Know Your State West Bengal – West Bengal GK Notes 2021 (Part 1)

In our present blog, we will be exploring a state of eastern India- West Bengal. In this discourse, we will be talking about the culture, geography and political aspects of West Bengal.

Where is the World’s largest tree? Where is The Largest Science Centre in the Indian Subcontinent?

Let’s go on a tour of West Bengal.

West Bengal is a diversified eastern state that boasts a vibrant art scene, delectable cuisine, and a genuinely hospitable population. West Bengal is also designated by peculiar geographical features, mouth-watering delicacies and cheap means of transport.

Before diving deep, let’s have a look over the state symbols of West Bengal.

State Symbols

Let’s scrutinize the topmost aspect of West Bengal i.e. Culture

CULTURE West Bengal GK Notes:

The culture of West Bengal is an Indian culture that has its ingrains in Bengali literature, music, fine arts, drama and cinema. Thus, West Bengal is one of the most culturally prosperous states of India.

• The state has a rich legacy of amazing literature with great authors like Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay, Rabindranath Tagore, KaziNazrul Islam and Bankim Chandra.
• West Bengal has a long-standing tradition of folk drama known as Jatra.
• West Bengal even has its own film industry known as ‘Tollywood’.
• Bengal is credited to be the forerunner of modern contemporary art with famous artists such as Abanindranath Tagore, Gaganendranath Tagore, Jamini Roy, and Rabindranath Tagore.
• Traditional dance form Chhau originated in West Bengal in which people wear huge colourful masks and dance.
• Bengalis have many unique dishes such as Malai curry of Prawn Fish, patori, ilishmach etc.
• The most famous deserts of the state are rasogolla, sandesh, rasamalai, homemade pitha, etc. which are loved throughout the country.
• Durga Puja is the most favourite festival in the state that is attended by people from all over the world.
• Other festivals like Kali Puja celebrated during Diwali; Lakshmi Puja etc. are celebrated throughout the year.
• Bengali women traditionally wear a sari, draping the ‘pallu’ in a special manner that is unique to the state of West Bengal.
• The men used to wear dhoti kurtas in West Bengal.
• English and Bengali are the two official languages of West Bengal.

Now let’s switch to the geographical attributes of West Bengal.

GEOGRAPHY West Bengal GK Notes:

West Bengal, a state of India, is located in the eastern part of the country. The state is jewelled with mesmerising landscapes, snow-clad mountains, gushing sea, blossoming tea gardens, enormous deltas, lush green forests and plentiful Wildlife.

Area: 88,752 km²

Area rank in India: 13^th

Population: 9.03 crores

Population rank in India: 4^th

Latitude extent: 22.9868° N

Longitude extent: 87.8550° E

• The state is bounded to the north by Sikkim and Bhutan, to the northeast by Assam, to the east by Bangladesh, to the south by the Bay of Bengal, to the southwest by Odisha, to the west by Jharkhand and Bihar, and to the northwest by Nepal.
• Further, West Bengal may be broadly divided into two natural geographic divisions namely the Gangetic Plain in the south and Himalayan area in the north.
• West Bengal has a recorded forest area of 11,879 sq. km which is 13.38% of its geographical area. The reserved, protected and unclassed forests are 59.38 % and 31.76% and 8.86% of the recorded forest area in the State respectively.
• The Bhagirathi is the main river in West Bengal. Other major Rivers of the state, such as Mahananda, Teesta, Torsa, Jaldhaka, KaljaniRaidak, Ajay, Mayurakshi, Damodar, Rupnarayan, Haldi and Subernarekha etc. are also very important.
• There are 6 national parks and 16 wildlife sanctuaries in West Bengal.

Climate West Bengal GK Notes:

West Bengal’s climate is transitional between tropical wet-dry in the southern portions and humid subtropical in the north. There are five main seasons in West Bengal namely spring, summer, rainy season, short autumn and winter.

• Summer:Summer covers the time period between March to mid-June and temperature ranges from 35°-45°C.
• Rainy season: The South-West Monsoon leads to the rainy season in the State. Most of the annual average rainfall of 175 cm about 125 cm occurs during this period. Heavy rainfall of above 250 cm is observed in the Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Alipurduar and Cooch Behar district.
• Autumn season: Autumn season is experienced in West Bengal for a very short period, that is, from the beginning of October to the middle of November.
• Winter: Winter season is from mid-November to February as January being the coldest month. Winter is cold to mild with average minimum temperatures of 9 to 16 °C.
• Spring season: This season is the most pleasant season in West Bengal and lies from mid-February to mid-March. Temperature range is between 20-30°C and no rainfall.

Soil Type:

The soil of West Bengal is broadly divided into four types that are mainly found in the state: Mountain soils, Alluvial soils, Red soils and Saline soils.

Let’s study the political aspects of the state.

GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS West Bengal GK Notes:

The government of West Bengal is similar to that of most Indian states, as determined by the national constitution of 1950. The head of state is the governor appointed by the president of India. The elected Council of Ministers, with a chief minister advises the governor. Interestingly, the Calcutta High Court (Kolkata) is the oldest High Court in India. The state is divided administratively into 23 districts. Each district, except that of Kolkata, is administered by a district magistrate. Each district is subdivided into sub-divisions, governed by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate, and again into blocks.

Representation of West Bengal in Parliament:

• Assembly seats (unicameral): 294
• Rajya sabha: 16
• Lok sabha: 42
• First Governor of West Bengal: Chakravarthi Rajagopalachari
• First Chief Minister of West Bengal: Prafulla Chandra Ghosh

SOME INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT WEST BENGAL:

• The Great Banyan Tree in the botanical garden in Kolkata is the largest tree in the world in terms of area covered.
• The Eden Gardens Cricket Ground is the stadium is the third largest cricket stadium in the world. 
• Science City in West Bengal is the largest Science Centre in the Indian Subcontinent.
• The Kolkata tram is one of its kind in India and the oldest running electric tram system in Asia operating since 1902.
• Salt Lake Stadium is the Second Largest Football Stadium in the World.

Hope this article made most of your facts clear about West Bengal. In our upcoming write-up, we will be discussing about other important aspects of West Bengal.

What is the environmental background of West Bengal? In which state of India, the First Underground Metro Railway System of India was built?

In our succeeding blog, the factors corresponding to these questions will be answered surely. If you don’t want to miss it, click here – Know your State ‘West Bengal’ – Part 2. We hope it will help you in the preparation of your competitive exams such SSC 10+2, SSC CGL, CDS, NDA, etc.

Thank You