Complete Static GK 2026 : West Bengal State

West Bengal: The Cultural Capital Meets Future Growth – Ultimate Static & Current G.K. Guide (2026)

West Bengal, the gateway to Eastern India, is a land where the soulful tunes of Rabindra Sangeet blend with the rapid hum of industrial resurgence. For aspirants eyeing WBCS, WBPSC, West Bengal Police, or Central exams like SSC and UPSC, West Bengal’s G.K. is a high-yield territory. With January 2026 marking the launch of India’s first sleeper Vande Bharat train from Malda and the appointment of a new Chief Justice at the Calcutta High Court, staying updated is your competitive edge.

This blog post is your comprehensive, exam-ready handbook for West Bengal Static and Current G.K.

1. Administrative & Leadership Hub (2026)

The administration is currently focusing on decentralized governance and major infrastructure expansions.

• Capital (राजधानी): Kolkata (The City of Joy)

• Chief Minister (मुख्यमंत्री): Smt. Mamata Banerjee (3rd consecutive term)

• Governor (राज्यपाल): Dr. C.V. Ananda Bose

• Formation (स्थापना): 26 January 1950 (Statehood)

• High Court: Calcutta High Court (Oldest in India)

• Chief Justice (मुख्य न्यायाधीश): Justice Sujoy Paul (Assumed office in January 2026)

• Language (भाषा): Bengali (Official), English, and Hindi/Urdu/Santhali (Additional Official)

2. Geographical & Demographic Profile (2026)

West Bengal is the only Indian state to span from the Himalayas in the north to the Bay of Bengal in the south.

3. Legislative Structure & Districts

• Legislative Assembly (विधानसभा): 294 Seats (Unicameral)

• Lower House (लोक सभा): 42 Seats

• Upper House (राज्यसभा): 16 Seats

• Number of Districts: 23 (Administration is currently evaluating the creation of new districts like Sundarbans and Ichhamati for better management).

4. Hydrology: Rivers, Lakes & Dams (जल संसाधन)

The state is characterized by the vast Ganges-Brahmaputra delta.

• Major Rivers: Hooghly (Bhagirathi), Teesta, Damodar (Sorrow of Bengal), Rupnarayan, and Subarnarekha.

• Famous Lakes: Rabindra Sarobar (Kolkata), Mirik Lake (Darjeeling), and Senchal Lake.

• Major Dams (बांध):

  • Farakka Barrage: On the Ganges River (Murshidabad).

  • Maithon Dam: On Barakar River (shared with Jharkhand).

  • Panchet Dam: On Damodar River.

5. Culture: Festivals and Folk Dance (संस्कृति)

• Festivals: Durga Puja (Inscribed on UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list), Poila Baisakh (Bengali New Year), Poush Mela, and Gangasagar Mela.

• Folk Dances (लोक नृत्य):

  • Chhau Dance: Masked dance from Purulia.

  • Brita/Vrita Dance: For seeking divine blessings.

  • Gambhira: Devotional dance from Malda.

  • Baul: Both a music genre and a lifestyle of the mystic minstrels.

6. Environmental Heritage: Wildlife & Parks

• National Parks: Sundarbans (UNESCO World Heritage & Biosphere Reserve), Jaldapara, Gorumara, Neora Valley, Singalila, and Buxa.

• Wildlife Sanctuaries: Bibhutibhushan WLS, Senchal, Mahananda, and Bethuadahari.

• Current Update 2026: Continued conservation efforts for the Royal Bengal Tiger in the Sundarbans and the One-Horned Rhino in Jaldapara.

7. Energy Sector: Transition to Green Power

West Bengal is balancing its coal heritage with new solar initiatives.

• Thermal Power Plants: Mejia (DVC), Bakreshwar, Sagardighi, Kolaghat, and Farakka STPS (NTPC).

• Nuclear Power: None (The Haripur project remains proposed/stalled).

• Solar Power (सौर ऊर्जा):

  • Purulia Floating Solar: 10 MW floating solar project at the Upper Dam of Purulia Pumped Storage Project.

  • Kotaldih Solar Plant: 7.7 MW facility in Asansol (Insured and upgraded for the 2026-27 cycle).

8. Current Affairs Highlights (January 2026)

• Sleeper Vande Bharat: PM Modi flagged off India’s first Sleeper Vande Bharat train connecting Howrah (Kolkata) to Guwahati (Kamakhya) from Malda on January 17, 2026.

• Republic Day 2026: West Bengal’s tableau for 2026 is themed around “Vande Mataram,” showcasing the birthplace of Rishi Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay in Naihati.

• Infrastructure: Foundation stone laid for projects worth ₹830 crore at Singur, focusing primarily on railway development.

Conclusion

From the Himalayan peaks of Darjeeling to the mangrove forests of the Sundarbans, West Bengal’s G.K. is as diverse as its geography. For your 2026 exams, focus on the new Sleeper Vande Bharat route, the 82.6% literacy projection, and the Vande Mataram theme for the upcoming Republic Day.