India

India

Introduction

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 onto 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. Nonviolent resistance to British rule, led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU, eventually brought about independence in 1947. Communal violence led to the subcontinent’s bloody partition, which resulted in the creation of two separate states, India and Pakistan. The two countries have fought three wars since independence, the last of which in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. India’s nuclear weapons tests in 1998 caused Pakistan to conduct its own tests that same year. In November 2008, terrorists allegedly 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, rapid economic development is fueling India’s rise on the world stage. In January 2011, India assumed a nonpermanent seat in the UN Security Council for the 2011-12 term.

Geography

Location

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

Geographic coordinates

20 00 N, 77 00 E

Map references

Asia

Area

total: 3,287,263 sq km
country comparison to the world: 7 land:2,973,193 sq km
water:314,070 sq km

Area – comparative

slightly more than one-third the size of the US

Land boundaries

total: 14,103 km
border countries:Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km

Coastline

7,000 km

Maritime claims

territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:24 nm
exclusive economic zone:200 nm
continental shelf:200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin

Climate

varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north

Terrain

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

Elevation extremes

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

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

Land use

arable land: 48.83%
permanent crops:2.8%
other:48.37% (2005)

Irrigated land

622,860 sq km (2008)

Total renewable water resources

1,907.8 cu km (1999)

Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural)

total: 645.84cu km/yr (8%/5%/86%)
per capita:585cu m/yr (2000)

Natural hazards

droughts

flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding from monsoonal rains

severe thunderstorms

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

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

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

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

People and Society

Nationality

noun: Indian(s)
adjective:Indian

Ethnic groups

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

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%
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)

Religions

Hindu 80.5%, Muslim 13.4%, Christian 2.3%, Sikh 1.9%, other 1.8%, unspecified 0.1% (2001 census)

Population

1,189,172,906 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

Age structure

0-14 years: 29.7% (male 187,450,635/female 165,415,758)
15-64 years:64.9% (male 398,757,331/female 372,719,379)
65 years and over:5.5% (male 30,831,190/female 33,998,613) (2011 est.)

Median age

total: 26.2 years
male:25.6 years
female:26.9 years (2011 est.)

Population growth rate

1.344% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 86

Birth rate

20.97 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84

Death rate

7.48 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 116

Net migration rate

-0.05 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 118

Urbanization

urban population: 30% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:2.4% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)

Major cities – population

NEW DELHI (capital) 21.72 million

Mumbai 19.695 million

Kolkata 15.294 million

Chennai 7.416 million

Bangalore 7.079 million (2009)

Sex ratio

at birth: 1.12 male(s)/female
under 15 years:1.13 male(s)/female
15-64 years:1.07 male(s)/female
65 years and over:0.91 male(s)/female
total population:1.08 male(s)/female (2011 est.)

Maternal mortality rate

230 deaths/100,000 live births (2008)
country comparison to the world: 56

Infant mortality rate

total: 47.57 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 52 male:46.18 deaths/1,000 live births
female:49.14 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)

Life expectancy at birth

total population: 66.8 years
country comparison to the world: 160 male:65.77 years
female:67.95 years (2011 est.)

Total fertility rate

2.62 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 79

Health expenditures

2.4% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 185

Physicians density

0.599 physicians/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 118

Hospital bed density

0.9 beds/1,000 population (2005)
country comparison to the world: 153

Drinking water source

improved:
urban: 96% of population
rural: 84% of population
total: 88% of population
unimproved:
urban: 4% of population
rural: 16% of population
total: 12% of population (2008)

Sanitation facility access

improved:
urban: 54% of population
rural: 21% of population
total: 31% of population
unimproved:
urban: 46% of population
rural: 79% of population
total: 69% of population (2008)

HIV/AIDS – adult prevalence rate

0.3% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 85

HIV/AIDS – people living with HIV/AIDS

2.4 million (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

HIV/AIDS – deaths

170,000 (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 3

Major infectious diseases

degree of risk: high
food or waterborne diseases:bacterial diarrhea, hepatitis A and E, and typhoid fever
vectorborne diseases:chikungunya, dengue fever, Japanese encephalitis, and malaria
animal contact disease:rabies
water contact disease:leptospirosis
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 (2009)

Children under the age of 5 years underweight

43.5% (2006)
country comparison to the world: 1

Education expenditures

3.1% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 129

Literacy

definition: age 15 and over can read and write
total population:61%
male:73.4%
female:47.8% (2001 census)

School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education)

total: 10 years
male:11 years
female:10 years (2007)

Unemployment, youth ages 15-24

total: 10.5%
country comparison to the world: 100 male:10.4%
female:10.8% (2004)

Government

Country name

conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form:India
local long form:Republic of India/Bharatiya Ganarajya
local short form:India/Bharat

Government type

federal republic

Capital

name: New Delhi
geographic coordinates:28 36 N, 77 12 E
time difference:UTC+5.5 (10.5 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)

Administrative divisions

28 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, Orissa, Puducherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal

Independence

15 August 1947 (from the UK)

National holiday

Republic Day, 26 January (1950)

Constitution

26 January 1950

amended many times

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

International law organization participation

accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction with reservations

non-party state to the ICCt

Suffrage

18 years of age

universal

Executive branch

chief of state: President Pratibha Devisingh PATIL (since 25 July 2007)

Vice President Mohammad Hamid ANSARI (since 11 August 2007)
head of government:Prime Minister Manmohan SINGH (since 22 May 2004)
cabinet:Cabinet appointed by the president on the recommendation of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website ) elections:president elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of the states for a five-year term (no term limits)

election last held in July 2007 (next to be held in July 2012)

vice president elected by both houses of Parliament for a five-year term

election last held in August 2007 (next to be held August 2012)

prime minister chosen by parliamentary members of the majority party following legislative elections

election last held April – May 2009 (next to be held no later than May 2014)
election results:Pratibha PATIL elected president

percent of vote – Pratibha PATIL 65.8%, Bhairon Singh SHEKHAWAT – 34.2%

Legislative branch

bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of the Council of States or Rajya Sabha (a body consisting of not more than 250 members up to 12 of whom are appointed by the president, the remainder are chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies

members serve six-year terms) and the People’s Assembly or Lok Sabha (545 seats

543 members elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president

members serve five-year terms)
elections:People’s Assembly – last held in five phases on 16, 22-23, 30 April and 7, 13 May 2009 (next must be held by May 2014)
election results:People’s Assembly – percent of vote by party – NA

seats by party – INC 206, BJP 116, SP 23, BSP 21, JD (U) 20, AITC 19, DMK 18, CPI-M 16, BJD 14, SS 11, AIADMK 9, NCP 9, other 61, vacant 2

note – seats by party as November 2009 – INC 207, BJP 116, SP 22, BSP 21, JD (U) 20, AITC 19, DMK 18, CPI-M 16, BJD 14, SS 11, AIADMK 9, NCP 9, other 61, vacant 2

Judicial branch

Supreme Court (one chief justice and 25 associate justices are appointed by the president and remain in office until they reach the age of 65 or are removed for “proved misbehavior”)

Political parties and leaders

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 [Nitin GADKARI]

Biju Janata Dal or BJD [Naveen PATNAIK]

Communist Party of India or CPI [B. BARDHAN]

Communist Party of India-Marxist or CPI-M [Prakash KARAT]

Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or DMK [Kalaignar M.KARUNANIDHI]

Indian National Congress or INC [Sonia GANDHI]

Janata Dal (United) or JD(U) [Sharad YADAV]

Left Front (an alliance of Indian leftist parties)

Nationalist Congress Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]

Rashtriya Lok Dal or RLD [Ajit SINGH]

Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]

Shiromani Akali Dal or SAD [Parkash Singh BADAL]

Shiv Sena or SS [Bal THACKERAY]

Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU]

note – India has dozens of national and regional political parties

only parties or coalitions with four or more seats in the People’s Assembly are listed

Political pressure groups and leaders

All Parties Hurriyat Conference in the Kashmir Valley (separatist group)

Bajrang Dal (religious organization)

National Socialist Council of Nagaland in the northeast (separatist group)

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh [Mohan BHAGWAT] (religious organization)

Vishwa Hindu Parishad [Ashok SINGHAL] (religious organization)
other:numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations

various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy

International organization participation

ADB, AfDB (nonregional member), ARF, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIMSTEC, BIS, C, CD, CERN (observer), CICA, CP, EAS, FAO, FATF, G-15, G-20, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO, IMF, IMO, IMSO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, ISO, ITSO, ITU, ITUC, LAS (observer), MIGA, MONUSCO, NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, PIF (partner), SAARC, SACEP, SCO (observer), UN, UN Security Council (temporary), UNCTAD, UNDOF, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNISFA, UNITAR, UNMISS, UNMIT, UNOCI, UNWTO, UPU, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO

Diplomatic representation in the US

chief of mission: Ambassador Nirupama RAO
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
FAX:[1] (202) 265-4351
consulate(s) general:Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

Diplomatic representation from the US

chief of mission: Ambassador (vacant)

Charge d’Affaires A. Peter BURLEIGH
embassy:Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021
mailing address:use embassy street address
telephone:[91] (011) 2419-8000
FAX:[91] (11) 2419-0017
consulate(s) general:Chennai (Madras), Hyderabad

Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)

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

National symbol(s)

Bengal tiger

National anthem

name: “Jana-Gana-Mana” (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People)
lyrics/music:Rabindranath TAGORE
note:adopted 1950

Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote Bangladesh’s national anthem

Economy

Economy – overview

India is developing into an open-market economy, yet traces of its past autarkic policies remain. Economic liberalization, including industrial deregulation, privatization of state-owned enterprises, and reduced controls on foreign trade and investment, began in the early 1990s and has served to accelerate the country’s growth, which has averaged more than 7% per year since 1997. India’s diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Slightly more than half of the work force is in agriculture, but services are the major source of economic growth, accounting for more than half of India’s output, with only 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 and software workers. In 2010, the Indian economy rebounded robustly from the global financial crisis – in large part because of strong domestic demand – and growth exceeded 8% year-on-year in real terms. Merchandise exports, which account for about 15% of GDP, returned to pre-financial crisis levels. An industrial expansion and high food prices, resulting from the combined effects of the weak 2009 monsoon and inefficiencies in the government’s food distribution system, fueled inflation which peaked at about 11% in the first half of 2010, but has gradually decreased to single digits following a series of central bank interest rate hikes. In 2010 New Delhi reduced subsidies for fuel and fertilizers, sold a small percentage of its shares in some state-owned enterprises and auctioned off rights to radio bandwidth for 3G telecommunications in part to lower the government’s deficit. The Indian Government seeks to hold its budget deficit to 5.5% of GDP in FY 2010-11, down from 6.8% in the previous fiscal year. India’s long term challenges include widespread poverty, inadequate physical and social infrastructure, limited non-agricultural employment opportunities, insufficient access to quality basic and higher education, and accommodating rural-to-urban migration.

GDP (purchasing power parity)

$4.06 trillion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 $3.679 trillion (2009 est.)
$3.447 trillion (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP (official exchange rate)

$1.538 trillion (2010 est.)

GDP – real growth rate

10.4% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5 6.8% (2009 est.)
6.2% (2008 est.)

GDP – per capita (PPP)

$3,500 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 163 $3,200 (2009 est.)
$3,000 (2008 est.)
note:data are in 2010 US dollars

GDP – composition by sector

agriculture: 19%
industry:26.3%
services:54.7% (2010 est.)

Labor force

478.3 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 2

Labor force – by occupation

agriculture: 52%
industry:14%
services:34% (2009 est.)

Unemployment rate

10% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 110 9.7% (2009 est.)

Population below poverty line

25% (2007 est.)

Household income or consumption by percentage share

lowest 10%: 3.6%
highest 10%:31.1% (2005)

Distribution of family income – Gini index

36.8 (2004)
country comparison to the world: 83 37.8 (1997)

Investment (gross fixed)

29.5% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 32

Budget

revenues: $183.6 billion
expenditures:$269 billion (2010 est.)

Taxes and other revenues

11.9% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199

Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-)

-5.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 154

Public debt

50.6% of GDP (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 50 53.4% of GDP (2009 est.)

Inflation rate (consumer prices)

12% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 207 10.9% (2009 est.)

Central bank discount rate

5.5% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 64 6% (31 December 2009 est.)

Commercial bank prime lending rate

10.167% (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 80 12.2% (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of narrow money

$340.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 15 $278.3 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of broad money

$1.323 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14 $1.078 trillion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of domestic credit

$1.25 trillion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 14 $973.5 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Market value of publicly traded shares

$1.616 trillion (31 December 2010)
country comparison to the world: 12 $1.179 trillion (31 December 2009)
$645.5 billion (31 December 2008)

Agriculture – products

rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions, potatoes

dairy products, sheep, goats, poultry

fish

Industries

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

Industrial production growth rate

9.7% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 29

Electricity – production

835.3 billion kWh (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Electricity – consumption

600.6 billion kWh (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Electricity – exports

810 million kWh (2009 est.)

Electricity – imports

5.27 billion kWh (2009 est.)

Oil – production

954,000 bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 24

Oil – consumption

3.182 million bbl/day (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 5

Oil – exports

825,600 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23

Oil – imports

3.06 million bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 6

Oil – proved reserves

5.682 billion bbl (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21

Natural gas – production

52.8 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 18

Natural gas – consumption

64.95 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 12

Natural gas – exports

0 cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 115

Natural gas – imports

12.15 billion cu m (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 20

Natural gas – proved reserves

1.074 trillion cu m (1 January 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26

Current account balance

-$51.78 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192 -$25.92 billion (2009 est.)

Exports

$225.6 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 21 $168.2 billion (2009 est.)

Exports – commodities

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

Exports – partners

US 12.6%, UAE 12.2%, China 8.1%, Hong Kong 4.1% (2010)

Imports

$357.7 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 13 $274.6 billion (2009 est.)

Imports – commodities

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

Imports – partners

China 12.4%, UAE 6.5%, Saudi Arabia 5.8%, US 5.7%, Australia 4.5% (2010)

Reserves of foreign exchange and gold

$287.1 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 8 $274.7 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Debt – external

$316.9 billion (30 June 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 28 $251.9 billion (31 December 2010 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – at home

$188.6 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 23 $164 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Stock of direct foreign investment – abroad

$91.86 billion (31 December 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 26 $77.21 billion (31 December 2009 est.)

Exchange rates

Indian rupees (INR) per US dollar -
46.163 (2010)
48.405 (2009)
43.319 (2008)
41.487 (2007)
45.3 (2006)

Transportation

Airports

352 (2010)
country comparison to the world:23

Airports – with paved runways

total: 249
over 3,047 m:21
2,438 to 3,047 m:57
1,524 to 2,437 m:75
914 to 1,523 m:81
under 914 m:15 (2010)

Airports – with unpaved runways

total: 103
over 3,047 m:1
2,438 to 3,047 m:3
1,524 to 2,437 m:8
914 to 1,523 m:43
under 914 m:48 (2010)

Heliports

40 (2010)

Pipelines

condensate/gas 2 km

gas 9,596 km

liquid petroleum gas 2,152 km

oil 7,448 km

refined products 10,486 km (2010)

Railways

total: 63,974 km
country comparison to the world: 4 broad gauge:54,257 km 1.676-m gauge (18,927 km electrified)
narrow gauge:7,180 km 1.000-m gauge

2,537 km 0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2010)

Roadways

total: 3,320,410 km (includes 200 km of expressways) (2009)
country comparison to the world: 3

Waterways

14,500 km (5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels) (2008)
country comparison to the world: 9

Merchant marine

total: 324
country comparison to the world: 29 by type:bulk carrier 94, cargo 78, chemical tanker 23, container 15, liquefied gas 11, passenger 4, passenger/cargo 12, petroleum tanker 87
foreign-owned:8 (China 1, Hong Kong 1, Jersey 1, Malaysia 1, UAE 4)
registered in other countries:56 (Cyprus 2, Dominica 2, Liberia 1, Malta 4, Marshall Islands 8, Nigeria 1, Panama 17, Singapore 19, unknown 2) (2010)

Ports and terminals

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

Military

Military branches

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

Military service age and obligation

17 years 6 months of age for voluntary military service

no conscription

women may join as officers, but for noncombat roles only (2010)

Manpower available for military service

males age 16-49: 319,129,420
females age 16-49:296,071,637 (2010 est.)

Manpower fit for military service

males age 16-49: 249,531,562
females age 16-49:240,039,958 (2010 est.)

Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually

male: 12,151,065
female:10,745,891 (2010 est.)

Military expenditures

2.5% of GDP (2006)
country comparison to the world: 61

Transnational Issues

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

various talks and confidence-building measures have cautiously begun to defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the region

Kashmir nevertheless 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 have maintained the 2004 cease fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed stand-off in the Siachen glacier region

Pakistan protests India’s fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries

UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) 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

discussions with Bangladesh remain stalled to delimit a small section of river boundary, to exchange territory for 51 Bangladeshi exclaves in India and 111 Indian exclaves in Bangladesh, to allocate divided villages, and to stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists through the porous border

Bangladesh protests India’s fencing and walling-off high-traffic sections of the porous boundary

a joint Bangladesh-India boundary commission agreed to fully demarcate the Bangladesh-India boundary in the Dhubri-Kruigram sector

Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea

fencing along the India-Burma international border at Manipur’s Moreh town is in progress to check illegal drug trafficking and movement of militants

Bhutan cooperates with India to expel Indian Nagaland separatists

Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 square kilometer 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

Refugees and internally displaced persons

refugees (country of origin): 77,200 (Tibet/China)

69,609 (Sri Lanka)

9,472 (Afghanistan)
IDPs:at least 600,000 (about half are Kashmiri Pandits from Jammu and Kashmir) (2007)

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