6. Mineral Resources

Major Minerals in India

• Coal: Jharkhand, Odisha, West Bengal

• Iron Ore: Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand

• Manganese: Maharashtra, MP

• Bauxite: Odisha

• Petroleum: Assam, Gujarat, Mumbai High

7. Industries in India

Important Industries

• Iron & Steel: Jamshedpur, Durgapur

• Textiles: Mumbai, Surat, Coimbatore

• Information Technology: Bengaluru, Hyderabad

• Petrochemicals: Gujarat, Maharashtra

• Automobile: Chennai, Pune, Gurugram

8. Transport in India

• Roadways: Largest network in Asia

• Railways: 4th largest in the world

• Airways: Airports in Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai

• Waterways: Inland Waterways, Major Ports (Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai)

9. Geography of West Bengal

Location & Area

• Eastern India

• Area: 88,752 sq. km

• Population: ~10 crore (2021 data)

Physiographic Divisions of West Bengal

a) Darjeeling Himalayas

• Northern part

• Important Peaks: Sandakphu (highest in Bengal – 3,636 m)

b) Terai & Dooars

• Foothill regions

• Rich in tea gardens and wildlife

c) North Bengal Plains

• Formed by rivers like Teesta, Torsa, Jaldhaka

d) Rarh Region

• Undulating land in western Bengal

• Rich in laterite soil

e) Ganga Delta

• Sundarbans: Largest mangrove forest

• Famous for Royal Bengal Tiger

f) Coastal Region

• Stretches in South 24 Parganas

• Vulnerable to cyclones & floods

Rivers of West Bengal

• Ganga (Hooghly Branch)

• Teesta

• Damodar

• Subarnarekha

• Ajay

Agriculture of West Bengal

• Rice: Main crop

• Jute: Bengal is India’s largest producer

• Tea: Darjeeling Tea is world-famous

• Fruits: Mango, Litchi, Pineapple

Mineral Resources

• Coal: Raniganj Coalfield (First in India)

• China Clay, Limestone, Dolomite

Industries of West Bengal

• Jute Industry: Kolkata & surrounding areas

• Tea Industry: Darjeeling & Jalpaiguri

• Iron & Steel: Durgapur

• IT Sector: Rajarhat, Salt Lake Sector V

Transport

• Roadways: National Highways – NH 2, NH 34

• Railways: Sealdah, Howrah, Siliguri

• Airports: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport

• Ports: Kolkata Port, Haldia Port

Tourism in Bengal

• Heritage: Victoria Memorial, Indian Museum

• Religious: Kalighat Temple, Dakshineswar

• Eco-Tourism: Sundarbans, Dooars

• Hill Stations: Darjeeling, Kalimpong

10. Environmental Issues

• Deforestation

• Pollution (Air, Water, Soil)

• Cyclones in Bengal: Amphan (2020), Yaas (2021)

• Climate Change Impact

Preparation Tips for Geography in WBCS Prelims

1. NCERT Books (Class 6–10)

2. School Atlas (Oxford or Orient BlackSwan)

3. Current Affairs on Environmental Geography

4. Practice Map-Based Questions

Sample Questions for Practice

1. Which river is known as the ‘Sorrow of Bengal’?

   • Answer: Damodar River

2. Which is the highest peak of West Bengal?

   • Answer: Sandakphu

3. Which port is called the ‘Gateway of Eastern India’?

   • Answer: Kolkata Port