Underdevelopment remains the major challenge for most of the South Asian region. All progressives of the region have to address the problem of underdevelopment across the national, religious, cultural and ethnic divides. This kind of developmental advocacy acn happen by some wholesome transnational debates in the region. This aspires to offer space for one such debate. Peace, Pluralism and Tolerance are the essential prerequisites for development in any Geography. We hope to push South Asian development in the framework of these values. This page of our website offers space for discussing the key developmental challenges facing the various areas of India. Join our effort by posting your articles, research papers, podcasts and video clips on these subjects on this site.<\/p>\n
India: An Introductory Profile<\/strong> <\/strong><\/p>\n Introduction<\/strong><\/p>\n The Indus Valley civilization, one of the world\u2019s oldest, flourished during the 3rd and 2nd millennia B.C. and extended into northwestern India. Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated the Indian subcontinent about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. The Maurya Empire of the 4th and 3rd centuries B.C.\u2014which reached its zenith under ASHOKA\u2014united much of South Asia. The Golden Age ushered in by the Gupta dynasty (4th to 6th centuries A.D.) saw a flowering of Indian science, art, and culture. Islam spread across the subcontinent over a period of 700 years. In the 10th and 11th centuries, Turks and Afghans invaded India and established the Delhi Sultanate. In the early 16th century, the Emperor BABUR established the Mughal Dynasty, which ruled India for more than three centuries. European explorers began establishing footholds in India during the 16th century. By the 19th century, Great Britain had become the dominant political power on the subcontinent. The British Indian Army played a vital role in both World Wars. Years of nonviolent resistance to British rule, led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU, eventually resulted in Indian independence, which was granted in 1947. Large-scale communal violence took place before and after the subcontinent partition into two separate states\u2014India and Pakistan. The neighboring nations have fought three wars since independence, the last of which was in 1971 and resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. India\u2019s nuclear weapons tests in 1998 emboldened Pakistan to conduct its own tests that same year. In November 2008, terrorists originating from Pakistan conducted a series of coordinated attacks in Mumbai, India\u2019s financial capital. Despite pressing problems such as significant overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and widespread corruption, economic growth following the launch of economic reforms in 1991 and a massive youthful population are driving India\u2019s emergence as a regional and global power.<\/p>\n Geography and Location<\/strong><\/p>\n Location:<\/strong> Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan<\/p>\n Area: total:<\/strong> 3,287,263 sq km<\/p>\n land:<\/strong> 2,973,193 sq km<\/p>\n water:<\/strong> 314,070 sq km<\/p>\n country comparison to the world:<\/strong> 7<\/p>\n Land boundaries: total:<\/strong> 13,888 km<\/p>\n border countries (6):<\/strong> Bangladesh 4,142 km, Bhutan 659 km, Burma<\/p>\n 1,468 km, China 2,659 km, Nepal 1,770 km, Pakistan 3,190 km<\/p>\n Coastline:<\/strong> 7,000 km<\/p>\n Maritime claims:<\/strong> territorial sea: 12 nm<\/p>\n contiguous zone:<\/strong> 24 nm<\/p>\n exclusive economic zone: 200 nm<\/p>\n continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin<\/p>\n Climate:<\/strong> varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north<\/p>\n Terrain:<\/strong> upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north<\/p>\n Elevation: mean elevation: 160 m<\/p>\n elevation extremes: lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m<\/p>\n highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m<\/p>\n Natural resources:<\/strong> coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone,<\/p>\n arable land:<\/strong><\/p>\n Land use:<\/strong> agricultural land: 60.5%<\/p>\n arable land: 52.8%<\/p>\n permanent crops: 4.2%<\/p>\n permanent pasture: 3.5%<\/p>\n forest: 23.1%<\/p>\n other: 16.4% (2011 est.)<\/p>\n Irrigated land: 667,000 sq km (2012)<\/p>\n Total renewable water resources:<\/strong> 1,911 cu km (2011)<\/p>\n Freshwater withdrawal (domestic\/industrial\/agricultural): total: 761 cu km\/yr (7%\/2%\/90%)<\/p>\n per capita: 613 cu m\/yr (2010)<\/p>\n Natural hazards:<\/strong> droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes<\/p>\n volcanism: Barren Island (elev.354 m) in the Andaman Sea has been active in recent years<\/p>\n Environment\u2014current issues:<\/strong> deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is overstraining natural resources<\/p>\n Environment\u2014international agreements: party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber 83, Tropical Timber 94, Wetlands, Whaling<\/p>\n signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements<\/p>\n Geography\u2014note:<\/strong> dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world, lies on the border with Nepal<\/p>\n People<\/strong><\/p>\n Ethnic groups:<\/strong> Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)<\/p>\n Languages:<\/strong> Hindi 41%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil 5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi 2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%<\/p>\n note: English enjoys the status of subsidiary official language but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication; Hindi is the most widely spoken language and primary tongue of 41% of the people; there are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati, Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit; Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi\/Urdu Spoken widely throughout northern India but is not an official language (2001 census)<\/p>\n Religions:<\/strong> Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7%, other and unspecified 2% (2011 est.)<\/p>\n Population:<\/strong> 1,251,695,584 (July 2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 2<\/p>\n Age structure:<\/strong> 0\u201314 years: 28.09% (male 186,735,337\/female 164,835,868)<\/p>\n 15\u201324 years: 18.06% (male 119,933,717\/female 106,153,113)<\/p>\n 25\u201354 years: 40.74% (male 262,700,370\/female 247,237,448)<\/p>\n 55\u201364 years: 7.16% (male 44,993,382\/female 44,620,337)<\/p>\n 65 years and over: 5.95% (male 35,313,609\/female 39,172,403) (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Dependency ratios: total dependency ratio: 52.4%<\/p>\n youth dependency ratio: 43.9%<\/p>\n elderly dependency ratio: 8.6%<\/p>\n potential support ratio: 11.7% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Median age: total: 27.3 years<\/p>\n male: 26.7 years<\/p>\n female: 28 years (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 139<\/p>\n Population growth rate: 1.22% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 98<\/p>\n Birth rate: 19.55 births\/1,000 population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 87<\/p>\n Death rate: 7.32 deaths\/1,000 population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 118<\/p>\n Net migration rate: -0.04 migrant(s)\/1,000 population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 112<\/p>\n Urbanization:<\/strong> urban Population: 32.7% of total population (2015)<\/p>\n rate of urbanization: 2.38% annual rate of change (2010\u201315 est.)<\/p>\n Major urban areas<\/strong>\u2014Population: NEW DELHI (capital) 25.703 million; Mumbai 21.043 million; Kolkata 11.766 million; Bangalore 10.087 million; Chennai 9.62 million; Hyderabad 8.944 million (2015)<\/p>\n Sex ratio: at birth:<\/strong> 1.12 male(s)\/female<\/p>\n total Population: 1.08 male(s)\/female (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Mother\u2019s mean age at first birth: 19.9 (2005\/06 est.)<\/p>\n Maternal mortality rate: <\/strong>174 deaths\/100,000 live births (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 55<\/p>\n Infant mortality rate:<\/strong> total: 41.81 deaths\/1,000 live births<\/p>\n male: 40.56 deaths\/1,000 live births<\/p>\n female: 43.22 deaths\/1,000 live births (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 50<\/p>\n Life expectancy at birth:<\/strong> total Population: 68.13 years<\/p>\n male: 66.97 years<\/p>\n female: 69.42 years (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 163<\/p>\n Total fertility rate: 2.48 children born\/woman (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 78<\/p>\n Contraceptive prevalence rate: 54.8% (2007\/08)<\/p>\n Health expenditures:<\/strong> 4% of GDP (2013)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 159<\/p>\n Physicians density: 0.7 physicians\/1,000 population (2012)<\/p>\n Hospital bed density: 0.7 beds\/1,000 population (2011)<\/p>\n Drinking water source:<\/strong><\/p>\n improved:<\/p>\n urban: 97.1% of population<\/p>\n rural: 92.6% of population<\/p>\n total: 94.1% of population<\/p>\n unimproved:<\/p>\n urban: 2.9% of population<\/p>\n rural: 7.4% of population<\/p>\n total: 5.9% of population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Sanitation facility access:<\/strong><\/p>\n improved:<\/p>\n urban: 62.6% of population<\/p>\n rural: 28.5% of population<\/p>\n total: 39.6% of population<\/p>\n unimproved:<\/p>\n urban: 37.4% of population<\/p>\n rural: 71.5% of population<\/p>\n total: 60.4% of population (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Major infectious diseases:<\/strong> degree of risk: very high<\/p>\n food or waterborne diseases: bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever<\/p>\n vectorborne diseases: dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria<\/p>\n water contact disease: leptospirosis<\/p>\n animal contact disease: rabies<\/p>\n note: highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza has been identified in this country; it poses a negligible risk with extremely rare cases possible among US citizens who have close contact with birds (2013)<\/p>\n Children under the age of 5 years underweight:43.5% (2006)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 2<\/p>\n Education expenditures:<\/strong> 3.8% of GDP (2012)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 134<\/p>\n Literacy: definition: age 15 and over can read and write<\/p>\n total Population: 71.2%<\/p>\n male: 81.3%<\/p>\n female: 60.6% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education): total: 12 years<\/p>\n male: 11 years<\/p>\n female: 12 years (2013)<\/p>\n Child labor<\/strong>\u2014children ages 5\u201314: total number: 26,965,074<\/p>\n percentage: 12% (2006 est.)<\/p>\n Unemployment<\/strong>, youth ages 15\u201324: total: 10.7%<\/p>\n male: 10.4%<\/p>\n female: 11.6% (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 97<\/p>\n Government and Politics<\/strong><\/p>\n Country name:<\/strong> conventional long form: Republic of India<\/p>\n conventional short form: India<\/p>\n local long form: Republic of India\/Bharatiya Ganarajya<\/p>\n local short form: India\/Bharat<\/p>\n Etymology:<\/strong> The English name derives from the Indus River; the Indian name \u201cBharat\u201d may derive from the \u201cBharatas\u201d tribe mentioned in the Vedas of the second millennium B.C.; the name is also associated with Emperor Bharata, the legendary conqueror of all of India<\/p>\n Government type:<\/strong> federal parliamentary republic<\/p>\n Capital: name:<\/strong> New Delhi<\/p>\n Administrative divisions:<\/strong> 29 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Chhattisgarh, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Odisha, Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal<\/p>\n note: although its status is that of a union territory, the official name of Delhi is National Capital Territory of Delhi<\/p>\n Independence:<\/strong> 15 August 1947 (from the UK)<\/p>\n National holiday:<\/strong> Republic Day, 26 January (1950)<\/p>\n Constitution:<\/strong> previous 1935 (pre-independence); latest draft completed 4 November 1949, adopted 26 November 1949, effective 26 January 1950; amended many times, last in 2015 (2016)<\/p>\n Legal system:<\/strong> common law system based on the English model; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus; judicial review of legislative acts<\/p>\n International law organization participation: <\/strong>accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt<\/p>\n Executive branch:<\/strong> chief of state: President Pranab MUKHERJEE (since 22 July 2012); Vice President Mohammad Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August 2007)<\/p>\n head of government: Prime Minister Narendra MODI (since 26 May 2014)<\/p>\n cabinet: Union Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the president<\/p>\n elections\/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and state legislatures for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 19 July 2012 (next to be held in July 2017); vice president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and state legislatures for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 7 August 2012 (next to be held in August 2017); following legislative elections, the prime minister is elected by parliamentary members of the majority party<\/p>\n election results: Pranab MUKHERJEE elected president; percent of vote\u2014Pranab MUKHERJEE (INC prior to election) 69.3%, Purno SANGMA (independent) 30.7%; Mohammad Hamid ANSARI reelected vice president; electoral college vote\u2014Mohammad Hamid ANSARI 490, Jaswant SINGH 238<\/p>\n Legislative branch:<\/strong> description: bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (245 seats; 233 members indirectly elected by state and territorial assemblies by proportional representation vote, and 12 members appointed by the president; members serve 6-year terms) and the People\u2019s Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 2 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)<\/p>\n elections: People\u2019s Assembly\u2014last held April-May 2014 in 10 phases; (next to be held by May 2019)<\/p>\n election results: People\u2019s Assembly\u2014percent of vote by party\u2014BJP 31.0%, INC 19.3%, AITC 3.8%, SP 3.4%, AIADMK 3.3%, CPI(M) 3.3%, TDP 2.6%, YSRC 2.5%, AAP 2.1%, SAD 1.8%, BJD 1.7%, SS 1.7%, NCP 1.6%, RJD 1.3%, TRS 1.3%, LJP 0.4%, other 15.9%, independent 3.0%; seats by party\u2014BJP 282, INC 44, AIADMK 37, AITC 34, BJD 20, SS 18, TDP 16, TRS 11, CPI(M) 9, YSRC 9, LJP 6, NCP 6, SP 5, AAP 4, RJD 4, SAD 4, other 33, independent 3<\/p>\n Judicial branch:<\/strong> highest court(s): Supreme Court (the chief justice and 25 associate justices); note\u2014parliament approved an additional 5 judges in 2008<\/p>\n judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president to serve until age 65<\/p>\n subordinate courts: High Courts; District Courts; Labor Court<\/p>\n note: in mid-2011, India\u2019s Cabinet approved the \u201cNational Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reform\u201d to eliminate judicial corruption and reduce the backlog of cases; as of mid-July 2015, the Indian Government was considering the introduction of pre-trial hearings as a method for reducing the backlog<\/p>\n Political parties and leaders:<\/strong> Aam Aadmi Party or AAP [Arvind KEJRIWAL] —<\/p>\n All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK [J. JAYALALITHAA]<\/p>\n All India Trinamool Congress or AITC [Mamata BANERJEE]–<\/p>\n Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI]–<\/p>\n Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP [Amit SHAH]–<\/p>\n Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK]<\/p>\n Communist Party of India-Marxist or CPI(M) [Prakash KARAT]–<\/p>\n Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI]–<\/p>\n Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) [Ram Vilas PASWAN]<\/p>\n Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]<\/p>\n Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Lalu Prasad YADAV]–<\/p>\n Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]–<\/p>\n Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [Parkash Singh BADAL]–<\/p>\n Shiv Sena or SS [Uddhav THACKERAY]–<\/p>\n Telegana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) [K. Chandrashekar RAO]–<\/p>\n Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrabab UNAIDU]–<\/p>\n YSR Congress(YSRC) [Jaganmohan REDDY]<\/p>\n note: India has dozens of national and regional political parties<\/p>\n Political pressure groups and leaders: All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley (separatist group)<\/p>\n Bajrang Dal (militant religious organization)<\/p>\n Jamiat Ulema-e Hind [Mahmood MADANI] (religious organization)<\/p>\n Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [Mohan BHAGWAT] (nationalist organization)<\/p>\n Vishwa Hindu Parishad [Pravin TOGADIA] (militant religious organization)<\/p>\n other: hundreds of social reform, anti-corruption, and environmental groups at state and local level; numerous religious or militant\/chauvinistic organizations; various separatist groups seeking greater communal and\/or regional autonomy<\/p>\n International organization participation:<\/strong> ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), Arctic Council (observer), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIMSTEC, BIS, BRICS, C, CD, CERN (observer), CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-5, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC (national committees), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC (NGOs), LAS (observer), MIGA, MINURSO, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OECD, OPCW, Pacific Alliance (observer), PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO<\/p>\n Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n Economy\u2014overview:<\/strong> India\u2019s diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Slightly less than half of the work force is in agriculture, but, services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for nearly two-thirds of India\u2019s output with less than one-third of its labor force. India has capitalized on its large educated English-speaking population to become a major exporter of information technology services, business outsourcing services, and software workers.<\/p>\n India is developing into an open-market economy, yet traces of its past autarkic policies remain. Economic liberalization measures, including industrial deregulation, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, began in the early 1990s and served to accelerate the country\u2019s growth, which averaged under 7% per year from 1997 to 2011.<\/p>\n India\u2019s economic growth began slowing in 2011 because of a decline in investment caused by high interest rates, rising inflation, and investor pessimism about the government\u2019s commitment to further economic reforms and about slow world growth. Rising macroeconomic imbalances in India and improving economic conditions in Western countries led investors to shift capital away from India, prompting a sharp depreciation of the rupee. Growth rebounded in 2014 and 2015, with both years exceeding 7%. Investors\u2019 perceptions of India improved in early 2014, due to a reduction of the current account deficit and expectations of post-election economic reform, resulting in a surge of inbound capital flows and stabilization of the rupee. Since the election, economic reforms have focused on administrative and governance changes largely because the ruling party remains a minority in India\u2019s upper house of Parliament, which must approve most bills. Despite a high growth rate compared to the rest of the world, in 2015, India\u2019s government-owned banks faced mounting bad debt, resulting in low credit growth and restrained economic growth. The outlook for India\u2019s long-term growth is moderately positive due to a young population and corresponding low dependency ratio, healthy savings and investment rates, and increasing integration into the global economy. However, India\u2019s discrimination against women and girls, an inefficient power generation and distribution system, ineffective enforcement of intellectual property rights, decades-long civil litigation dockets, inadequate transport and agricultural infrastructure, limited non-agricultural employment opportunities, high spending and poorly-targeted subsidies, inadequate availability of quality basic and higher education, and accommodating rural-to-urban migration are significant long-term challenges.<\/p>\n GDP (purchasing power parity):<\/strong> $7.965 trillion (2015 est.)<\/p>\n $7.421 trillion (2014 est.)<\/p>\n $6.92 trillion (2013 est.)<\/p>\n note: data are in 2015 US dollars<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 4<\/p>\n GDP (official exchange rate): $2.091 trillion (2015 est.)<\/p>\n GDP\u2014real growth rate: 7.3% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n 7.2% (2014 est.)<\/p>\n 6.6% (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 12<\/p>\n GDP\u2014per capita (PPP): $6,200 (2015 est.)<\/p>\n $5,800 (2014 est.)<\/p>\n $5,500 (2013 est.)<\/p>\n note: data are in 2015 US dollars<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 158<\/p>\n Gross national saving:<\/strong> 32% of GDP (2015 est.)<\/p>\n 32.7% of GDP (2014 est.)<\/p>\n 32.9% of GDP (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 17<\/p>\n GDP\u2014composition, by sector of origin:<\/strong><\/p>\n agriculture: 16.1%<\/p>\n industry: 29.5%<\/p>\n services: 54.4% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Agriculture<\/strong>\u2014products: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions, potatoes; dairy products, sheep, goats, poultry; fish<\/p>\n Industries:<\/strong> textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals<\/p>\n Industrial production growth rate: 2.8% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 92<\/p>\n Labor force:<\/strong> 502.1 million (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 2<\/p>\n Labor force\u2014by occupation: agriculture: 49%<\/p>\n industry: 20%<\/p>\n services: 31% (2012 est.)<\/p>\n Unemployment rate:<\/strong> 7.1% (2015 est.)<\/p>\n 7.3% (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 85<\/p>\n Population below poverty line:<\/strong> 29.8% (2010 est.)<\/p>\n Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest: 10%: 3.6%<\/p>\n highest: 10%: 31.1% (2005)<\/p>\n Distribution of family income\u2014Gini index: 33.6 (2012)<\/p>\n 37.8 (1997)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 103<\/p>\n Budget: <\/strong>revenues: $236 billion<\/p>\n expenditures: $326.2 billion (2015 est.)<\/p>\n Taxes and other revenues: 10.8% of GDP (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 210<\/p>\n Budget surplus (+) or deficit (\u2013): -4.1% of GDP (2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 149<\/p>\n Public debt:<\/strong> 51.7% of GDP (2015 est.)<\/p>\n 51.7% of GDP (2014 est.)<\/p>\n note: data cover central government debt, and exclude debt instruments issued (or owned) by government entities other than the treasury; the data include treasury debt held by foreign entities; the data exclude debt issued by subnational entities, as well as intra-governmental debt; intra-governmental debt consists of treasury borrowings from surpluses in the social funds, such as for retirement, medical care, and unemployment; debt instruments for the social funds are not sold at public auctions<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 78<\/p>\n Fiscal year:<\/strong> 1 April\u201431 March<\/p>\n Inflation rate<\/strong> (consumer prices): 4.9% (2015 est.) 5.9% (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 173<\/p>\n Market value of publicly traded shares:<\/strong> $1.263 trillion (31 December 2012 est.)<\/p>\n $1.015 trillion (31 December 2011)<\/p>\n $1.616 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 11<\/p>\n Current account balance:<\/strong> -$26.22 billion (2015 est.)<\/p>\n -$26.72 billion (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 188<\/p>\n Exports:<\/strong> $287.6 billion (2015 est.)<\/p>\n $329.6 billion (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 17<\/p>\n Exports\u2014commodities: petroleum products, precious stones, vehicles, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, cereals, apparel<\/p>\n Exports\u2014partners: US 15.2%, UAE 11.4%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2015)<\/p>\n Imports:<\/strong> $432.3 billion (2015 est.)<\/p>\n $472.8 billion (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 11<\/p>\n Imports\u2014commodities: crude oil, precious stones, machinery, chemicals, fertilizer, plastics, iron and steel<\/p>\n Imports\u2014partners: China 15.4%, UAE 5.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Switzerland 5.3%, US 5.1% (2015)<\/p>\n Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:<\/strong> $370.7 billion (31 December 2015 est.)<\/p>\n $322.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 8<\/p>\n Debt\u2014external:<\/strong> $459.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)<\/p>\n $427.4 billion (31 December 2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 28<\/p>\n Stock of direct foreign investment\u2014at home:<\/strong> $297.1 billion (31 December 2015 est.)<\/p>\n $252.1 billion (31 December 2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 22<\/p>\n Stock of direct foreign investment\u2014abroad:<\/strong> $137.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.)<\/p>\n $129.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 30<\/p>\n Exchange rates:<\/strong> Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar\u2014<\/p>\n 64.73 (2015 est.)<\/p>\n 61.03 (2014 est.)<\/p>\n 61.03 (2013 est.)<\/p>\n 53.44 (2012 est.)<\/p>\n 46.671 (2011 est.)<\/p>\n Energy<\/strong><\/p>\n Electricity\u2014<\/strong>production: 1.052 trillion kWh (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 5<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014consumption: 864.7 billion kWh (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 6<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014exports: 5 million kWh (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 91<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014imports: 4.794 billion kWh (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 42<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014installed generating capacity: 254.7 million kW (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 5<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014from fossil fuels: 68.7% of total installed capacity (26 February 2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 113<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014from nuclear fuels: 2% of total installed capacity (26 February 2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 29<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014from hydroelectric plants: 16.9% of total installed capacity (26 February 2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 98<\/p>\n Electricity\u2014from other renewable sources: 12.4% of total installed capacity (26 February 2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 26<\/p>\n Crude oil\u2014<\/strong>production: 767,600 bbl\/day (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 25<\/p>\n Crude oil\u2014Imports: 3.812 million bbl\/day (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 3<\/p>\n Crude oil\u2014proved reserves: 5.675 billion bbl (1 January<\/p>\n 2015 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 23<\/p>\n Refined petroleum products\u2014<\/strong>production: 4.433 million bbl\/day (2013)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 5<\/p>\n Refined petroleum products\u2014consumption: 3.66 million bbl\/day (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 5<\/p>\n Refined petroleum products\u2014exports: 1.38 million bbl\/day (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 7<\/p>\n Refined petroleum products\u2014imports: 312,000 bbl\/day (2013 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 22<\/p>\n Natural gas\u2014<\/strong>production: 31.7 billion cu m (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 27<\/p>\n Natural gas\u2014consumption: 50.6 billion cu m (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 16<\/p>\n Natural gas\u2014imports: 18.9 billion cu m (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 20<\/p>\n Natural gas\u2014proved reserves: 1.427 trillion cu m (1 January 2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 23<\/p>\n Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy: <\/strong>1.831 billion Mt (2012 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 4<\/p>\n Communication and Transport<\/strong><\/p>\n Telephones<\/strong>\u2014fixed lines: total subscriptions: 27 million<\/p>\n subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 2 (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 13<\/p>\n Telephones\u2014mobile cellular: total: 944 million<\/p>\n subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 76 (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 2<\/p>\n Telephone system: general assessment: supported by recent deregulation and liberalization of telecommunications laws and<\/p>\n policies, India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing telecom markets in the world; total telephone subscribership base exceeded 1 billion in 2015, an overall teledensity of roughly 81%, and subscribership is currently growing at roughly 5 million per month; urban teledensity now exceeds 100%, and rural teledensity has reached 50%<\/p>\n domestic: mobile cellular service introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan areas and 19 telecom circles, each with multiple private service providers and one or more state-owned service providers; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world\u2019s largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture terminals (VSAT)<\/p>\n international: country code\u201491; a number of major international submarine cable systems, including SEA-ME-WE-3 with landing sites at Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), SEA-ME-WE-4 with a landing site at Chennai, Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with a landing site at Mumbai (Bombay), South Africa -Far East (SAFE) with a landing site at Cochin, the i2i cable network linking to Singapore with landing sites at Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras), and Tata Indicom linking Singapore and Chennai (Madras), provide a significant increase in the bandwidth available for both voice and data traffic; satellite earth stations\u20148 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); 9 gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam (2015)<\/p>\n Broadcast media:<\/strong> Doordarshan, India\u2019s public TV network, operates about 20 national, regional, and local services; a large and increasing number of privately owned TV stations are distributed by cable and satellite service providers; in 2015, more than 230 million homes had access to cable and satellite TV offering more than 700 TV channels; government controls AM radio with All India Radio operating domestic and external networks; news broadcasts via radio are limited to the All India Radio Network; since 2000, privately owned FM stations have been permitted and their numbers have increased rapidly (2015)<\/p>\n Radio broadcast stations: AM 149, FM 171, shortwave 54 (2009)<\/p>\n Television broadcast stations: 1,400 (2009)<\/p>\n Internet country code: .in<\/p>\n Internet hosts: 6.746 million (2012)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 17<\/p>\n Internet users: total: 237.3 million<\/p>\n percent of Population: 19.2% (2014 est.)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 4<\/p>\n Airports:<\/strong> 346 (2013)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 21<\/p>\n Airports\u2014with paved runways: total: 253<\/p>\n over 3,047 m: 22<\/p>\n 2,438 to 3,047 m: 59<\/p>\n 1,524 to 2,437 m: 76<\/p>\n 914 to 1,523 m: 82<\/p>\n under 914 m: 14 (2013)<\/p>\n Airports\u2014with unpaved runways: total: 93<\/p>\n over 3,047 m: 1<\/p>\n 2,438 to 3,047 m: 3<\/p>\n 1,524 to 2,437 m: 6<\/p>\n 914 to 1,523 m: 38<\/p>\n under 914 m: 45 (2013)<\/p>\n Heliports: 45 (2013)<\/p>\n Pipelines:<\/strong> condensate\/gas 9 km; gas 13,581 km; liquid petroleum gas 2,054 km; oil 8,943 km; oil\/gas\/water 20 km; refined products 11,069 km (2013)<\/p>\n Railways:<\/strong> total: 68,525 km<\/p>\n broad gauge: 58,404 km 1.676-m gauge (23,654 electrified)<\/p>\n narrow gauge: 9,499 km 1.000-m gauge; 622 km 0.762-m gauge (2014)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 5<\/p>\n Roadways:<\/strong> total: 4,699,024 km<\/p>\n note: includes 96,214 km of national highways and expressways, 147,800 km of state highways, and 4,455,010 km of other roads (2015)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 2<\/p>\n Waterways:<\/strong> 14,500 km (5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels) (2012)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 9<\/p>\n Merchant marine: total: 340<\/p>\n by type: bulk carrier 104, cargo 78, chemical tanker 22, container 14, liquefied gas 11, passenger 4, passenger\/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 92<\/p>\n foreign-owned: 10 (China 1, Hong Kong 2, Jersey 2, Malaysia 1, UAE 4)<\/p>\n registered in other countries: 76 (Cyprus 4, Dominica 2, Liberia 8, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 10, Nigeria 1, Panama 24, Saint Kitts and<\/p>\n Nevis 2, Singapore 21, unknown 1) (2010)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 29<\/p>\n Ports and terminals: major seaport(s): Chennai, Jawaharal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Sikka, Vishakhapatnam<\/p>\n container port(s) (TEUs): Chennai (1,558,343), Jawaharal Nehru Port (4,307,622)<\/p>\n LNG terminal (s) (import): Dabhol, Dahej, Hazira<\/p>\n Defense and Security<\/strong><\/p>\n Military branches:<\/strong> Army, Navy (includes naval air arm), Air Force, Coast Guard (2011)<\/p>\n Military service age and obligation: 16\u201318 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 171\/2, Air Force 17, Navy 161\/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as pilots, and will soon be allowed in all combat roles (2016)<\/p>\n Military expenditures: 2.4% of GDP (2014)<\/p>\n 2.4% of GDP (2013)<\/p>\n 2.5% of GDP (2012)<\/p>\n 2.6% of GDP (2011)<\/p>\n 2.7% of GDP (2010)<\/p>\n country comparison to the world: 31<\/p>\n Disputes<\/strong>\u2014international: since China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters continue Kashmir remains the site of the world\u2019s largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas). India and Pakistan resumed bilateral dialogue in February 2011 after a two-year hiatus, have maintained the 2003 cease-fire in Kashmir, and continue to have disputes over water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries. UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan\u2019s ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State; Prime Minister Singh\u2019s September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over un-demarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea; Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepal<\/p>\n Refugees and internally displaced persons<\/strong>: refugees (country of origin): 109,018 (Tibet\/China); 65,057 (Sri Lanka); 14,301 (Burma); 10,395 (Afghanistan) (2014)<\/p>\n IDPs: 612,000 (armed conflict and intercommunal violence) (2015)<\/p>\n Illicit drugs:<\/strong> world\u2019s largest producer of licit opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; transit point for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries and throughout Southwest Asia; illicit producer of methaqualone; vulnerable to narcotics money laundering through the hawala system; licit ketamine and precursor production<\/p>\n Source<\/strong>: The CIA World Fact Book 2017<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Underdevelopment remains the major challenge for most of the South Asian region. All progressives of the region have to address the problem of underdevelopment across the national, religious, cultural and ethnic divides. This kind of developmental advocacy acn happen by some wholesome transnational debates in the region. This aspires to offer space for one such […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":105,"parent":18,"menu_order":4,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-34","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"yoast_head":"\n