The Indian state of Bihar, which is often described by commentators as poor and backward, has emerged as the country’s fastest growing state for the second year in a row.

The state’s economy recorded an impressive growth of 13.1 per cent in 2011-12. The state has recorded double digit growth in the last four years and its economy is now bigger than that of Punjab, which is the preferred destination for the workers from Bihar.

Among the top five growing states, Delhi and Puducherry are on the second and third position, respectively. Chhattisgarh, which has enormous mineral resources, is on the fourth position ahead of tourism major, Goa completing the top-five list, according to data available with the ministry of statistics.

Punjab, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka recorded growth rates that were lower than the national groth rate during the year. Uttar Pradesh, the country's most populous state, also grew at a rate that was lower than India’s GDP growth of 6.5% in 2011-12.

Experts say that a growth rate for large states like Gujarat and Tamil Nadu is impressive considering they already has much larger economies and they are growing at a much larger scale. Compared to that, the states like Bihar and Chhattisgarh have much lower base and will take some time to fill the gap in living stands or on the GDP per capita level.