Bihar Police Constable key terms

The 24th Tirthankara of Jainism, born near Vaishali in present-day Bihar. He taught ahimsa (non-violence) and asceticism, and his teaching centres are linked with places such as Pawapuri and Rajgir.

A ford-maker or spiritual teacher in Jainism who shows the path to liberation. Twenty-four are recognised, of whom the first is Rishabhanatha and the last Mahavira, several associated with the Bihar region.

A town in Gaya district, Bihar, where Siddhartha Gautama attained enlightenment under the Bodhi tree. The Mahabodhi Temple there is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a major Buddhist pilgrimage centre.

An ancient Buddhist monastic university in present-day Bihar that flourished from about the 5th century CE, drawing students from across Asia. Its ruins near Rajgir are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

A major Buddhist monastic university in the Bhagalpur region of Bihar, founded in the Pala period. It was an important centre of Vajrayana learning before its decline around the 12th century.

A Buddhist ruling dynasty that controlled much of Bihar and Bengal from roughly the 8th to 12th centuries CE. The Palas patronised monasteries such as Nalanda and Vikramshila and built major temples.

An ancient city in Bihar associated with the Licchavi republic, the Buddha's last sermon, and the birth of Mahavira. It is often described as a site of one of the world's early republican assemblies.

A clan of the Vajji confederacy whose capital was Vaishali in present-day Bihar. Their assembly-based governance is frequently cited as an early example of a republic in ancient India.

The ancient capital of Magadha, located in Nalanda district, Bihar. It was associated with the Mauryan and Haryanka rulers and is linked to early Buddhist and Jain traditions.

An ancient kingdom of the Gangetic plain centred in present-day south Bihar. It was the base of the Haryanka, Nanda and Maurya dynasties and a major centre of early Indian political power.

An ancient Indian empire founded around 321 BCE by Chandragupta Maurya, with its core in Magadha. Under Ashoka it covered much of the subcontinent and promoted Buddhism.

A Mauryan emperor who ruled in the 3rd century BCE and promoted dhamma after the Kalinga war. His inscriptions, including pillars and rock edicts, are found in Bihar and elsewhere.

A 1917 campaign led by Mahatma Gandhi in the Champaran district of Bihar against oppressive indigo cultivation practices imposed on peasants. It is regarded as an early success of Indian satyagraha.

A method of non-violent resistance based on truth and moral pressure, developed by Mahatma Gandhi. It was used in Bihar during the Champaran and later Quit India movements.

A colonial-era cash-crop system in which Bihar peasants were forced to grow indigo for planters on unfavourable terms. Grievances against it triggered the Champaran Satyagraha of 1917.

The state day of Bihar, observed on 22 March, marking the separation of Bihar from Bengal in 1912. It is celebrated with cultural programmes and official events across the state.

The capital city of Bihar, situated on the southern bank of the Ganga. Historically known as Pataliputra, it was a capital of the Maurya and Gupta empires and remains the state's administrative centre.

The ancient name for present-day Patna, capital of Magadha under the Mauryas and Guptas. Greek and Chinese accounts describe it as a large, well-planned city with fortifications and moats.

The major river of northern India that flows through Bihar from west to east. It supports agriculture, transport and fisheries and is central to the state's geography and culture.

A major tributary of the Ganga in Bihar, notorious for shifting its course and causing severe floods. It is sometimes called the 'sorrow of Bihar' because of its destructive flooding.

A large southern tributary of the Ganga that enters Bihar from the Chota Nagpur plateau. Its valley and dams are important for irrigation and hydroelectricity in the region.

An elevated mineral-rich region of eastern India bordering southern Bihar and Jharkhand. Its hills and rivers influence Bihar's climate, drainage and mineral resources.

A district region in north-west Bihar bordering Nepal, known for the 1917 indigo satyagraha. It lies in the Himalayan foothills and is prone to flooding and poor drainage.

The upper house of the Bihar state legislature, a permanent body whose members are partly elected by graduates, teachers, local bodies and the assembly, and partly nominated.

The lower house of the Bihar legislature, whose members are directly elected from assembly constituencies. It is known as the Vidhan Sabha and controls the state government through confidence.

The Hindi term for a state legislative council, the upper house in states that have one. Bihar has a Vidhan Parishad, which reviews legislation and cannot be dissolved like the assembly.

A provision of the Indian Constitution allowing President's Rule in a state when constitutional machinery fails. It is relevant to centre-state relations and has been invoked in Bihar historically.

The system of local self-government in rural India established by constitutional amendment. Bihar has a three-tier structure of gram panchayat, panchayat samiti and zila parishad.

The lowest tier of rural local government in India, covering a village or group of villages. Its elected members handle local civic functions and are accountable to the gram sabha.

A cultural region of north Bihar and adjoining Nepal, known for the Maithili language and Madhubani painting. It has a distinct literary and artistic tradition centred on Janakpur and Darbhanga.

A traditional folk painting style from the Mithila region of Bihar, characterised by bold lines and natural dyes. It typically depicts mythological themes and is practised by women artists.

An Indo-Aryan language spoken mainly in the Mithila region of Bihar and Nepal. It has a rich literary tradition and is recognised in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.

A major festival of Bihar and eastern India dedicated to the Sun god, Surya. Devotees observe fasting and offer prayers at riverbanks at sunrise and sunset over several days.

A large annual cattle fair held at Sonepur in Bihar near the confluence of the Ganga and Gandak. It is one of Asia's biggest livestock fairs and includes cultural and trade activities.

The ancient capital of Magadha and later of the Maurya and Gupta empires, located at modern Patna. Its strategic position on the Ganga made it a centre of trade and administration.