Complete description of India. General information about India

India- a country that everyone dreams of going to since childhood, a country of contrasts, where poor shacks and palaces of maharajas, beggars on the streets and quite successful businessmen, impenetrable jungles and deserts, a forbidden, but in spite of everything, existing caste system and a modern state system inherited are intricately intertwined from the British conquerors, strict Puritans and red light areas...

Here are the royal Himalayas, the famous Ganges River, tiger reserves, the “golden triangle”, many coastal resorts, priceless monuments of bygone eras, rivaling the Egyptian pyramids in antiquity - all this attracts a lot of tourists to India.

general information

India located in the South, mainly on the Hindustan Peninsula. Its area is 3.3 million km 2, in terms of size India is in 7th place in the world, the coastline stretches for 7000 km.

From the east, India is washed by the Bay of Bengal, to the south is the Indian Ocean, and to the west lies the Arabian Sea, in which the Indian and Nicobar Islands are located.

To the north, India borders with China, to the east, its neighbors are Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar (formerly Burma), and finally, to the west, it borders with Afghanistan and Pakistan.

Travel agents usually take mass Russian tourists to the state, the smallest Indian state on the coast of the Arabian Sea. This state was once a Portuguese colony for 450 long years and still retains its European touch. Sometimes Goa is called little Portugal.

The highest point in India, slightly lower than the world's highest Mount Everest, is Mount Kanchenjunga, 8586 meters high, located in the state of Sikkim, near Nepal.

The capital of India is New Delhi.

In terms of population - about 14 million people, the capital ranks second in the country, after Mumbai, and is the largest industrial center. Old Delhi is full of mosques, monuments, forts, inherited from the times when it was the Muslim capital, and New Delhi was built by the British as the new capital of all of India.

Religion in India.

The main religion in India is Hinduism, which originated in the third millennium BC; Hindus in the country make up about 80 percent. They worship a whole pantheon of Gods, headed by Vishnu and Shiva. In total, there are 3.5 thousand castes and sub-castes in the country, subordinate to each other, headed by Brahmins.

Although the constitution has recognized castes as equal in rights since 1950, Indians themselves continue to adhere to their customs.

As before, caste can be determined by surname; parents still organize the weddings of their children, who meet for the first time only during the wedding.

The British, forced to leave in 1947, still managed to annoy, using the principle of “divide and rule”, splitting India along religious lines into Pakistan, Bangladesh and, in fact, Hindu India.

However, India has about 90 million Muslims, who predominate in Kashmir. Islam is practiced by about 11% of the population, with Christians, Sikhs and Buddhists occupying a small proportion.

In the 16th and 17th centuries, representatives of one of the sects of Hinduism began to profess a religion with one God and the denial of caste. These were the Sikhs, by far most concentrated in the Punjab.

Near Varanasi, in the Sarnath deer national park, there is a temple with a golden Buddha. At this place, according to legend, Buddha first gathered his first followers, to whom he outlined his teachings.

Hinduism is a fairly peaceful religion, and all others coexist peacefully with it, and the equality of religions is supported by law.

Official language

There are 14 official languages in India, like nowhere else. Almost half of the population speaks Hindi, the rest speak Bengali, Tamil, Urdu and many others. English is widely spoken as India was a British colony for a long time. In practice, Hindi and English are mainly used, and there are currently about 250 dialects in total.

According to the census, India has about 1.3 billion people, of which 28% live in cities. The country is multinational, the majority are Hindustani, Telugu, Bengalis, Tamils, Biharis, Punjabis, and about a quarter of the population are Dravidians.

Public administration:

India is ruled parliament, which consists of 2 houses: the upper - the Council of States, called the Rajya Sabha and the lower House of the People, called the Lok Sabha.

The head of state is the president elected for a five-year term.

Executive power is exercised by the Prime Minister, nominated by the most influential party of the People's Chamber.

India is divided into states, created according to the linguistic community of the people inhabiting them. States are governed by their own legislative assemblies, and local governments exercise executive function.
In total, India has 29 states governed by governors, the capital is allocated as a separate national territory, in addition, there are 6 centrally subordinate territories.

The Sapnath capital of King Ashoka, who founded ancient India, is used as a coat of arms. The song “Jana-gana-mana”, written by Rabindranath Tagore, is used as an anthem.

Climate of India
In the main territory of the country three seasons can be distinguished:

June-October. The southwest monsoon prevails and is quite hot and humid.
November - February. The northeast trade wind prevails, and it becomes relatively cool and dry.
The transition period between them is from March to May, at this time it is hot and dry.

It is most comfortable for tourists to come from October to May.

Time:

Differs from Moscow in summer + 1.5 hours, in winter, respectively, + 2.5 hours.

Money:

The Indian rupee has 100 paise.

Mains voltage

230-240 Volts, frequency 50 Hz., sockets are different from ordinary European ones, moreover, they are different in different states. Before connecting your gadgets, you should consult the hotel staff about the electrical parameters.
Visa
To visit the country, a tourist will have to apply.

It is quite difficult to list Indian holidays, because there are about 360 of them. In addition to holidays accepted in one or several states, there are Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and even Zoroastrian holidays.

We can mention the national ones celebrated throughout India: Republic Day, celebrated on January 26, with a parade of troops and a procession of elephants, Independence Day, celebrated on August 15 since 1947, when the Indians expelled the colonialists, and October 2, the birthday of the much revered Mahatma Gandhi.
It is worth mentioning Holi, one of the most significant festivals celebrated in February to mark the end of winter.

Tourists will be interested in the water festival in Kerala, held in January, with the participation of elephants, the peasant festival of Lohri and the kite festival, held in the same month, and the national festival of Shivratri Natyanjali, taking place in February-March.

And since the bulk of tourists are concentrated in Goa, they will be pleased with the spring festival of Shigmo, celebrated in this state in March.

General information

Note 1

India is one of the oldest countries on our planet. It holds many mysteries of our earthly civilization. India is the country of ancient farmers, scientists, the land of fairy tales and fabulous wealth, the pearl of the former British colonial empire. For $200 $ years, India was a British colony. It gained independence only in 1947. Its official name is the Republic of India.

The lives and activities of many great people of the past are connected with India. Today India is a country of great contrasts in culture, population, and economy. Let us consider the characteristics of the country in more detail.

Geographical position

India is located in South Asia, on the Hindustan Peninsula. It is washed by the waters of the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea, which belong to the Indian Ocean basin. The territory of India has a diamond shape, stretching from north to south. India is crossed by the southern tropic. In the north, the natural border of India is the Himalayan Mountains.

Territory and borders

India covers an area of $3.3$ million $km^2$. From the southwest and southeast the territory faces the Indian Ocean. In the north, the Indo-Gangetic lowland passes into the Himalayan mountains. The Deccan Plateau is located in the center of the country.

India's neighboring countries are:

Pakistan,
Afghanistan,
China,
Nepal,
Butane,
Myanmar,
Bangladesh.

Note 2

The border with Pakistan is one of the sources of international tension in this region. The issue of statehood of the states of Jammu and Kashmir, now occupied by Pakistan, remains unresolved.

The border with Afghanistan is also unfavorable (especially in the region of the state of Punjab), where a civil war continues. The borders with China and Nepal pass through the difficult conditions of the Himalayan mountains. Therefore, difficulties arise in joint economic activities. In addition, China often acts as an ally of Pakistan in conflicts.

The southern borders of the country (coast), on the contrary, are very conducive to economic development. India is located in close proximity to the intersection of important trade routes between the countries of Europe, Africa and South-West Asia on the one hand and the countries of South-East Asia and Australia on the other.

Form of government and state structure

According to the form of government, India is federal Republic. The head of state is the president. Administratively, the territorial division allocates $25 to states and $7 to union territories on the territory of the state. Capital state is Delhi (New Delhi).

In terms of economic development, India belongs to the group of developing countries. But recently, the country's economy has achieved important successes in the development of the most modern industries.

Note 3

Despite international agreements, India (like Pakistan) possesses nuclear weapons.

From the history of the country's development

States on the territory of the Hindustan Peninsula arose in ancient times. Thanks to the favorable climate and fertile soils, agriculture ensured the economic development of ancient states. Alexander the Great failed in his attempt to conquer India. In the $15th century, Vasco da Gama announced the beginning of European colonization of India with cannon salvoes. Subsequently, the entire south of Asia was captured by Great Britain.

At the beginning of the 20th century, the national liberation movement intensified in India. In 1947, India was granted independence. But at the same time, the former British colony was divided. Instead of one state, in addition to India, West and East Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Nepal, and Bhutan were formed. The division was carried out on a national and religious basis and caused political clashes and inter-ethnic conflicts. The conflict with Pakistan has not yet been resolved.

Today India is the leader of the non-aligned movement. It pursues a peaceful policy aimed at reducing international tension.

Territory - 3.28 million km 2.

Population -1 billion 16 million people.

The capital is Delhi.

Geographical location, general information

The Republic of India is located in South Asia on the Hindustan Peninsula. It also includes the Laccadive Islands in the Arabian Sea and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal. India borders Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Myanmar. The maximum length of India is from north to south - 3200 km, from west to east - 2700 km.

India's EGP is conducive to economic development: India is located on maritime trade routes from the Mediterranean to the Indian Ocean, halfway between the Middle and Far East.

Indian civilization arose in the third millennium BC. e. For almost two centuries, India was a colony of England. India gained independence in 1947, and in 1950 it was declared a republic within the British Commonwealth.

India is a federal republic consisting of 25 states. Each of them has its own legislative assembly and government, but while maintaining a strong central government.

Natural conditions and resources

The main part of the territory is located within the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Deccan Plateau.

India's mineral resources are significant and varied. The main deposits are located in the northeast of the country. Here are the largest iron ore, coal basins, and manganese ore deposits; this creates favorable conditions for the development of heavy industry.

The mineral resources of South India are diverse - bauxite, chromite, magnesite. brown coal, graphite, mica, diamonds, gold, monazite sands, ferrous metal ores, coal; in Gujarat and on the continental shelf - oil.

The climate of the country is mainly monsoonal subtropical and tropical, in the south it is equatorial. The average annual temperature is about 25° C, only in winter in the mountains it drops below 0°. The distribution of precipitation by season and across the territory is uneven - 80% of it occurs in the summer, the eastern and mountainous regions receive the greatest amount, and the north-west receives the smallest.

Land resources are the natural wealth of the country, since a significant part of the soil has high fertility.

Forests occupy 22% of India's area, but there is not enough forest for economic needs.

Indian rivers have great energy potential and are also the main source of artificial irrigation.

Population

India is the second most populous country in the world (after China). The country has a very high population reproduction rate. And although the peak of the “demographic explosion” has generally passed, the demographic problem has not yet lost its urgency.

India is the most multinational country in the world. It is home to representatives of several hundred nations, nationalities and tribal groups, at different stages of socio-economic development and speaking different languages. They belong to the Caucasoid, Negroid, Australoid races and the Dravidian group.

The peoples of the Indo-European family predominate: Hindustani, Marathi, Bengalis, Biharis, etc. The official languages in the country are Hindi and English.

More than 80% of the inhabitants of India are Hindus, 11% are Muslims. The complex ethnic and religious composition of the population often leads to conflicts and increased tension.

The distribution of the population of India is very uneven, since for a long time the fertile lowlands and plains in the valleys and deltas of rivers and on the sea coasts were primarily populated. Average population density is 260 people. per 1 km 2. Despite this high figure, sparsely populated and even deserted territories still exist.

The level of urbanization is quite low - 27%, but the number of large cities and million-dollar cities is constantly increasing; In terms of the absolute number of city residents (220 million people), India ranks 2nd in the world. However, most of India's population lives in crowded villages.

Industry, energy

India is a developing agro-industrial country with enormous resources and human potential. Along with India’s traditional industries (agriculture, light industry), the mining and manufacturing industries are developing.

Currently, 29% of GDP comes from industry, 32% from agriculture, 30% from the service sector.

Energy. The creation of the energy base in the country began with the creation of hydroelectric power stations, but thermal power plants predominate among the newly built power plants in recent years. The main source of energy is coal. Nuclear energy is also developing in India - 3 nuclear power plants are operating. The total capacity of Indian power plants is 94 thousand MW (1999).

Electricity production per capita is still very low.

Ferrous metallurgy. This is a growing industry. The current level is 23 million tons of steel (1998). The industry is represented by enterprises located mainly in the east of the country (Calcutta-Damodara industrial belt), as well as in the states of Bihar, Adhra Pradesh, etc.

Non-ferrous metallurgy is also developed in the east. The aluminum industry, based on local bauxite, stands out.

Mechanical engineering. India produces a variety of machine tool and transport engineering products (TVs, ships, cars, tractors, airplanes and helicopters). The industry is developing rapidly.

The leading centers of mechanical engineering are Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Hyderabad, Bangalore.

In terms of production volume of the radio-electronic industry, India has taken second place in foreign Asia. The country produces a variety of radio equipment, color televisions, tape recorders, and communications equipment.

Chemical industry. In a country with such a role for agriculture, the production of mineral fertilizers is of exceptional importance. The importance of petrochemicals is also growing.

Light industry is a traditional branch of the economy, the main directions being cotton and jute, as well as clothing. There are textile factories in all major cities of the country. 25% of India's exports are made up of textile and clothing products.

The food industry is also traditional, producing products for the domestic and foreign markets. Indian tea is the most widely known in the world.

Agriculture

India is a country of ancient agricultural culture, one of the most important agricultural regions in the world.

Agriculture employs 3/5 of India's agricultural sector, but the use of mechanization is still insufficient.

4/5 of the value of agricultural products comes from crop production; agriculture requires irrigation (40% of the sown area is irrigated).

The main part of the arable land is occupied by food crops: rice, wheat, corn, barley, millet, legumes, potatoes.

The main industrial crops of India are cotton, jute, sugarcane, tobacco, and oilseeds.

There are two main agricultural seasons in India - summer and winter. The sowing of the most important crops (rice, cotton, jute) is carried out in the summer, during the summer monsoon rains; In winter, wheat, barley, etc. are sown.

As a result of several factors, including the “green revolution”, India is completely self-sufficient in grain.

Livestock farming is much inferior to crop production, although India ranks first in the world in terms of livestock numbers. Only milk and animal skins are used; meat is practically not consumed, since Indians are mostly vegetarians.

In coastal areas, fishing is of considerable importance.

Among other developing countries, India's transport is quite developed. In first place in importance are railway transport in internal transportation and sea transport in external transportation.

Foreign economic relations

India is still poorly involved in the MGRT, although foreign trade is of considerable importance to its economy. The main export items are light industry products, jewelry, agricultural goods, medicines, fuel resources; the share of machinery and equipment is growing.

The largest trading partners are the USA, Germany, Japan, Great Britain, Hong Kong.

Useful information for tourists about India, cities and resorts of the country. As well as information about the population, currency of India, cuisine, features of visa and customs restrictions in India.

Geography of India

The Republic of India is a state in South Asia, occupying most of the Hindustan Peninsula. It borders Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. It has maritime borders with the Maldives, Sri Lanka and Indonesia.

Most of the country is occupied by the Deccan Highlands, bounded on both sides by the Eastern and Western Ghats, and in total the territory of India is crossed by 7 mountain ranges, among which is the highest mountain country in the world - the Himalayas. Between the Deccan and the Himalayas, the vast Indo-Gangetic Lowland (Jamno-Gangetic Plain) stretches in a wide arc; the coasts are also framed by a narrow ribbon of plains.

State

State structure

Federal Republic. Member of the Commonwealth.

The head of state is the president. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament (the Council of States "Rajya Sabha" and the House of People "Lok Sabha"). Executive power is exercised by the Council of Ministers, headed by the Prime Minister.

Language

Official language: Hindi, English

Languages, except two state ones: Urdu, Bengali, Telugu, Tamil, Kannara and about 10 more languages used as state languages in various states. In total, more than 1,600 languages and dialects are spoken in India.

Religion

Hindus - 80%, Muslims - 14%, Christians - 2.4%, Sikhs - 2%, Buddhists - 0.7%, Jains - 0.5%.

Currency

International name: INR

One Indian rupee is divided into 100 paise.

History of India

Already in the 3rd millennium BC, statehood arose here in the Indus Valley, and in the 2nd millennium BC important ethnic changes took place. From the north, tribes of tall, fair-haired Aryans (Aryans) invaded the area between the Indus and Ganges rivers and subjugated the local peoples. In the 1st millennium BC, the Aryans created their own state, one of the princes of which was Gautama (Buddha), the spreader of the new religion. At the same time, India fought grueling wars for independence, either with Persia or with Alexander the Great. With the collapse of the Macedonian state, the Indian kingdom experienced its first flourishing. By 236 BC, the great Magadha Empire was formed, which managed to unite almost the entire territory of the modern states of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh. However, already from the second century BC, the formidable empire fell into decay. A significant part of its lands was captured by neighboring states. One of them was the kingdom of Kushan. After its collapse in the first centuries AD, the Magadha Empire began to gain strength again, which in the 4th–5th centuries already controlled most of the Hindustan Peninsula.

A short-term unification (from the 6th century) gave way to feudal fragmentation, which stopped only in the 13th century due to the emergence of the strong Delhi Sultanate. Its rulers began to fight Buddhism and began to spread Islam. The Sultanate repelled the raids of the Mongol-Tatars, but could not cope with the separatism of the large feudal lords who destroyed the country at the end of the 14th century. The economic lag increased, there was no defense capability, and opportunities opened up for new conquests in India. At the end of the 15th century, the first European colonialists appeared on its shores. In the 16th century, almost the entire peninsula fell prey to the Mongol conqueror Babur. In the 17th century, France and Great Britain entered into a struggle for the possession of South India. In the first half of the 18th century, the power of the Mongol dynasty weakened so much that it could no longer protect the Indian people from other invasions. The attempt of local princes to organize an alliance capable of resisting the conquerors was unsuccessful.

By the middle of the 19th century, Great Britain had colonized all of India, and the liberation uprising of 1857–1859 failed. The rule of the British crown remained until 1946, when, under the pressure of the Indian public led by M. Gandhi, it was granted the right of dominion (self-government). At the same time, the first government headed by J. Nehru was formed. The following year (1947) the British finally left India. However, the country was unable to maintain unity. The interreligious war split it into three states: Pakistan, India and Bangladesh.

On January 26, 1950, the Constituent Assembly of India adopted a constitution, which declared India a parliamentary republic. But at the same time, India remained in the British Commonwealth of Nations.

Being a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state, India is experiencing divisions and confrontations on religious grounds in different parts of the country. However, India has always presented itself as a secular state with a liberal democracy, except for a short period from 1975 to 1977, when Prime Minister Indira Gandhi declared a state of emergency that limited civil rights.

In the second half of the 20th century, India regularly had problems with neighboring countries due to disputes over borders. The dispute with China has not yet been resolved; in 1962 it resulted in a short war. India fought three wars with Pakistan: in 1947, 1965 and 1971. The last conflict between India and Pakistan broke out in 1999 in the state of Kashmir.

Popular attractions

Tourism in India

Where to stay

Hotels in India have a standard classification - from five to two categories. In addition, here you can find quite modern hotels with a high level of service that are not marked with stars. As a rule, such hotels belong to high-ranking officials or families of the highest Indian caste. In India you can also find hotels of famous world chains, for example, Mariott, Hyatt.

Regarding five-star hotels, in India these are not just beautifully furnished hotels with a high level of service, but real palaces. As a rule, such hotels are located on the coast, in the most popular places among tourists. There are Ayurveda and yoga centers on site, offering massage services, beauty treatments, and numerous entertainment programs.

It is worth considering that hotels of the same category, for example, four stars, can differ significantly from each other. So, if a hotel in one of the resort areas or located in a wealthy area of a big city will offer you really good service, clean comfortable rooms and special wellness programs, then in other cities of India the stars serve more as a decoration for the façade of the hotel building. Therefore, be careful when choosing a place to stay overnight. The same applies to the categories of three and two stars. Their owners may have their own idea of service, so it is better to stay in hotels about which you have found positive reviews from tourists who have already been there.

It is noteworthy that India is famous not only for its coastline, but also for its ski resorts. In the mountains you will be offered to stay in one of the small but very cozy hotels. They will offer you good service, a cozy interior and, as a bonus, excursions around the area and entertainment in the evenings.

Plant foods are the basis of the diet of the peoples of India. Rice, corn, dal, peas, lentils and other legumes, as well as flatbreads made from lower grades of flour (chapati) and vegetables are an integral part of Indian cuisine....

Tips

You should only leave a tip in expensive establishments. In hotels and restaurants, a service charge (10%) is often included in the bill. In more modest places you can leave a few rupees. Doormen - 5-10 rupees. In India, baksheesh is common - an advance payment for services (for example, for baksheesh, the hotel will find the letter you need, give you the necessary information, etc.).

Visa

Office hours

Banks are open on weekdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and on Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Souvenirs

India has high-quality and inexpensive fabrics: silk (in Varanasi), cotton (in Rajasthan, Chenai), wool, brocade, cashmere, chiffon. Carpets are the cheapest and most common product in India. You can buy inexpensive silver jewelry, precious stones: diamond, ruby, sapphire, pearls (in Hyderabad), aquamarine and moonstone.

According to tourists, the best gift from India is excellent Indian tea. Moreover, often the highlight is not in the variety - they are all excellent, but in the fact that the tea is packaged in elegant satin bags.

The usual ground pepper, turmeric, saffron, cloves, cinnamon, as well as spices unknown to us, which we cannot do without when preparing curry, are of excellent quality in India and, by our standards, almost free. Experienced tourists recommend trying the delicacy - cashew nuts fried with Indian pepper. Attention: spices can only be carried in the bags that you check in as luggage.

Medicine

High risk of contracting hepatitis A. Pre-vaccination is strongly recommended. Avoid drinking raw water and unpeeled vegetables and fruits.

Emergency numbers

Police - 100, fire brigade - 101, ambulance - 102.

National characteristics of India. Traditions

Tips for women: legs should be covered with clothes, but not tight ones. It is not customary to hug and kiss in public. They greet by joining their fingers at forehead level. Do not try to shake hands first, much less kiss. Walk around all buildings, especially religious buildings, on the left side. If you are being poured tea, wait until you are invited to tea. If you are leaving, empty the cup and leave it.

Questions and feedback about India

Kerala - Questions and Answers

Question answer

India(in Hindi Bharat ), the Republic of India, a state in South Asia, on the Hindustan Peninsula, includes the Laccadive, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It borders China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. The border with China in the Himalayas is unmarked. Area 3.3 million km2 (7th place in the world). In terms of population, it ranks 2nd in the world (after China) - 1 billion 49.7 million people (2003). Member of the Commonwealth. The capital is Delhi (New Delhi). Largest cities: Kolkata, Bombay, Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Pune, Kanpur, Nagpur, Jaipur, Lucknow.

Government of India

Federal Republic. The head of state is the president. Elected by a college of voters consisting of both houses of parliament and state legislatures for a 5-year term. The legislative body is a bicameral parliament. Consists of the Council of States (no more than 250 seats, of which 12 are appointed by the president, the rest are elected from state and territory legislatures) and the People's Assembly (545 seats, 543 elected by popular vote, 2 appointed by the president). Executive power is exercised by the government, headed by the prime minister, appointed by the president.

Administrative divisions of India

28 states and 7 union territories under central control.

Population of India

The largest nations: Hindustani, Telugu, Marathi, Bengalis, Tamils, Gujaratis, Kannaras, Punjabis, etc. Hindus make up 80% of the population, Muslims 14%, Christians 2.4%, Sikhs 2%, Buddhists 0.7%. The Muslim population is concentrated in the states of Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, and western Uttar Pradesh. The remaining religious communities: Christians (mostly Catholics) are concentrated in the North-East of the country, Bombay and the South; Sikhs - in Punjab and adjacent areas, Buddhists - in Jammu and Kashmir, the Himalayan regions.

The national languages are Hindi and English; states have official national languages. Of the 18 languages recognized as state languages, 13 belong to the Indo-Aryan, 4 to the Dravidian language groups and 1 to the Tibetan. Hindi is the most widely spoken language: it is spoken by more than 300 million people. Hindi is recognized as an official language in the northern states of India. Other Indo-Aryan languages: Bengali, Gujarati, Assami, Kashmiri, Konkani, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi. Urdu is the main language of Indian Muslims in North and South India. In the regions of Gujarat bordering Pakistan, the Sindhi language is spoken (emigrants who fled the Pakistani province of Punjab after the partition of the country in 1947 live here). A quarter of India's population speaks Dravidian languages. The languages of this group are spoken mainly in southern India, partly in the central part of the country, in eastern Bihar. Four Dravidian languages are recognized as official languages: Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil and Telju. Manipuri and other Tibetan languages are spoken in northeastern India. The languages of international communication are Hindi and English. 74.3% of India's population lives in villages and only 25.7% live in cities. India is one of the most populous countries. The average density of its population, which was at the beginning of the 20th century. about 70 people per 1 km2, by the beginning of the 21st century. amounted to 319.3 people. per 1 km2.

Nature of India

India is located mainly within the Hindustan Peninsula and the Indo-Gangetic Plain, including part of the Himalayas and Karakoram. OK. 3/4 of the country's territory is plains and plateaus. Almost the entire Hindustan is occupied by the Deccan Plateau (decreases to the east from 900 m to 300 m). In the west and east, the Deccan turns into mountains (Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats), the outer slopes of which drop steeply to the ocean. In the south of the peninsula there are isolated table massifs up to 2698 m high (Anaimudi). To the north of the Hindustan Peninsula, in a vast foothill trough, is the alluvial Indo-Gangetic Plain. The highest mountain system on Earth - the Himalayas (height in India up to 8126 m, Nanga Parbat) and the Karakoram Mountains with alpine terrain and glaciers in the ridge zone limit India from the north. Deposits of coal, iron ores, manganese, chromite, bauxite, diamonds.

The natural vegetation of the Deccan Plateau and Indo-Gangetic Plain is highly modified; Savannas, xerophytic woodlands, and in some places deciduous forests predominate; in the north-west there are shrubby semi-deserts and deserts. On the windward slopes of the Western Ghats, in the delta of the Ganges and Brahmaputra, in the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas there are evergreen tropical forests. At the foot of the Himalayas there are terai (swampy jungles), higher up there are monsoon forests, mountain mixed and coniferous forests, mountain meadows and steppes. Forests cover approx. 1/4 of the territory of India. National parks Kaziranga, Girsky Forest, Manas, etc.; numerous reserves. India is the only place on Earth where a tiger and a lion live side by side (both are currently protected). Monkeys are numerous not only in the jungle, but also in cities, as they are considered sacred animals. Some other animals, both wild and domestic, are also considered sacred. Elephants have been trained since ancient times. India has a number of endemic species of mammals and birds.

Climate of India

The climate is predominantly tropical, with tropical monsoon in the north. During the wet summer monsoon, which plays a huge role in Indian agriculture, 70-90% of precipitation falls, winter is dry and cool, from March to May is a dry and hot season. Annual rainfall varies from less than 100 mm in the western Indo-Gangetic Plain to 12,000 mm at Cherrapunji on the Shillong Plateau (the wettest landmass on the globe). Main rivers: Ganges, with its tributary Jamna, Indus (upper reaches), Brahmaputra (lower reaches), Narmada, Godavari, Krishna. The rivers are full of water in the summer (there are floods) and are widely used for irrigation.

Economy of India

GNP per capita is $450 (1999). 2/3 of the world's poor live in India, although the standard of living of the population is gradually increasing and the share of the poor is decreasing. Tolerance, absence of class hatred and respect for wealth, characteristic of Hinduism and Buddhism, protect India from social conflicts.

2/3 of the population is employed in agriculture, which makes the largest contribution to GNP (1/3). Hindustan was the birthplace of a number of crops - rice, cotton, sugar cane. In the 1960s India experienced a “green revolution”: thanks to the spread of hybrid varieties of wheat, rice and other crops, not only the problems of providing food for its population, but also the export of food grains were solved. In the 1970s–1980s. India also experienced a “white revolution”, which resulted in self-sufficiency in dairy products. 145 million hectares are cultivated (over 2/5 of the territory), under crops - approx. 180 million hectares (approx. 35 million hectares are sown twice a year). Irrigated approx. 3/5 agricultural area. The main agricultural regions are the Indo-Gangetic plain and the coastal lowlands. India occupies one of the first places in the world in the production of sugar cane (harvest in terms of raw sugar is 16-18 million tons; more than 1/2 - in the northern part of India), peanuts (5-7 million tons, hl . sample in the southern part of India) and tea (approx. 600 tons; 3/4 of the harvest - plantations of the Assam Valley and the foothills of the Eastern Himalayas), as well as for the production of jute (1–1.3 million tons; 2/ 3 - West Bengal), castor bean (southern part of India), cotton (1.2–1.5 million tons: main regions - eastern part of the states of Maharashtra and Gujarat). In the southern part of India - tea, coffee, rubber, coconut palm, spices (pepper, ginger, cardamom, etc.). Numerous livestock (1/5 of the world; 1996, million) of cattle 196 (including 80 buffaloes; mainly used as draft power), 120 goats and 45 sheep; They raise pigs, camels, and poultry.

India has significant mineral and energy resources. The reserves of coal and iron ore are among the largest in the world; there are also bauxite, oil, manganese, etc. India ranks one of the first places in the world in the export of manganese ore and mica. Most of the heavy industrial enterprises in India after independence were nationalized or created by the state itself. Heavy industry enterprises are concentrated mainly on the Kota-Nagpur plateau, where coking coal deposits are adjacent to iron ore deposits. New industrial centers are being created in previously backward hinterland areas (Bhilai, Bokaro, Rourkela, Durgapur.

The public sector occupies leading positions in the defense industry, nuclear energy, railway and maritime transport, aviation, and communications. The private sector currently predominates in mechanical engineering, agriculture, light, food and medical industries, construction, trade, and road transport.

Light industry is represented by both handicraft and modern enterprises. Indian natural silks, Kashmiri shawls, wood carvings, papier-mâché products, saffron, furs, and jewelry are world famous. Every Indian state, many cities and localities are famous for their handicrafts. For example, in the largest state of Uttar Pradesh, the city of Varanasi (Benares) is a famous center for silk weaving production, as well as bronze products; Mirzapur is famous for its carpets; Muradabad is famous for its metal utensils; India's largest production of locks and iron chests is concentrated in Aligarh; Firozabad is the country's largest center for the production of glass bangles - cheap jewelry. The handicrafts of the southern city of Mysore (the former capital of the principality of the same name) are world famous, especially products made of ivory and sandalwood, as well as natural silks. India is a major supplier to the world market of leather and leather products, as well as footwear. Most of the jute mills are located in the Hooghlyside region, a chain of towns on the Hooghly River north of Kolkata. Agricultural and mineral processing plants are usually located close to where raw materials are extracted. These are factories for ginning cotton, processing peanuts, sugar cane, freezing and drying foods, and primary processing of metals. The production of consumer goods is concentrated in large cities. State governments strongly welcome the development of industries: for this purpose, industrial parks are being created - small free zones characterized by reduced taxes and low land prices.

In recent years, India has also emerged as a manufacturer of medicines and pharmaceuticals that are quite competitive in comparison with Western products, but much cheaper.

Such a traditional industry as cutting diamonds and other precious stones also maintains a high share in exports.

The country's government has placed its main emphasis on the development of education and the cultivation of highly qualified personnel. In 1950 there were 25 universities and 700 colleges, and in the mid-1990s. there were already 172 universities and 7,000 colleges. In terms of the number of specialists with higher education, India has taken one of the leading places in the world. The country is in third place in the number of qualified scientific and technical personnel and in second place in the number of professional programmers. The monetary unit is the Indian rupee.

History of India

The most ancient civilization - Harappan or Indus (Indus River valley; second half of the 3rd millennium - first half of the 2nd millennium BC) - was created by the people of the Dravidian family, possibly the ancestors of the Tamils. It is one of the first agricultural civilizations on Earth, along with Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The Harappan civilization was familiar with the smelting of bronze and precious metals, but did not know iron. The Aryan tribes, who came from the north approximately in the middle of 2 thousand BC, knew how to make iron. e. The main source of the period 1500-800. BC e. are the Vedas. At this time, a caste system arose and took shape, which consolidated the dominant position of the descendants of the Aryans.

Today not enough is known about the states of the Aryans; their dating is also problematic. Magadha in the Ganges Valley is apparently the oldest of them (7th century BC). The kings of Magadha accepted Buddhism and supported its spread. In the 4th century. BC e. Magadha became part of the Mauryan Empire, whose founder (Chandragupta) met with Alexander the Great. Alexander annexed the Indus Valley to his vast empire, but not for long. After the reign of the great Ashoka (3rd century BC), who united almost all of Hindustan, the Mauryan empire fell into decline. In the 4th-6th centuries. n. e. Almost all of Northern India was united by the Gupta state. With the spread of Islam, Muslim states arose, the largest being the Delhi Sultanate (early 13th century - 16th century). The Sultanate fell under the onslaught of the conqueror Babur, the founder of the Mughal dynasty. In its heyday (17th century), the Mughal state covered almost the entire territory of India.

From the 16th century First, Catholic missionaries began to penetrate India (the first Christian community was founded, according to legend, by the Apostle Thomas), and then colonialists. The Portuguese founded a colony in Goa. In the 18th century The Mughal Empire broke up into separate principalities. English trading East India Company from the 17th century. created a network of its trading posts-fortresses on the coast (from which the cities of Calcutta, Bombay, Madras, etc. subsequently grew). The company's agents, pursuing a policy of “divide and rule,” subjugated the Indian principalities by bribery and force. England's main rival was France. As a result of the Anglo-Mysore, Anglo-Maratha and Anglo-Sikh wars, the East India Company by the end of the 18th century. conquered all of India from the second half of the 18th century. paying special attention no longer to trade, but to the management of territories, the collection of land taxes, and the reform of agrarian relations. India became not only a source of raw materials, but also a huge market for Britain, where the era of the industrial revolution began. The entire established system of local crafts was undermined, and poverty intensified. In 1783-1784. The company's activities were placed under government control. Throughout the 19th century. The company's rights were repeatedly curtailed, and since the suppression of the sepoy uprising the company was dissolved. India became a colony.

The British did not touch the caste system (by that time there were already about 3,500 castes); in religious practice they limited only extremes (human sacrifice, the custom of sati - self-immolation of widows). But they contributed to the introduction of new relations and the development of capitalism. The Indian National Congress party emerged in 1885. Mahatma Gandhi, who headed the Indian National Congress in 1915, developed the tactics of nonviolent struggle against the colonialists, which included boycotting British goods, refusal to cooperate with the British, etc. Against the backdrop of the difficulties and wars of the 20th century. this struggle was successful, but Britain divided the country (1947) into 2 dominions - the Indian Union (with a predominant Hindu population) and Pakistan (with a predominant Muslim population).

Due to unresolved territorial issues (especially in Kashmir), relations between India and Pakistan remain tense. In 1950, the Indian Union became the Republic of India. Gandhi's associate J. Nehru became Prime Minister. His only daughter, I. Gandhi, was prime minister four times. The caste system was abolished by law in 1950. Modern India plays an important role in the Non-Aligned Movement. With the help of the USSR, great successes have been achieved in the implementation of the space program. India is a nuclear power. National holidays are August 15 (Independence Day (1947)) and January 26 (Republic Day).