State (pop., 2001: 82,998,509), northeastern India. Bordered by Nepal and West Bengal, Jharkhand, and Uttar Pradesh states, it occupies 38,301 sq mi (99,200 sq km); its capital is Patna. Its limits are nearly the same as those of the ancient kingdoms of Videha and Magadha. In the 4th century &AD; the area came under the Gupta empire, whose capital was at Pataliputra (Patna). Overcome by the Muslims &circa; 1200, Bihar was annexed to Delhi in 1497.
Taken by the British in 1765, it was made part of Bengal. The area was the scene of revolts against the British in the mid-19th century and of Mohandas K. Gandhi's nonviolent movement in the early 20th century. Bihar was made a province of British India in 1936; in 1950 it became a state in independent India. It is one of India's least urbanized states, and most of its population engages in agriculture. In 2000 the state of Jharkhand was created from Bihar's southern districts.
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