West Bengal has 23 districts (as per the standard administrative count). The state is divided into 5 administrative divisions. Kolkata is the state capital and the most populous city. West Bengal is located in eastern India and shares borders with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and the Indian states of Odisha, Jharkhand, Bihar, Sikkim, and Assam.
West Bengal has 23 districts (standard answer for exams).
State capital: Kolkata.
5 administrative divisions: Burdwan, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Presidency, Medinipur.
Darjeeling district: famous for tea; Kalimpong became a separate district in 2017.
Kolkata: former capital of British India (until 1911 when it shifted to Delhi).
Calcutta High Court (1862): oldest High Court in India.
Sundarbans: world's largest mangrove forest; UNESCO World Heritage Site.
West Bengal — Administrative Divisions and Districts:
Burdwan Division:
Jalpaiguri Division: 6. Cooch Behar — HQ: Cooch Behar 7. Alipurduar — HQ: Alipurduar 8. Jalpaiguri — HQ: Jalpaiguri 9. Kalimpong — HQ: Kalimpong 10. Darjeeling — HQ: Darjeeling
Malda Division: 11. Malda — HQ: Malda (English Bazar) 12. Uttar Dinajpur (North Dinajpur) — HQ: Raiganj 13. Dakshin Dinajpur (South Dinajpur) — HQ: Balurghat
Presidency Division: 14. Murshidabad — HQ: Berhampore 15. Nadia — HQ: Krishnanagar 16. North 24 Parganas — HQ: Barasat 17. South 24 Parganas — HQ: Alipore 18. Kolkata — HQ: Kolkata (state capital) 19. Hooghly — HQ: Chinsurah 20. Howrah — HQ: Howrah
Medinipur Division: 21. Paschim Medinipur (West Medinipur) — HQ: Medinipur 22. Purba Medinipur (East Medinipur) — HQ: Tamluk 23. Jhargram — HQ: Jhargram
Total: 23 districts Capital: Kolkata Governor's Residence: Raj Bhavan, Kolkata High Court: Calcutta High Court (established 1862 — oldest in India)
Note on New Districts: The West Bengal government has announced proposals to create additional districts by splitting existing ones (e.g., Sundarban, Ichamati, Bishnupur, Rangabitan). These are in the process of implementation. The standard examination answer remains 23 districts.
• State formation: 1 November 1956 (States Reorganisation Act) • Area: 88,752 sq km (13th largest state) • Population: 3rd most populous state in India • River: Hooghly/Ganga flows through the state; Bay of Bengal to the south • Sundarbans: world's largest mangrove delta; shared with Bangladesh; UNESCO World Heritage Site • Darjeeling: famous for tea; 'Champagne of teas' • Kolkata: India's second-largest city; former capital of British India until 1911 • Language: Bengali is the official language • Festivals: Durga Puja (most important), Kali Puja, Eid
West Bengal has 23 districts. The state is divided into 5 administrative divisions: Burdwan, Jalpaiguri, Malda, Presidency, and Medinipur. The state capital is Kolkata. Note: The government has proposed creating additional districts, but 23 remains the standard answer for examinations.
West Bengal is divided into 5 administrative divisions: (1) Burdwan Division — 5 districts; (2) Jalpaiguri Division — 5 districts; (3) Malda Division — 3 districts; (4) Presidency Division — 7 districts (including Kolkata); (5) Medinipur Division — 3 districts. Total: 23 districts.
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