Economy of 

West Bengal, a state in eastern India, is highly dependent

on agriculture. Agriculture is the chief occupation of the people of the state.
Majority of the state population are cultivators and agricultural
labours. Rice is considered to be the principal food crop of West Bengal.
Other major food crops include maize, pulses, oil
seeds, wheat, barley, potatoes and vegetables. The state supplies nearly
66% of the jute requirements of India. Tea is another important cash
crop. Darjeeling is famous for tea plantation. Tobacco and sugarcane are
also grown in the state.
West Bengal is well-known for its position among one of the leading
industrialized states of India. There are up to 10,000 registered factories in
the state and the West Bengal state government has opened Shilpa
bandhu, a single window agency in order to provide investors with all kinds
of assistance in establishing and running industrial units. [2] Calcutta is noted
as one of the major centre for industries including the jute industry. There
are numerous steelplants in the state apart from the alloy steel plant
at Durgapur. The centre has established a number of industries in the
areas of tea, sugar, chemicalsand fertilizers. Natural resources
like tea and jute in and nearby parts has made West Bengal a major centre
for the jute and tea industries.
A significant part of the state is economically backward, namely, large parts
of six northern districts of Cooch Behar, Darjeeling, Jalpaiguri, Malda, North
Dinajpur and South Dinajpur; three western districts of Purulia, Bankura,
Birbhum; and the Sundarbans area.[3] Years after independence, West
Bengal was still dependent on the central government for meeting its
demands for food; food production remained stagnant and the green
revolution bypassed the state. However, there has been a significant spurt
in food production since the 1980s, and the state now has a surplus of
grains.[3] The state's share of total industrial output in India was 9.8% in
1980–81, declining to 5% by 1997–98. However, the service sector has
grown at a rate higher than the national rate. [3]
West Bengal has the third largest economy (2003–2004) in India, with a net
state domestic product of US$ 21.5 billion.[4] During 2001–2002, the state's
average SDP was more than 7.8% — outperforming the National GDP
Growth.[5] The state has promoted foreign direct investment, which has
mostly come in the software and electronics fields; [6] Kolkata is becoming a
major hub for the Information technology (IT) industry. Owing to the boom
in Kolkata's and the overall state's economy, West Bengal is now the third
fastest growing economy in the country.[7] However, the rapid
industrialisation process has given rise to debate over land acquisition for
industry in this agrarian state. Gross State Domestic Product at Current Prices (93–94
Base) [1]

[8]
 NASSCOM–Gartner ranks West
figures in crores of Indian Rupees
Bengal power infrastructure the best in
the country.[9] West Bengals state Year Gross State Domestic Product
1999–2000 126,834
domestic product (SDP) grew in 2004 2000–2001 139,863
with 12.7 % and in 2005 with 11.0 %. 2001–2002 153,865
2002–2003 165,419
2003–2004 186,429
2004–2005 206,881