Area - 3,300,000 km2. Population - more than 1095 million people.

Federal Republic - 28 states and seven union territories under central jurisdiction. The capital is New Delhi.

EGP

India is the largest in area and population, the most powerful in economic potential and the most influential state in the South Asian region. The territory of India covers mainland and peninsular parts. Most of the territory is located on the Hindustan Peninsula. The coasts of India are washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. India has three large archipelagos.

In the northwest the country borders with Pakistan, in the east with Bangladesh and Myanmar, along the Himalaya mountain ranges with China, Nepal and Bhutan. The strait separates India from Sri Lanka. The most economically developed and politically influential neighboring countries are China and Pakistan, all the others, except Sri Lanka, are among the least developed countries in the world.

The proximity to the states of the Persian Gulf region, world leaders in oil and gas production, is of great importance. The defect of international land routes that crossed the territory of the country is compensated by intensive cargo flows of global maritime transport, which have developed over the centuries and run along the western and southern coasts of India and are directed from Europe and the Middle East to Southeast Asia.

Population

India is the second largest country in terms of population after China. peace. It is characterized by significant population growth rates (1.4%). The high birth rate is due to ethnic and religious traditions. India is implementing a targeted demographic policy aimed at reducing population growth, since its high rates cause poverty, unemployment, illiteracy, and the spread of infectious diseases.

The age structure of the state's population is dominated by young age groups. The average life expectancy is low - 62.5 years. The gender structure of the population is characterized by a predominance of men.

Indian citizens are active migrants; the migration balance indicator is characterized by quite significant negative values. Some of the emigrants are highly qualified specialists (programmers, doctors, engineers) who travel to the UK, USA, Canada and other highly developed countries.

In the north, north-west and most of the center of the region live representatives of the large Caucasian race, and in the center and part of the south of India there are groups that form a branch of the large Australoid race. Almost the entire south of India is inhabited by representatives of the South Indian transitional race. India is home to about 500 ethnic groups speaking more than 1,600 languages ​​and dialects. Numerous ethnic groups are Hindustani, living in the central and northern parts of India; Bengalis - in the northeast, etc. Residents of the country belong to different language families:

Indo-Aryan group of the Indo-European family (Bengali, Bihari, Hindustani, etc.); Dravidian family (Tamil, Malayali, Telugu, etc.); Chinese-Tibetan family (Sherpas). The official languages ​​are Hindi and English. The majority of the population (85%) profess Hinduism, many Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and followers of other religions.

India is one of the most densely populated countries in the world. The most densely populated (400-1000 people per 1 km2) are the valleys of the Ganges and Brahmaputra rivers, as well as the coastal lowlands and fertile plains of the southwestern states. The Himalayas and salt marshes in western India are still uninhabited.

About 30% of the country's population lives in cities. India is undergoing a process of pseudo-urbanization, that is, the rapid growth of cities at the expense of impoverished rural population, forms a continuous zone of settlement around urban centers. The growth in the number of urban residents is outpacing the growth of industrialization.

Among the employed population, 64% work in agriculture, 16% work in industry.

It borders Pakistan in the west, China, Nepal and Bhutan in the northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar in the east. India also shares maritime borders with the Maldives in the southwest, Sri Lanka in the south and Indonesia in the southeast. The disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir shares a border with Afghanistan.
The Indian subcontinent is home to the Indus Valley Civilization and other ancient civilizations. For most of its history, India acted as a center of important trade routes and was famous for its wealth and high culture.
Since early XVIII Until the middle of the 20th century, India was gradually colonized by the British Empire. After gaining independence in 1947, the country achieved great success in economic and military development. By the end of the 20th century, India's economy became one of the fastest growing in the world. India ranks 12th in the world in terms of nominal gross domestic product, and fourth in terms of GDP measured at purchasing power parity. The pressing problem continues to be high level poverty and illiteracy of the population.
India is a federal republic consisting of twenty-eight states, six union territories and the National Capital Territory of Delhi. All states and two union territories (Puducherry and National Capital Territory of Delhi) have their own elected government. The remaining five union territories are governed by an administrator appointed central government, and hence are under the direct control of the President of India. In 1956, Indian states were reorganized along linguistic lines. Since then, the administrative structure has remained virtually unchanged.
All states and union territories are divided into administrative and government units called districts. There are more than 600 districts in India. The districts are in turn divided into smaller administrative units, talukas.
The head of state is the President of India, who is elected by an electoral college for a period of 5 years by indirect voting. The head of government is the prime minister, who holds the main executive power. The prime minister is appointed by the president and is usually the candidate supported by the political party or political coalition that has a majority of seats in the lower house of parliament.
IN last years India continues to play a prominent role in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, and the World Trade Organization. India is a founding member of the United Nations and an active participant in its peacekeeping missions: more than 55,000 Indian soldiers have participated in thirty-five peacekeeping operations on four continents. Despite criticism and military sanctions, India has consistently refused to sign the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, preferring instead to maintain full control over its nuclear programs. IN Lately, in the foreign policy arena, the Indian government has directed efforts to improve relations with the United States, China and Pakistan.
As a political science hypothesis, the possibility of a close strategic partnership between Russia, India and China - the Moscow-Delhi-Beijing triangle - is often discussed. Many agree that such cooperation would contribute to the creation of a multipolar world. However, plans to create such a “triangle” (led by the United States) also exist in the United States Department of State, where India is seen as a potential counterbalance to the ever-increasing role of the PRC in the modern world.

Economic geographical position India

ex English colony, India is part of the British Commonwealth.

Located on the Hindustan Peninsula, the country has land borders with countries such as Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar. The border with China is the longest and runs along the main ridge of the Himalayas.

India borders mainly on economically undeveloped countries. Only China and Pakistan have developed economies, rich natural resources and political influence.

The state is located on the world's busiest trade route, running from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean. Maritime borders open up great opportunities for expanding economic and political ties with European countries, countries of Africa, the East and Australia.

The country's land border is also long, but it does not play a big role in trade relations between countries because it passes through inaccessible mountainous regions.

Note 1

It must be said that in ancient times India had trade relations with Syria, Egypt, and Mesopotamia. Today, the situation regarding economic development is much worse compared to the past and to neighboring countries. Economic progress is hampered by high birth rates, leading to a population explosion.

The country's economic development is based on natural resources, with which India is well endowed. For their industrial use, those areas where their combination has formed on a common territory are convenient.

In India, this combination of mineral resources is found in the Deccan Plateau. In addition, the country is close to the Persian Gulf states, which are leaders in hydrocarbon production.

Foreign trade occupies an important place in the country's economy. Exports include fabrics, ready-made garments, jewelry, agricultural and food products, machinery, ore minerals, and tea.

The main exports are textiles, jewelry, engineering products and software. India's trading partners are the USA, China, and countries of the European Union.

In addition to them, India's trading partners are Singapore, Great Britain, and Hong Kong.

The economic and political situation of the country has changed since the arrival of the British conquerors on Indian soil. Gradually, India turned into a market for British goods, and then for British capital.

The country grew export crops - wheat and cotton. The national liberation movement forced the British to give up power in India and in 1947 the country gained independence.

In the same year it was divided into two British dominions - the Indian Union and Pakistan.

With the division of the country, great economic difficulties began. Their essence was that agricultural areas remained on the territory of Pakistan, producing the bulk of cotton, jute and wheat, and in India the food problem and shortage of raw materials for the textile industry began to be acutely felt.

A conflict was triggered between India and Pakistan in October 1947 over Kashmir. The Kashmir problem is still the most acute in Indo-Pakistani relations.

There has been a change in India's foreign economic relations with Russia. Previously, the USSR was the main trading partner, and by the end of the 20th century (2001), trade turnover between the countries had sharply decreased, although India remains a promising and capacious market for Russia.

Thus, the main features of the economic and geographical position of India are:

• the situation in South Asia at the intersection of maritime international transport routes;
• open access to the Indian Ocean;
• the presence of unresolved territorial issues with neighbors - China and Pakistan, complicating relations;
• Availability high mountains in the north of the country makes it difficult to develop economic ties with neighbors.

Despite these features, the economic and geographical position of India is favorable.

Natural conditions of India

Favorable natural climatic conditions contributed to the emergence of civilization in this land in ancient times.

Modern India is located in four main climatic zones:

1. hot and humid climate of the west coast from Bombay to Trivandrum;
2. hot and dry climate is typical for the states of Rajasthan, Jammu, Kashmir;
3. moderately humid climate in the east of the peninsula;
4. moderately arid climate in the Punjab plains to the western part of the Deccan plateau.

If we talk about climatic zones, the southern part of the country lies within the subequatorial climate, and the northern part lies in the tropical monsoon climate.

The country is protected from the influence of continental Arctic air masses by the high Himalayas, so India is one of the hottest countries in the world with a typical monsoon climate.

The country is characterized by three seasons - a cool season with temperatures from +15 to +20 degrees lasts from November to February, a hot season with temperatures of +32, +42 degrees from March to May.

The rainy season starts from June to October, with temperatures of +30, +32 degrees. Precipitation per year ranges from 500 to 2000 mm, and it is seasonal.

Precipitation falls unevenly, so in the west of the country, in the Thar Desert, only 60-100 mm falls per year. In the central part of the Deccan plateau - 300-400 mm. The eastern slopes of the Himalayas receive from 3000 to 6000 mm per year.

Natural Resources of India

The country is rich in a variety of natural resources, including mineral resources, forest and land resources, water and soil resources.

Mineral resources are significant and are located mainly in the northeast of the country. The most favorable concentration of minerals has formed here.

Fuel and energy resources account for 2% of world reserves. Explored coal reserves amount to 23 billion tons. Significant uranium reserves near Calcutta.

General geological reserves of high-quality iron ore exceed 19 billion tons.

Hydrocarbon reserves are insignificant and their main deposits are concentrated in the west of the country.

In the Central part and in the East there are deposits of manganese, the reserves of which India ranks among the first in the world.

Deposits of chrome, aluminum, and copper ores are of industrial importance. There are significant reserves of gold.

Nonmetallic raw materials include large deposits of magnesite, graphite, mica, and asbestos.

Nature has not deprived India of water resources; there are large rivers, glaciers in the mountains, and finally, seas washing its shores and an entire ocean.

The largest rivers are the Indus and Ganges, Brahmaputra, Narbada. They have a lot of water and are navigable over a long distance. Indian rivers have great energy potential and are the main source of artificial irrigation.

Snow and glaciers occupy 40 thousand square meters. km.

Indian soils are divided into four types:

1. alluvial on the plain;
2. black cotton soils on the Deccan plateau;
3. red soils occupy a large area;
4. Lateritic, infertile soils formed on the periphery of the peninsula.

Among the significant land resources there are lands suitable and unsuitable for Agriculture. The level of arable land in the country is very high, and favorable climatic conditions make it possible to engage in farming throughout the year.

India was once covered with dense forests, but as a result economic activity person forest resources have declined sharply, and India today ranks among the least forested areas of the world.

The forest occupies 2% of the world's forest area and 20% of the country's territory. The main raw material for paper production is bamboo, so much attention is paid to its preparation.

Economic and social geography of the world

Abstract on the topic:

“Economic and geographical characteristics of India”

KAZAN 2005

	Introduction
	Country name and territory composition
	Economic-geographical and political-geographical position. The influence of EGP on the development of the country. Changing position of a country over time
	Features of the population. Demographic policy
	Natural resources and their use. Grade natural resource potential for the development of industry and agriculture
	general characteristics farms. Reasons, impact on the pace of economic development
	Geography of the main industrial complexes and industries
	Specialization in agricultural production
	Development of the transport complex
	Socio-economic development of individual areas. The reasons behind the unevenness in their socio-economic development. Alignment of levels of economic development
	External economic relations. export Import. Participation in international economic unions
	Conclusion
	Bibliography
	Applications
	Review sheet

Introduction

The world appears as a mosaic of specific cultures, sometimes opposing each other in their value systems. In conditions when the world community is looking for ways to overcome differences, when the process of mutual understanding creates new conditions for cooperation between East and West, studying the nature of the deformation of the modern world is becoming increasingly important.

In my work “Economic and Geographical Characteristics of India” I talk about the country of an ancient and original civilization, its geographical location and history of development, the natural environment as a source of resources, the nature of settlement and economic activity of the population, foreign economic relations with other countries of the world, the successes of social economic development.

The abstract provides modern statistical data and maps.

2.1. Name of the country and composition of the territory.

India (or Baharat, as the Indians themselves call their country) is one of the largest countries on the planet. It ranks 2nd in the world in terms of population (1030 million people, 2000) and 7th in area 3.28 million km².

The Republic of India is located in South Asia on the Hindustan Peninsula, washed by the Indian Ocean, and on a large part of the Indo-Gangetic Lowland. In addition to the mainland, its territory includes islands - the Laccadive Islands in the Arabian Sea, as well as the Andaman and Nicobar Islands in the Bay of Bengal.

India is a republic. The highest legislative body is parliament, consisting of two houses: the upper (Rajya Sabha - Council of States, 250 seats) and the lower (Lok Sabha - House of the People, 545 seats), in which about 20 political parties are represented.

The capital of India is Delhi.

The head of state is the president, elected indirectly for a five-year term. Legislative power belongs to parliament, executive power belongs to the Council of Ministers, headed by the prime minister. Administratively, India is divided into 28 states, organized along national-ethnic lines, and 7 union territories. The latter include small colonial enclaves and small islands, which, due to their small area and small population, cannot receive statehood. Currently, from a legal point of view, union territories do not differ from states (Appendix 1)

The Indian Constitution lists 15 major languages ​​of the country. But almost 100 million Indians speak other languages ​​and dialects, and total number dialects of Indian languages, according to scientists, reaches 1652.

The official languages ​​are Hindi and temporarily English.

2.2. Economic-geographical and political-geographical location. The influence of EGP on the development of the country. Changing position of the country over time.

India borders Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh and Myanmar. The length of the Indian-Chinese border is especially long. It runs along the main Himalayan ridge. The maximum length of the mainland of the country from north to south is 3200 km, from west to east – 2700 km.

The territory of India is shaped like a giant triangle, as if fenced off from the rest of Asia by a high wall of the Himalayas. In the literature, this vast region is often referred to as the Indian subcontinent.

Although the length of India's maritime borders is much smaller than its land borders, they play a major role in the economic life of the country. A world trade route runs along its shores, opening up great opportunities for expanding ties with the countries of the East, Europe, Africa and Australia.

Afghanistan – economically undeveloped country. Trades in raw cotton, fruits, nuts. Industry is less developed than in India.

People's Republic of China - a country with a developed economy, rich in natural resources: coal, iron and manganese ores, bauxite, zinc and other types of mineral raw materials. Huge water resources This country contains the world's largest hydropower reserves.

Butane - an agricultural country, as well as Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar (Burma) – economically undeveloped countries.

India is one of the cradles of human civilization. The Indians were the first in the world to learn how to grow rice, cotton, and sugar cane, and they were the first to raise poultry. India gave the world chess and the decimal number system. The achievements of ancient and medieval India in the field of science, literature, and art, which originated in India in various religious and philosophical systems, influenced the development of many civilizations of the East, and became an integral part of world culture.

Civilization in this distinctive region arose back in the 3rd millennium BC. In the era of the Great geographical discoveries the Portuguese expedition of Vasco da Gama (1498) discovered the sea route from Europe to India (around Africa) and laid the foundation European colonization of this region. English colonialists as a result of wars with European rivals (Portuguese, Dutch, French), as well as Anglo-Maratha, Anglo-Sikh and other wars by the middle of the 19th century. subjugated all of India and the territories closest to it. A huge colony arose - British India.

With the conquest of India by the British, not only the political but also the economic situation of the country changed. All the previous conquerors of India - Indo-Aryan tribes, Turks, Mongols - settled here and were assimilated by the local population. England viewed India as an arena for pumping out wealth that was transported to the mother country. India has been called "the biggest jewel in the British crown." This country gradually turned into a market for its industrial goods, and then into an arena for the investment of British capital. Construction of the railway and the first coal mines began. In the 60-90s of the XIX century, the length railways increased from 1300 to 25600 km. An important object of British investment was irrigation construction in areas where export crops were grown - cotton and wheat, as well as plantation farming. In the 50s, the first English jute mills were established in Calcutta.

India gained independence only after World War II - on August 15, 1947. In 1947, India was divided into two British dominions - the Indian Union and Pakistan (Western and Eastern). On January 26, 1950, India was declared a federal republic within the British Commonwealth. The country's constitution enshrined the most important achievements of the national revolution: democratic civil liberties, prohibition of discrimination based on religion, race and caste, gender and place of birth.

From the first days of independence, the young Indian state had to face severe problems. The division of the country along religious lines and the establishment of the borders of new states was accompanied by a massive migration of Hindus and Sikhs from Pakistan to India, and Muslims to Pakistan. In October 1947, a conflict was provoked between India and Pakistan over Kashmir. It was only in the spring of 1948 that hostilities in Kashmir ceased, and a ceasefire agreement came into force on January 1, 1949. The Kashmir issue is still one of the most acute in Indo-Pakistani relations.

The division of the country also led to serious economic difficulties. Agricultural areas that provided 40% of cotton, 85% of jute, and 40% of wheat were transferred to Pakistan. India immediately experienced a shortage of raw materials for the main industries - textiles, as well as food. The unified irrigation system and transport network were torn apart. For a long time, communication with the northeastern part of the country - Assam - was maintained mainly by air.

2.3. Features of the population. Demographic policy

India is the most populous country in the world after China. According to the latest census, India's population as of July 2001 was 1030 million. In other words, every seventh inhabitant of our planet is Indian.

Population ancient india relatively young: 42% of Indians are under 15 years of age and only 6% are over 60 years of age. The average life expectancy, which was less than 27 years in 1931, and 41 years in the 50s, currently reaches 55 years. This happened due to a decrease in mortality as a result of positive changes in the healthcare system. Rapid population growth creates additional difficulties for national economy. In this regard, the Indian government is implementing a large-scale program aimed at reducing the birth rate. By now, the peak of the “demographic explosion” in the country has already been completely passed. India's annual population growth rate is 1.6%, which is significantly lower than that of many parts of the developing world. The birth rate is 24/1000, the death rate is 9/1000 (2000). Nevertheless, the demographic problem in India has not lost its severity; according to Indian scientists, stabilization of the population should be expected by the middle of the 21st century.

India is a multinational state. It is inhabited by large nations, whose representatives differ from each other in appearance, language, and customs.

The vast region of Northern and parts of Central India, covering the states of Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan and Haryana, is home to various dialects of the Hindi language, which is based on Sanskrit, the language of the Indo-Aryans. Muslim immigrants from Iran who settled here later and Central Asia also adopted one of the Hindi dialects, introducing into it individual Arabic, Persian and Turkic words, resulting in the formation of the Urdu language, which, unlike Hindi, uses not the Sanskrit Devanagari alphabet, but Arabic. However, since Hindi and Urdu have a common grammar and common vocabulary, they are often considered as two literary forms single language Hindustani. Hence the entire population of the North Central region received the name Hindustani.

In addition to Hindustani, languages ​​descending from Sanskrit are spoken by such large peoples as Bengalis (West Bengal), Marathas (Maharashtra), Gujaratis (Gujarat), Oriyas (Orissa), Punjabis (Punjab), as well as Assamese (Assam) and Kashmiris (Jammu and Kashmir). All these peoples have a European appearance.

The peoples of South India speak languages ​​of the Dravidian family. These are Telugu (Andhra Pradesh), Kannara (Karnataka), Tamil (Tamil Nadu) and Malayali (Kerala). They are darker-skinned than the northerners, and have some characteristics of the Australoid minor peoples, whose languages ​​belong to the Munda group (Austrasian family).

The northeastern states of India are inhabited by small peoples whose appearance contains Mongoloid features. These are Manipuri, Tipera, Garo, Naga, Mizo, etc. They speak languages ​​of the Tibeto-Burman group. The exception is the Khasi, whose language belongs to the Mono-Khmer family.

According to census data, almost 100% of India's population is religious. The main religious and ethnic system of India is Hinduism; it is professed by 83% of the country's population. About 12% are Muslims, the rest are Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, etc.

India's labor force is very large, but unskilled labor predominates. The proportion of literate people among the country's adult population is 48%. Unemployment is high (over 30 million people are registered). India is one of the most socially polarized countries in the world. More than 300 million people (1/3 of the population) live below the poverty line.

The population density in India is 260 people per 1 km² (high). There are more men than women in India. This is explained by the increased mortality among women associated with early marriages and numerous early childbirths. The average number of children in a family is currently five.

The most densely populated coastal areas (Kerala, West Bengal) and the Indo-Gangetic lowland.

The vast majority of Indians are rural residents; the share of the urban population in 2001 did not exceed 27% (low level of urbanization), although the region South Asia is one of the world's oldest centers of world culture.

Cities include settlements with a population exceeding 5 thousand people, with the overwhelming majority of the population employed outside agriculture. The concentration of population in large cities is growing. In terms of population, many Indian cities are among the largest in the world.

The most significant agglomerations are: Bombay and Kolkata (12 million inhabitants each), Delhi (over 8 million), Madras (6 million), Hyderabad, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Pune, Kanpur, etc. in total there are over 20 cities in the country - millionaires.

The independence of India in 1947 and the partition of the country along religious lines and the establishment of new borders were accompanied by mass migration of the population. In August–September 1947 alone, the total number of refugees on both sides amounted to 2 million people. This caused a sharp escalation of religious and communal strife on both sides of the border. Events in Punjab became especially bloody, where murders, robberies, and destruction of refugees' homes were widespread. According to rough estimates, more than 500 thousand were killed alone, and up to 12 million people suffered financially. Chauvinistic Hindu and Muslim organizations in India and Pakistan are fueling religious hatred and intolerance and calling for reprisals against those who advocate reconciliation between the two communities. The Kashmir issue has not lost its relevance even now.

2.4. Natural resources and their use.

Assessment of natural resource potential for the development of industry and agriculture

On the territory of India there are three natural regions that differ sharply from each other. In the north there is the Himalaya and Karakoram massif - a gigantic mountain system of Alpine and Mesozoic ages. In the south is the Deccan plateau with bordering coastal lowlands. Between them lies the vast Indo-Gangetic Plain, one of the most extensive flat alluvial regions on earth. Its area is 650 thousand km², or 1/5 of the entire territory of India.

The Himalayas (their length from the Brahmaputra River in the east to the Indus River in the west is about 2500 km, width from 150 to 400 km) descend towards the Hindustan Peninsula in three steps.

The Great Himalayan Range, stretching from northwest to east from the city of Nanga Parbat (8126 m) to the city of Namcha Barwa (7756 m), represents a natural barrier between India and China. It plays an important climate-forming role, limiting the spread of moisture-rich summer monsoons to the territory of India and at the same time almost completely excluding the penetration of cold winter winds from the regions of Inner Asia.

The Karakoram mountain ranges run in a latitudinal direction in the northern part of the states of Jammu and Kashmir. In the west they connect with the Pamir mountain system. Like the Greater Himalayas, the Karakoram is covered with snow all year round. The height of some of its peaks exceeds 7500 m. But even among them, Mount Chogori stands out - 8611 m, the second peak in the world after Chomolungma and the highest in India.

The Indo-Gangetic Lowland, located at the foot of the Himalayas, is a flat space, the monotony of which is broken only by a few spurs of the Aravali Mountains. To the west of this plain is the Thar Desert.

The Deccan Plateau is much older than the Himalayas, and is composed mainly of ancient crystalline rocks, whose age is from 300 to 500 million years.

The Deccan plateau is bounded on the east by the low Eastern Ghats, running some distance from the coast of the Bay of Bengal.

In the west, the Deccan plateau is framed by the Western Ghats (Sahyadri), covered with a thick layer of basalts.

In the extreme south of the Deccan are the Cardamom Mountains, composed of gneisses and schists.

The Deccan plateau is bordered by coastal lowlands. In the west, the large rivers Tapti, Narmada, Mahi and Sabarmati carry a large number of sediments into the Gulf of Cambay.

South of the Satpura Mountains, the Deccan Plateau slopes slightly towards the east. Therefore, all the major rivers of the Deccan, with the exception of the Narmada and Tapti, flow east into the Bay of Bengal. The rivers Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna and Kaveri have formed vast fertile deltas.

India is rich in mineral resources. The country has the world's largest iron ore reserves, estimated at 22 billion tons, which is ¼ of the world's reserves. Iron ore deposits are found everywhere, but the largest are concentrated in the states of Bihar, Orissa, Madhya Pradesh, Goa and Karnataka (the largest is Singhbhum on the Chhota Nagpur plateau). Iron ores have high quality. India also has significant reserves of manganese ores, estimated at 180 million tons. (3rd place in the world). Its main deposits are located in the central part of the country - in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra. India accounts for about 4/5 of the world's exports of mica sheets. The mica belt of India stretches from east to west along the northern edge of the Bihar plateau, and mica deposits are also developed in Andhra Pradesh and Rajasthan. There are numerous deposits of bauxite, the main mining areas of which are concentrated in Bihar, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. India is a world exporter of chrome. It occupies a leading place in reserves of graphite, beryl, thorium, zirconium and 2nd place in the world in titanium mining.

From energy minerals highest value has coal. Coal reserves of all types in India are estimated at 120 billion tons. The leading producers are the states of Bihar and West Bengal: they account for almost 3/4 of total coal production. However, coking coal reserves are essentially limited to the Jharia deposit in Bihar. Coal mining is also carried out in Assam (bituminous coals) and in Tamil Nadu (rich lignite deposits in Neyveli).

In the east of the country in the river valley. The Brahmaputra (Assam) is home to India's oldest oil basin. But with oil and gas exploration and production in Gujarat and on the continental shelf in the Gulf of Cambay, the importance of Western India has greatly increased. India's proven oil reserves amount to 0.6 billion tons, current production is about 40 million tons per year (mostly offshore).

The most important source of energy may be radioactive thorium contained in monocyte sands. Uranium ores have been discovered in the state of Rajasthan.

Land resources are the main thing natural wealth countries. Cultivable lands account for most of the country's territory. A significant part of the soil has high fertility. These are the alluvial soils of the Ganges valley and river deltas on the coasts, as well as the chernozem-like clay soils of the Deccan plateau in the center of the country. However, there is a land resource problem in India due to erosion, salinity and soil depletion.

The abundance of heat throughout the year makes it possible to harvest 2-3 crops over a large area, but agriculture requires irrigation. Natural pastures make up 5% of the country's territory; the food supply for livestock farming is limited.

Forest areas occupy 22% of India's area, but there is not enough forest for economic needs. The forest is a source of fuel and wood. Serious negative consequences accompanied by the destruction of forests (especially in the Himalayas).

Indian rivers have great energy potential and are also the main source of artificial irrigation. The main rivers are the Ganges, Brahmaputra, Indus and their tributaries. The rivers originating in the Himalayas are high-water (with mixed rain and snow-glacial feeding regimes). The rivers of the Deccan Plateau, which are fed mainly by rain, become very shallow during the dry season, and overflow during the rainy season, flooding fields and washing away crops.

India is one of the richest countries in natural terms, it was not without reason that in colonial times it was called the pearl of the British crown. Beneficial climate, colossal agroclimatic resources. Reserves of some types of mineral raw materials (iron and manganese ores, chromites, titanium, zirconium, muscovite) have global significance. There are large reserves of coal, non-ferrous metal ores, and gold. Many areas and coastal waters are promising for oil. Numerous rivers are a source of irrigation and hydroelectric power. India's land resources are vast, its territory only slightly smaller than the area of ​​all countries Western Europe. The abundance of heat in the monsoon subtropical and tropical climate makes it possible to harvest two to three crops per year over a large area.

Taking the path of independence historical development,India has made impressive strides in many areas. A diversified industrial complex was created. As a result of the “green revolution,” grain production increased several times, thanks to which mass hunger was eliminated in the country. The noticeably improved socio-economic transformation is closely related to the creation and strengthening of the public sector of the economy.

2.5. General characteristics of the farm. Reasons influencing the pace of economic development.

India is an agrarian-industrial country.

It is classified as one of the group of “key developing countries” that have enormous resource and human potential, are intensively developing their industry and are playing an increasingly prominent role in the global economy.

Along with further development Traditional industries for the country (agriculture, light industry) have received significant development in the mining and various manufacturing industries.

Today, India is one of the world's largest producers and exporters of coal, iron and manganese ores. Enterprises have been created for ferrous metallurgy, heavy and transport engineering, electrical equipment, for the production of consumer electronics products, chemicals, etc.

India is the first developing country to begin developing nuclear energy. The aerospace industry is expanding (an artificial Earth satellite has been launched), and new scientific and technical centers are being created.

Very significant assistance in the economic development of the country was provided by former USSR. Soviet specialists helped in the exploration of mineral resources, in the creation of the oil industry, energy, metallurgy, and mechanical engineering.

In terms of GDP (according to purchasing power parity of currencies), India ranks fourth with a volume of 2200 billion US dollars, leaving behind countries such as Germany (1936 billion US dollars), France (1448 billion US dollars), Great Britain ( 1360 billion US dollars), Italy (1273 billion US dollars) (data for 2000)

Currently, in the structure of gross domestic product (GDP), industry accounts for 24%, agriculture – 25%, and services – 51%. The public sector plays a significant role in the development of the national economy, providing a quarter of the country's GDP.

The structure of industrial production was previously dominated by light industry.

Currently, the share of light and food industries is declining (although still quite significant).

However, it is not these traditional Indian industries that really reflect the scale of progress.

Mechanical engineering and metalworking (including the automotive industry and other branches of transport engineering; the electronics industry) are developing at an accelerated pace.

Moreover, high-tech industries (electronics industry, information technology) are developing at the fastest pace with state support.

The creation of a powerful base for the production of software, microprocessors, and personal computers continues.

The country has reached the world level in the production of supercomputers. India has its own space industry.

2.6. Geography of the main industrial complexes and industries.

In the territorial structure of the Indian economy, the traditionally largest industrial centers - Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Delhi - retain a leading role. The development of these centers causes economic growth in the adjacent territories. Railways and highways are laid between the cities, along which unique “growth corridors” have emerged that attract the country’s main industrial new buildings. These are the Rihan-Singrauli fuel and energy complex, oil refineries in Barauni, Koyali, Mathura, industrial centers in Bokaro, Durgapur, Visakhapatnam, Bokaro, Rourkela, Bhilai, etc. “Growth corridors” play a very important role in modernizing the territorial structure of the Indian economy.

Energy . The creation of a modern energy base began with the construction of a hydroelectric power station. They are built as part of complex hydraulic units, including power plants and irrigation systems.

The installed capacity of Indian power plants in 2002 was 548 billion kWh. However, among the newly built power plants in recent years, thermal power plants predominate. The largest thermal power plants are located in Singrauli, Korba, Ramagundam, Vindyachal, Rihand and Farakka (See Appendix 2).

IN fuel industry The use of coal, oil and gas is expanding. Thus, coal accounts for ¾ of the production of primary energy resources. Coal production in 2000 amounted to 310 million tons, which is 7.5% of world production. Oil production is 36.7 million tons, but the volume of oil imports is still significant. In the development of Indian oil fields (on the shelf of the Gulf of Cambay), assistance was provided by the former Soviet Union and Western countries. Currently, over a dozen oil refineries operate in India (refineries in Barauni and Koyali were built with the help of the USSR) (See Appendix 2).

Nuclear power India is based on its own raw materials (uranium, thorium). There are 14 power units with a capacity of 2994 MW, including in Tarapur (Maharashtra state) and Rana Prathar Nagar (Rajasthan state) (See map). Two more power units with a capacity of 900 MW are under construction. Share of nuclear power plants in total electricity production. energy is 4%.

Power generation in the country is growing rapidly, but per capita this figure is still very low. In many parts of the country, wood and dry manure are still used primarily as fuel.

Ferrous metallurgy . By the beginning of the Second World War, India had a fairly large colonial iron and steel industry (1 million tons of steel, 1939). After independence, the capacity of all factories in this industry increased very significantly (25 million tons, 2001).

Ferrous metallurgy is represented by enterprises located in the east of the country. As a result of the intensive development of deposits of coal, iron and manganese ores, the country’s coal and metallurgical base (“Indian Ruhr”) - the Calcutta-Damodara industrial belt) was formed here.

Large metallurgical plants have been built and are operating: in Bhilai (Madhya Pradesh); in Bokaro (Bihar); in Visakhapatnam (Adhra Pradesh, the newest and most modern enterprise in the industry). The industrial hubs of Jamshedpur, Durgapur, Rourkela are also highlighted (See Appendix 2).

Non-ferrous metallurgy also developed in the east of the country. The aluminum industry stands out, based on local bauxite resources (Asansol, Korba) (See map). India's share in primary aluminum production is 5.75% of world production and amounted to 215 thousand tons in 2000. India is in fifth place after the United States, Russia, China, Canada.

Mechanical engineering industry India produces a variety of products: metal-cutting machines, diesel locomotives, ships, cars, tractors, airplanes and helicopters. The electronics industry is developing rapidly.

The leading centers of mechanical engineering are Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Hyderabad, Bangalore. Heavy engineering is represented in the cities of Durgapur, Chittarajan, Ranchi, Bhopal (northeast of the country); in Hardwar (north) - power engineering. The largest carriage factory is located in Madras. Precision engineering is represented in Hyderabad, aeronautical and electrical engineering is represented in Bangalore, and shipbuilding is represented in Visakhapatnam. Many engineering plants in India were also built with the help of the former USSR.

In terms of production volume of the radio-electronic industry, India has taken 2nd place in Foreign Asia (following Japan, but with a large lag behind it). The country produces a variety of radio equipment, color televisions, tape recorders, communications equipment, and computers. The country annually spends 0.6% of the country's GDP on R&D. In terms of the number of scientific and engineering personnel, India is second only to some developed countries in the world.

However, India does not yet fully satisfy its needs for mechanical engineering products, but this industry is developing intensively.

IN chemical industry The production of mineral fertilizers stands out. The importance of petrochemicals is growing. Resins, plastics, chemical fibers, and synthetic rubber are produced. Pharmaceuticals are developed. The chemical industry is represented in many cities of the country. The largest of them: in Koyali (Gujarat), Bombay, Mathura (Uttar Pradesh), Madras, Haldia (near Calcutta). The location of the main oil refineries near seaports is explained by the fact that they are focused on using mainly imported oil.

Light industry is a traditional sector of the Indian economy. The cotton and jute industries stand out in particular. India is one of the leading countries in the world in the production of cotton fabrics, and in the production of jute products (technical, packaging, furniture fabrics, carpets) it ranks first. The largest centers of the cotton industry are Bombay and Ahmedabad, and the jute industry is Calcutta. There are textile factories in all major cities of the country. Textile and apparel products account for 25% of India's exports.

Food industry produces goods both for domestic consumption and for export. Indian tea is the most widely known in the world. Its production is concentrated in Kolkata and the south of the country. India ranks first in the world in tea exports.

It should be noted the widespread distribution of handicrafts folk crafts – production of fabrics, jewelry, souvenirs. Labor-intensive small-scale and cottage industry will remain an important area of ​​employment for the majority of India's industrial population for the foreseeable future. This applies primarily to the textile industry, clothing production, including for export, and many artistic crafts.

The high hereditary qualifications of Indian craftsmen ensure the stable development of such a specific industry as the diamond industry. In the history of India's foreign trade, there is no other example of such a rapid expansion of exports as the growth of diamond exports.

Another branch of the economy has been developed in India, widely known in the world - film industry . Bombay is traditionally considered the center of the Indian film industry. Until recently, it was the leader in the number of films produced, primarily in the Hindi language, but in recent years its role has sharply declined as production at South Indian film studios increased.

2.7. Specialization in agricultural production.

India is a country of ancient agricultural culture. The South Asian region is home to rice, cotton, eggplant, cucumber, lemon, orange, mango, sugarcane, and sesame. It is still one of the most important agricultural regions in the world.

The agricultural sector of the Indian economy employs 50% of the economically active population. However, mechanization and fertilizer application are clearly underutilized. In many villages, subsistence and semi-commodity lifestyles are still preserved (about a third of farms do not sell their products).

Are held in India agrarian reforms, leading to the acceleration of the penetration of market relations into the countryside, but many peasant families still do not have land. More than half of the total land fund is concentrated in the hands of large landowners.

Leading agricultural sector in India - crop production (4/5 of the cost of all products). The sown area is 140 million hectares, but there is practically no land for new development. Agriculture requires irrigation (40% of the cultivated area is irrigated). Forests are being cleared (slash-and-burn agriculture still exists).

The bulk of the sown area is occupied by food crops: rice, wheat, corn, etc. India has two agricultural seasons - summer and winter, which is associated with the agroclimatic features of the monsoon climate. In summer, rice, cotton, and jute are grown; in winter - wheat, barley, etc.

Most of the crop is harvested in summer, during the monsoon season. The main areas for rice cultivation are river deltas and plains with fertile soils in places where there is a lot of rainfall. Wheat is sown there, mainly in winter, with artificial irrigation. Other important grain crops - corn, barley, millet - are grown without irrigation. The cultivation of legumes and potatoes is widespread. (see table 1)

Table 1

Production of major crops in 2000 in India

A traditional Indian export is spices, the main ones among which are black pepper, as well as cloves and cardamom. They are grown in the south of India - mainly in the state of Kerala).

Almost all known fruits grow in India, both tropical and subtropical, as well as those characteristic of the temperate zone. There are many varieties of mangoes. India ranks second in the world in banana harvesting. Papaya, guava and chica fruits can be found throughout the country throughout the year. IN mountain ranges Citrus fruits are widely cultivated in central, southern and northeastern India, and pineapples are widely cultivated in the valleys of the northeast and in the coastal lowlands of the south. In the temperate regions of the Kashmir Valley and Himachal Pradesh, there are extensive apple orchards. However, per capita fruit consumption is very low.

Main industrial crops India - cotton, jute, tea, sugar cane, tobacco, oilseeds (rapeseed, peanuts, etc.). Short-staple cotton is grown without irrigation on the Deccan plateau, while long-staple cotton is cultivated on irrigated lands. The main jute growing area is the state of West Bengal (neighboring Bangladesh, where this crop is also very important. The fiber is used to make burlap, rope and carpets). India is the third tobacco-growing country in the world (average annual harvest is about 0.6 million tons, or slightly less than 10% of world production). The leading tobacco-growing region of the country is the delta of the Godavari and Krishna rivers in Andhra Pradesh. India is the world's largest tea producer. It accounts for 1/3 of the world's harvest. Tea plantations in the northeast and south of the country are confined to the foothill areas. The main tea producing states in India are Assam, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. Hence the name of the three most famous varieties of Indian tea - Assamese, Darjeeling (from Darjeeling district in West Bengal) and Nilgirpi (from the Nilgiri mountains in South India). The total area of ​​tea plantations is 382 thousand hectares. There are almost 13,300 tea estates in India, of which 1,200 are large. The country ranks 1st in terms of sugar cane plantation area. Rubber trees, coconut palms, bananas, pineapples, mangoes, citrus fruits, herbs and spices are also grown.

The material costs associated with the development of agriculture associated with the “green revolution” are only feasible for the wealthiest landowners or large commercial farms. Nevertheless, as a result of measures taken by the state for the development of agriculture, as well as as a result of some achievements of the “green revolution”, combined with favorable conditions, the harvest of grain and leguminous crops increased significantly and amounted to almost 230 million tons (2001). India has practically eliminated grain imports.

Livestock is the second most important agricultural sector in India, far behind crop production. Cattle (buffaloes, cows, oxen) are used in peasant farms mainly as draft power. Despite the fact that India ranks first in the world in terms of livestock numbers, livestock farming is not a significant supplier of mass products. The population practically does not use animal meat for food (Indians are traditionally vegetarians). Milk, animal hide and skin are used.

In recent years, much attention has been paid to the development of the dairy industry. In terms of total milk production, India ranks third in the world. India ranks 2nd in the world in the production of animal oil (butter and ghee).

Fishing . In India, about 2.5 million tons of fish are caught per year (7th place in the world), including 2/3 of sea fish. Sea fishing is most developed in the coastal southern and western states, river fishing - in the East and North-East of the country. For residents of a number of regions, especially Bengal, fish is one of the essential food products. The main marine fishery item on the Malabar coast is shrimp, which are exported in frozen form mainly to the USA and Japan. Frogs are also exported.

The use of seafood can improve the food situation in the country.

2.8. Development of the transport complex.

Among developing countries, India stands out as relatively developed transport network. Many roads were built during the colonial regime.

In domestic transportation, the main role is played by railways , the length of which is over 60 thousand km. Railways account for 55% of India's land freight transport, amounting to 800 thousand. tons of cargo and 9 million passengers daily. India ranks 5th in the world in terms of cargo transportation volume. The main highways run along the Ganges valley, as well as along the sea coasts. From major cities(Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Delhi) railway lines were laid into the interior of the country (double-track, broad gauge railways). But the condition of the road network and rolling stock is often unsatisfactory due to prolonged use and lack of funds for reconstruction. There is a large volume of transportation of goods and passengers.

National highways connect major cities and often double as railways. Automobile transport ranks second in domestic transportation. Total length highways India 1970 thousand km. Including roads with hard, so-called “all-weather” surfaces, there are 960 thousand km. However, only about 1/3 have access to such roads. settlements India. Most Indian roads, especially in the outback, are unpaved. During the rainy season they become impassable, and thousands of Indian villages then find themselves cut off from the outside world.

River transport It is not of great economic importance. The length of inland waterways is 16,180 km. Foreign trade transportation is mainly carried out by sea ​​transport . The role of the domestic merchant fleet is growing. The largest seaports are Bombay, Calcutta, Madras. India has 736 merchant marine vessels with a total capacity of 6.5 million tons. However, 62.9% of the country's sea freight transport is carried out by foreign vessels.

2.9. Socio-economic development of individual areas. The reasons behind the unevenness in their socio-economic development. Alignment of levels of economic development.

Individual regions of India differ significantly in the level of socio-economic development and economic specialization. Each such region covers several states connected by a single geographic and economic community, and is less often limited to one large state.

The economic and geographical zoning of India is carried out in different ways by different researchers - Indian and foreign. Some regional differences in the economic life of this great country are given by the economic regions allocated on its territory: North-Eastern, Western, Southern and Central-Northern.

Northeast India – the most diversified economic region, within which a powerful industrial complex of the country has developed. The unique combination of mineral resources determines the active industrialization of the region, turning it into the main coal and metallurgical base of India during the years of independence. In the river valley Damodar concentrates about 60% of the country's coal deposits, including almost all proven reserves of coking coal. The southern part of the Chhota Nagpur plateau is rich in high-quality iron ores. Large reserves of manganese ores and bauxites and well-known uranium deposits are also concentrated here. There are abundant reserves of non-metallic minerals - mica, refractory clays, limestones, etc.

On this basis, various groups of industries are developing: ferrous metallurgy (four large metallurgical plants out of five operate), thermal power engineering, the industry of mineral fertilizers and building materials, heavy metal-intensive engineering (production of mining and metallurgical equipment, excavators, Vehicle– locomotives, railway cars), as well as automotive industry, etc.

At the same time, the main crops of rice and almost all of the production of jute and tea are concentrated in North-Eastern India. The most important district-forming core here is Kolkata and its agglomeration, uniting more than 70 cities. Kolkata, the former capital of British India, received impetus for development during the colonial period. Today Kolkata is a city of sharp social contrasts. Transport, housing, energy problems, as well as problems of water supply and food are very acute here. Today, almost all states of North-East India are drawn into its sphere of influence.

According to some economic and geographical features Western India resembles the North-Eastern: their latitudinal location is approximately the same, and their levels of economic development are similar. However, the difference in specialization appears quite clearly.

Western India is the main oil-bearing region of the country. Oil and gas development is carried out in Gujarat in the area of ​​Ankleshwar and the Gulf of Cambay, as well as in the area of ​​the Bombay coastal plume (“Bombay arch”). 12 million tons of iron and 5 - 6 million tons of manganese ore are mined annually in Goa. Gujarat accounts for 60% of total Indian table salt production.

The main agricultural crops of the West are groundnuts (peanuts), cotton, sugarcane (in Maharashtra). Millet is sown in arid areas, and rice is sown in coastal lowlands and irrigated lands of river valleys. Some areas are famous for their fruits. Livestock farming, mainly dairy, is relatively developed. There are many fishing grounds along the entire coast of the Arabian Sea. Frozen fish from Gujarat even reaches the markets of Delhi. Maharashtra and Gujarat are the leading industrial states of India. 1/3 of the enterprises in the country's organized manufacturing sector and 27% of those employed in it are concentrated here. The traditionally developed cotton industry here in recent decades has been widely supplemented by oil refining and petrochemicals, medium and precision engineering enterprises. Developing quickly chemical industry, including the production of artificial fibers. The economic “heart” of Western India is Mumbai (Bombay) – the country’s main seaport, one of the largest industrial, trade, transport, financial and cultural centers.

Economic potential South India noticeably inferior to the two regions discussed above. The basis of its economy is agriculture.

South India is an important rice-growing region, a major producer of cotton and oilseeds, coconuts, and a major tobacco-growing region. Millet is also widely cultivated among food crops. In the Nilgiri mountain range there are plantations of tea, coffee (4/5 of the total Indian coffee harvest is in Karnataka) and rubber-bearing hevea (90% of plantings are in Karal). The production of spices and herbs occupies an important place: Kerala produces 96% of black pepper, about 755 of cardamom and 40% of ginger. The state is also a major supplier of cashew nuts. Karnataka has developed sericulture (4/5 of total Indian silk production).

Among the mineral resources of South India, bauxite, mica, manganese ore, lignites, and copper should be highlighted. Iron ore is mined in Selam (Tamil Nadu). Titanium and ilmenite are extracted from the coastal monazite sands of Kerala. Kolar (Karnataka) is home to India's only gold mine - one of the deepest in the world; work is being carried out in it at a depth of 2895 m. Uranium ore deposits are being developed in Andhra Pradesh. This state also accounts for 100% of India's proven tungsten reserves.

South India is actively expanding its industrial potential. Traditional industries - processing of agricultural raw materials and the textile industry - have been supplanted in recent years by transport, medium and precision engineering, metallurgy, oil refining (Chinai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnami, etc.). South India is actively involved in the implementation of the Indian space program. There is a Satellite Development Center in Bangalore. Trivandrum is a center for space science and technology, which operates the spaceport at Thumba, from where meteorological rockets are launched. On the island of Sriharikota, north of Madras, a spaceport was built to launch more powerful rockets, including for launching artificial Earth satellites into orbit.

The largest city in South India is Madras. administrative center Tamil Nadu state. This is the fourth largest city, one of the main ports and industrial hubs of the country.

On Northern India , coinciding with the largest state - Uttar Pradesh, accounts for 9% of the territory and 1/6 of the population of the country. This is the historical center of Indian culture. The ancient holy cities of Hardwar, Varanasi, Mathura inspired Indian philosophers, thinkers, poets and storytellers.

Uttar Pradesh is an agricultural state (86% of the population lives in rural areas), and is the largest producer of grains (about 21% of total Indian production), including wheat, rice, barley, corn, potatoes, and fruits. The region produces half of the sugar cane. Northern India ranks one of the last places in India in terms of industrial production and the pace of economic development. Traditionally, the leading industries here have been sugar, vegetable oils and leather processing (Kanpur and Agra). There are important training centers in Uttar Pradesh scientific personnel: hundreds of colleges, dozens of universities.

Central India - This is essentially the largest state in the country by area, Madhya Pradesh (443.5 thousand km²). Approximately 1/3 of the state is covered by forests. Central India is still one of the most backward parts of the country. About 80% of the population lives in rural areas. Only 14% of cultivated areas are irrigated. The main food crops are: in the east - rice, in the west and northeast - wheat and plain (jowar). The main industrial crop is cotton of coarse short-fiber varieties. Oilseeds and sugar cane are cultivated. Programs for the widespread introduction of soybeans are being implemented. Industry is represented by cotton and oil factories, as well as sawmills and the extraction of manganese ores. And bauxite. This state ranks 1st in the country in limestone mining, which has given rise to a large cement industry. large-scale development of refractory clays and kaolin will be introduced. India's only diamond mine is being developed in Panna. At the same time, during the years of independence, industrial construction has noticeably revived here. With the help of the USSR, a metallurgical plant was built in Bhilai, an aluminum smelter in Korba, and a number of enterprises in mechanical engineering, light industry, and electric power were built.

2.10. External economic relations, export, import. Participation in international economic unions.

Foreign trade is of considerable importance for the country's economy. However, India is still poorly involved in the international division of labor. Foreign trade turnover – 104 billion dollars, 2001. (exports – 43 billion dollars; imports – 61 billion dollars).

The country exports textiles, ready-made garments, jewelry and precious stones, agricultural and food products, machinery, as well as ore minerals, medicines and other goods. India accounts for 21% of global tea exports.

India exports iron ore mainly to Japan and also to some European countries.

In the commodity structure of imports, there is a large share of fuel resources, machinery, equipment, weapons, and lubricating oils.

India's largest trading partners are the USA (19.3% of exports and 9.5% of imports), Germany, Japan, and Great Britain. Despite the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) established in 1985, the scale of foreign trade with the closest neighboring members of this bloc (Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc.) is small. India's trade ties with Southeast Asian countries are expanding.

India is a member of such organizations as:

AfDB – African Development Bank;

ADDB – Asian Development Bank;

TKK – Commodity Credit Corporation;

WHO – World Health Organization;

WTO - World Trade Organization, etc.

Since the early 90s, the country has been implementing an extensive program of new economic reforms, the goal of which is to create a market economy in the world economy. The government has liberalized laws governing the flow of foreign investment into the country. The largest investors are the USA, Japan, Germany and other developed countries.

An important channel for the penetration of foreign capital into India is government loans, credits and subsidies provided by economically developed countries and the world's largest banks. India's external financial debt exceeds $100 billion (among the group of developing countries, only Brazil and Mexico have large external debt).

India's foreign economic relations with Russia have changed in recent years. Previously, the country was one of the main trading partners of the USSR (through the sale of tea, coffee, pepper, spices, fabrics, and medicines). In recent years, trade turnover between the countries has decreased significantly (from $3.7 billion in 1988 to $1.8 billion in 2001). Currently, a number of measures are being implemented aimed at developing new conditions for Russian-Indian trade and economic cooperation. India continues to remain a promising and capacious market for Russia.

3. Conclusion

Country with ancient culture, a history full of drama and heroism, rich traditions of the struggle for national liberation - India today looks confidently into the future.

In international affairs, India is pursuing an independent course. Having gone through all the hardships of almost two centuries of domination by foreign colonialists, she stands on the side of those whose freedom and independence were and are being trampled upon. India contributed greatly to national liberation movements in the former colonies, strongly condemns racism and apartheid in South Africa, and advocates a fair settlement in the Middle East.

Indian culture has traditionally been characterized by high ideals of peace and humanism. It was in India that the idea of ​​non-alignment was born. Non-alignment in India’s understanding is not self-isolation or “sitting between two stools”, but active, constructive participation in the reconstruction of the world on a fair and democratic basis.

India is the author of a number of major initiatives aimed at solving key international problems - eliminating the threat of war, ending the arms race, especially nuclear ones, and establishing the principle of peaceful coexistence as an immutable law of interstate communication.

India strives to develop good bilateral relations with all countries, especially its neighbors. “Peace”, “friendship”, “cooperation” - these words reflect the goals that Delhi sets in the international arena. This is why India is so close and understandable to me.

4. Bibliography.

5. Applications.

1. EGP, territory, general information about country .

India belongs to South Asia, to a triangle fenced off by the Himalayas from the rest of Asia. This is one of ancient states peace. Before 1950, India was colony of England, and now is part of the Commonwealth led by Great Britain. According to the government system, India is federal Republic(territory divided into 25 states) with a strong central government. The territory of the country stretches from North to South for 3200 km, from West to East - for 2900 km. Area - 3 million 288 thousand km 2 .

EGP of India, in general, favorable.

2. The country is located on trade routes from the Mediterranean Sea to the Indian Ocean (this is the busiest trade route in the World Ocean). India also has a long land border, but it does not play a role in trade. .

Population: numbers, natural movements, national composition, etc. The population of India in 2009 was 1 billion 137 million people This 2nd place in the world ! Characteristic fast reproduction rate population (29-9=20), as a result of which the state is trying to limit natural increase through family planning and

demographic policy . The main slogan of demogr. policy: “Every family has two children!” India - the most multinational country in the world: about 300 ethnic groups, 22 main languages. The most common language is Hindustani , it is spoken in Hindi. The main language of interethnic communication is, 10% - English(this is a legacy of the colonial period). 80% of Indians practice Hinduism Islam.

Hinduism implies the division of society into castes. Not uncommon separatist sentiments

3. in India (the state of Punjab wants to secede and form an independent state). .

Population of the country unevenly placed. Level urbanization - 28% (this is a very low figure). 250 million people live in cities. (this is 2nd place in the world after China). Most of the population lives in villages (there are about 600 thousand villages in the country). Farming: general features The country is characterized.

multi-structure (pre-capitalist remnants along with the capitalist way of life). The country has passed a stage industrialization , there is its own space program ..

Recently, through the efforts of Indian scientists, the country “acquired” its own nuclear weapons In India, as once in Russia, there are still 5 year plans and state order

. The country is big(after Russia and the USA), but the problem of “brain drain” is very acute.

Industry of India .

It's busy here 20% of economically active population.

Developed heavy industry: production of machine tools, cars, railway locomotives, agricultural equipment. The newest industries are also developed: production of TV, computers, equipment for nuclear power plants, space equipment, nuclear equipment. Light industry consists of three parts: cotton industry, clothing industry, jute production.

Deccan Plateau- a large combination of natural resources (coal, iron ore, manganese ores), this area heavy industry, iron and steel industry (Bhilai city). On eastern outskirts The Deccan plateau is the main coal and metallurgical base country, “Indian Ruhr” (city of Bokaro).

Agriculture in India .

It's busy here 60% of economically active population countries.

The country is actively using the achievements "green revolution". Arable land makes up half all agricultural lands. India is self-sufficient in grain.

In India stand out 2 main and 1 secondary agricultural zones: 1) southeastern states - rice growing(the rain of the Kharif season is used, and artificial irrigation is carried out during the Rabi season, due to which 2-3 crops are harvested per year); 2) northwestern states and Punjab - home wheat zone, main commercial farming area(Wheat is mainly harvested during the Rabi season under artificial irrigation); 3) secondary foci cultivation of fiber, oilseeds, sugar and tonic crops.

6. India Development Centers .

In the country there is no single dominant center, although there is 4 major cities affecting the entire country.

The quadrangle of these cities looks like this: in the North - Delhi (capital, large transport, industrial, cultural, political and administrative center); in the East - Calcutta (the second industrial city and port after Bombay, the administrative center, the processing and export of jute is developed, the largest area of ​​poverty and slums); on South - Madras (large industrial center, port, economic capital of the Indian south); in the West - (Bombay The largest city