Bihar was separated from Bengal in 1911 when it became a separate province with Patna as its capital under British rule.

According to the 2011 Census, Bihar has a literacy rate of 47.53%, which is one of the lowest among Indian states.

The ancient kingdom of Magadha was located in present-day Bihar. It was a major power in ancient India and was the seat of the Mauryan and Gupta empires.

The Battle of Buxar in 1764 was fought between the British East India Company and a coalition of rulers from Bengal (Mir Jafar), Awadh (Shuja-ud-Daulah), and Bihar (Mir Kasim).

Bihar has 38 districts as per the latest administrative divisions. The state was reorganized to form new districts over time.

Champaran Satyagraha was led by Mahatma Gandhi to protest against indigo plantations' exploitation. It was one of the first major Satyagraha campaigns in India.

Rice is the main agricultural product of Bihar due to the fertile Gangetic plains and adequate water supply from rivers like the Ganges and Kosi.

Bodh Gaya, where Buddha attained enlightenment, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The Mahabodhi Temple complex there is architecturally significant.

After the Battle of Kalinga, Emperor Ashoka was deeply moved by the bloodshed and decided to renounce war, embracing Buddhism and Dhamma (righteousness).

Bihar covers an area of 94,163 square kilometers, making it the third-smallest state in India by area but with a very high population density.