West Bengal has experienced faster poverty reduction after 2005. However, the pace of growth and poverty reduction has been slower than in many other states and consumption inequality has increased marginally. Read West Bengal - Poverty, Growth and Inequality brief.
West Bengal has created many new jobs in the non-farm sector. However, these are mainly casual jobs, and female labor force participation remains low. Read West Bengal - Jobs brief.
West Bengal’s performance in closing gender gaps is mixed. Schooling and maternal health have improved. Yet, the child sex ratio is declining and secondary school completion rates are lower than in most other states. Read West Bengal – Gender brief.
There is sharp contrast between social groups in West Bengal. The Scheduled Tribes record higher levels of poverty than others. And, both Scheduled Tribes and Scheduled Castes lag others in schooling and access to basic services. Read West Bengal - Social Inclusion brief.
West Bengal has seen mixed progress on health and education. While the state has made positive strides in schooling for the young, it has much ground to cover in nutrition and sanitation. Read more West Bengal - Health and Education brief.
For a quick snapshot of trends over time across all major thematic areas, refer to West Bengal - Indicators at a Glance. Readers who are keen to further understand all the indicators selected for this exposition may refer to the Technical Appendix.
To know more about other states read India States Briefs.