The main charm of Kolkata, the City of Joy, is its prevailing cosmopolitan atmosphere. Various types of culture and tradition have fused into the sinews of this city to such extent that in the global arena, Kolkata has created a separate identity of its own. In the cultural and intellectual development of the whole nation, contribution of Kolkata is simply undeniable. Here we are trying to providing you certain very important information about the complete demography of the city as well as its educational foundation.

According to the census of 2001 the city of Kolkata has a population of almost 4,600,000 and if the population of the surrounding places is taken up for estimation also, then it comes to almost 13,300,000. Like the culture of Kolkata, its population is quite diversified. Though Bengalis dominate the majority of Kolkata population, but other major communities also include Marwaris, Biharis, Maharashtrians, Punjabis, Chinese, Tamils, Assamese, Gujaratis, Anglo-Indians, Armenians, Tibetans, Malayalees and Parsis. Languages like Bengali, Hindi and English are used mostly in Kolkata. Other languages in Kolkata also include Bhojpuri and Oriya.

Kolkata houses people from various religions and as of 2001 census this city is home to people from Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Christian, Buddhist, Sikhs, Jews and Zoroastrian religious background. At a glace the demographical details of Kolkata is as follows:

Area	1,480 km²
Latitude	22°34′11″N
Longitude	88°22′11″E
Altitude	9 meter above the sea level
Total Population	Approximately 13,300,000 as of 2001
Population density (per sq.km)	9,920 /km²
Sex Ratio (per 1000 males)	828
Literacy rate(%) persons	80.86%
Gross domestic product	Rs 1,00,229 crore
Temperature	42 degree (Max) and 10 – 12 degree (min)
Time Zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Language	Bengali, Hindi, English, Urdu, Oriya
STD code	033
Postal code	700 xxx
Religion	Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Christian, Buddhist

The complete education scenario of Kolkata is quite strong and if one goes through the total education system then proper planning behind the whole system will become quite explicit to him. State government and private organizations take major role in governing the schools of Kolkata. These schools basically use either regional language, Bengali or English as their medium of teaching or instruction. Mainly the schools of Kolkata are affiliated by the West Bengal Board of Secondary Education, the Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) or the Central Board for Secondary Education (CBSE).

Like the school level education, the higher level education system in Kolkata is based on quite a strong foundation. Kolkata is home to nine universities and numerous colleges are affiliated by these universities. For instance, the University of Calcutta, established in 1857, has provided affiliation to 200 colleges, till date. The other major universities in Kolkata are as follows:

• Jadavpur University
• Rabindra Bharati University
• West Bengal National University of Juridical Sciences
• West Bengal University of Health Sciences
• West Bengal University of Animal and Fishery Sciences
• West Bengal University of Technology
• Netaji Subhas Open University
• Bengal Engineering & Science University
• Open International University for Alternative Medicines
  

Kolkata also houses a number of institutions, which have already attained national as well as international level repute, such as the Bose Institute, Indian Institute of Management (IIM), the Saha Institute of Nuclear Physics, the Centre for Studies in Social Sciences and many others.

Hence, from the overview it is quite clear that along with its interesting facts and figures, Kolkata, the City of Joy has created a separate niche of its own in the complete education scenario of the whole nation. In order to know more about the complete education scenario of Kolkata, keep surfing through the links.

Kolkata Education profile gives more information on Education in Kolkata.