JHARKHAND "THE LAND OF FOREST"

Jharkhand "The land of forest" is a state in eastern India, carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. The state shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh to the northwest, Chhattisgarh to the west, Odisha to the south and West Bengal to the east. It has an area of 79,710 km2(30,778 sq mi).

Coordinates (Ranchi): 23.35°N 85.33°E
Country	India
Region	East India
Formation	15 November 2000
Capital	Ranchi
Largest city	Jamshedpur
Districts	24
Government
• Governor	Draupadi Murmu
• Chief Minister	Raghubar Das (BJP)
• Legislature	Unicameral (81 seats)
• Parliamentary constituency	14
• High Court	Jharkhand High Court
Area
• Total	79,714 km2(30,778 sq mi)
Area rank	16th
Population (2011)
• Total	32,988,134
• Rank	14th
• Density	414/km2(1,070/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+05:30 (IST)
ISO 3166 code	IN-JH
HDI	0.376 (low)
HDI rank	19th (2007-08)
Literacy	67.6% (31th)
Official language	Hindi
Website	www.jharkhand.gov.in

The city of Ranchi is its capital and Dumka its sub capital.

Jharkhand suffers from resource curse; It accounts for more than 40% of the mineral resources of India, but it suffers widespread poverty as 39.1% of the population is below the poverty line and 19.6% of the children under five years of age are malnourished. The state is primarily rural, with only 24% of the population living in cities.

According to writers including Gautam Kumar Bera, there was already a distinct geo-political, cultural entity called Jharkhand even before the Magadha Empire. During the age of Mahajanpadas around 500 BC, Jharkhand state was a part of Magadha, Anga, Banga, Kalinga, Kashi and Vajji. Jharkhand was part of greater Magadha region and was in some way culturally different from Historical Vedic religion.

Geography:

Jharkhand is located in the eastern part of India and is enclosed by Bihar to the northern side, Chhattisgarh and Uttar Pradesh to the western side, Odisha to the southern part and West Bengal to the eastern part.

Jharkhand envelops a geographical area of 79.70 lakh hectare. Much of Jharkhand lies on the Chota Nagpur Plateau. Many rivers pass through the Chota Nagpur plateau. They are: Damodar, Brahmani, Koel, Subarnarekha and Kharkai rivers. The higher watersheds of these rivers stretch out within the Jharkhand state. Much of the Jharkhand state is still enclosed by forest. Forests sustain the population of Elephants and tigers.

Administrative districts:

The state was formed with 18 districts that were formerly part of south Bihar. Some of these districts were reorganised to form 6 new districts, namely, Latehar, Saraikela Kharsawan, Jamtara, Sahebganj, Khunti and Ramgarh. At present, the state has 5 Divisions and 24 Districts. One interesting thing about Jharkhand is that all its districts, except Lohardaga and Khunti, share a border with a neighboring state.

Divisions and districts:

Palamu Division Garhwa Palamu Latehar

North Chotanagpur Division Chatra Hazaribag Giridih Koderma Dhanbad Bokaro Ramgarh

South Chotanagpur Division Ranchi Lohardaga Gumla Simdega Khunti

Kolhan Division West Singhbhum Seraikela Kharsawan East Singhbhum

Santhal Pargana Division Deoghar Jamtara Dumka Godda Pakur Sahebganj

Parasnath Hills Jharkhand

Hills and Mountain Ranges:

Tagore Hill: The Tagore Hill is also recognized as the Morabadi Hill. The Tagore hill is located in Morabadi, Ranchi. The brother of Rabindranath Tagore, Jyotirindranath Tagore had made a tour at Ranchi in the year 1908.

Canary Hill: Canary Hill is surrounded by parks and has 3 tiny lakes. Canary hill has a surveillance tower. From the hill’s top there are views of the township.

Parasnath Hill: Parasnath Hill is also recognized as Sri Sammed Sikharji. The Parasnath Hill is situated in Giridih district of Jharkhand. It is a chief Jain pilgrimage site and the holy place for Jains. It is believed in the Jain culture that 20 of the 24 Tirthankaras attained Moksha from this place. The height of the hill is 1,350 meters.

Fuldungri: Fuldungri is situated on a small hill near Ghatshila town. Fuldungri’s peak has view of the nearby hills and valleys. Burudih Lake is situated seventeen kilometers North of Fuldungri.

Trikut Hill: Trikut Hill is located ten kilometers away from Deoghar and lies on the way to Dumka in Jharkhand. Trikut hill is also called Trikutchal because there are 3 major peaks on the hill. The height of Trikut hill is 2470 feet.

Nandan Hill: Nandan hill is a small hill binding the township which has a Nandi Temple. The Nandan hill is located in front of the Shiv temple. It is also surrounded by a lake.

Ranchi Hill: The Ranchi Hill is an attractions in Ranchi, Jharkhand. At Ranchi Hill’s pinnacle, there is a holy place dedicated to Lord Shiva. At the pedestal of the hill of Ranchi there is a lake, Ranchi Lake.

Dassam Fall, Ranchi

Main Rivers:

Sone River: Origin of Sone River: Amarkantak, Cities on the Shore of Sone River: Sidhi, Dehri, Patna

Subarnarekha River: Origin of Subarnarekha River: Chota Nagpur Plateau, Cities on the Shore of Subarnarekha River: Chandil, Jamshedpur, Ghatshila, Gopiballavpur

Damodar River: Origin of Damodar River: Chota Nagpur Plateau, Cities on the Shore of Damodar River: Bokaro, Asansol, Raniganj, Durgapur, Bardhaman

South Koyal River: Origin of South Koyal River: Chota Nagpur Plateau, Cities on the Shore of South Koyal River: Manoharpur

Ajay River: Origin of Ajay River: Munger, Cities on the Shore of Ajay River: Churulia, Chittaranjan, Ilambazar, Jaydev Kenduli

Phalgu River: Origin of Phalgu River: Northern Chota Nagpur Plateau, City on the Shore of Phalgu River: Gaya

Mayurakshi River: Origin of Mayurakshi River: Trikut hill, City on the Shore of Mayurakshi River: Suri.

Languages:

Hindi is the official language in Jharkhand. Jharkhand has accorded second language status to Angika, Bengali, Bhojpuri, Ho, Khadiya, Khurkhu, Maithili, Mundari, Nagpuri, Odia, Santali and Urdu.

Religion: As per the 2011 census, Hinduism is the majority religion in the state at 67.8%, followed by Islam at 14.5% and Christianity at 4.3%. Other religions, primarily Sarnaism, constitute 12.8% of the population.

Folk Music and Dance: There are several Folk dance in Jharkhand such as: Jhumar, Damkach, Fagua, Karma Naach and Chhau. The musical instruments used in folk song and dance are Mander/Madal, Dholki/Dhol, Bansuri, Nagara, Dhak, Shehnai, Narsinga etc.

Jharkhand Coal Mine

Economy:

Jharkhand has several towns and innumerable villages with civic amenities. Urbanization ratio is 24.1% and the per capita annual income is US$726.8. 

Jharkhand also has immense mineral resources: minerals ranging from (ranking in the country within bracket) from iron ore (1st), coal(3rd), copper ore(1st), mica (1st), bauxite (3rd), Manganese,

limestone, chinaclay, fireclay, graphite (8th), kainite  (1st), chromite  (2nd), asbestos (1st),

thorium (3rd), sillimanite, uranium (Jaduguda mines, Narwa Pahar) (1st) and even gold (Rakha Mines) (6th) and silver and several other minerals. Large deposits of coal and iron ore support concentration of industry, in centres like Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Bokaro and Ranchi. Tata Steel, a S&P CNX 500 conglomerate has its corporate office and main plant in Tatanagar, Jharkhand. It reported a gross income of 204,910 million for 2005. NTPC will start coal production from its captive mine in state in 2011–12, for which the company will be investing about Rs 1,800 crore.

Ranchi Birsa Munda Airport (XRI)

Transport:

Air

Ranchi Airport is the largest domestic airport in the state with air connectivity to major Indian cities of Delhi, Kolkata, Bangalore, Mumbai, Hyderabad among others. Other airports present in the state are Bokaro Airport, Jamshedpur Airport, Chakulia Airport, Dumka Airport and Dhanbad Airport who mostly run private and charter flights.

NH33, Jharkhand

Roads

Jharkhand has extensive network of National Highways and State Highways. There is 2,661.83 kilometres (1,653.98 mi) of paved National Highways in the state as of 2016. The National highways present in the state are numbered 2, 6, 23, 31, 32, 33, 43, 75, 78, 80, 98, 99, 100, 

114A, 133, 133B, 133A, 143A, 220, 333, 333A, 343 and 419. The Golden Quadrilateral network of Delhi – Kolkata route runs through Jharkhand notably at Dhanbad.

Ports

Jharkhand is landlocked state but has numerous rivers and waterways. A multi-model port has been planned at Sahebganj where river Ganges flows. The project is estimated to cost INR 6,500 crores and phase-1 is estimated to be completed by 2019.

Rail

Jharkhand is very well connected by railways and has numerous railway stations.

Education:

As per the 2011 census conducted by Government of India the official literacy rate for the state was 67.63% (male: 78.45%; female: 56.21%) with nine districts above the average literacy rate:

Ranchi: 77.13% (male: 85.53%; female: 68.20%)

East Singhbhum: 76.13% (male: 84.51%; female: 67.33%)

Dhanbad: 75.71% (male: 85.68%; Female: 64.70%)

Ramgarh: 73.92% (male: 83.51%; female: 63.49%)

Bokaro: 78.48% (male: 84.50%; female: 61.46%)

Hazaribagh: 70.48% (male: 81.15%; female: 59.25%)

Saraikela Khasawan: 68.85% (male: 81.01%; female: 56.19%)

Kodarma: 68.35% (male: 81.25%; female: 54.77%)

Lohardaga: 68.29% (male: 78.62%; female: 57.86%)

Deoghar: 66.34% (male: 79.13%; female: 53.39%)

Since the formation of the new state, the Jharkhand Education Project Council (JEPC) has been implementing four projects to spread elementary education: DPEP, SSA, NPEGEL, and KGBV. The state has been moving towards the goal of universal elementary education but the target of 100% enrolment and retention of children in schools has not yet been attained.

Jharkhand has made primary education so accessible that 95% of children of ages 6–11 are enrolled in school, as opposed to 56% in 1993–94; this will likely improve literacy a great deal. Some of the better-known schools that operate nationally and regionally are Vikas Vidyalaya, Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya, DAV Hehal, St. Thomas School, Delhi Public School, Oxford Public School, De Nobili School, Kendriya Vidyalaya, Chinmaya Public School, Loyola school, Sacred Heart School, St. Xavier's, Shishu Mandir, and Surendranath Centenary School. Students from Jharkhand rank well in most competitive exams at the national level.

Schools:

The medium of instruction in schools is Hindi/English with English/Hindi/Sanskrit/Bengali/Odia as second language. After 10 years of schooling, students can join 2 years of Intermediate course (or +2 courses) in Arts, Science and Commerce.

This is followed by 3 years of degree courses (graduation) or 4 years of Engineering/Agriculture/Medicine degree.

On May 2008, Jharkhand became the first in India to introduce free haircuts for poor students. 40,000 barbers will be employed with a monthly salary of 1000 rupees (25 US dollars) which will cost the state government 40 million rupees (1 million US dollars).

Universities and colleges:

Birsa Agricultural University, Kanke, Ranchi

Central University of Jharkhand, Brambe, Ranchi

Jharkhand Rai University, Ranchi

Kolhan University, Chaibasa

National University of Study and Research in Law, Ranchi

Nilamber Pitamber University, Medininagar

Ranchi University, Ranchi

Sido Kanhu Murmu University, Dumka

Vinoba Bhave University, Hazaribagh

Autonomous:

Indian Institute of Information Technology, Ranchi

Indian Institute of Management Ranchi

Indian Institute of Technology (Indian School of Mines), Dhanbad

National Institute of Foundry and Forge Technology (NIFFT), Ranchi

National University of Study and Research in Law

National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur

St. Xavier's College, Ranchi

Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), Ranchi

Xavier Labour Relations Institute (XLRI), Jamshedpur

Agriculture:

Indian Institute of Agricultural Biotechnology, Ranchi

Engineering

Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi

Birsa Institute of Technology Sindri, Dhanbad

Cambridge Institute of Technology, Ranchi

DAV Institute of Engineering & Technology, Daltonganj

R.V.S College of Engineering and Technology, Jamshedpur

Management

Institute of Management Studies, Ranchi IMS-RU

Medical colleges

M.G.M. Medical College, Jamshedpur

Patliputra Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), Dhanbad

Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Ranchi

Psychiatry

Central Institute of Psychiatry

Health:

Because of its mild climate, Jharkhand, particularly its capital Ranchi, has been like a health resort. As far back as 1918, facilities were set up for treatment of mentally challenged. European Mental Hospital was established along with Indian Mental Hospital. Today they are called Central Institute of Psychiatry and Ranchi Institute of Neuro-psychiatry and Allied Sciences respectively. In certain areas of Jharkhand, poverty and consequent malnutrition have given rise to diseases like tuberculosis (TB). In fact, TB has assumed epidemic proportions in certain areas of the state. For management and treatment of such TB, Itki TB Sanatorium, Ranchi, established in 1928 has been doing exemplary work as a premier institute for clinical and programmatic management of TB. The Itki TB Sanatorium is well equipped and accredited by the Indian government for quality assurance and Culture and Drug Sensitivity Testing for M.TB. It provides free of cost treatment for TB as well as Drug resistant TB. Likewise, in the field of treatment of cancer, Tata Main Hospital, Jamshedpur, is rendering pioneering work. In the same way Bokaro General Hospital equipped with modern facilities for the treatment Cancer and heart related problems with capacity of 1100 beds one of the largest in eastern India.

Although several public and private health facilities are available in the state, overall infrastructure for dispensing health related services require improvements. An exception is the famous Tata Motors Hospital which is an example of an ISO 14001 and 18001 certified hospital with DNB teaching facilities.

Fluoride in groundwater presents a public health problem in Jharkhand. A recent survey led by the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi in collaboration with UNICEF in the northwest districts of Palamau and Garhwa found fluoride levels above the drinking WHO drinking water guidelines. Excessive amounts of fluoride in drinking water can lead to dental fluorosis, prevalent bone fractures, and skeletal fluorosis, an irreversible disabling condition. Some work has focused on combating fluorosis through increased calcium intake by consuming local plants. Researchers at Princeton University and the Birla Institute of Technology, Mesra, Ranchi are currently investigating defluoridation options, while performing an epidemiological survey to assess the extent of fluoride linked health problems and the impact of future interventions.

Almost 80% of Jharkhand's people are farmers, although it contains 40% of India's mineral reserves it has some of India's poorest people, in Summer 2009 the state was threatened by drought, with people criticising the government for not providing food aid or assistance.

African lions at Tata Steel Zoological Park in Jamshedpur.

Animal husbandry and veterinary services:

Jharkhand has a diverse domestic animal population, including local and crossbred cattle, black Bengal goat, chhotanagpuri sheep, murrah and local buffalo, broilers and ducks of many varieties. The state Veterinary department runs Veterinary Dispensaries located throughout Jharkhand and posts Touring Veterinary officers, Block Animal Husbandry Officers, Touring Veterinary officers (mobile), Assistant Poultry Officers and Veterinary Surgeons to support the agricultural industry.

The state has a Veterinary College located at Kanke, Ranchi.

JSCA International Stadium Complex, Dhurwa, Ranchi

Sports:

Cricket, hockey, and football are popular games with the people of Jharkhand. Jharkhand has given some brilliant players like Jaipal Singh, a former Indian hockey captain and Olympian and Manohar Topno, currently playing for the Indian Hockey team. Jaipal Singh was the captain of the hockey team that won the first gold medal for India in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Mahendra Singh Dhoni who was the captain of Indian cricket team and led the Indian cricket team to ICC Cricket World Cup Glory on 2 April 2011, ending a 28-year wait to repeat the feat achieved by former Indian captain Kapil Dev in 1983 at Lord's, England.

Aerial View of JRD Tata Sports Complex and Keenan Stadium in Jamshedpur

Another rising cricketer from Jharkhand is Varun Aaron, India's fastest bowler and Saurabh Tiwary, left hand hard hitting batsman of India who represented Mumbai Indians from the 2008 Indian Premier League and currently playing for Delhi Daredevils in 2015. He was one of the key batsmen in the Indian team that won the 2008 U/19 Cricket World Cup in Malaysia. Ashunta Lakra, sister of Vimal Lakra is the Indian Hockey Captain currently.And one of the emerging sport personality is Deepika Kumari, a young Indian athlete who competes in the event of Archery. She won gold medal in the 2010 Commonwealth games in the women's individual recurve event.

Former Indian Cricket team Captain 
Mahendra Singh Dhoni hails from Ranchi

An International Cricket stadium with an indoor stadium and a practice ground has been constructed. This international stadium has hosted an International Match between India and England on 19 January 2013. Apart from that, this stadium has hosted two IPL 6 matches for KKR and qualifier 2 of IPL 8 between CSK and RCB and Celebrity Cricket League Matches for Bhojpuri Dabanggs. A Tennis Academy, which was inaugurated by Sania Mirza and Shoaib Malik, also runs besides the Cricket stadium. Ranchi is among six cities in Hockey India League to be played in January 2013. Ranchi franchise was bought by Patel-Uniexcel Group and the team named Ranchi Rhinos which is now being co-hosted by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and named as Ranchi Rays. Ranchi is also famous for being the hometown of World Cup winning Captain of Indian Cricket team, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. India's ace archer Deepika Kumari, gold medal winner of Commonwealth Games 2010 and current world no.1 rank holder, also hails from Ranchi.