropolitan areas in India|third-largest]] [[urban area|urban agglomeration]] in India.<ref name=uapop2011>{{cite web |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/india2/Million_Plus_UAs_Cities_2011.pdf |title=Urban agglomerations/cities having population 1 million and above |year=2011 |work=Provisional population totals, census of India 2011 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India|The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India]] |access-date = 26 January 2012 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111215163132/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/india2/Million_Plus_UAs_Cities_2011.pdf |archive-date = 15 December 2011}}</ref> It is also the [[List of most populous cities in India|seventh-largest city]] in India.<ref name=cityrank>{{cite web |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |title=Cities having population 1 lakh and above, census 2011 |work=Provisional population totals, census of India 2011 |publisher=The Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date = 18 October 2011 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120507135928/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |archive-date = 7 May 2012}}</ref> [[Asansol]] is the second-largest urban agglomeration in West Bengal.<ref name=uapop2011 />

West Bengal has some [[planned community|planned cities]], for example [[Bidhannagar]], [[Durgapur]], [[Haldia]], [[Kalyani]], [[Kharagpur]] and [[New Town, Kolkata|New Town]]. [[Siliguri]] is an [[economy|economically]] important city. It is in the [[Siliguri Corridor]] of India.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://thediploma0t.com/2013/11/geographys-curse-indias-vulnerable-chickens-neck/ |title=Geography's Curse: India's Vulnerable 'Chicken's Neck' |last=Diplomat |first=Ankit Panda, The |work=[[The Diplomat]] |access-date = 10 December 2017 |language=en-US |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20171021172825/https://thediplomat.com/2013/11/geographys-curse-indias-vulnerable-chickens-neck/ |archive-date = 21 October 2017}}</ref> [[Howrah]], [[Chandannagar]], [[Bardhaman]], [[Berhampore]], [[Jalpaiguri]] and [[Purulia]] are some other large cities in West Bengal.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf |title=2011 Census of India |website=censusindia.gov.in|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20130723151530/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/paper2/data_files/India2/Table_2_PR_Cities_1Lakh_and_Above.pdf|archive-date =23 July 2013|url-status =live}}</ref>

==Transport==
[[File:External view of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.jpg|thumb|[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport]] is the largest airport in West Bengal. It has flights from [[Bangladesh]], [[East Asia]], [[Nepal]], [[Bhutan]] and [[Northeast India]].]]
[[File:Durgapur Xpressway.jpg|thumb|[[National Highway 19 (India)|National Highway 19]] (NH 19) is a main road in West Bengal.]]
[[File:Sealdah bound metro approaching Central Park.jpg|thumb|[[Kolkata Metro]] is the first [[rapid transit]] system of India.]]
As of 2011, the total length of surface roads in West Bengal was more than {{convert|92023|km|mi|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name="ibef2011" />{{rp|18}} The total length of [[National highways of India|national highways]] was {{convert|2578|km|mi|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name=highwaylength>{{cite web |url=http://morth.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=366 |title=Statewise Length of national highways in India |access-date = 9 February 2012 |work=National Highways |publisher=Department of Road Transport and Highways; Ministry of Shipping, Road Transport and Highways; Government of India |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121022105130/http://www.morth.nic.in/showfile.asp?lid=366 |archive-date = 22 October 2012}}</ref> The total length of state highways was {{convert|2393|km|mi|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name=ibef2011 />{{rp|18}} As of 2006, the road density of the state was {{convert|103.69|km/km2|abbr=off}}. It is higher than the average road density of {{convert|74.7|km/km2|abbr=off}} in India.<ref name=growthfrontline>{{cite journal |last=Chattopadhyay |first=Suhrid Sankar |date=January–February 2006 |title=Remarkable Growth |journal=The Hindu; Frontline |volume=23 |issue=2 |url=http://www.flonnet.com/fl2302/stories/20060210004209800.htm |url-status = dead |access-date = 15 October 2013 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120319050538/http://www.flonnet.com/fl2302/stories/20060210004209800.htm |archive-date = 19 March 2012}}</ref>

As of 2011, the total length of railways in West Bengal was about {{convert|4481|km|mi|0|abbr=off}}.<ref name=ibef2011 />{{rp|20}} Kolkata is the headquarters of three zones of the [[Indian Railways]]—[[Eastern Railway zone|Eastern Railway]] (ER), [[South Eastern Railway zone|South Eastern Railway]] (SER) and [[Kolkata Metro]]. Kolkata Metro is India's first underground railway.<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Kolkata Metro]] |url=http://www.kolmetro.com/ |title=About Kolkata Metro |access-date = 1 September 2007 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070820234733/http://www.kolmetro.com/ |archive-date = 20 August 2007}}</ref> [[Northeast Frontier Railway]] (NFR) covers northern West Bengal. The [[Darjeeling Himalayan Railway]] is a UNESCO [[World Heritage Site]]. It is a part of the NFR.<ref name=heritageunesco>{{cite web |publisher=[[UNESCO World Heritage Center]] |url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944 |title=Mountain Railways of India |access-date = 30 April 2006 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060503143242/https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/944/ |archive-date = 3 May 2006}}</ref>

[[Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport]] is an airport at [[Dum Dum]], near [[Kolkata]]. It is the largest airport in West Bengal. [[Bagdogra Airport]] near Siliguri is a [[customs airport]]. It offers regular domestic service. It has international service to [[Bhutan]] and [[Thailand]]. [[Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport]] is a domestic airport at [[Andal]], near [[Durgapur]]. It is India's first [[private sector]] airport.<ref name="CAPA">{{cite web |title=Profile on Kazi Nazrul Islam International Airport |url=http://centreforaviation.com/profiles/newairports/kazi-nazrul-islam-international-airport |access-date = 5 August 2014 |newspaper=Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140808044706/http://centreforaviation.com/profiles/newairports/kazi-nazrul-islam-international-airport |archive-date = 8 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Mishra |first1=Mihir |title=Air India operates inaugural flight between Durgapur & Kolkata |url=http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/47329679.cms |access-date = 19 May 2015 |newspaper=[[The Economic Times]] |date=18 May 2015 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170802091136/http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/articleshow/47329679.cms |archive-date = 2 August 2017}}</ref>

Kolkata is a major river port in [[East India]]. The [[Syama Prasad Mookerjee Port Trust]] looks after Kolkata and [[Haldia]] docks.<ref name="dockport">{{cite web |url=http://www.kolkataporttrust.gov.in/ |title=Port info: cargo statistics |access-date = 9 February 2012 |work=Kolkata Port Trust |publisher=[[Kolkata Port Trust]], India |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120119114809/http://kolkataporttrust.gov.in/ |archive-date = 19 January 2012}}</ref> There is a passenger service to [[Port Blair]] on the [[Andaman and Nicobar Islands]]. [[Ferry|Ferries]] are a main form of transport in southern West Bengal. It is more common in the [[Sundarbans]].

The West Bengal Government own some organisations that run [[bus]]es, for example the [[North Bengal State Transport Corporation]] (NBSTC), the [[South Bengal State Transport Corporation]] (SBSTC) and the [[West Bengal Transport Corporation]] (WBTC). There are also private bus companies. There are some hired forms of transport, for example metered [[taxi]]s and [[auto-rickshaw]]s. They sometimes have their own [[wikt:route|routes]] in cities. In most of West Bengal, [[cycle rickshaw]]s are used to travel short distances. In Kolkata, [[Pulled rickshaw|hand-pulled rickshaws]] and [[electric rickshaw]]s are used it.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=MexGAwAAQBAJ&q=kolkata+autorickshaws&pg=PA221 |title=Sustainability Science for Social, Economic, and Environmental Development |last=Nilanjan |first=Ghosh |date=31 January 2014 |publisher=IGI Global |isbn=978-1-4666-4996-5 |language=en |access-date=21 October 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202001211/https://books.google.com/books?id=MexGAwAAQBAJ&q=kolkata+autorickshaws&pg=PA221 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Kolkata is the only city in India to have [[tram]]s as a form of transport.<ref name="onlytram">{{cite news |title=Intra-city train travel |url=http://timesfoundation.indiatimes.com/articleshow/657741.cms |access-date = 31 August 2007 |work=reaching India |publisher=[[Times Internet Limited]] |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071016221039/http://timesfoundation.indiatimes.com/articleshow/657741.cms |archive-date = 16 October 2007}}</ref> The [[West Bengal Transport Corporation]] (WBTC) runs these trams since 2016.

==Demographics==
{{Multiple image
| align             = left
| direction         = vertical
| width             = 220
| image1            = Dakshineswar Kali Temple, Dakshineswar, West Bengal, India (2007).jpg
| width1            =
| alt1              =
| caption1          = [[Dakshineswar Kali Temple]] is a [[Hindu temple]] near [[Kolkata]].
| image2            = Kolkata Tipu Sultan's Mosque3.jpg
| width2            =
| alt2              =
| caption2          = [[Tipu Sultan Mosque]] is a [[mosque]] in [[Kolkata]].
| image3            =  St Paul's Cathedral.jpg
| width3            =
| alt3              =
| caption3          = [[St. Paul's Cathedral, Kolkata|St Paul's Cathedral]] is a [[church]] in [[Kolkata]].
}}
From the [[wikt:provisional|provisional]] results of the 2011 national census, West Bengal is the fourth-largest state in India by [[population]]. Its population is 91,347,736. It is 7.55% of India's population.<ref name="2011 pp tableA2" />

The state's rate of population growth in ten years from 2001 to 2011 was 13.93%.<ref name="2011 pp tableA2" /> It is lower than the growth rate of 17.8% from 1991 to 2001.<ref name="2011 pp tableA2" /> It is also lower than India's population growth rate of 17.64%.<ref name="indiastatesprov2011">{{cite web |title=Table 1: Distribution of population, sex ratio, density and decadal growth rate of population: 2011 |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_results_paper1_india.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212184630/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_results_paper1_india.html|archive-date=12 February 2012|access-date=16 February 2012 |work=Provisional population totals paper 1 of 2011 India: series 1 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India|Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India]]}}</ref>

The state's [[gender ratio]] is 947 females per 1,000 males.<ref name="indiastatesprov2011" /> West Bengal's [[population density]] was {{convert|1029|PD/km2}} in 2011. So, it the second-largest state in India by population density.<ref name="indiastatesprov2011" />

West Bengal's [[literacy]] rate is 77.08%. It is higher than India's rate of 74.04%.<ref name="indialitprov2011">{{cite web |title=Table 2(3): Literates and literacy rates by sex : 2011 |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_results_paper1_india.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120212184630/http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-prov-results/prov_results_paper1_india.html|archive-date=12 February 2012|access-date=16 February 2012 |work=Provisional population totals paper 1 of 2011 India: series 1 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India|Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India]]}}</ref>

From 2010 to 2014, we can see that the [[life expectancy]] in the state was 70.2 years. It is higher than India's life expectancy of 67.9.<ref>{{cite web |title=Contents 2010–14 |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Vital_Statistics/SRS_Life_Table/1.CONTENTS-2010-14.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161113174353/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Vital_Statistics/SRS_Life_Table/1.CONTENTS-2010-14.pdf|archive-date=13 November 2016|access-date=12 January 2017 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]]}}</ref><ref name="life table">{{cite web |title=Abridged Life Tables- 2010–14 |url=http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Vital_Statistics/SRS_Life_Table/2.Analysis_2010-14.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170110123124/http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Vital_Statistics/SRS_Life_Table/2.Analysis_2010-14.pdf|archive-date=10 January 2017|access-date=12 January 2017 |publisher=[[Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India]] |page=5}}</ref>

In 2013, the [[percentage]] of people living below the [[poverty]] line was 19.98%. It is lower than the percentage of 31.8% ten years ago.<ref>{{cite web |year=2013 |title=Table 162, Number and Percentage of Population Below Poverty Line |url=http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=15283|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140407102043/http://www.rbi.org.in/scripts/PublicationsView.aspx?id=15283|archive-date=7 April 2014|access-date=20 April 2014 |publisher=[[Reserve Bank of India]]}}</ref> In [[rural area]]s, 28.6% of people were [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Castes]] and 5.8% of people were [[Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes|Scheduled Tribes]]. In [[urban area]]s, 19.9% of people were Scheduled Castes and 1.5% of people were Scheduled Tribes.<ref name="hdrchap1" />

In September 2017, some far-away villages in the [[Sundarbans]] of West Bengal became the last villages to get [[electricity]]. So, West Bengal became completely [[electrification|electrified]].<ref>{{cite news |date=3 November 2017 |title=Bengal is 100% electrified now |work=[[The Times of India]], Kolkata}}</ref>

[[Bengali people]] are the largest [[ethnic group]] (group of people with same culture) of West Bengal. Most people of the state are Bengalis. Bengali people also live in [[Bangladesh]]. The Bengali people are divided into [[Bengali Hindus]], [[Bengali Muslims]], [[Bengali Christians]] and some [[Bengali Buddhists]].<ref name="ethnic1">{{cite book |title=Ethnic realignments: a comparative study of government influences on identity |last=Hoddie |first=Matthew |year=2006 |publisher=[[Lexington Books]] |isbn=978-0-7391-1325-7 |pages=114–115 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ka0nMJgKbYC |access-date = 16 February 2012 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130510061300/http://books.google.com/books?id=6ka0nMJgKbYC |archive-date = 10 May 2013}}</ref> There are also [[Marwari people|Marwari]], [[Maithils|Maithili]] and [[Bhojpuri people]] spread across the state. [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[community|communities]], for example [[Sherpa people|Sherpas]], [[Bhutia]]s, [[Lepcha people|Lepchas]], [[Tamang people|Tamangs]], [[Hyolmo people|Yolmos]] and [[Tibetan people|Tibetans]] live in the Darjeeling Hills.<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sl_dDVctycgC&q=angika+in+west+bengal&pg=PA481 |title=International Encyclopedia of Linguistics: AAVE – Esperanto |date=10 March 2018 |publisher=[[Oxford University Press]] |via=Google Books |isbn=978-0-19-513977-8 |access-date=21 October 2020 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202001146/https://books.google.com/books?id=sl_dDVctycgC&q=angika+in+west+bengal&pg=PA481 |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Languages ===
{{Pie chart
|label1=[[Bengali language|Bengali]] |value1=86.22
|label2=[[Hindi]]|value2=6.97
|label3=[[Santali language|Santali]] |value3=2.66
|label4=[[Urdu]] |value4=1.82
|label5=[[Nepali language|Nepali]] |value5=1.27
|label6= Others |value6=1.06
|caption=Languages of West Bengal (2011)<ref name="langcensus2011">{{cite web |title=Table C-16 - Population by Mother Tongue |url=https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html |website=www.censusindia.gov.in |publisher=Office of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner, India |access-date=18 September 2021 |archive-date=15 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180815035759/https://www.censusindia.gov.in/2011census/C-16.html |url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
[[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[English language|English]] are two [[official language]]s of West Bengal.<ref name=nclmanurep2010>—{{cite web |url=http://www.nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |title=Report of the Commissioner for linguistic minorities: 52nd report (July 2014 to June 2015) |pages=85–86 |publisher=Commissioner for Linguistic Minorities, Ministry of Minority Affairs, Government of India |access-date=16 February 2016 |url-status=dead  |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161115133948/http://nclm.nic.in/shared/linkimages/NCLM52ndReport.pdf |archive-date=15 November 2016}}<br />—{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Shiv Sahay |title=Official language status for Urdu in some West Bengal areas |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/official-language-status-for-urdu-in-some-west-bengal-areas/article3274293.ece |access-date=3 June 2019 |work=[[The Hindu]] |date=3 April 2012 |language=en-IN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190603103658/https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/official-language-status-for-urdu-in-some-west-bengal-areas/article3274293.ece |archive-date=3 June 2019 |url-status=live}}<br />—{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/1121211/jsp/bengal/story_16301872.jsp |title=Multi-lingual Bengal |date=11 December 2012 |newspaper=[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]] |access-date=25 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180325232340/https://www.telegraphindia.com/1121211/jsp/bengal/story_16301872.jsp |archive-date=25 March 2018 |url-status=dead}}<br />—{{cite news |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/kurukh-language-given-official-status-by-bengal-government/993228 |title=Kurukh language given official status by Bengal government |date=21 February 2017 |newspaper=[[Outlook (Indian magazine)|Outlook]] |access-date=12 October 2020 |archive-date=22 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210122232505/https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/kurukh-language-given-official-status-by-bengal-government/993228 |url-status=live}}<br />—{{cite magazine |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/kamtapuri-rajbanshi-make-it-to-list-of-official-languages-in-1179890-2018-02-28 |title=Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi make it to list of official languages in |last=Roy |first=Anirban |date=28 February 2018 |magazine=[[India Today]] |access-date=30 March 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180330143710/https://www.indiatoday.in/pti-feed/story/kamtapuri-rajbanshi-make-it-to-list-of-official-languages-in-1179890-2018-02-28 |archive-date=30 March 2018 |url-status=live}}<br />—{{cite news |date=24 December 2020 |title=West Bengal shows 'Mamata' to Telugus |url=https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/west-bengal-shows-mamata-to-telugus-663381 |access-date=31 December 2020 |work=[[The Hans India]] |language=en |archive-date=23 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223184833/https://www.thehansindia.com/andhra-pradesh/west-bengal-shows-mamata-to-telugus-663381 |url-status=live}}</ref> [[Nepali language|Nepali]] is an [[wikt:additional|additional]] official language in [[Darjeeling Sadar subdivision|Darjeeling Sadar]], [[Kurseong subdivision|Kurseong]] and [[Kalimpong subdivision|Kalimpong]] subdivisions.<ref name=nclmanurep2010 /> In 2012, the state government passed a bill of law. It gave additional official status to [[Hindi]], [[Odia language|Odia]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Santali language|Santali]] and [[Urdu]] in areas where more than 10% of people speak one of those languages.<ref name=nclmanurep2010 /> In 2019, the government passed another bill. It gave additional official status to [[KRNB lects|Kamtapuri]], [[Kurmali]] and [[Rangpuri language|Rajbanshi]] as additional official languages in blocks, divisions or districts where more than 10% of people speak one of those languages.<ref name=nclmanurep2010 />

From the [[2011 Census of India|2011 census]], 86.22% of people spoke [[Bengali language|Bengali]], 5.00% of people spoke Hindi, 2.66% of people spoke [[Santali language|Santali]], 1.82% of people spoke [[Urdu]] and 1.26% of people spoke [[Nepali language|Nepali]] as their [[first language]].<ref name="langcensus2011"/>

==Culture==
{{see also|Bengali people}}

=== Literature ===
{{multiple image
| align = right
| image1 = Rabindranath Tagore.jpg
| width1 = 150
| caption1 = [[Rabindranath Tagore]] is Asia's first [[Nobel laureate]]. He wrote [[Jana Gana Mana|India's national anthem]].
| image2 = Swami Vivekananda-1893-09-signed.jpg
| width2 = 152
| caption2 = [[Swami Vivekananda]] was a Hindu monk from [[British India]]. He started [[Vedanta]] and [[Yoga]] in [[Europe]] and the [[United States]].<ref name="Feuerstein">{{cite book |last=Georg |first=Feuerstein |author-link = Georg Feuerstein |title=The Yoga Tradition |publisher=Motilal Banarsidass |year=2002 |page=600 |isbn=978-3-935001-06-9}}</ref> He tried to make [[Hinduism]] a world religion.<ref name="clarke">{{cite book |last=Clarke |first=Peter Bernard |title=New Religions in Global Perspective |url=https://archive.org/details/newreligionsglob00clar |url-access = limited |publisher=Routledge |year=2006 |page=[https://archive.org/details/newreligionsglob00clar/page/n224 209] |isbn=978-0-7007-1185-7}}</ref>
}}
The [[Bengali language]] has a rich [[heritage]] in [[literature]]. The ''[[Charyapada]]'' is one of the oldest literature in Bengali. It is a collection of [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] [[mystic]] songs. The songs were sung in the 10th and 11th{{nbsp}}centuries. The ''[[Mangalkavya]]'' is a collection of Hindu narrative poetry. It was written about the 13th{{nbsp}}century.

==People==
Famous people from West Bengal include:
*[[Swami Vivekananda]]
*[[Rabindranath Tagore]]
*[[Subhas Chandra Bose]]
*[[Satyendranath Bose]]
*[[Surendranath Banerjee]]
*[[Jagadish Chandra Bose]]
*[[Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar]]
*[[Ramakrishna]]
*[[Shibdas Bhaduri]]
*[[Khudiram Bose]]
*[[Syama Prasad Mukherjee]]
*[[Kadambini Ganguly]]
*[[Satyajit Ray]]
*[[Ritwik Ghatak]]
*[[Pradeep Kumar Banerjee]]
*[[Victor Banerjee]]
*[[Kishore Kumar]]
*[[Biswajit Chatterjee]]
*[[Bappi Lahiri]]
*[[Michael Madhusudan Dutt]]
*[[Rahul Dev Burman]]
*[[Sourav Ganguly]]
*[[Pranab Mukherjee]]
*[[Uttam Kumar]]
*[[Suchitra Sen]]
*[[Sushmita Sen]]
*[[Shreya Ghosal]]
*[[Arijit Singh]]
*[[Mithun Chakraborty]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==Other websites==
{{commonscat-inline}}

{{India}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:West Bengal| ]]
[[Category:States of India]]