West Bengal GK for PSC

Diversified knowledge about West Bengal: This is a necessary segment of the Public Service Commission (PSC) exams. It deals with the history, geography, polity, economy, culture, and up to date affairs in the state. Excellent control of such subjects enhances the preparations of Prelims and Mains.

Historical Background

• Old Bengal: Maurya, Gupta, Pala and Sena dynasties reigned.
• Medieval Bengal: Politics and culture of the state were influenced by the Bengal Sultanate and the Mughals.
• The British colonies: Calcutta was the capital of India (1772-1911).
• Reform and Renaissance: Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Rabindranath Tagore.

Movement Freedom Swadeshi Movement (1905), Tebhaga Movement (1946), Subhas Chandra Bose, Khudiram Bose, Surya Sen.

Geography

• Location Eastern India; shared borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Bihar, Odisha, Assam and Sikkim.
• States: Northern Himalayas, Gangetic Plains, Rarh Plateau and Sundarbans Delta.
• Rivers: Ganga-Hooghly, Damodar, Teesta, Subarnarekha.
• Natural Resources: Coal (Raniganj belt), arable land, tea gardens (Darjeeling).

Economy

• Agriculture: rice, jute, potato, tea are the key crops.
• Industries: Jute mills (Hooghly), tea plantations (Darjeeling, Dooars), IT and software centres (Kolkata, Durgapur, Siliguri).
• Ports Kolkata Port Trust, Haldia Dock Complex.
• Areas of Focus: Textile, leather, MSMEs, renewable energy.

Polity & Governance

• Statehood: It was formed in 1947 following the Bengal partition.
• Government: West Bengal Legislative Assembly is the sole chamber of legislature.
• Judiciary: Calcutta High Court (oldest High Court in India, est. 1862).
• Local Government: Panchayati Raj and municipal corporations.

Culture & Heritage

• Literature Rabindranath Tagore (Nobel Prize, 1913), Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay.
• Festivals: Durga Puja (UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage), Kali Puja, Poila Baisakh.
• Art/Music: Baul songs, Chhau, Jatra theatre.
• Food: Rice, fish curries, sweets such as rasgulla, sandesh, mishti doi.
• UNESCO Heritage Pages: Sundarbans National Park, Darjeeling Himalayan Railway, Santiniketan (2023).