147-618: Hijli Detention Camp (now called Shaheed Bhavan , IIT Kharagpur ), is a former detention camp operated during the period of British colonial rule in India . Located in Hijli, beside Kharagpur , (a part of former Hijli Kingdom ) in the district of Midnapore West , West Bengal , India , it played a significant role in the Indian independence movement of the 19th and 20th centuries. The large numbers of those who participated in armed struggles or
294-631: A Sub-Divisional Magistrate , and again into blocks. Blocks consists of panchayats (village councils) and town municipalities. The capital and largest city of the state is Kolkata —the third-largest urban agglomeration and the seventh-largest city in India. Asansol is the second-largest city and urban agglomeration in West Bengal. Major planned cities of West Bengal include Bidhannagar , New Town , Kalyani , Haldia , Durgapur and Kharagpur . Kolkata has some planned neighbourhoods like New Garia , Tollygunge , and Lake Town . Siliguri
441-579: A detention camp during the period of British rule in India , where Indian independence activists were imprisoned. IIT Kharagpur is the 4th oldest technical institute in the state after IIEST, Shibpur (established as B.E. College in 1856), Jadavpur University (established as the Bengal Technical Institute in 1906) and Rajabazar Science College (established as Calcutta University campus for Science and Technology in 1914). When
588-655: A phytogeographic viewpoint, the southern part of West Bengal can be divided into two regions: the Gangetic plain and the littoral mangrove forests of the Sundarbans. The alluvial soil of the Gangetic plain, combined with favourable rainfall, makes this region especially fertile. Much of the vegetation of the western part of the state has similar species composition with the plants of the Chota Nagpur plateau in
735-486: A Muslim-majority province of Pakistan which later became the independent Bangladesh. The state was also flooded with Hindu refugees from East Bengal (present-day Bangladesh) in the decades following the 1947 partition of India , transforming its landscape and shaping its politics. The early and prolonged exposure to British administration resulted in an expansion of Western education , culminating in developments in science, institutional education, and social reforms in
882-468: A Vanga kingdom prince, conquered Lanka (modern-day Sri Lanka) and named the country Sinhala kingdom . The kingdom of Magadha was formed in the 7th century BCE, consisting of the regions now comprising Bihar and Bengal. It was one of the four main kingdoms of India at the time of the lives of Mahavira , the principal figure of Jainism and Gautama Buddha , founder of Buddhism . It consisted of several janapadas , or kingdoms. Under Ashoka ,
1029-488: A cell known as the SRIC (Sponsored Research and Industrial Consultancy) cell since 1982. It handles sponsored research projects and industrial consultancy assignments, and has the infrastructure to simultaneously administer 600 R&D projects. Indira Gandhi Centre for Atomic Research has entered into a collaboration with IIT Kharagpur to carry out research for the design and development of Fast Breeder Reactors (FBRs). This
1176-547: A committee was set up by Sir Jogendra Singh , Member of the Viceroy's executive council, to consider the creation of higher technical institutions for the industrial development of India post World War II . This was followed by the creation of a 22-member committee headed by Nalini Ranjan Sarkar . In its interim report, the Sarkar Committee recommended the establishment of higher technical institutions in India, along
1323-487: A compensation package of ₹ 2 million (US$ 24,000) per annum in December 2009. The highest salary offered till now is ₹ 17 million (US$ 200,000) per annum by social networking site Facebook in an off-shore recruitment (of which employee stock ownership plans [ESOPs] were offered valued at ₹ 10 million) in December 2010. The 2010 batch of BTech students saw 94% placements. Deutsche Bank recruited 9 students on
1470-534: A fighter plane and a steam engine. The museum has an archive room, showing documents relating to the history of the institute and West Midnapore district . The Rural Museum, located in the Rural Development Centre, has a collection of exhibits in local culture. The institute campus has six guest houses, a civic hospital, four nationalised banks, four schools (Hijli High School, Kendriya Vidyalaya , D.A.V Model School, and St. Agnes Branch School),
1617-509: A group of engineers and architects under the guidance of Werner M. Moser , a Swiss architect. The 8.5-square-kilometre (2,100-acre) campus is residence to about 22,000 inhabitants. In 2015, IIT Kharagpur had about 605 faculty members, 1,933 employees and approximately 10,010 students living on the campus. The campus has a total of 55 kilometres (34 miles) of roadways. The Institute plans to go Green by 2020. The 22 student hostels are located on either side of Scholars Avenue, which extends from
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#17327720656661764-430: A low of 10.3% in 2010–2011 to a high of 17.11% in 2013–2014. The growth rate was 13.35% in 2014–2015. The state's per capita income has lagged the all India average for over two decades. As of 2014–2015, per capita NSDP at current prices was Rs 78,903. 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 growth rate was 12.62% in 2014–2015. In 2015–2016,
1911-438: A major centre for the jute and tea industries. Years after independence, West Bengal is dependent on the central government for help in meeting its demands for food; food production remained stagnant, and the Indian green revolution bypassed the state. 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
2058-586: A major change when the Left Front won the 1977 assembly election, defeating the incumbent Indian National Congress. The Left Front, led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) , governed the state for the next three decades. The state's economic recovery gathered momentum after the central government introduced economic liberalisations in the mid-1990s. This was aided by the advent of information technology and IT-enabled services . Beginning in
2205-618: A major role in the Indian independence movement , in which revolutionary groups such as Anushilan Samiti and Jugantar were dominant. Armed attempts against the British Raj from Bengal reached a climax when news of Subhas Chandra Bose leading the Indian National Army against the British reached Bengal. The Indian National Army was subsequently routed by the British. When India gained independence in 1947, Bengal
2352-401: A management school (Vinod Gupta School of Management), an entrepreneurship school ( Rajendra Mishra School of Engineering Entrepreneurship ) and a law school ( Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law ) on its premises. The Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law has been opened in collaboration with George Washington University . Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law
2499-476: A natural fish nursery, supporting coastal fishes along the Bay of Bengal. Recognising its special conservation value, the Sundarbans area has been declared a Biosphere Reserve . West Bengal is governed through a parliamentary system of representative democracy , a feature the state shares with other Indian states. Universal suffrage is granted to residents. There are two branches of government. The legislature,
2646-411: A number of steel plants. Important manufacturing industries include: engineering products, electronics, electrical equipment, cables, steel, leather, textiles, jewellery, frigates, automobiles, railway coaches and wagons. The Durgapur centre has established several industries in the areas of tea, sugar, chemicals and fertilisers . Natural resources like tea and jute in nearby areas have made West Bengal
2793-402: A package of ₹ 1.5 million (US$ 18,000) per annum. For the 2012 batch, Facebook has made the highest offer $ 150,000 to four students. For the 2013 batch, three students have been offered salaries of ₹ 8 million (US$ 96,000) per year while eight others have got offers of ₹ 7.5 million (US$ 90,000) from Google , Facebook and Microsoft . For the 2014 batch, the highest package offered to
2940-412: A population density of 1,029 inhabitants per square kilometre (2,670/sq mi) 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%. Data from 2010 to 2014 showed the life expectancy in the state was 70.2 years, higher than the national value of 67.9. The proportion of people living below the poverty line in 2013
3087-400: A railway reservation counter and a police station. The campus has a water pumping station, electrical sub-station, telephone exchange, market, six restaurants, and a garbage disposal section for the daily needs of the residents. Construction is presently going on for another guest house and a convention centre with a 2,000 seating capacity. The institute draws its supply of water from wells near
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#17327720656663234-544: A semi-independent state under the Nawabs of Bengal , and showed signs of the world's first Industrial Revolution . The Koch dynasty in northern Bengal flourished during the 16th and 17th centuries; it weathered the Mughals and survived until the advent of the British colonial era. Several European traders reached this area in the late 15th century. The British East India Company defeated Siraj ud-Daulah ,
3381-472: A separate hostel for scholars from the armed forces. The Jnan Ghosh Stadium and the Tata Sports Complex host large-scale sports competitions. The Tagore Open Air Theatre has a capacity of 6,000 people, and is used to host cultural programs. The Science and Technology Entrepreneurs' Park (STEP) provides infrastructure facilities to alumni seeking to start their own corporations. In addition to
3528-614: A state-of-the-art athletics tracks; and swimming pools for aquatic events. Most hostels have their own dedicated sports grounds. The institute used to organise Shaurya , an annual inter-collegiate sports and games meet in October, which was discontinued in 2012. IIT Kharagpur shares a common Visitor (a position held by the President of India) and the IIT Council with other IITs. The rest of IIT Kharagpur's organisational structure
3675-499: A student stands at around ₹ 9 million (US$ 110,000) from Google . As of the 2021-2022 academic session, a total of 1723 offers (including Pre-Placement Offers - PPOs) were made by several companies, peaking with a CTC of ₹2.4 Crore (US$ 301,014) which is the highest recorded CTC amongst the IITs. As of the 2024-2025 academic year, the annual recruitment drive is conducted in multiple phases. PPOs are extended to students (or directly to
3822-729: A tussle between Hinduism and Buddhism for dominance. Ancient Bengal was the site of several major Janapadas , while the earliest cities date back to the Vedic period . The region was part of several ancient pan−Indian empires, including the Vangas , Mauryans , and the Guptas . The citadel of Gauḍa served as the capital of the Gauda kingdom , the Pala Empire , and the Sena Empire . Islam
3969-476: A violent Marxist – Maoist movement by groups known as the Naxalites damaged much of the city's infrastructure, leading to a period of economic stagnation and deindustrialisation . The Bangladesh Liberation War of 1971 resulted in an influx of millions of refugees to West Bengal, causing significant strains on its infrastructure. The 1974 smallpox epidemic killed thousands. West Bengal politics underwent
4116-769: A weighted average from all the courses with their respective credit points. Each semester's evaluation is done independently with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) reflecting the average performance across semesters. Internationally, IIT Kharagpur was ranked 222 in the QS World University Rankings of 2024 and 73 in Asia. It was also ranked 801–900 in the Academic Ranking of World Universities of 2022. In India, IIT Kharagpur ranked 4th among government engineering colleges by Outlook India in 2022 and 5th among engineering colleges by
4263-790: Is Kolkata , the third-largest metropolis , and seventh largest city by population in India. West Bengal includes the Darjeeling Himalayan hill region , the Ganges delta , the Rarh region , the coastal Sundarbans and the Bay of Bengal . The state's main ethnic group are the Bengalis , with the Bengali Hindus forming the demographic majority. The area's early history featured a succession of Indian empires , internal squabbling, and
4410-532: Is 102,552,787. West Bengal is the fourth-most populous and thirteenth-largest state by area in India, as well as the eighth-most populous country subdivision of the world. As a part of the Bengal region of the Indian subcontinent , it borders Bangladesh in the east, and Nepal and Bhutan in the north. It also borders the Indian states of Jharkhand , Odisha , Bihar , Sikkim and Assam . The state capital
4557-611: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . IIT Kharagpur Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur ( IIT Kharagpur ) is a public institute of technology , research university , and autonomous institute established by the Government of India in Kharagpur , West Bengal . Founded in 1951, the institute is the first of the IITs to be established and is recognised as an Institute of National Importance . In 2019 it
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4704-415: Is a major development that will boost the second stage of India's nuclear power programme. IIT Kharagpur follows the credit -based system of performance evaluation, with proportional weighting of courses based on their importance. The total marks (usually out of 100) form the basis of grades , with a grade value (out of 10) assigned to a range of marks. For each semester, the students are graded by taking
4851-541: Is a member of LAOTSE , a network of universities in Europe and Asia exchanging students and senior scholars. IIT Kharagpur offers degrees as part of its undergraduate programmes. They include Bachelor of Technology (BTech.Hons), Bachelor of Architecture (BArch) and the 5-year integrated Master of Science . The BTech degree is the most common undergraduate degree in IIT Kharagpur in terms of student enrolment. It
4998-547: Is a part of the eastern Himalayas mountain range. In this region is Sandakfu , which, at 3,636 m (11,929 ft), is the highest peak in the state. The narrow Terai region separates the hills from the North Bengal plains , which in turn transitions into the Ganges delta towards the south. The Rarh region intervenes between the Ganges delta in the east and the western plateau and high lands . A small coastal region
5145-593: Is an economically important city, strategically located in the northeastern Siliguri Corridor (Chicken's Neck) of India. Other larger cities and towns in West Bengal are Howrah , Chandannagar , Bardhaman, Baharampur , Jalpaiguri , and Purulia etc. (figures in crores of Indian rupees ) As of 2015 , West Bengal has the sixth-highest GSDP in India. 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. GSDP per cent growth at current prices varied from
5292-420: Is around ₹ 275,000 (US$ 3,300) per annum. 35% of undergraduate students are given additional financial support based on personal need and economic background, with their annual expenses being nearly ₹ 64,000 (US$ 770). The academic policies of IIT Kharagpur are decided by its senate. It consists of all professors of the institute, and administrative and student representatives. The senate controls and approves
5439-457: Is automated and online searches are possible through an Online Public Access Catalog (OPAC). The Electronic Library section has a collection of databases, video lectures and miscellaneous other resources. The Nehru Museum of Science and Technology has over a hundred indoor exhibits that include technical models collected from institutions across India. The park outside the museum contains 14 open-air demonstrations and outdoor exhibits, including
5586-468: Is based on a four-year programme with eight semesters. The first year of the BTech curriculum has common courses from various departments. At the end of the first year, an option to change departments is given to students on the basis of their performance in the first two semesters. Like other IITs which evaluate their students on the basis of others' performance IIT Kharagpur also uses relative grading. From
5733-529: Is dictated by elevation and precipitation . For example, the foothills of the Himalayas, the Dooars , are densely wooded with sal and other tropical evergreen trees. Above an elevation of 1,000 metres (3,300 ft), the forest becomes predominantly subtropical. In Darjeeling, which is above 1,500 metres (4,900 ft), temperate forest trees like oaks , conifers and rhododendrons predominate. 3.26% of
5880-535: Is distinct from that of the other IITs. The Board of Governors of IIT Kharagpur is under the IIT Council, and has 13 members that include representatives of the states of West Bengal , Bihar , Jharkhand and Odisha , in addition to other members appointed by the IIT Council and the institute's Senate . Under the Board of Governors is the institute Director, who serves as the chief academic and executive officer of
6027-1009: Is granted through written entrance examinations. Admissions to M.S. (by Research) and PhD programmes are based on written tests followed by personal interviews. Admission to undergraduate programmes in all IITs is tied to the Indian Institute of Technology Joint Entrance Examination (IIT-JEE). Since 2013, students have to pass the qualifying JEE Mains examination, followed by the JEE Advanced examination, in order to be admitted to an undergraduate course at an IIT. Candidates who qualify for admission through IIT-JEE apply for admission in four-year B.Tech. ( Bachelor of Technology ), five-year B.Arch. ( Bachelor of Architecture ), five-year Dual Degree (integrated Bachelor of Technology and Master of Technology ), and four year B.S. ( Bachelor of Science ) courses at IIT Kharagpur. Admissions to postgraduate programmes (M.Tech.) are granted primarily through
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6174-479: Is housed in the basement of the Vikramshila building. The institute main building houses most of the administrative offices, the lecture halls, and two auditoriums on either side. The signage at the front displays the message, "Dedicated to the service of the nation." The tower of the main building has a steel tank with 10,000 imperial gallons of water capacity for emergency supply needs. The Netaji Auditorium in
6321-642: Is in the extreme south, while the Sundarbans mangrove forests form a geographical landmark at the Ganges delta. The main river in West Bengal is the Ganges , which divides into two branches. One branch enters Bangladesh as the Padma , or Pôdda , while the other flows through West Bengal as the Bhagirathi River and Hooghly River . The Farakka barrage over the Ganges feeds the Hooghly branch of
6468-593: Is ranked 14th globally as per QS World University Ranking 2019. In 2021, IIT Kharagpur and The University of Manchester entered into strategic partnership and launched a dual award PhD programme. The institute offers the Continuing Education Programme (CEP) for qualified engineers and scientists to learn technologies and developments in their academic disciplines. As part of CEP, the institute offers formal degree programmes (MTech and PhD) and an Early Faculty Induction Programme (EFIP) under
6615-496: Is the only law school in IIT System of the country The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) ranked the institute 5th in its law ranking of 2024. The School of Medical Science and Technology at IIT Kharagpur is the first and also the "only" of its kind in the country where M.B.B.S. graduates are trained in art and science of medical research with aim to provide a platform for interdisciplinary teaching and research in
6762-517: Is the state's principal food crop. Rice, potato, jute , sugarcane and wheat are the state's top five crops. Tea is produced commercially in northern districts; the region is well known for Darjeeling and other high-quality teas. State industries are localised in the Kolkata region, the mineral-rich western highlands, and the Haldia Port region. The Durgapur-Asansol colliery belt is home to
6909-575: The National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2024, which also ranked it 6th overall. The architecture department was ranked second among all architecture colleges in India by NIRF in 2024, Rajiv Gandhi School of Intellectual Property Law was ranked sixth among law schools and Vinod Gupta School of Management (VGSoM) was ranked 12 among management schools. Prior to 2006, an internal policy at IIT Kharagpur allowed only Indian companies to apply for
7056-693: 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. Bengal suffered from the Great Bengal famine in 1943, which claimed three million lives during World War II. Bengalis played
7203-830: The Chief Minister although the titular head of government is the Governor . The Governor is the Head of State appointed by the President of India . The leader of the party or coalition with a majority in the Legislative Assembly is appointed as the Chief Minister by the Governor. The Council of Ministers is appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Chief Minister. The Council of Ministers reports to
7350-712: The Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE). Other postgraduate entrance exams include Joint Admission to M.Sc. (JAM) for M.Sc., and the Common Admission Test (CAT) conducted by IIMs for management studies. 15% of the seats are reserved for students belonging to Scheduled Castes (SC) and 7.5% for Scheduled Tribes (ST). As of 2008 , 27% separate reservation exists for the Other Backward Classes . IIT Kharagpur
7497-473: The Indian Imperial Police . Subhas Chandra Bose came to Hijli to collect their bodies for interment. Many Indian nationalists, including Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore , voiced strong protests against the British Raj over this incident. The firing which later known as "Hijli firing" is the only incident of police firing inside a detention camp. The detention camp was closed in 1937 and
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#17327720656667644-684: The Inter IIT Sports Meet , held annually in one of the IITs by policy of rotation. The students choose their representatives by elections held under the control of the Technology Students' Gymkhana. A fortnightly newsletter called The Scholar's Avenue , named after the avenue common to the student halls, is published by an independent student body. A Hindi monthly newsletter, Awaaz , is published by another independent student body. Individual halls organise "Hall day" — an annual event that involves lighting and decoration of
7791-472: The Kosai river (located 112 kilometres away from institute) by harnessing sub-surface water. Three deep wells near the institute supplement the supply from the river. The water is supplied by a 16-inch (410 mm) pipeline to 12 tanks in the campus with a total capacity of 2,800,000 litres (615,000 imperial gallons). In 2009, students had expressed dissatisfaction with the level of amenities on campus, especially
7938-979: The Lok Sabha and 16 seats to the Rajya Sabha of the Indian Parliament . Politics in West Bengal is dominated by the All India Trinamool Congress (AITC), Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Indian National Congress (INC), and the Left Front alliance (led by the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M)). Following the West Bengal State Assembly Election in 2011 , the All India Trinamool Congress and Indian National Congress coalition under Mamata Banerjee of
8085-665: The Maurya Empire of Magadha in the 3rd century BCE extended over nearly all of South Asia , including Afghanistan and parts of Balochistan . From the 3rd to the 6th centuries CE, the kingdom of Magadha served as the seat of the Gupta Empire . Two kingdoms—Vanga or Samatata, and Gauda—are said in some texts to have appeared after the end of the Gupta Empire although details of their ascendancy are uncertain. The first recorded independent king of Bengal
8232-550: The Mughal Empire in 1576. Simultaneously, some parts of the region were ruled by several Hindu states , and Baro-Bhuyan landlords, and part of it was briefly overrun by the Suri Empire . Following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb in the early 1700s, the proto-industrialised Mughal Bengal became a semi-independent state under the Nawabs of Bengal , and showed signs of the first Industrial Revolution . The region
8379-415: The Nawabs of Murshidabad , who nominally respected the sovereignty of the Mughals in Delhi . Several independent Hindu states were established in Bengal during the Mughal period, including those of Pratapaditya of Jessore District and Raja Sitaram Ray of Bardhaman . Following the death of Emperor Aurangzeb and the Governor of Bengal, Shaista Khan , the proto-industrialised Mughal Bengal became
8526-439: The Suhma kingdom . One of the earliest foreign references to Bengal is a mention by the Ancient Greeks around 100 BCE of a land named Gangaridai located at the mouths of the Ganges . Bengal had overseas trade relations with Suvarnabhumi (Burma, Lower Thailand, the Lower Malay Peninsula and Sumatra ). According to the Sri Lankan chronicle Mahavamsa , Prince Vijaya ( c. 543 – c. 505 BCE ),
8673-430: The Trinamool Congress government's efforts to forge a consensus on the name change resolution, the Indian National Congress , the Left Front and the Bharatiya Janata Party opposed the resolution. However, the central government has turned down the proposal maintaining the state should have one single name for all languages instead of three and it should not be the same as that of any other territory (pointing out that
8820-470: The West Bengal Surface Transport Corporation and the Calcutta Tramways Company . There are also private bus companies. The railway system is a nationalised service without any private investment. Hired forms of transport include metered taxis and auto rickshaws , which often ply specific routes in cities. In most of the state, cycle rickshaws and in Kolkata, hand-pulled rickshaws and electric rickshaws are used for short-distance travel. According to
8967-412: The major degree as part of the undergraduate education, students can take courses from other departments, and by demonstrating knowledge of a discipline based on objectives set by the department, earn a minor in that department. To stay up-to-date with the latest academic and industry standards, IIT Kharagpur revamps its academic curriculum periodically. In August 2017, an Undergraduate Council(UG Council)
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#17327720656669114-445: The non-cooperation movement against the British could not be accommodated in ordinary jails. The British colonial government decided to establish a few detention camps; the first one was located in Buxa Fort followed by the creation of Hijli Detention Camp in 1930. A significant moment in the Indian independence movement occurred at here in 1931 when two unarmed detainees, Santosh Kumar Mitra and Tarakeswar Sengupta , were shot dead by
9261-420: The 1970s, the state has managed to revive its economy steadily throughout the years. The state has shown improvement regarding bandhs ( strikes ) and educational infrastructure. Significant strides have been made in reducing unemployment, though the state suffers from substandard healthcare services, a lack of socio-economic development, poor infrastructure, unemployment and civil violence. In 2006
9408-476: The All India Trinamool Congress was elected to power with 225 seats in the legislature. Prior to this, West Bengal was ruled by the Left Front for 34 years (1977–2011), making it the world's longest-running democratically elected communist government. 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 215 seats respectively, an absolute majority by
9555-449: The Bay of Bengal. In early summer, brief squalls and thunderstorms known as Kalbaisakhi , or Nor'westers, often occur. West Bengal receives the Bay of Bengal branch of the Indian Ocean monsoon that moves in a southeast to northwest direction. Monsoons bring rain to the whole state from June to September. Heavy rainfall of above 250 centimetres (98 in) is observed in the Darjeeling , Jalpaiguri , and Cooch Behar district . During
9702-501: The Central Library is one of the largest of its type. Its collection includes over 350,000 books and documents, and it subscribes to more than 1,600 printed and online journals and conference proceedings. The library has six halls and a section exclusively for SC and ST students. The library's collection consists of books, reports, conference proceedings, back volumes of periodicals, standards, theses, micro-forms, DVDs, CD-ROMs, and audio-visual material. The library's transaction service
9849-462: The Doctor of Philosophy degree (PhD) as part of its doctoral education programme . The doctoral scholars are given a topic by the professor, or work on the consultancy projects sponsored by industry. The duration of the programme is usually unspecified and depends on the discipline. PhD scholars submit a dissertation as well as conduct an oral defence of their thesis. Teaching assistantships (TA) and research assistantships (RA) are provided based on
9996-429: The Dual Degree programs involve specialisation in the major field of education of the student. For a dual degree involving an MBA from Vinod Gupta School of Management , the selection is made on the basis of an aptitude test of students across all engineering streams. The Dual Degree program spans five years as against six years in conventional BTech (four years) followed by an MTech or MBA (two years). IIT Kharagpur has
10143-429: The Hijli Saheed Bhavan, hosts the Nehru Museum of Science & Technology and is an imposing building bearing resemblance to the Byzantine style of architecture. IIT Kharagpur is located 120 kilometres (75 mi) west of Kolkata . The campus is located five kilometres away from Kharagpur Railway Station in West Midnapore district. The layout of the present campus and the design of the buildings were carried out by
10290-412: The IIT, and is aided by the Deputy Director. Under the Director and Deputy Director are the Deans , Heads of Department, the Registrar, President of the Students' Council, and Chairman of the Hall Management Committee (HMC). The Registrar is the chief administrative officer and oversees day-to-day operations. He is the custodian of records, funds, and other properties of the institute. Under the charge of
10437-458: The IIT. Hostel rooms are wired to provide an internet connection, for which students pay a compulsory charge. Most rooms in the older halls are designed to accommodate one student, but an increase in the number of incoming undergraduate students has led to shared rooms in the first two years. The Lal Bahadur Shastri Hall of Residence and newer blocks of some halls now accommodate three students per room. The oldest Halls of Residence are located in
10584-552: The Institute) towards the end of the previous summer internship cycle. Students who accept PPOs are removed from the normal placement process. The CDC enforces a strict "one student, one offer" policy to ensure a fair opportunity to all final-year students. The first two placement phases are typically organised in December and January, followed by an open-hiring session until the end of the academic year. The students of IIT Kharagpur compete among themselves in various events held under
10731-516: The Legislative Assembly. The Assembly is unicameral with 295 members , or MLAs, including one nominated from the Anglo-Indian community. Terms of office run for five years unless the Assembly is dissolved before the completion of the term. Auxiliary authorities known as panchayats , for which local body elections are regularly held, govern local affairs. The state contributes 42 seats to
10878-651: The PAN Loop, named after the Patel, Azad, and Nehru Halls. The halls of IIT Kharagpur are: Undergraduate students choose between the National Cadet Corps (NCC), National Service Scheme (NSS), National Sports Organisation (NSO), or National Cultural Appreciation (NCA) for their first two years of study. IIT Kharagpur has a range of sporting facilities including grounds for cricket, football, hockey, volleyball, lawn tennis, badminton (indoor and outdoor);
11025-782: The Quality Improvement Programme (QIP), short-term courses supported by the All India Council for Technical Education , self-financed short-term courses supported by course fees, and certificate courses conducted as distance education. In addition to conducting educational courses, the CEP develops model curricula for engineering education. As of 2006, the CEP has facilitated publication of 103 course curriculum books. The CEP administers SIMAP (Small Industries Management Assistant Programme) and STUP (Skill-cum-Technology Upgradation Programme) on behalf of IIT Kharagpur;
11172-745: The Trinamool Congress. The state has one autonomous region, the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration . As of 1 November 2023, 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 . Each district is subdivided into sub-divisions, governed by
11319-752: The West Bengal Legislative Assembly, consists of elected members and special office bearers such as the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, who are elected by the members. Assembly meetings are presided over by the Speaker or the Deputy Speaker in the Speaker's absence. The judiciary is composed of the Calcutta High Court and a system of lower courts. Executive authority is vested in the Council of Ministers headed by
11466-475: The adjoining state of Jharkhand. The predominant commercial tree species is Shorea robusta , commonly known as the sal tree . The coastal region of Purba Medinipur exhibits coastal vegetation; the predominant tree is the Casuarina . A notable tree from the Sundarbans is the ubiquitous sundari ( Heritiera fomes ), from which the forest gets its name. The distribution of vegetation in northern West Bengal
11613-497: The arrival of the monsoons, low pressure in the Bay of Bengal region often leads to the formation of storms in the coastal areas . Winter (December–January) is mild over the plains with average minimum temperatures of 15 °C (59 °F). A cold and dry northern wind blows in the winter, substantially lowering the humidity level. The Darjeeling Himalayan Hill region experiences a harsh winter, with occasional snowfall. The "India State of Forest Report 2017", recorded forest area in
11760-573: The campus recruitment drive. This was overturned by the Career Development Center (CDC) so as to not limit placement opportunities for graduates. Oil giants Schlumberger and Shell offered annual salaries to the tune of $ 80,000 that year. The top domestic compensation in 2008 came in at ₹ 1.8 million (US$ 22,000) per annum. In the 2011 batch, Goldman Sachs recruited 10 students on a package of ₹ 2.6 million (US$ 31,000) per annum. Barclays Capital recruited 11 students with
11907-520: The campus. The construction of the 1,052.69 metres (3,453.7 ft) long flyover was approved by the Indian Railways and West Bengal state government , and was constructed for an estimated cost of ₹ 237 million (US$ 2.8 million). IIT Kharagpur provides on-campus residential facilities to its students, research scholars, faculty members and many of its staff. The students live in hostels (referred to as halls ) throughout their stay in
12054-412: The civic hospital, forcing the director to resign. IIT Kharagpur is located just outside the town of Kharagpur, in the village of Hijli. Its civic amenities make it nearly self-sufficient with regards to the basic needs of the residents. As Kharagpur is a small town, there is limited direct interaction between the campus community and the town. There is also little employment opportunities for families of
12201-590: The country. The economy of West Bengal has witnessed many surprising changes in direction. The agricultural sector in particular rose to 8.33% in 2010–11 before tumbling to −4.01% in 2012–13. Many major industries such as the Uttarpara Hindustan Motors car manufacturing unit, the jute industry, and the Haldia Petrochemicals unit experienced shutdowns in 2014. In the same year, plans for a 300 billion Jindal Steel project
12348-481: The curriculum, courses, examinations and results, and appoints committees to look into specific academic matters. The teaching, training and research activities of the institute are periodically reviewed by the senate to maintain educational standards. The Director of IIT Kharagpur is the ex officio chairman of the Institute Senate. Admission to most undergraduate and postgraduate courses in IIT Kharagpur
12495-475: The districts of: Nadia, North 24 Parganas, Hooghly, Bardhaman and East Medinipur 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. This indicates the importance of the public provision of health services to mitigate poverty and
12642-557: The dual degree, students undertake industrial training for a minimum period of eight working weeks as part of the undergraduate curriculum. In the final year of their studies, most of the students are offered jobs in industries and other organisations through the Training and Placement section of the institute commonly known as Career Development Centre or CDC. Some students opt out of this facility in favour of higher studies or by applying to recruiting organisations directly. In addition to
12789-524: The eight-most visited tourist destination in India and third-most visited state of India globally. The origin of the name Bengal ( Bangla and Bongo in Bengali ) is unknown. One theory suggests the word derives from "Bang", the name of a Dravidian tribe that settled the region around 1000 BCE. The Bengali word Bongo might have been derived from the ancient kingdom of Vanga (or Banga ). Although some early Sanskrit literature mentions
12936-535: The entire Bengal region. Mosques , madrasas and khanqahs were built throughout these stages. During the Islamic Bengal Sultanate , founded in 1352, Bengal was a major world trading nation and was often referred by the Europeans as the richest country with which to trade. Later, in 1576, it was absorbed into the Mughal Empire . Subsequent Muslim conquests helped spread Islam throughout
13083-572: The faculty. Unlike some IITs (such as IIT Bombay ), IIT Kharagpur does not restrict the entry of outsiders into the campus. IIT Kharagpur provides much of its benefits to the local community through the Rural Development Centre (RDC) located in the campus. Established in 1975, the RDC helps the local community by developing customised technologies. The RDC also co-ordinates the National Service Scheme (NSS) programs in IIT Kharagpur, with
13230-523: The fastest-growing major economies, West Bengal has struggled to attract foreign direct investment due to adverse land acquisition policies, poor infrastructure , and red tape . It also has the 26th-highest ranking among Indian states in human development index , with the index value being lower than the Indian average. The state government debt of ₹ 6.47 lakh crore (US$ 78 billion), or 37.67% of GSDP, has dropped from 40.65% since 2010–11. West Bengal has three World Heritage sites and ranks as
13377-592: The field of medical science and technology. IIT Kharagpur will invest around ₹ 2.3 billion (US$ 28 million) for its 400-bed super speciality hospital in the campus which will impart undergraduate medical course to students. The institute is expected to start the course in 2017 which will be recognised by Medical Council of India (MCI). IIT Kharagpur also offers a unique, tri-institute programme, Post Graduate Diploma in Business Analytics (PGDBA), in association with IIM Calcutta and ISI Kolkata , which
13524-419: The fine monument of India, representing India's urges, India's future in the making. This picture seems to me symbolical of the changes that are coming to India. The Srinivasa Ramanujan Complex was incorporated as another academic complex of the institute with Takshashila starting operation in 2002, Vikramshila in 2003, and Nalanda in 2012. The erstwhile Hijli Detention camp building, subsequently renamed as
13671-529: The first session started in August 1951, there were 224 students and 42 teachers in the ten departments of the institute. The classrooms, laboratories and the administrative office were housed in the historic building of the Hijli Detention Camp (now known as Shaheed Bhawan), where political revolutionaries were imprisoned during the period of British colonial rule. The office building had served as
13818-424: The geographical area of West Bengal is protected land, comprising fifteen wildlife sanctuaries and five national parks— Sundarbans National Park , Buxa Tiger Reserve , Gorumara National Park , Neora Valley National Park and Singalila National Park . Extant wildlife includes Indian rhinoceros , Indian elephant , deer, leopard , gaur , tiger and crocodiles , as well as many bird species. Migratory birds come to
13965-710: The headquarters of the Bomber Command of the U.S. 20th Air Force during World War II. The name "Indian Institute of Technology" was adopted before the formal inauguration of the institute on 18 August 1951 by Maulana Abul Kalam Azad . On 18 May 1956, a Bill (Bill no 36 of 1956) was introduced in Lok Sabha to declare the institution known as the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur to be an institution of national importance and to provide for its incorporation and matters connected therewith. The motto of
14112-831: The heads of departments (HOD) are the faculty (full-time professors as well as those of associate and assistant status). The wardens of hostels are placed under the chairman of the hall management committee in the organisation. IIT Kharagpur receives comparatively more funding than other engineering colleges in India. While the total government funding to most other engineering colleges is around ₹ 100–200 million (US$ 2–4.5 million) per year, IIT Kharagpur gets nearly ₹ 1,300 million (US$ 16 million) per year. Other sources of funds include student fees and research funding by industry-sponsored projects. IIT Kharagpur provide scholarships to all MTech students and research scholars to encourage them to pursue higher studies. The cost borne by undergraduate students, including boarding and mess expenses,
14259-829: The highest concentration of industries at the time, Bidhan Chandra Roy , the Chief Minister of West Bengal, persuaded Jawaharlal Nehru ( India's first prime minister ) to establish the first institute in West Bengal. The first Indian Institute of Technology was thus established in May 1950 as the Eastern Higher Technical Institute. It was located in Esplanade East , Calcutta , and in September 1950 shifted to its permanent campus at Hijli , Kharagpur - 120 kilometres (75 mi) south-west of Kolkata (formerly called Calcutta). Hijli had been used as
14406-718: The independent Bangladesh . In 2011 the Government of West Bengal proposed a change in the official name of the state to Paschim Banga ( Bengali : পশ্চিমবঙ্গ Pôshchimbônggô ). This is the native name of the state, literally meaning "western Bengal" in the native Bengali language. 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. Despite
14553-472: The institute being a corpus institute of SIDBI (Small Industries Development Bank of India). The institute received 171 research revenue worth ₹ 417 million (US$ 5.0 million)—and 130 consultancy projects in the 2005–06 session. The institute transferred 15 technologies to industry during the same session. The institute has filed 125 patents and 25 of them have been granted. This does not include patents obtained by individual professors or students. During
14700-564: The institute gate to the B. C. Roy Technology Hospital. The three earliest halls—Patel, Azad, and Nehru—together constitute the PAN loop or Old Campus, which is located just next to Scholar's Avenue. There are twelve hostels for undergraduate male students (MMM, LBS, RP, RK, MS, LLR, HJB, JCB, VS, Patel, Azad and Nehru) and two for undergraduate female students (SN/IG and MT). There are post-graduate hostels including four for women (RLB, Gokhle, Nivedita and SAM), two for research scholars (BCR and BRH), and
14847-499: The institute, योगः कर्मसु कौशलम् is taken from the Bhagavad Gita, Chapter 2, Verse 50, and it has been translated by Sri Aurobindo as "Excellence in action is Yoga". On 15 September 1956, the Indian Institute of Technology (Kharagpur) Act, 195 of Parliament received the assent of the President. Prime Minister Nehru, in the first convocation address of IIT Kharagpur, said: Here in the place of that Hijli Detention Camp stands
14994-427: The institute. Campus residents have also been denied direct access to the adjoining Hijli railway station as a result of this wall. The local community opposed the construction of a flyover from the railway station to the campus, stating that it would lead to a substantial loss of opportunity for the shops along the roads. However, upon completion, the Hijli road over-bridge has resulted in convenient transportation to
15141-725: 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 Bengal Presidency was established in 1765; it later incorporated all British-controlled territory north of the Central Provinces (now Madhya Pradesh ), from
15288-538: The lines of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and consulting from the University of Illinois at Urbana–Champaign along with affiliated secondary institutions. The report urged that work should start with the speedy establishment of major institutions in the four-quarters of the country with the ones in the east and the west to be set up immediately. On the grounds that West Bengal had
15435-659: The main building in the central academic complex, the Srinivasa Ramanujan Complex also has common academic facilities. Takshashila houses the G. S. Sanyal School of Telecommunication, the School of Information Technology, the Computer and Informatics Centre, and has facilities for conducting lectures. The Vikramshila Complex consists of four lecture halls, several seminar rooms, and the 850-seat Kalidas Auditorium. The School of Medical Science and Technology
15582-460: The main building is used for official functions and events, and doubles as a cinema theatre on weekend nights, showing films to the IIT community at subsidised rates. IIT Kharagpur's first library was located in a small room of the institute's Old Building ( Shaheed Bhawan ). At the time of its opening in 1951, the library had a collection of 2,500 books. Now located in the main building of the institute,
15729-532: The main campus at Kharagpur, the institute has an extension centre at Kolkata to provide venues for continuing education programmes, distance learning courses, and guesthouse accommodation. The Kolkata extension centre at Rajarhat is used to offer some full-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses. The 4-hectare (10-acre) Rajarhat campus houses 2,500 students. The institute's plan for a similar branch campus of 0.81 square kilometres (200 acres) in Bhubaneswar
15876-452: The members of NSS taking part in weekly community service activities such as sanitation, road construction, teaching and building educational models. In 2005, IIT Kharagpur started the construction of a boundary wall to ensure campus security, which is now complete. At present, mild restrictions apply on the entry of outsiders' vehicles. The boundary wall was opposed by the local community as it would hinder their access to amenities provided by
16023-400: The mid-2000s, armed activists conducted minor terrorist attacks in some parts of the state. Clashes with the administration took place at several controversial locations over the issue of industrial land acquisition. This became a decisive reason behind the defeat of the ruling Left Front government in the 2011 assembly election. Although the economy was severely damaged during the unrest in
16170-583: 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
16317-656: The name Vanga , the region's early history is obscure. In 1947, at the end of British rule over the Indian subcontinent the Bengal Legislative Council and the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted on the Partition of Bengal along religious lines into two separate entities: West Bengal, which continued as an Indian state and East Bengal , a province of Pakistan , which came to be known be as East Pakistan and later became
16464-472: The name 'Bangla' may create confusion with neighbouring Bangladesh ). Stone Age tools dating back 20,000 years have been excavated in the state, showing human occupation 8,000 years earlier than scholars had thought. According to the Indian epic Mahabharata the region was part of the Vanga kingdom. Several Vedic realms were present in the Bengal region, including Vanga , Rarh , Pundravardhana and
16611-538: The national average of 74.7 km/km (120.2 mi/sq mi). As of 2011, the total railway route length was around 4,481 km (2,784 mi). Kolkata is the headquarters of three zones of the Indian Railways — Eastern Railway and South Eastern Railway and the Kolkata Metro, which is the newly formed 17th zone of the Indian Railways. The Northeast Frontier Railway (NFR) serves
16758-512: The northern parts of the state. The Kolkata metro is the country's first underground railway. The Darjeeling Himalayan Railway , part of NFR, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site . Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport at Dum Dum , Kolkata, is the state's largest airport. Bagdogra Airport near Siliguri is a customs airport that offers international service to Bhutan and Thailand, besides regular domestic service. Kazi Nazrul Islam Airport , India's first private sector airport, serves
16905-479: The offing to revive the economy. West Bengal has been able to attract 2% of the foreign direct investment in the last decade. As of 2011, the total length of surface roads in West Bengal was over 92,023 kilometres (57,180 miles); national highways comprise 2,578 km (1,602 mi) and state highways 2,393 km (1,487 mi). As of 2006, the road density of the state was 103.69 kilometres per square kilometre (166.87 miles per square mile), higher than
17052-503: The organising hall, with a social gathering of students from all halls—during March. West Bengal West Bengal ( / b ɛ n ˈ ɡ ɔː l / ; Bengali : Poshchim Bongo , pronounced [ˈpoʃtʃim ˈbɔŋɡo] , abbr. WB ) is a state in the eastern portion of India . It is situated along the Bay of Bengal , along with a population of over 91 million inhabitants within an area of 88,752 km (34,267 sq mi) as of 2011. The population estimate as of 2023
17199-412: The percentage share of Gross Value Added (GVA) at factor cost by economic activity at the constant price (the base year 2011–2012) was Agriculture-Forestry and Fishery—4.84%, Industry 18.51% and Services 66.65%. It has been observed that there has been a slow but steady decline in the percentage share of industry and agriculture over the years. Agriculture is the leading economic sector in West Bengal. Rice
17346-409: 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). 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 gender ratio is 947 females per 1,000 males. As of 2011, West Bengal had
17493-479: The purview of open-IIT and inter-hall events, and the results of the latter contribute to the points that determine the winner of General Championship. The four categories in which General Championships are decided are Sports, Social and cultural activities, Technology, and Hall affairs. The women's hostel together participate as a single team in all events with the exception of sports, where women's team do not participate at inter-hall level. IIT Kharagpur participates in
17640-789: The region for four hundred years beginning in the 8th century. A shorter reign of the Hindu Sena dynasty followed. Rajendra Chola I of the Chola dynasty invaded some areas of Bengal between 1021 and 1023. Islam was introduced through trade with the Abbasid Caliphate . Following the Ghurid conquests led by Muhammad bin Bakhtiyar Khalji and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate , it spread across
17787-638: The region, including what became known as the Bengali Renaissance . Several regional and pan−Indian empires throughout Bengal's history have shaped its culture , cuisine , and architecture . Post-Indian independence, as a welfare state , West Bengal's economy is based on agricultural production and small and medium-sized enterprises . The state's cultural heritage, besides varied folk traditions, ranges from stalwarts in literature including Nobel-laureate Rabindranath Tagore to scores of musicians, film-makers and artists. For several decades,
17934-610: The region. It was ruled by dynasties of the Bengal Sultanate and feudal lords under the Delhi Sultanate for the next few hundred years. The Bengal Sultanate was interrupted for twenty years by a Hindu uprising under Raja Ganesha . In the 16th century, Mughal general Islam Khan conquered Bengal. Administration by governors appointed by the court of the Mughal Empire gave way to semi-independence under
18081-491: The river by a feeder canal. Its water flow management has been a source of lingering dispute between India and Bangladesh. The Teesta , Torsa , Jaldhaka and Mahananda rivers are in the northern hilly region. The western plateau region has rivers like the Damodar, Ajay and Kangsabati . The Ganges delta and the Sundarbans area have numerous rivers and creeks. Pollution of the Ganges from indiscriminate waste dumped into
18228-509: The river is a major problem. Damodar , another tributary of the Ganges and once known as the "Sorrow of Bengal" (due to its frequent floods), has several dams under the Damodar Valley Project . At least nine districts in the state suffer from arsenic contamination of groundwater , and as of 2017 an estimated 1.04 crore people were afflicted by arsenic poisoning. West Bengal's climate varies from tropical savanna in
18375-751: The same session, the value of the international projects was ₹ 9.9 million (US$ 120,000), and the revenue from transferred technologies was about ₹ 2.5 million (US$ 30,000). The institute earned ₹ 520 million (US$ 6.2 million) from research projects in the 2005–06 session. Major sponsors for research include the Indian Ordnance Factories , Indian National Science Academy , Ministry of Human Resource and Development, Defence Research and Development Organisation , Microsoft Corporation , Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (India) and Indian Space Research Organisation . IIT Kharagpur has had
18522-509: The scholar's academic profile. IIT Kharagpur offers an M.S. (by research) programme; the MTech and M.S. being similar to the US universities' non-thesis (course-based) and thesis (research-based) master programmes respectively. IIT Kharagpur (along with other IITs) offers Dual Degree programs that integrate undergraduate and postgraduate studies in selected pairs of branches and specialisations. Most of
18669-412: The second year onwards, the students take courses offered by their departments that are known as depth courses. In addition to these, the students take inter-disciplinary courses known as breadth courses. Separate courses from the humanities and social sciences (HSS) department, and management and information technology are also required. At the end of the third year for the BTech and fourth year for
18816-788: The southern part of the state, especially in the Sundarbans area. Kolkata is the only city in India to have trams as a mode of transport; these are operated by the Calcutta Tramways Company. Several government-owned organisations operate bus services in the state, including: the Calcutta State Transport Corporation , the North Bengal State Transport Corporation , the South Bengal State Transport Corporation ,
18963-407: The southern portions to humid subtropical in the north. The main seasons are summer, the rainy season, a short autumn and winter. While the summer in the delta region is noted for excessive humidity, the western highlands experience a dry summer like northern India. The highest daytime temperatures range from 38 to 45 °C (100 to 113 °F). At night, a cool southerly breeze carries moisture from
19110-458: The state during the winter. The high-altitude forests of Singalila National Park shelter barking deer , red panda , chinkara , takin , serow , pangolin , minivet and kalij pheasants . The Sundarbans are noted for a reserve project devoted to conserving the endangered Bengal tiger , although the forest hosts many other endangered species such as the Gangetic dolphin , river terrapin and estuarine crocodile. The mangrove forest also acts as
19257-448: The state is 16,847 km (6,505 sq mi), while in 2013, forest area was 16,805 km (6,488 sq mi), which was 18.93% of the state's geographical area, compared to the then national average of 21.23%. Reserves and protected and unclassed forests constitute 59.4%, 31.8% and 8.9%, respectively, of forested areas, as of 2009. Part of the world's largest mangrove forest, the Sundarbans in southern West Bengal. From
19404-428: The state underwent political violence and economic stagnation after the beginning of communist rule in 1977 before it rebounded. In 2023–24, the economy of West Bengal is the sixth-largest state economy in India with a gross state domestic product (GSDP) of ₹ 17.19 lakh crore (US$ 210 billion), and has the country's 20th-highest GSDP per capita of ₹ 121,267 (US$ 1,500) as of 2020–21. Despite being one of
19551-466: The state's healthcare system was severely criticised in the aftermath of the West Bengal blood test kit scam . West Bengal is on the eastern bottleneck of India , stretching from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south. The state has a total area of 88,752 square kilometres (34,267 sq mi). The Darjeeling Himalayan hill region in the northern extreme of the state
19698-604: The twin cities of Asansol-Durgapur at Andal , Paschim Bardhaman . Kolkata is a major river port in eastern India. The Kolkata Port Trust manages the Kolkata and the Haldia docks. There is passenger service to Port Blair on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands . Cargo ship service operates to ports in India and abroad, operated by the Shipping Corporation of India . Ferries are a principal mode of transport in
19845-624: Was Shashanka , who reigned in the early 7th century. Shashanka is often recorded in Buddhist annals as an intolerant Hindu ruler noted for his persecution of the Buddhists. He murdered Rajyavardhana , the Buddhist king of Thanesar , and is noted for destroying the Bodhi tree at Bodhgaya , and replacing Buddha statues with Shiva lingams . After a period of anarchy, the Pala dynasty ruled
19992-528: Was 19.98%, a decline from 31.8% a decade prior. 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. All towns in
20139-416: Was 9.8% in 1980–1981, declining to 5% by 1997–1998. In contrast, the service sector has grown at a rate higher than the national rate. The state's total financial debt stood at ₹ 1,918,350 million (US$ 23 billion) 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
20286-400: Was a hotbed of the Indian independence movement and has remained one of India's great artistic and intellectual centres. 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 ,
20433-515: Was awarded the status of Institute of Eminence by the Government of India. IIT Kharagpur is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in India. The institute was initially established to train engineers after India attained independence in 1947 . However, over the years, the institute's academic capabilities diversified with offerings in management, law, architecture, humanities, etc. IIT Kharagpur has an 8.7-square-kilometre (2,100-acre) campus and has about 22,000 residents. In 1946,
20580-1334: Was constituted by the institute under the Dean of Undergraduate Studies(Dean UGS) as its chairman and with one student representative from each department to be elected/nominated for an annual term, to assist in the process of curriculum update, assimilate student feedback on different academic policies, and forward suggestions and proposals to the institute senate. IIT Kharagpur offers postgraduate programmes including Master of Technology (MTech), Master of Business Administration (MBA), and Master of Sciences (MSc). Some specialised post graduate programmes offered by IIT Kharagpur include Master of Human Resource Management (MHRM), Postgraduate Diploma in Information Technology (PGDIT), Master in Medical Science and Technology ( MMST ), Master of City Planning (MCP), LL.B in Intellectual Property Law (LL.B Honors in IP Law), and Postgraduate Diploma in Maritime Operation and Management (PGDMOM). The institute offers
20727-408: Was integrated into West Bengal; portions of Bihar were also subsequently merged with West Bengal. Both West and East Bengal experienced large influxes of refugees during and after the partition in 1947. Refugee resettlement and related issues continued to play a significant role in the politics and socio-economic condition of the state. During the 1970s and 1980s, severe power shortages, strikes and
20874-415: Was introduced through trade with the Abbasid Caliphate , but following the Ghurid conquests led by Bakhtiyar Khalji and the establishment of the Delhi Sultanate , the Muslim faith spread across the entire Bengal region. During the Bengal Sultanate , the territory was a major trading nation in the world, and was often referred by the Europeans as the "richest country to trade with". It was absorbed into
21021-405: Was later annexed into the Bengal Presidency by the British East India Company after the Battle of Buxar in 1764. From 1772 to 1911, Calcutta was the capital of all of East India Company's territories and then the capital of the entirety of India after the establishment of the Viceroyalty . From 1912 to India's Independence in 1947, it was the capital of the Bengal Province . The region
21168-601: Was mothballed. The tea industry of West Bengal has also witnessed shutdowns for financial and political reasons. 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. Steps are being taken to remedy this situation by promoting West Bengal as an investment destination. A leather complex has been built in Kolkata. Smart cities are being planned close to Kolkata, and major roadway projects are in
21315-470: Was partitioned along religious lines. The western part went to the Dominion of India and was named 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. 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,
21462-479: Was reopened in 1940. In 1942 it was closed for the final time and the detainees were transferred elsewhere. During the Second World War it was occupied by the US Air Force . Today, the camp is also known for being the birthplace of Indian Institute of Technology - Kharagpur , which started in 1951. In 1990, a part of the former detention camp buildings were converted to house the Nehru Museum of Science and Technology . This Indian history-related article
21609-514: Was scrapped following rejection by the Union Human Resource and Development ministry. The Ministry of Human Resource Development on 5 September 2019 awarded the " Institute of Eminence " status to IIT Kharagpur along with four public institution in India, which will enable full autonomy and special incentives. IIT Kharagpur has 19 academic departments, eight multi-disciplinary centres/schools, and 13 schools of excellence in addition to more than 25 central research and development units. Apart from
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