Bihar
Bihar is a state located in eastern India. Predominantly an agricultural economy, it is the third largest state by population and twelfth largest by territory, with an area of 94,163 km2. Three main cultural regions converge in the state: Magadh, Mithila, and Bhojpur.
Only 11.3% of the population of Bihar lives in urban areas, which is the lowest in India after Himachal Pradesh. Additionally, almost 58% of Biharees are below the age of 25, giving Bihar the highest proportion of young people of any Indian state.
In ancient and classical India, the area that is now Bihar was considered a centre of power, learning, and culture with two of the most renowned ancient universities of Nalanda and Vikramshila. From Magadha arose India's first empire, the Maurya empire, as well as one of the world's most widely adhered to religions: Buddhism and another religion which goes by the name of Jainism. Another region of Bihar is Mithila, which was an early centre of learning and the centre of the Videha kingdom.
Since the late 1970s, Bihar has lagged far behind other Indian states in terms of social and economic development. Many economists and social scientists claim that this is a direct result of the policies of the central government, its apathy towards Bihar, lack of Bihari sub-nationalism, and many other socio cultural political legal technological factors.
The state government has, however, made significant strides in past decade towards developing the state. Improved governance has led to an economic revival in the state through increased investment in infrastructure, and a reduction in crime and corruption.
