The region was later conquered by the British East India Company at the Battle of Plassey in 1757 and became part of the Bengal Presidency. The region was a hotbed of the Indian independence movement and has remained one of India's great artistic and intellectual centres.
The British East India Company defeated Siraj ud-Daulah, the last independent Nawab, in the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
The company gained the right to collect revenue in Bengal subah (province) in 1765 with the signing of the treaty between the East India company and the Mughal emperor following the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
The company gained the right to collect revenue in Bengal subah (province) in 1765 with the signing of the treaty between the East India company and the Mughal emperor following the Battle of Buxar in 1764.
The Bengal Presidency was established in 1765; it later incorporated all British-controlled territory north of the Central Provinces (now Madhya Pradesh), from the mouths of the Ganges and the Brahmaputra to the Himalayas and the Punjab.
The Bengal famine of 1770 claimed millions of lives due to tax policies enacted by the British company.
Calcutta, the headquarters of the East India company, was named the capital of British-held territories in India in 1773.
The failed Indian rebellion of 1857 started near Calcutta and resulted in a transfer of authority to the British Crown, administered by the Viceroy of India. The Bengal Renaissance and the Brahmo Samaj socio-cultural reform movements significantly influenced the cultural and economic life of Bengal.
Between 1905 and 1911 an abortive attempt was made to divide the province of Bengal into two zones.
Between 1905 and 1911 an abortive attempt was made to divide the province of Bengal into two zones.
Bengal suffered from the Great Bengal famine in 1943, which claimed threemillion lives during World WarII.
Following widespread religious violence, the Bengal Legislative Council and the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted on the Partition of Bengal in 1947 along religious lines into two independent dominions: West Bengal, a Hindu-majority Indian state, and East Bengal, a Muslim-majority province of Pakistan which later became the independent Bangladesh. Post Indian independence, West Bengal's economy is based on agricultural production and small and medium-sized enterprises.
The Indian National Army was subsequently routed by the British. === Indian independence and afterwards === When India gained independence in 1947, Bengal was partitioned along religious lines.
Both West and East Bengal experienced large influxes of refugees during and after partition in 1947.
In 1950 the Princely State of Cooch Behar merged with West Bengal.
In 1955 the former French enclave of Chandannagar, which had passed into Indian control after 1950, was integrated into West Bengal; portions of Bihar were also subsequently merged with West Bengal.
In 1955 the former French enclave of Chandannagar, which had passed into Indian control after 1950, was integrated into West Bengal; portions of Bihar were also subsequently merged with West Bengal.
The eastern part went to the Dominion of Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan in 1956), becoming the independent nation of Bangladesh in 1971.
Although the economy was severely damaged during the unrest in the 1970s, the state has managed to revive its economy steadily throughout the years.
The eastern part went to the Dominion of Pakistan as a province called East Bengal (later renamed East Pakistan in 1956), becoming the independent nation of Bangladesh in 1971.
The 1974 smallpox epidemic killed thousands.
West Bengal politics underwent a major change when the Left Front won the 1977 assembly election, defeating the incumbent Indian National Congress.
However, there has been a significant increase in food production since the 1980s and the state now has a surplus of grains.
The state's share of total industrial output in India was 9.8% in 1980–1981, declining to 5% by 1997–1998.
From the early 1990s, new genres of music have emerged, including what has been called Bengali Jeebonmukhi Gaan (a modern genre based on realism).
The state's 2001–2011 decennial population growth rate was 13.93%, lower than the 1991–2001 growth rate of 17.8% and lower than the national rate of 17.64%.
The state's share of total industrial output in India was 9.8% in 1980–1981, declining to 5% by 1997–1998.
As of 2001, in decreasing order of number of speakers, the languages of the state are: Bengali (85.27%), Hindi (7.17%), Santali (2.80%), Urdu (2.06%), and Nepali (1.28%). West Bengal is religiously diverse, with regional cultural and religious specificities.
The state's 2001–2011 decennial population growth rate was 13.93%, lower than the 1991–2001 growth rate of 17.8% and lower than the national rate of 17.64%.
GSDP at current prices (base 2004–2005) has increased from Rs 2,086.56 billion in 2004–05 to Rs 8,00,868 crores in 2014–2015, reaching Rs 10,21,000 crores in 2017–18.
The state's total financial debt stood at as of 2011. In the period 2004–2010, the average gross state domestic product (GSDP) growth rate was 13.9% (calculated in Indian rupee terms) lower than 15.5%, the average for all states of the country. The economy of West Bengal has witnessed many surprising changes in direction.
In 2006 the state's healthcare system was severely criticised in the aftermath of the West Bengal blood test kit scam. == Geography and climate == West Bengal is on the eastern bottleneck of India, stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south.
As of 2006, the road density of the state was , higher than the national average of . As of 2011, the total railway route length was around .
Reserves and protected and unclassed forests constitute 59.4%, 31.8% and 8.9%, respectively, of forested areas, as of 2009.
The state government debt of , or 32.6% of GSDP, is fifth highest India, but has dropped from 40.65% since 2010–11.
GSDP percent growth at current prices varied from a low of 10.3% in 2010–2011 to a high of 17.11% in 2013–2014.
Per-capita NSDP growth rate at current prices varied from 9.4% in 2010–2011 to a high of 16.15% in 2013–2014.
The agricultural sector in particular rose to 8.33% in 2010–11 before tumbling to −4.01% in 2012–13.
Data from 2010 to 2014 showed the life expectancy in the state was 70.2years, higher than the national value of 67.9.
This became a decisive reason behind the defeat of the ruling Left Front government in the 2011 assembly election.
Following the West Bengal State Assembly Election in 2011, the All India Trinamool Congress and Indian National Congress coalition under Mamata Banerjee of the All India Trinamool Congress was elected to power with 225 seats in the legislature.
The growth rate was 12.62% in 2014–2015. In 2015–2016, percentage share of Gross Value Added (GVA) at factor cost by economic activity at constant price (base year 2011–2012) was Agriculture-Forestry and Fishery—4.84%, Industry 18.51% and Services 66.65%.
The state's total financial debt stood at as of 2011. In the period 2004–2010, the average gross state domestic product (GSDP) growth rate was 13.9% (calculated in Indian rupee terms) lower than 15.5%, the average for all states of the country. The economy of West Bengal has witnessed many surprising changes in direction.
West Bengal has been able to attract 2% of the foreign direct investment in the last decade. == Transport == As of 2011, the total length of surface roads in West Bengal was over ; national highways comprise and state highways .
As of 2006, the road density of the state was , higher than the national average of . As of 2011, the total railway route length was around .
In most of the state, cycle rickshaws and in Kolkata, hand-pulled rickshaws and electric rickshaws are used for short-distance travel. == Demographics == According to the provisional results of the 2011 national census, West Bengal is the fourth-most-populous state in India with a population of 91,347,736 (7.55% of India's population).
As of 2011, Hinduism is the most common religion, with adherents representing 70.54% of the total population.
The Hindu population of West Bengal is 64,385,546 while the Muslim population is 24,654,825, according to the 2011 census.
As of 2011, West Bengal had a population density of making it the second-most densely populated state in India, after Bihar. The literacy rate is 77.08%, higher than the national rate of 74.04%.
The agricultural sector in particular rose to 8.33% in 2010–11 before tumbling to −4.01% in 2012–13.
In 2012, the state government passed a bill granting additional official status to Hindi, Odia, Punjabi, Santali and Urdu in areas where speakers exceed 10% of the population.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Hill region experiences a harsh winter, with occasional snowfall. == Flora and fauna == The "India State of Forest Report 2017", recorded forest area in the state is , while in 2013, forest area was , which was 18.93% of the state's geographical area, compared to the then national average of 21.23%.
GSDP percent growth at current prices varied from a low of 10.3% in 2010–2011 to a high of 17.11% in 2013–2014.
Per-capita NSDP growth rate at current prices varied from 9.4% in 2010–2011 to a high of 16.15% in 2013–2014.
The proportion of people living below the poverty line in 2013 was 19.98%, a decline from 31.8% a decade ago.
GSDP at current prices (base 2004–2005) has increased from Rs 2,086.56 billion in 2004–05 to Rs 8,00,868 crores in 2014–2015, reaching Rs 10,21,000 crores in 2017–18.
The growth rate was 13.35% in 2014–2015.
As of 2014–2015, per capita NSDP at current prices was Rs78,903.
The growth rate was 12.62% in 2014–2015. In 2015–2016, percentage share of Gross Value Added (GVA) at factor cost by economic activity at constant price (base year 2011–2012) was Agriculture-Forestry and Fishery—4.84%, Industry 18.51% and Services 66.65%.
Many major industries such as the Uttarpara Hindustan Motors car manufacturing unit, the jute industry, and the Haldia Petrochemicals unit experienced shutdowns in 2014.
Data from 2010 to 2014 showed the life expectancy in the state was 70.2years, higher than the national value of 67.9.
The growth rate was 12.62% in 2014–2015. In 2015–2016, percentage share of Gross Value Added (GVA) at factor cost by economic activity at constant price (base year 2011–2012) was Agriculture-Forestry and Fishery—4.84%, Industry 18.51% and Services 66.65%.
All towns in the districts of: Nadia, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Burdwan and East Midnapore are ODF zones, with Nadia becoming the first ODF district in the state in April 2015. A study conducted in three districts of West Bengal found that accessing private health services to treat illness had a catastrophic impact on households.
In August 2016 the West Bengal Legislative Assembly passed another resolution to change the name of West Bengal to "Bengal" in English and "Bangla" in Bengali.
Banerjee was re-elected twice as Chief Minister in the 2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election and 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election with 211 and 213 seats respectively, an absolutely majority by the Trinamool Congress.
At least nine districts in the state suffer from arsenic contamination of groundwater, and as of 2017 an estimated 1.04crore people were afflicted by arsenic poisoning. West Bengal's climate varies from tropical savanna in the southern portions to humid subtropical in the north.
The Darjeeling Himalayan Hill region experiences a harsh winter, with occasional snowfall. == Flora and fauna == The "India State of Forest Report 2017", recorded forest area in the state is , while in 2013, forest area was , which was 18.93% of the state's geographical area, compared to the then national average of 21.23%.
The state has one autonomous region, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. == Districts == As of 2017, West Bengal is divided into 23 districts. Each district is governed by a district collector or district magistrate, appointed by either the Indian Administrative Service or the West Bengal Civil Service.
GSDP at current prices (base 2004–2005) has increased from Rs 2,086.56 billion in 2004–05 to Rs 8,00,868 crores in 2014–2015, reaching Rs 10,21,000 crores in 2017–18.
The tourism industry of West Bengal was negatively impacted in 2017 because of the Gorkhaland agitation. However, over the years due to effective changes in the stance towards industrialisation, ease of doing business has improved in West Bengal.
Scheduled castes and tribes form 28.6% and 5.8% of the population, respectively, in rural areas and 19.9% and 1.5%, respectively, in urban areas. In September 2017, West Bengal achieved 100% electrification, after some remote villages in the Sunderbans became the last to be electrified. As of September 2017, of 125 towns and cities in Bengal, 76 have achieved open defecation free (ODF) status.
In 2019, another bill was passed by the government to include Kamtapuri, Kurmali and Rajbanshi as additional official languages in blocks, divisions or districts where the speakers exceed 10% of the population.
On 24 December 2020, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced Telugu as an additional official language.
Banerjee was re-elected twice as Chief Minister in the 2016 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election and 2021 West Bengal Legislative Assembly election with 211 and 213 seats respectively, an absolutely majority by the Trinamool Congress.
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