WEST BENGAL

DEMOGRAPHICS

Religions in West Bengal

Religion Percent
Hinduism   72.5%
Islam   25.2%
Others   2.3%
The vast majority of the 80,221,171 people of West Bengal are Bengalis. The Bihari
minority is scattered throughout the state and communities of Sherpas and ethnic
Tibetans can be found in regions bordering Sikkim. Darjeeling district has a large
number of Gurkha people of Nepalese origin. West Bengal is home to indigenous
tribal Adivasis such as Santals, Kol, Koch-Rajbongshi and Toto tribe.

The official language is Bengali and English. Hindi is also commonly used. Nepali is
spoken primarily in the Darjeeling district. Languages such as Rajbongshi, Santali
and Ho are used in some parts of the state. Urdu is used primarily in Central Kolkata.

West Bengal has a population density of 904 inhabitants per square kilometre
(2,341.3/sq mi) making it the most densely populated state in India. The state
contributes 7.81% of India's population. The state's 1991–2001 growth rate of 17.84%
is lower than the national rate of 21.34%.

The gender ratio is 934 females per 1000 males.

The literacy rate is 69.22%. Data of 1995–1999 showed the life expectancy in the
state was 63.4 years, higher than the national value of 61.7 years.

About 72% of people live in rural areas.

The proportion of people living below the poverty line in 1999–2000 was 31.85%.
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.
The people in West Bengal are by and large politically conscious, and this is reflected
in the vibrant media of West Bengal.

Print Media:
Where media is concerned, West Bengal has nearly five hundred and sixty published
newspapers, four hundred and thirty of which are in Bengali. The largest circulated
newspaper in West Bengal is Ananda Bazar Patrika, published from Kolkata. It has
over a million copies sold daily and is the largest circulated single-edition regional
newspaper in India. Some of the other prominent Bengali newspapers of West Bengal
are the Uttarbanga Sambad, the Aajkaal and the Ganashakti.
Some English papers published from the state are The Telegraph, Hindustan Times,
The Times of India, The Statesman and The Asian Age. Select groups also read
vernacular papers in Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Urdu, etc. Various magazines are also
published in West Bengal, catering to all age groups. Sananda, published from the
house of Ananda Bazar Patrika, is a prominent women's magazine in the state.
Aparna Sen, the internationally famous director and film actress, had served a long
stint as an editor of Sananda.

Television:
The state-owned television broadcaster is Doordarshan. Besides that a galore of
private television channels are aired in West Bengal. Cable TV operators provide a
mix of Bengali, Hindi, English, Nepali and other regional channels to the audience of
West Bengal. Besides the English news channels, West Bengal has the presence of
24-hour Bengali news channels like STAR Ananda and Kolkata TV.

Radio:
The public radio station is All India Radio, which has presence throughout the state.
Private radio stations are available only in cities like Kolkata.
Internet
BSNL and some private companies also provide broadband Internet services in select
towns and cities. Dial up Internet is provided by BSNL throughout the state.
 PRINT MEDIA TELEVISION RADIO
• Ananda Bazar
Patrika
• Dainik suprovat • Bangla Ekhon • Friends FM
• Aajkal • Alpha Bangla (91.9 MHz)
KOLKATTA • The times of • Sony • Gyan Vani
India (kolkatta • Zee TV (105.4 MHz)
edition)
• The telegraph

• Radio High
• Uttarbanga
92.7FM
Sambad
• Akashvani
SILIGURI • Anandabazar • Doordarshan
siliguri
Patrika
• Radio Misty
94.3
• Ganashakti
• Alpha bangle
DURGAPUR • Ananda bazaar • All India Radio
• Zee bangla
patrika
• Kal radio ltd,
• Jaago bangle • Star Anada (red fm)
ASANSOL
• Bartaman • Aamar
(106.2 Fm)
• Abasar
• Etc- bangle
DARJEELING • Darjeeling • All India Radio
Times
• Amader malda • Mahua khobor
MALDA • All India Radio
• CTVN plus