The region has been inhabited since the Mesolithic-Chalcolithic period, as shown by several ancient cave paintings.[9][10] Even evidence of use of iron was earlier than other parts of north-west India, as carbon dating indicates that use of iron started in this region as early as 1400 BCE.[11] Due to plateau and forest tracts, this region was little affected by outside empires for much of history.[12] The Maurya, Gupta, Gauda, Nagvanshi, Ramgarh Raj and Chero ruled for brief period in the region. In the 16th century Mughal influence reached the region, and it finally came under the East India Company in the 18th century.
After the Independence of India, the region became part of Bihar state. There was demand for a separate state by several political organisations in the region and the Bihar Reorganisation Act, 2000 passed in Parliament, giving rise to the new state of Jharkhand.
Jharkhand suffers from what is sometimes termed a resource curse:[14] it accounts for more than 40% of the mineral resources of India,[15] but 39.1% of its population is below the poverty line and 19.6% of children under five years of age are malnourished.[16] The state is primarily rural, with only 24% of the population living in cities.[17] Jharkhand is among the leading states in economic growth. In 2017-18, the GSDP growth rate of state was at 10.22%.