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India |
India
is the tourist paradise with its diversity and vastness. The culture,
language, lifestyle and cuisine in the country change
every few kilometres. The country is roughly diamond-shaped with
the mighty Himalayas forming a boundary in the north
and the Arabian Sea, Bay of Bengal and the Indian Ocean surrounding
peninsular India. Tourist attractions range from astounding
mountain ranges to exotic beach resorts, deserts to deltas as well
as historic forts and temples to modern, cosmopolitan
cities.
The
main tourist destinations include the capital – Delhi, the
commercial centre of the country – Mumbai, as well as
the other metros of the country – Bangalore, Chennai and Kolkata.
The Taj Mahal in Agra is of course the chief attraction.
Rajasthan and Gujarat are popular for the forts and palaces –
the complete royal experience. Goa, Kerala and the Andaman
and Nicobar Islands are dream destinations for the hydrophilic!
The Himalayas are a heavenly abode and a mountaineering
paradise. The country abounds in wildlife and bird sanctuaries.
| Joined
Commonwealth |
1947 |
| Capital |
New
Delhi |
| Population |
1,045,845,226
(July 2002) |
| Age
structure (15-64 years) |
62.6%
(male: 338,957,463; female: 316,063,497) |
| Youth
Population (15-24) |
191,286,300
(2000) |
| Youth
Population (15-24) in % |
19.0%
(2000) |
| HIV/AIDS
(adult prevalence rate) |
0.07%
(1999) |
| HIV/AIDS
(people living with HIV/AIDS) |
3.7
million (1999) |
| HIV/AIDS
deaths |
310,000
(1999) |
| Literacy
(age 15 and over can read and write) |
52%
(male: 65.5%; female: 37.7%) (1995) |
| Total
Unemployment in % |
13.2
(1994) |
| Youth
Unemployment (15-19) in % |
59.5%
(1985) |
| Youth
Unemployment (20-14) in % |
59.5%
(1985) |
| GDP
p.c. growth |
4.1%
p.a. 1990-2000 |
| Currency |
rupee
(Rs) |
| Official
language |
Hindi,
English |
| Time |
GMT
plus 5.5 hours |
|
| History |
The
Indus Valley Civilization flourished from about 3000 BC
but was wiped out around 2500 BC by invaders. Indo- European
conquerors had control of much of the subcontinent by 1500
BC. Invasions subsequently came from Persia
and Greece, including Alexander the Great in 326 BC. The
Maurya dynasty was founded in 321 BC and its
empire stretched from Afghanistan to Bengal under
Ashoka. Muslim conquerors began entering the north around
the seventh century. The Moghul Empire was at its
zenith from 1526 to 1738. With the decline of the Moghul
Empire, other invaders – Portuguese, Dutch,
French and British entered the Indian Ocean. In 1960, the
British East India Company established itself
in Calcutta. By 1820, the company had control over virtually
the entire subcontinent. There was a major uprising
against the British in 1857, called the Indian Mutiny. The
Indian National Congress was set up in 1885
and Mahatma Gandhi became its leader after 1918. India became
independent in 1947, when it was divided
into the independent Islamic state of Pakistan and the independent
secular state of India.
|
| Constitution |
India is a federal republic with 29 states and six
union territories. It has a parliamentary democracy, which
is bicameral with the Rajya Sabha (upper house)
and the Lok Sabha (lower house). The prime minister is the
head of the council of ministers and is elected
by members of the Lok Sabha. The president is elected for
five years by members of an electoral college
of members of both chambers.
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