regional party in Tamil Nadu) [M. KARUNANIDHI]; Indian National
League [Suliaman SAITH]; Janata Dal (Secular) [H. D. Deve GOWDA];
Janata Dal (United) or JDU [Sharad YADAV]; Kerala Congress (Mani
faction) [K. M. MANI]; Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam or
MDMK [VAIKO]; Muslim League [G. M. BANATWALA]; Nationalist Congress
Party or NCP [Sharad PAWAR]; Rashtriya Janata Dal or RJD [Laloo
Prasad YADAV]; Revolutionary Socialist Party or RSP [Abani ROY];
Samajwadi Party or SP [Mulayam Singh YADAV]; Shiromani Akali Dal [G.
S. TOHRA]; Shiv Sena [Bal THACKERAY]; Tamil Maanila Congress [G. K.
VASAN]; Telugu Desam Party or TDP [Chandrababu NAIDU]; Trinamool
Congress [Mamata BANERJEE]
Political pressure groups and leaders:
numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations,
including Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal, and Rashtriya
Swayamsevak Sangh; various separatist groups seeking greater
communal and/or regional autonomy, including the All Parties
Hurriyat Conference
International organization participation:
AfDB, ARF (dialogue partner), AsDB, ASEAN (dialogue partner), BIS,
C, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO,
ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IEA (observer), IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, IHO, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, MIPONUH, MONUC,
NAM, OAS (observer), OPCW, PCA, SAARC, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR,
UNIDO, UNIFIL, UNIKOM, UNMEE, UNMIBH, UNMIK, UNMOVIC, UNU, UPU, WCL,
WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Lalit MANSINGH consulate(s) general: Chicago, Houston, New York, and San Francisco FAX: [1] (202) 483–3972 telephone: [1] (202) 939–7000 chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Embassy located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
Diplomatic representation from the US: chief of mission: Ambassador Robert D. BLACKWILL embassy: Shantipath, Chanakyapuri, New Delhi 110021 mailing address: use embassy street address telephone: [91] (11) 419–8000 FAX: [91] (11) 419–0017 consulate(s) general: Chennai (Madras), Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay)
Flag description:
three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top),
white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in
the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small
orange disk centered in the white band
Economy India
Economy - overview:
India's economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern
agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a
multitude of support services. Overpopulation severely handicaps the
economy and about a quarter of the population is too poor to be able
to afford an adequate diet. Government controls have been reduced on
imports and foreign investment, and privatization of domestic output
has proceeded slowly. The economy has posted an excellent average
growth rate of 6% since 1990, reducing poverty by about 10
percentage points. India has large numbers of well-educated people
skilled in the English language; India is a major exporter of
software services and software workers; the information technology
sector leads the strong growth pattern. The World Bank and others
worry about the continuing public-sector budget deficit, running at
approximately 10% of GDP in 1997–2002. In 2003 the state-owned
Indian Bank substantially reduced non-performing loans, attracted
new customers, and turned a profit. Deep-rooted problems remain,
notably conflicts among political and cultural groups.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $2.664 trillion (2002 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
4.3% (2002 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,600 (2002 est.)
GDP - composition by sector: agriculture: 25% industry: 25% services: 50% (2002 est.)
Population below poverty line: 25% (2002 est.)
Household income or consumption by percentage share: lowest 10%: 3.5% highest 10%: 33.5% (1997)
Distribution of family income - Gini index:
37.8 (1997)
Inflation rate (consumer prices):
5.4% (2002 est.)
Labor force:
406 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 60%, services 23%, industry 17% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
8.8% (2002)
Budget:
revenues: $48.3 billion
expenditures: $78.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $14
(FY01/02 est.)
Industries:
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation
equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2002 est.)
Electricity - production:
533.3 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - production by source: fossil fuel: 81.7% hydro: 14.5% other: 0.3% (2001) nuclear: 3.4%
Electricity - consumption:
497.2 billion kWh (2001)
Electricity - exports:
321 million kWh (2001)
Electricity - imports:
1.54 billion kWh (2001)
Oil - production:
732,400 bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.13 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA (2001)
Oil - imports:
NA (2001)
Oil - proved reserves:
4.33 billion bbl (37257)
Natural gas - production:
22.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:
22.75 billion cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - exports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - imports:
0 cu m (2001 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves: