2016 Edition

Background

The Indus Valley civilization, one of the world's 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. - which reached its zenith under ASHOKA - united 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 - India 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's 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's 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's emergence as a regional and global power.

Area

3,287,263 sq km 2,973,193 sq km 314,070 sq km

land

2,973,193 sq km

total

3,287,263 sq km

water

314,070 sq km

Area - comparative

slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Climate

varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Coastline

7,000 km

Elevation

160 m lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m

elevation extremes

lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m

highest point

Kanchenjunga 8,598 m

mean elevation

160 m

Environment - current issues

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

Environment - international agreements

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 none of the selected 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

signed, but not ratified

none of the selected agreements

Geographic coordinates

20 00 N, 77 00 E

Geography - note

dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes; Kanchenjunga, third tallest mountain in the world, lies on the border with Nepal

Irrigated land

667,000 sq km (2012)

Land boundaries

13,888 km Bangladesh 4,142 km, Bhutan 659 km, Burma 1,468 km, China 2,659 km, Nepal 1,770 km, Pakistan 3,190 km

border countries (6)

Bangladesh 4,142 km, Bhutan 659 km, Burma 1,468 km, China 2,659 km, Nepal 1,770 km, Pakistan 3,190 km

total

13,888 km

Land use

60.5% arable land 52.8%; permanent crops 4.2%; permanent pasture 3.5% 23.1% 16.4% (2011 est.)

agricultural land

60.5%

forest

23.1%

other

16.4% (2011 est.)

Location

Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan

Map references

Asia

Maritime claims

12 nm 24 nm 200 nm 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

contiguous zone

24 nm

continental shelf

200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

exclusive economic zone

200 nm

territorial sea

12 nm

Natural hazards

droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes Barren Island (elev. 354 m) in the Andaman Sea has been active in recent years

volcanism

Barren Island (elev. 354 m) in the Andaman Sea has been active in recent years

Natural resources

coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land

Terrain

upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north

Age structure

27.71% (male 186,420,229/female 164,611,755) 17.99% (male 121,009,850/female 106,916,692) 40.91% (male 267,203,029/female 251,070,105) 7.3% (male 46,398,574/female 46,105,489) 6.09% (male 36,549,003/female 40,598,872) (2016 est.)

0-14 years

27.71% (male 186,420,229/female 164,611,755)

15-24 years

17.99% (male 121,009,850/female 106,916,692)

25-54 years

40.91% (male 267,203,029/female 251,070,105)

55-64 years

7.3% (male 46,398,574/female 46,105,489)

65 years and over

6.09% (male 36,549,003/female 40,598,872) (2016 est.)

Birth rate

19.3 births/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Child labor - children ages 5-14

26,965,074 12% (2006 est.)

percentage

12% (2006 est.)

total number

26,965,074

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

43.5% (2006)

Contraceptive prevalence rate

54.8% (2007/08)

Death rate

7.3 deaths/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Dependency ratios

52.4% 43.9% 8.6% 11.7% (2015 est.)

elderly dependency ratio

8.6%

potential support ratio

11.7% (2015 est.)

total dependency ratio

52.4%

youth dependency ratio

43.9%

Drinking water source

urban: 97.1% of population rural: 92.6% of population total: 94.1% of population urban: 2.9% of population rural: 7.4% of population total: 5.9% of population (2015 est.)

rural

7.4% of population

total

5.9% of population (2015 est.)

urban

2.9% of population

Education expenditures

3.8% of GDP (2012)

Ethnic groups

Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3% (2000)

Health expenditures

4.7% of GDP (2014)

HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate

0.26% (2013 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths

67,600 (2015 est.)

HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS

2,118,100 (2015 est.)

Hospital bed density

0.7 beds/1,000 population (2011)

Infant mortality rate

40.5 deaths/1,000 live births 39.2 deaths/1,000 live births 41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

female

41.8 deaths/1,000 live births (2016 est.)

male

39.2 deaths/1,000 live births

total

40.5 deaths/1,000 live births

Languages

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% 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)

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)

Life expectancy at birth

68.5 years 67.3 years 69.8 years (2016 est.)

female

69.8 years (2016 est.)

male

67.3 years

total population

68.5 years

Literacy

age 15 and over can read and write 71.2% 81.3% 60.6% (2015 est.)

definition

age 15 and over can read and write

female

60.6% (2015 est.)

male

81.3%

total population

71.2%

Major infectious diseases

very high bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria leptospirosis rabies (2016)

animal contact disease

rabies (2016)

degree of risk

very high

food or waterborne diseases

bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever

vectorborne diseases

dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria

water contact disease

leptospirosis

Major urban areas - population

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)

Maternal mortality rate

174 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)

Median age

27.6 years 26.9 years 28.3 years (2016 est.)

female

28.3 years (2016 est.)

male

26.9 years

total

27.6 years

Mother's mean age at first birth

19.9 median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2005/06 est.)

note

median age at first birth among women 25-29 (2005/06 est.)

Nationality

Indian(s) Indian

adjective

Indian

noun

Indian(s)

Net migration rate

0 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2016 est.)

Obesity - adult prevalence rate

4.7% (2014)

Physicians density

0.7 physicians/1,000 population (2012)

Population

1,266,883,598 (July 2016 est.)

Population growth rate

1.19% (2016 est.)

Religions

Hindu 79.8%, Muslim 14.2%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.7%, other and unspecified 2% (2011 est.)

Sanitation facility access

urban: 62.6% of population rural: 28.5% of population total: 39.6% of population urban: 37.4% of population rural: 71.5% of population total: 60.4% of population (2015 est.)

rural

71.5% of population

total

60.4% of population (2015 est.)

urban

37.4% of population

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

12 years 11 years 12 years (2013)

female

12 years (2013)

male

11 years

total

12 years

Sex ratio

1.12 male(s)/female 1.13 male(s)/female 1.13 male(s)/female 1.06 male(s)/female 1.01 male(s)/female 0.9 male(s)/female 1.08 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

0-14 years

1.13 male(s)/female

15-24 years

1.13 male(s)/female

25-54 years

1.06 male(s)/female

55-64 years

1.01 male(s)/female

65 years and over

0.9 male(s)/female

at birth

1.12 male(s)/female

total population

1.08 male(s)/female (2016 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.45 children born/woman (2016 est.)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

10.7% 10.4% 11.6% (2012 est.)

female

11.6% (2012 est.)

male

10.4%

total

10.7%

Urbanization

32.7% of total population (2015) 2.38% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

rate of urbanization

2.38% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

urban population

32.7% of total population (2015)

Administrative divisions

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 although its status is that of a union territory, the official name of Delhi is National Capital Territory of Delhi

note

although its status is that of a union territory, the official name of Delhi is National Capital Territory of Delhi

Capital

New Delhi 28 36 N, 77 12 E UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

geographic coordinates

28 36 N, 77 12 E

name

New Delhi

time difference

UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)

Citizenship

no at least one parent must be a citizen of India no 5 years

citizenship by birth

no

citizenship by descent only

at least one parent must be a citizen of India

dual citizenship recognized

no

residency requirement for naturalization

5 years

Constitution

previous 1935 (preindependence); latest draft completed 4 November 1949, adopted 26 November 1949, effective 26 January 1950; amended many times, last in 2015 (2016)

Country name

Republic of India India Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya India/Bharat the English name derives from the Indus River; the Indian name "Bharat" may derive from the "Bharatas" 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

conventional long form

Republic of India

conventional short form

India

etymology

the English name derives from the Indus River; the Indian name "Bharat" may derive from the "Bharatas" 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

local long form

Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya

local short form

India/Bharat

Diplomatic representation from the US

Ambassador Richard Rahul VERMA (since 16 January 2015) Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 use embassy street address [91] (11) 2419-8000 [91] (11) 2419-0017 Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)

chief of mission

Ambassador Richard Rahul VERMA (since 16 January 2015)

consulate(s) general

Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)

embassy

Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021

FAX

[91] (11) 2419-0017

mailing address

use embassy street address

telephone

[91] (11) 2419-8000

Diplomatic representation in the US

Ambassador Navtej SINGH (since 9 November 2016) 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone: [1](202) 939-7000 [1] (202) 939-7000 [1] (202) 265-4351 Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

chancery

2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; telephone: [1](202) 939-7000

chief of mission

Ambassador Navtej SINGH (since 9 November 2016)

consulate(s) general

Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

FAX

[1] (202) 265-4351

telephone

[1] (202) 939-7000

Executive branch

President Pranab MUKHERJEE (since 22 July 2012); Vice President Mohammad Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August 2007) Prime Minister Narendra MODI (since 26 May 2014) Union Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the president 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 Pranab MUKHERJEE elected president; percent of vote - Pranab MUKHERJEE (INC prior to election) 69.3%, Purno SANGMA (independent) 30.7%; Mohammad Hamid ANSARI reelected vice president; electoral college vote - Mohammad Hamid ANSARI 490, Jaswant SINGH 238

cabinet

Union Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the president

chief of state

President Pranab MUKHERJEE (since 22 July 2012); Vice President Mohammad Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August 2007)

election results

Pranab MUKHERJEE elected president; percent of vote - Pranab MUKHERJEE (INC prior to election) 69.3%, Purno SANGMA (independent) 30.7%; Mohammad Hamid ANSARI reelected vice president; electoral college vote - Mohammad Hamid ANSARI 490, Jaswant SINGH 238

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

head of government

Prime Minister Narendra MODI (since 26 May 2014)

Flag description

three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; saffron represents courage, sacrifice, and the spirit of renunciation; white signifies purity and truth; green stands for faith and fertility; the blue chakra symbolizes the wheel of life in movement and death in stagnation similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

note

similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

Government type

federal parliamentary republic

Independence

15 August 1947 (from the UK)

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations; non-party state to the ICCt

International organization participation

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

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (the chief justice and 25 associate justices) justices appointed by the president to serve until age 65 High Courts; District Courts; Labour Court in mid-2011, India’s Cabinet approved the "National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reform" 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 hearing as a method for reducing the backlog

highest court(s)

Supreme Court (the chief justice and 25 associate justices)

judge selection and term of office

justices appointed by the president to serve until age 65

note

in mid-2011, India’s Cabinet approved the "National Mission for Justice Delivery and Legal Reform" 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 hearing as a method for reducing the backlog

subordinate courts

High Courts; District Courts; Labour Court

Legal system

common law system based on the English model; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus; judicial review of legislative acts

Legislative branch

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 House of the People 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) People's Assembly - last held April-May 2014 in 10 phases; (next to be held by May 2019) People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - BJP 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 - BJP 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

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 House of the People 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)

election results

People's Assembly - percent of vote by party - BJP 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 - BJP 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

elections

People's Assembly - last held April-May 2014 in 10 phases; (next to be held by May 2019)

National anthem

"Jana-Gana-Mana" (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People) Rabindranath TAGORE adopted 1950; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote Bangladesh's national anthem

lyrics/music

Rabindranath TAGORE

name

"Jana-Gana-Mana" (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People)

note

adopted 1950; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote Bangladesh's national anthem

National holiday

Republic Day, 26 January (1950)

National symbol(s)

the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which depicts four Asiatic lions standing back to back mounted on a circular abacus, is the official emblem; Bengal tiger; lotus flower; national colors: saffron, white, green

the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which depicts four Asiatic lions standing back to back mounted on a circular abacus, is the official emblem; Bengal tiger; lotus flower; national colors

saffron, white, green

Political parties and leaders

Aam Aadmi Party or AAP [Arvind KEJRIWAL] All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or AIADMK [J. JAYALALITHAA] All India Trinamool Congress or AITC [Mamata BANERJEE] Bahujan Samaj Party or BSP [MAYAWATI] Bharatiya Janata Party or BJP [Amit SHAH] Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK] Communist Party of India-Marxist or CPI(M) [Prakash KARAT] Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI] Lok Janshakti Party (LJP) [Ram Vilas PASWAN] Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR] Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Lalu Prasad YADAV] Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV] Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [Parkash Singh BADAL] Shiv Sena or SS [Uddhav THACKERAY] Telegana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) [K. Chandrashekar RAO] Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU] YSR Congress(YSRC) [Jaganmohan REDDY] India has dozens of national and regional political parties

note

India has dozens of national and regional political parties

Political pressure groups and leaders

All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley (separatist group) Bajrang Dal (militant religious organization) Jamiat Ulema-e Hind [Mahmood MADANI] (religious organization) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [Mohan BHAGWAT] (nationalist organization) Vishwa Hindu Parishad [Pravin TOGADIA] (militant religious organization) 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

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

Suffrage

18 years of age; universal

Agriculture - products

rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions, potatoes; dairy products, sheep, goats, poultry; fish

Budget

$193.4 billion $276.4 billion (2015 est.)

expenditures

$276.4 billion (2015 est.)

revenues

$193.4 billion

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-4% of GDP (2015 est.)

Central bank discount rate

7.75% (31 December 2014) 7.75% (31 December 2013) this is the Indian central bank's policy rate - the repurchase rate

note

this is the Indian central bank's policy rate - the repurchase rate

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.01% (31 December 2015 est.) 10.25% (31 December 2014 est.)

Current account balance

-$26.22 billion (2015 est.) -$26.72 billion (2014 est.)

Debt - external

$480.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $463.2 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Distribution of family income - Gini index

33.6 (2012) 37.8 (1997)

Economy - overview

India's 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's output but employing 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. 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's growth, which averaged under 7% per year from 1997 to 2011. India's 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's 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’ 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’s upper house of Parliament, which must approve most bills. Despite a high growth rate compared to the rest of the world, in 2015, India’s government-owned banks faced mounting bad debt, resulting in low credit growth and restrained economic growth. The outlook for India's 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's 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.

Exchange rates

Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar - 64.152 (2015 est.) 61.03 (2014 est.) 61.03 (2013 est.) 53.44 (2012 est.) 46.671 (2011 est.)

Exports

$272.4 billion (2015 est.) $328.4 billion (2014 est.)

Exports - commodities

petroleum products, precious stones, vehicles, machinery, iron and steel, chemicals, pharmaceutical products, cereals, apparel

Exports - partners

US 15.2%, UAE 11.4%, Hong Kong 4.6% (2015)

Fiscal year

1 April - 31 March

GDP - composition, by end use

59.6% 10.6% 29.3% 3.1% 20% -22.5% (2015 est.)

exports of goods and services

20%

government consumption

10.6%

household consumption

59.6%

imports of goods and services

-22.5% (2015 est.)

investment in fixed capital

29.3%

investment in inventories

3.1%

GDP - composition, by sector of origin

17% 29.7% 45% (2014 est.)

agriculture

17%

industry

29.7%

services

45% (2014 est.)

GDP - per capita (PPP)

$6,200 (2015 est.) $5,800 (2014 est.) $5,500 (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

GDP - real growth rate

7.3% (2015 est.) 7.2% (2014 est.) 6.6% (2013 est.)

GDP (official exchange rate)

$2.091 trillion (2015 est.)

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$7.965 trillion (2015 est.) $7.421 trillion (2014 est.) $6.92 trillion (2013 est.) data are in 2015 US dollars

note

data are in 2015 US dollars

Gross national saving

30.6% of GDP (2015 est.) 31.3% of GDP (2014 est.) 31.7% of GDP (2013 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

3.6% 31.1% (2005)

highest 10%

31.1% (2005)

lowest 10%

3.6%

Imports

$409.2 billion (2015 est.) $472.4 billion (2014 est.)

Imports - commodities

crude oil, precious stones, machinery, chemicals, fertilizer, plastics, iron and steel

Imports - partners

China 15.5%, UAE 5.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.4%, Switzerland 5.3%, US 5.2% (2015)

Industrial production growth rate

7.4% (2015 est.)

Industries

textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software, pharmaceuticals

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

4.9% (2015 est.) 6.7% (2014 est.)

Labor force

501.8 million (2015 est.)

Labor force - by occupation

49% 20% 31% (2012 est.)

agriculture

49%

industry

20%

services

31% (2012 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.263 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) $1.015 trillion (31 December 2014 est.) $1.616 trillion (31 December 2013 est.)

Population below poverty line

29.8% (2010 est.)

Public debt

52.4% of GDP (2015 est.) 51.9% of GDP (2014 est.) 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

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

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$351.6 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $322.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.711 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) $1.612 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - abroad

$139 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $131.5 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment - at home

$296.8 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $252.8 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.57 trillion (31 December 2015 est.) $1.494 trillion (31 December 2014 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$370.5 billion (31 December 2015 est.) $345.6 billion (31 December 2014 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

9.3% of GDP (2015 est.)

Unemployment rate

8.4% (2015 est.) 9.3% (2014 est.)

Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy

1.887 billion Mt (2013 est.)

Crude oil - exports

0 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - imports

3.785 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Crude oil - production

761,000 bbl/day (2015 est.)

Crude oil - proved reserves

5.675 billion bbl (1 January 2016 es)

Electricity - consumption

973 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - exports

200 million kWh (2012 est.)

Electricity - from fossil fuels

68.7% of total installed capacity (26 February 2014 )

Electricity - from hydroelectric plants

16.9% of total installed capacity (26 February 2014 )

Electricity - from nuclear fuels

2% of total installed capacity (26 February 2014 )

Electricity - from other renewable sources

12.4% of total installed capacity (26 February 2014 )

Electricity - imports

5 billion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity - installed generating capacity

311 million kW (2014 est.)

Electricity - production

1.218 trillion kWh (2014 est.)

Electricity access

237,400,000 79% 98% 70% (2013)

electrification - rural areas

70% (2013)

electrification - total population

79%

electrification - urban areas

98%

population without electricity

237,400,000

Natural gas - consumption

52.1 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - exports

0 cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - imports

21.7 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - production

30.4 billion cu m (2014 est.)

Natural gas - proved reserves

1.489 trillion cu m (1 January 2016 es)

Refined petroleum products - consumption

3.735 million bbl/day (2014 est.)

Refined petroleum products - exports

1.471 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - imports

401,900 bbl/day (2013 est.)

Refined petroleum products - production

4.775 million bbl/day (2013 est.)

Broadcast media

Doordarshan, India's 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)

Internet country code

.in

Internet users

325.441 million 26% (July 2015 est.)

percent of population

26% (July 2015 est.)

total

325.441 million

Telephone system

supported by recent deregulation and liberalization of telecommunications laws and 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 80%, and subscribership is currently growing at roughly 5 million per month; urban teledensity now exceeds 100%, and rural teledensity has reached 50% 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's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture terminals (VSAT) country code - 91; 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 - 8 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)

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's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with 6 satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture terminals (VSAT)

general assessment

supported by recent deregulation and liberalization of telecommunications laws and 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 80%, and subscribership is currently growing at roughly 5 million per month; urban teledensity now exceeds 100%, and rural teledensity has reached 50%

international

country code - 91; 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 - 8 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)

Telephones - fixed lines

25.518 million 2 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

2 (July 2015 est.)

total subscriptions

25.518 million

Telephones - mobile cellular

1,011.054 million 81 (July 2015 est.)

subscriptions per 100 inhabitants

81 (July 2015 est.)

total

1,011.054 million

Airports

346 (2013)

Airports - with paved runways

14 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

76

2,438 to 3,047 m

59

914 to 1,523 m

82

over 3,047 m

22

total

253

under 914 m

14 (2013)

Airports - with unpaved runways

45 (2013)

1,524 to 2,437 m

6

2,438 to 3,047 m

3

914 to 1,523 m

38

over 3,047 m

1

total

93

under 914 m

45 (2013)

Civil aircraft registration country code prefix

VT (2016)

Heliports

45 (2013)

Merchant marine

bulk carrier 104, cargo 78, chemical tanker 22, container 14, liquefied gas 11, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 92 10 (China 1, Hong Kong 2, Jersey 2, Malaysia 1, UAE 4) 76 (Cyprus 4, Dominica 2, Liberia 8, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 10, Nigeria 1, Panama 24, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Singapore 21, unknown 1) (2010)

by type

bulk carrier 104, cargo 78, chemical tanker 22, container 14, liquefied gas 11, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 15, petroleum tanker 92

foreign-owned

10 (China 1, Hong Kong 2, Jersey 2, Malaysia 1, UAE 4)

registered in other countries

76 (Cyprus 4, Dominica 2, Liberia 8, Malta 3, Marshall Islands 10, Nigeria 1, Panama 24, Saint Kitts and Nevis 2, Singapore 21, unknown 1) (2010)

total

340

National air transport system

98,927,860 1,833,847,614 mt-km (2015)

annual freight traffic on registered air carriers

1,833,847,614 mt-km (2015)

annual passenger traffic on registered air carriers

98,927,860

inventory of registered aircraft operated by air carriers

485

number of registered air carriers

20

Pipelines

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)

Ports and terminals

Chennai, Jawaharal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Sikka, Vishakhapatnam Chennai (1,558,343), Jawaharal Nehru Port (4,307,622) Dabhol, Dahej, Hazira

container port(s) (TEUs)

Chennai (1,558,343), Jawaharal Nehru Port (4,307,622)

LNG terminal(s) (import)

Dabhol, Dahej, Hazira

major seaport(s)

Chennai, Jawaharal Nehru Port, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Sikka, Vishakhapatnam

Railways

68,525 km 58,404 km 1.676-m gauge (23,654 electrified) 9,499 km 1.000-m gauge; 622 km 0.762-m gauge (2014)

broad gauge

58,404 km 1.676-m gauge (23,654 electrified)

narrow gauge

9,499 km 1.000-m gauge; 622 km 0.762-m gauge (2014)

total

68,525 km

Roadways

4,699,024 km includes 96,214 km of national highways and expressways, 147,800 km of state highways, and 4,455,010 km of other roads (2015)

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)

total

4,699,024 km

Waterways

14,500 km (5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels) (2012)

Military branches

Army, Navy (includes naval air arm), Air Force, Coast Guard (2011)

Military expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2014) 2.4% of GDP (2013) 2.5% of GDP (2012) 2.6% of GDP (2011) 2.7% of GDP (2010)

Military service age and obligation

16-18 years of age for voluntary military service (Army 17 1/2, Air Force 17, Navy 16 1/2); no conscription; women may join as officers, currently serve in combat roles as pilots, and will soon be allowed in all combat roles (2016)

Disputes - international

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's 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's 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's 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 undemarcated 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

Illicit drugs

world's 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

110,098 (Tibet/China); 64,208 (Sri Lanka); 15,735 (Burma); 10,196 (Afghanistan) (2015) 612,000 (armed conflict and intercommunal violence) (2015)

IDPs

612,000 (armed conflict and intercommunal violence) (2015)

refugees (country of origin)

110,098 (Tibet/China); 64,208 (Sri Lanka); 15,735 (Burma); 10,196 (Afghanistan) (2015)