India: A Snapshot

India, a South Asian nation, is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1.37 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 pro-active in adopting global approach and skills. Indian villagers have proudly taken up farming, advanced agriculture and unique handicrafts as their profession on one hand, while 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 vast range of industries, investment avenues and a supportive Government. 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 tropical climate but northern India experiences temperatures from sub-zero degrees to 50 degrees Celsius. Winters embrace northern India during December to 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 office with the support of the Council of Ministers who forms the Cabinet.

Legislative Branch: The Federal Legislature comprises of the Lok Sabha (House of the People) and the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), forming both the Houses of the 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, Mr Ram Nath Kovind (since July 25, 2017)

Head of Government: Prime Minister, Mr Narendra Modi (since May 26, 2014)

Demographic profile

#Population: 1,326,801,000

#Population Growth Rate: 1.08 per cent (2019)

#Religions: Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism

#Languages: Hindi, English and at least 16 other official languages

#Literacy: Total population: 74.04 per cent (provisional data-2011 census)

#Male: 82.14 per cent

#Female: 65.46 per cent

#Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

#Life expectancy: 67.4 years (men), 70.2 years (women) (2012-16, National Health Profile-2019)

Economic Profile

Indian Economy

India’s GDP (at constant 2011-12 prices) is estimated at Rs 145.65 lakh crore (US$ 2.06 trillion) for 2019-20, growing 4.2 percent over the previous year.

Gross Value Added (GVA) Composition by Sector (2019-20 Provisional Estimate)

• Services: 54.30 per cent
• Industry: 29.6 per cent
• Agriculture: 14.65 per cent
• Forex Reserves: US$ 493.48 billion in the week up to May 29, 2020
• Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) at Current Prices: Gross Fixed Capital Formation (GFCF) at constant 2011-12 prices stood at Rs 43.34 lakh crore (US$ 614.85 billion) in 2019-20.
• Value of Export: India's export stood at US$ 528.45 billion in 2019-20.
• Export Partners: US, Germany, UAE, China, Japan, Thailand, Indonesia and European Union. India is also tapping newer markets in Africa and Latin America.
• Currency (code): Indian rupee (INR)
• Exchange Rates: Indian rupees per US dollar - 1 USD = 70.49 INR as of 2019-20
• Fiscal Year: April 01 – March 31
• Cumulative FDI Equity Inflow: 469.99 billion (April 2000 to March 2020)
• Share of Top Investing Countries in FDI Equity Inflow: Mauritius (30 per cent), Singapore (21 per cent), Japan (7 per cent), Netherlands (7 per cent), UK (6 per cent), USA (6 per cent), Germany (3 per cent), Cyprus (2 per cent), France (2 per cent), UAE (2 per cent) (from April 2000 to March 2020)             
• Major Sectors Attracting Highest FDI Equity Inflow: Services Sector (17 per cent), Computer Software and Hardware (10 per cent), Telecommunications (8 per cent), Trading (6 per cent), Construction Development (5 per cent), Automobile (5 per cent), Construction Activities (4 per cent), Drugs and Pharmaceuticals (4 per cent), Chemicals (4 per cent) and Power (3 per cent) (from April 2000 to March 2020)
• Transportation in India

Airports: Airports Authority of India (AAI) manages 137 airports in the country, which include 23 international airports and 20 civil enclaves as 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 108,706 kms with 13,452 passenger trains and 9,141 freight trains daily from 7,172 stations, plying 23 million travellers and 3 million tonnes (MT) of freight daily.

Roadways: India’s road network of 4.87 million kms is the second largest in the world. With the number of vehicles growing at an average annual pace of 10.16 per cent, Indian roads carry about 60 per cent of freight and 87 per cent 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.