Environment & Ecology

Bihar's Munger Banyan Becomes the World's Oldest Accurately Dated Banyan Tree at ~700 Years

By TestNeeti Editorial TeamPublished Saturday, 4 July 2026 2 min readSource: Press Information BureauArticle 8 of 8

On 4 July 2026, the Ministry of Science and Technology announced that a banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) in Munger, Bihar, estimated to be around 700 years old, has been identified as the world's oldest accurately dated banyan tree. Scientists at the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow, determined its age using high-precision radiocarbon (carbon-14) dating of alpha-cellulose extracted from wood samples — a method that relies on scientific evidence rather than folklore or historical records — placing its origin around the 14th century (c. 1342 CE). The study followed a 2022 survey by the Bihar Biodiversity Board that examined 32 ancient trees across the state. The finding gives the tree global scientific significance and highlights the value of dating heritage trees objectively.

Key Facts & Details

9 points

1
A banyan tree (Ficus benghalensis) in Munger, Bihar, is the world's oldest accurately dated banyan tree (announced 4 July 2026).
2
Its estimated age is about 700 years (origin around 1342 CE).
3
It was dated using high-precision radiocarbon (carbon-14) dating of alpha-cellulose from wood samples.
4
The dating was done by the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP), Lucknow.
5
The finding relies on scientific evidence, not folklore or historical records.
6
It followed a 2022 Bihar Biodiversity Board survey of 32 ancient trees.

Deep Dive

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The banyan (Ficus benghalensis) is India's National Tree, known for its aerial prop roots that let it spread over large areas.
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Radiocarbon dating measures the decay of carbon-14 to estimate the age of organic material up to ~50,000 years old.
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BSIP, Lucknow, is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology specialising in palaeosciences.

Exam Focus

Which tree in Bihar was identified in 2026 as the world's oldest accurately dated banyan, and by which dating method?

Exam Relevance & Angle

'World's oldest/first' scientific findings and India's National Tree are exam-relevant environment/science GA facts. Examiners test the species (Ficus benghalensis), the place (Munger, Bihar), the age (~700 years), the method (radiocarbon dating) and the institute (BSIP) — clean, testable hooks.

Target Exams

SBI POSBI ClerkIBPS POIBPS ClerkIBPS RRB OfficerIBPS RRB AssistantRBI Grade BRBI AssistantNABARD Grade ASSC CGLSSC CHSLRRB NTPCRRB Group DLIC AAOUPSC CSEState PCS

Background & Context

The banyan (Ficus benghalensis) is India's National Tree, a fig species famous for its aerial prop roots that grow into trunks, allowing a single tree to spread over a large area. Radiocarbon (carbon-14) dating is a scientific technique that estimates the age of once-living material by measuring the decay of the radioactive isotope carbon-14, useful for ages up to roughly 50,000 years; using alpha-cellulose from wood improves precision. The Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences (BSIP) in Lucknow is an autonomous research institute under the Department of Science and Technology that studies fossils and past life. Objectively dating ancient/heritage trees supports conservation and biodiversity documentation.