Test: Sikkim, West Bengal, and the North- Eastern States- Physical - 2 - UPSC MCQ

The capital city of West Bengal is Kolkata, also known as Calcutta. It is a major cultural, commercial, and educational center in the state. Kolkata is situated on the Hugli (Hooghly) River in the southern portion of West Bengal.

West Bengal can be broadly divided into two natural geographic divisions—the Gangetic Plain in the south, characterized by fertile alluvial soil deposited by the Ganges River, and the sub-Himalayan and Himalayan area in the north, which includes the West Bengal Duars and the Himalayan mountain ranges.

The Hugli (Hooghly) River forms the western end of the Sundarbans, a dense coastal mangrove forest in West Bengal. The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage site and is known for its rich biodiversity, including tigers, leopards, and various species of flora and fauna.

Hinduism claims the adherence of more than three-fourths of the population in West Bengal. It is the majority religion in the state. Islam is the second-largest religion, followed by smaller minority communities of Buddhists, Christians, Jains, and Sikhs.

Bengali is the primary language spoken in West Bengal. It is widely used by the population and serves as a major means of communication. Other languages spoken in the state include Hindi, Santali, Urdu, and Nepali, among others.

The Damodar River joins the Hugli (Hooghly) River southwest of Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal. The Damodar River is an important tributary of the Ganges and contributes to the water flow in the region.

The northern boundary of West Bengal is dominated by the Himalayan mountain ranges. Mount Kanchenjunga, located in adjacent Sikkim but visible from Darjiling (Darjeeling) in West Bengal, is one of the prominent peaks in the region. On a clear day, Mount Everest can also be seen in the distance.

Kolkata, the capital city of West Bengal, receives an average annual rainfall of about 64 inches (1,625 mm). The rainfall in Kolkata shows a pronounced seasonal disparity, with the majority of rainfall occurring during the hot and wet season from mid-June to September.

The West Bengal Duars, located in the sub-Himalayan region, is known for its tea plantations. The area was once infested with malaria but has been successfully drained and cultivated. Some of India's finest tea plantations can be found in this region.

English, along with Bengali, serves as the language of administration in West Bengal. It is used in official communications, government offices, and various administrative functions. English and Hindi also serve as lingua francas at the national level in India.