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🌏 Geography of Bihar Chapter 15: Air, Water Transport and Communication (वायु, जल परिवहन एवं संचार)

Module 4: Communication: Post, Telecom and the Press

📖 Chapter 15 of 17 🧩 Module 4 of 6 ⏱️ ~6 min read 💡 28 MCQs
Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 4.1: Post and Telegraph

  • Speed Post links Patna with the country's main cities, and a regional speed-post service links all district headquarters to Patna. Through foreign mail, Bihar is linked with 166 countries.
  • In March 2012 the Bihar circle had 31 head post offices at district HQs plus 9,057 post offices: 474 urban and 8,583 rural.
  • There were also 117 temporary and 6 night post offices.
  • Letter boxes numbered 25,010: 22,159 (about 89%) rural and 2,851 urban.
Post offices and letter boxes in the Bihar circle (March 2012)
Figure: Post offices and letter boxes in the Bihar circle (March 2012)
⭐ Key Points
  • 166 countries.
  • 9,057.
  • 8,583 rural; 474 urban.
  • 6 (and 117 temporary).
  • 22,159 of 25,010, about 89%.
  • 31.
📌 One-line Q&A
  • Question: With how many countries is Bihar linked through foreign mail? Answer: 166.
  • Question: How many post offices (besides head post offices) were there in March 2012? Answer: 9,057.
  • Question: How many rural post offices were there? Answer: 8,583.
  • Question: How many night post offices were there? Answer: 6.
  • Question: What share of letter boxes were rural? Answer: About 89%.
  • Question: How many head post offices are at district headquarters? Answer: 31.
Topic
Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: With how many countries is Bihar linked through foreign mail?

166 countries.

Question 2: How many post offices (besides head post offices) were there in March 2012?

9,057.

Question 3: How many rural post offices were there?

8,583 rural; 474 urban.

Question 4: How many night post offices were there?

6 (and 117 temporary).

Question 5: What share of letter boxes were rural?

22,159 of 25,010, about 89%.

Question 6: How many head post offices are at district headquarters?

31.
Question 1 of 6

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

With how many countries is Bihar linked through foreign mail?

166.

How many post offices (besides head post offices) were there in March 2012?

9,057.

How many rural post offices were there?

8,583.

How many night post offices were there?

6.

What share of letter boxes were rural?

About 89%.

How many head post offices are at district headquarters?

31.
Question 1 of 6
Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 4.2: Telecommunications

  • Current position (TRAI, December 2025): Bihar has about 10.7 crore telephone subscribers. Teledensity is 61.88% (rural 45.34%, urban 149.68%), and Bihar still has the lowest rural teledensity in India. The 2011-12 figures are given below.
  • India's telecom network is the world's second largest after China. By end-2011-12 Bihar had about 4.6 crore phone connections, over 98% mobile.
  • BSNL landlines fell 61%, from 9.66 lakh (2010-11) to 3.80 lakh (2011-12); BSNL mobiles fell about 26%. Private mobile connections rose from 3.80 crore to 4.12 crore; private landlines are negligible.
  • Teledensity: India 73.97 (2011), 78.66 (2012); Bihar 45.10 (2011), 48.90 (2012). But Bihar's urban teledensity (196.24 in 2012) exceeds India's (169.55).
  • This is called the age of the information revolution; towers of Airtel, Reliance, Aircel, Vodafone, Uninor and Tata Indicom reach even remote villages.
  • BSNL's microwave system started in Bihar on 23 December 2011 between Saharsa and Purnia; it keeps mobiles and phones working when cable/optical fibre is damaged, over 8-25 km.
Teledensity: Bihar compared with India
Figure: Teledensity: Bihar compared with India
⭐ Key Points
  • 61.88% (rural 45.34%, urban 149.68%).
  • Second, after China.
  • About 4.6 crore.
  • 61%: 9.66 lakh to 3.80 lakh.
  • 48.90 (India 78.66).
  • 196.24, ahead of India's 169.55.
  • Saharsa and Purnia, 23 December 2011.
  • 8 to 25 km.
  • 4.12 crore (up from 3.80 crore).
📌 One-line Q&A
  • Question: Bihar's total teledensity (TRAI, December 2025) is about: Answer: 62%.
  • Question: India's telecom network ranks where in the world? Answer: Second (after China).
  • Question: About how many phone connections did Bihar have by end-2011-12? Answer: 4.6 crore.
  • Question: By how much did BSNL landlines fall between 2010-11 and 2011-12? Answer: 61%.
  • Question: What was Bihar's teledensity in 2012? Answer: 48.90.
  • Question: Bihar's urban teledensity in 2012 was how much? Answer: 196.24.
  • Question: BSNL's microwave system in Bihar started between which places? Answer: Saharsa-Purnia.
  • Question: Over what distance does the BSNL microwave system work? Answer: 8-25 km.
  • Question: Private mobile connections in 2011-12 numbered how many? Answer: 4.12 crore.
Topic
Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: Bihar's total teledensity (TRAI, December 2025) is about:

61.88% (rural 45.34%, urban 149.68%).

Question 2: India's telecom network ranks where in the world?

Second, after China.

Question 3: About how many phone connections did Bihar have by end-2011-12?

About 4.6 crore.

Question 4: By how much did BSNL landlines fall between 2010-11 and 2011-12?

61%: 9.66 lakh to 3.80 lakh.

Question 5: What was Bihar's teledensity in 2012?

48.90 (India 78.66).

Question 6: Bihar's urban teledensity in 2012 was how much?

196.24, ahead of India's 169.55.

Question 7: BSNL's microwave system in Bihar started between which places?

Saharsa and Purnia, 23 December 2011.

Question 8: Over what distance does the BSNL microwave system work?

8 to 25 km.

Question 9: Private mobile connections in 2011-12 numbered how many?

4.12 crore (up from 3.80 crore).
Question 1 of 9

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Bihar's total teledensity (TRAI, December 2025) is about:

62%.

India's telecom network ranks where in the world?

Second (after China).

About how many phone connections did Bihar have by end-2011-12?

4.6 crore.

By how much did BSNL landlines fall between 2010-11 and 2011-12?

61%.

What was Bihar's teledensity in 2012?

48.90.

Bihar's urban teledensity in 2012 was how much?

196.24.

BSNL's microwave system in Bihar started between which places?

Saharsa-Purnia.

Over what distance does the BSNL microwave system work?

8-25 km.

Private mobile connections in 2011-12 numbered how many?

4.12 crore.
Question 1 of 9
Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 4.3: Newspapers and Periodicals

  • Despite electronic media, newspapers remain a strong means of communication. Bihar publishes about 72 dailies, 203 weeklies, 2 bi-weeklies, 24 fortnightlies, 49 monthlies and 6 quarterlies.
  • Main dailies: Hindustan, Hindustan Times, Times of India, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar, Qaumi Tanzeem, Aaj, Prabhat Khabar, Rashtriya Sahara, Business Standard, The Telegraph, i next, Bihar Times, Sanmarg, Phir Wahi Sandhya Prahari, Pratyush Navbihar.
  • Bihar's first Hindi weekly was 'Bihar Bandhu', published from Patna in 1874.
  • The first English newspaper was 'The Bihar Herald', started in 1875 by Guru Prasad Sen.
  • The first Urdu daily was 'Nurul Anwar', published from Ara in 1876 by Mohammad Hashim.
Newspapers and periodicals published from Bihar
Figure: Newspapers and periodicals published from Bihar
Firsts in the media history of Bihar
Figure: Firsts in the media history of Bihar
⭐ Key Points
  • 'Bihar Bandhu', 1874, Patna.
  • Guru Prasad Sen.
  • Ara, 1876.
  • 203 weeklies.
  • About 72.
  • 1876.
📌 One-line Q&A
  • Question: Which was Bihar's first Hindi weekly? Answer: Bihar Bandhu.
  • Question: Who started 'The Bihar Herald' in 1875? Answer: Guru Prasad Sen.
  • Question: Bihar's first Urdu daily 'Nurul Anwar' was published from where? Answer: Ara.
  • Question: How many weeklies are published from Bihar? Answer: 203.
  • Question: How many dailies are published from Bihar (approx.)? Answer: 72.
  • Question: In which year was 'Nurul Anwar' published? Answer: 1876.
Topic
Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: Which was Bihar's first Hindi weekly?

'Bihar Bandhu', 1874, Patna.

Question 2: Who started 'The Bihar Herald' in 1875?

Guru Prasad Sen.

Question 3: Bihar's first Urdu daily 'Nurul Anwar' was published from where?

Ara, 1876.

Question 4: How many weeklies are published from Bihar?

203 weeklies.

Question 5: How many dailies are published from Bihar (approx.)?

About 72.

Question 6: In which year was 'Nurul Anwar' published?

1876.
Question 1 of 6

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Which was Bihar's first Hindi weekly?

Bihar Bandhu.

Who started 'The Bihar Herald' in 1875?

Guru Prasad Sen.

Bihar's first Urdu daily 'Nurul Anwar' was published from where?

Ara.

How many weeklies are published from Bihar?

203.

How many dailies are published from Bihar (approx.)?

72.

In which year was 'Nurul Anwar' published?

1876.
Question 1 of 6
Topic Part 1 of 2

Concept

Subtopic 4.4: Table: Major Dailies of Bihar

  • The oldest daily in the table is Sarvahitaishi (1880, Hindi). The Searchlight (English) began on 15 July 1918 and Pradeep (Hindi) in 1918.
  • Aryavarta (Hindi) and The Indian Nation (English) began in 1941; Searchlight, Pradeep, Aryavarta and Indian Nation have ceased publication.
  • Aaj 1979; Hindustan, Hindustan Times, Times of India 1986; Amrit Varsha 1987; Prabhat Khabar 1996; Dainik Jagran 2000.
  • Rashtriya Sahara and Pratyush Navbihar 2006; Sanmarg 2007; i next 2008 (Hinglish, a Hindi-English bilingual paper); Business Standard 2009 (Hindi); The Telegraph 2010; Dainik Bhaskar proposed for 2014.
#NewspaperYearPlaceLanguage
1Sarvahitaishi1880PatnaHindi
2The Searchlight*15.07.1918PatnaEnglish
3Pradeep*1918PatnaHindi
4Aryavarta*1941PatnaHindi
5The Indian Nation*1941PatnaEnglish
6Aaj1979Patna & othersHindi
7Hindustan1986Patna & othersHindi
8The Hindustan Times1986PatnaEnglish
9The Times of India1986PatnaEnglish
10Amrit Varsha1987PatnaHindi
11Prabhat Khabar1996PatnaHindi
12Dainik Jagran2000Patna & othersHindi
13Rashtriya Sahara2006PatnaHindi
14Pratyush Navbihar2006PatnaHindi
15Sanmarg2007PatnaHindi
16i next2008PatnaHinglish
17Business Standard2009PatnaHindi
18The Telegraph2010PatnaEnglish
19Dainik Bhaskar2014 (proposed)PatnaHindi
⭐ Key Points
  • Sarvahitaishi, 1880.
  • 15.07.1918.
  • Aryavarta and The Indian Nation.
  • Searchlight, Pradeep, Aryavarta and Indian Nation have closed.
  • Hinglish, bilingual.
  • 1996.
  • Dainik Bhaskar.
📌 One-line Q&A
  • Question: Which is the oldest daily in the table? Answer: Sarvahitaishi.
  • Question: When did 'The Searchlight' begin? Answer: 15 July 1918.
  • Question: Which pair of dailies began in 1941? Answer: Aryavarta and The Indian Nation.
  • Question: Which of these has ceased publication? Answer: Aryavarta.
  • Question: 'i next' (2008) is published in which language? Answer: Hinglish (Hindi-English mix).
  • Question: When did Prabhat Khabar start from Patna? Answer: 1996.
  • Question: Which daily was proposed for 2014? Answer: Dainik Bhaskar.
Topic
Questions

MCQs

Answer this question, then use Next.

Question 1: Which is the oldest daily in the table?

Sarvahitaishi, 1880.

Question 2: When did 'The Searchlight' begin?

15.07.1918.

Question 3: Which pair of dailies began in 1941?

Aryavarta and The Indian Nation.

Question 4: Which of these has ceased publication?

Searchlight, Pradeep, Aryavarta and Indian Nation have closed.

Question 5: 'i next' (2008) is published in which language?

Hinglish, bilingual.

Question 6: When did Prabhat Khabar start from Patna?

1996.

Question 7: Which daily was proposed for 2014?

Dainik Bhaskar.
Question 1 of 7

One-liners

Write your answer, then submit to see the correct answer.

Which is the oldest daily in the table?

Sarvahitaishi.

When did 'The Searchlight' begin?

15 July 1918.

Which pair of dailies began in 1941?

Aryavarta and The Indian Nation.

Which of these has ceased publication?

Aryavarta.

'i next' (2008) is published in which language?

Hinglish (Hindi-English mix).

When did Prabhat Khabar start from Patna?

1996.

Which daily was proposed for 2014?

Dainik Bhaskar.
Question 1 of 7