Introduction
India, a South Asian nation, is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1.42 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. India boasts of an immensely rich cultural heritage, including numerous languages, traditions, and people. The country holds its uniqueness in its diversity and hence has adapted itself to international changes with poise and comfort. While the economy has welcomed international companies to invest in it with open arms since liberalisation in the 1990s, Indians have been prudent and proactive in adopting global approaches and skills. Indian villagers have proudly taken up farming, advanced agriculture and unique handicrafts as their profession on one hand, while the modern industries and professional services sectors are coming up in a big way on the other.
Thus, the country is attracting many global majors for strategic investments owing to the presence of a vast range of industries, investment avenues and a supportive Government. A huge population, mostly comprising the youth, is a strong driver for demand and an ample source of manpower.
Location: India lies to the north of the equator in Southern Asia.
- Latitude: 8° 4' to 37° 6' north
- Longitude: 68° 7' to 97° 25' east
- Neighbouring Countries: Pakistan and Afghanistan share political borders with India on the west, while Bangladesh and Myanmar stand adjacent on the eastern borders. The northern boundary comprises the Sinkiang province of China, Tibet, Nepal and Bhutan. Sri Lanka is another neighbouring country which is separated by a narrow channel of sea formed by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
- Capital: New Delhi
- Coastline: 7,517 kms, including mainland, coastlines of Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal, and Lakshadweep Islands in the Arabian Sea.
- Climate: Southern India majorly enjoys a tropical climate, but northern India experiences temperatures from sub-zero degrees to 50 degrees Celsius. Winters embrace northern India from December-February, while spring blossoms in March and April. Monsoon arrives in June and stays till September, followed by autumn in October and November.
- Area: India measures 3,214 kms from north to south and 2,933 kms from east to west, with a total area of 3,287,263 sq. kms.
- Natural Resources: Coal (fourth-largest reserve in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, rare earth elements, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone, arable land.
- Land: 2,973,190 sq. kms
- Water: 314,070 sq. kms
Political Profile
- Political System and Government: The world's largest democracy implemented its Constitution in 1950 that provided for a parliamentary system of Government with a bicameral parliament and three independent branches: the executive, the legislature and the judiciary. The country has a federal structure with elected Governments in States.
- Administrative Divisions: 28 States and 8 Union Territories.
- Constitution: The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950.
- Executive Branch: The President of India is the Head of the State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government and runs the office with the support of the Council of Ministers, who form the Cabinet.
- Legislative Branch: The Federal Legislature comprises the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), forming both the Houses of Parliament.
- Judicial Branch: The Supreme Court of India is the apex body of the Indian legal system, followed by other High Courts and subordinate Courts.
- Chief of State: President, Ms. Droupadi Murmu (since July 25, 2022)
- Head of Government: Prime Minister, Mr. Narendra Modi (since May 26, 2014)
Demographic profile
- Population: 1,429,531,309
- Population Growth Rate: 0.86% (July 26th, 2023)
- Religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism
- Languages: Hindi, English and at least 16 other official languages
- Literacy:
- Total population: 77.7%
- Male: 84.7%
- Female: 70.3%
- Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
- Life expectancy: 69 years (men), 72 years (women) [2020]
Economic Profile
Indian Economy
India's gross domestic product (GDP) at current prices in 2022-23 is estimated to be Rs. 272.41 trillion (~US$ 3.33 trillion), as against Rs. 234.71 trillion (~US$ 2.87 trillion) in 2021-22, showing a growth rate of 16.1%.
Gross value added (GVA) quarterly estimates at basic prices for the fourth quarter (January-March) of 2022-23 at constant 2011-12 prices are as follows:
- Agriculture, forestry & fishing: Rs. 607,131 crore (US$ 74.01 billion).
- Mining & Quarrying: Rs. 98,104 crore (US$ 11.96 billion).
- Manufacturing: Rs. 738,200 crore (US$ 89.99 billion).
- Electricity, gas, water supply & other utility services: Rs. 85,297 crore (US$ 10.39 billion).
- Construction: Rs. 391,811 crore (US$ 47.76 billion).
- Trade, hotels, transport, communications & services related to broadcasting: Rs. 810,205 crore (US$ 98.77 billion).
- Financial, real estate & professional services: Rs. 760,810 crore (US$ 92.75 billion).
- Public administration, defence & other services: Rs. 487,603 crore (US$ 59.44 billion).
- Forex Reserves: US$ 595.05 billion, as of June 30, 2023.
- Value of Export:India’s overall exports during April-June 2023 were estimated at US$ 182.70 billion. India's overall exports in FY23 (April-March 2023) increased by 13.84% to US$ 770 billion.
- Export Partners:US, Germany, UAE, China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia, and the EU. India is also tapping newer markets in Africa and Latin America.
- Currency (code): Indian rupee (Rs).
- Exchange Rates: Indian rupee per US$: US$ 1 = Rs. 82.03 as of July 26, 2023.
- Fiscal Year: April 01 - March 31.
- Cumulative FDI Equity Inflow: US$ 919.63 billion (from April 2000-March 2023).
- Share of the Top Investing Countries in FDI Equity Inflow: Mauritius (26%), Singapore (23%), the US (9%), Netherlands (7%), Japan (6%), the UK (5%), the Cayman Islands (2%), the UAE (2%), Germany (2%), and Cyprus (2%) from April 2000-March 2023.
- Key Sectors Attracting the Highest FDI Equity Inflow: Services Sector (16%), Computer Software & Hardware (15%), Telecommunications (6%), Trading (6%), Automobile (5%), Construction Activities (5%), Construction Development (4%), Chemicals (3%), Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (3%), and Metallurgical Industries (3%) from April 2000-March 2023.
Transportation in India
- Airports: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages a total of 137 airports, which include 24 international airports (3 civil enclaves), 10 customs airports (4 civil enclaves), and 103 domestic airports (23 civil enclaves) at defence airfields.
- International Airports: Ahmedabad, Amritsar, Bengaluru, Chennai, Goa, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram, Port Blair, Srinagar, Jaipur, Nagpur, Calicut.
- Railways: The Indian Railways network is spread over 126,366 kms with 15,112 locomotives being operational. There are 13,1523 passenger trains and 9,146 freight trains run daily through 7,335 stations. The railway sector in India has loaded 1,512 million tonnes (MT) of freight during FY23, registering a 16.63% increase in freight loading from the last year. During April-June 2023, the Indian Railways carried 383.71 million tonnes of freight loading.
- Roadways: India's road network of 6.37 million kms is the second largest in the world. With the number of passenger vehicles growing at an average annual pace of 3.6% between 2010-20, Indian roads carry about 60% of freight and 87% of passenger traffic.
- Waterways: 14,500 kms.
- Major Ports of Entry: Chennai, Ennore, Haldia, Jawaharlal Nehru Port Trust (JNPT), Kolkata, Deen Dayal, Kochi, Mormugao, Mumbai, New Mangalore, Paradip, Tuticorin, and Vishakhapatnam.
Partners
