Officials in India's new state sworn-in

India's newest state of Jharkhand has been formally constituted with the swearing-in of its first Chief Minister, Babu Lal Marandi, by the new state governor.

Mr Marandi was immediately asked to seek a vote of confidence vote in the state's new assembly within fifteen days. Mr Marandi's government was formed with a tiny majority from the Hindu nationalist BJP party.

He has promised to develop the state's huge mineral wealth and turn it into a prosperous economic zone Jharkhand, which is drawn from eighteen former districts of the state of Bihar, has large mineral resources, including huge deposits of coal, iron and copper ore and mica, and also uranium, gold, precious stones and petroleum products. Correspondents say its creation follows fifty years of tribal agitation for autonomy; the new government faces a threat from underground Maoist groups in the countryside.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service