Country Profile: India (Republic of India)

1. Geography

Area: 3,166,000 sq.km.; a further 121,000 sq.km. of Kashmir is administered by Pakistan and China. Geographically and politically India dominates south Asia and the Indian Ocean. There are 29 Union States and 6 Union Territories.

Population: 1,013,661,777 in 2000; 1,152,163,518 in 2010; 1,330,448,707 in 2025

Capital: Delhi (11.3m)

Other major city: Mumbai (Bombay) (17.55m)

2. Peoples

Castes: Forward Castes: 15.4%

Backward Castes: 56.6%

Scheduled castes or Dalit: 18.1%

Tribal or Adivasi: 9.5%

Other: 0.4%

Races and Languages:

Indo-Arzyan: 75.3%

Dravidian: 22.5%

Austro-Asiatic: 1.13%

Sino-Tibetan: 0.98%

Other: 0.1%

Literacy: 62%

Official languages: Hindi (language of Union, 66% speak it), English (legislative and judicial language and language of wider communication, 19% speak it)

3. Economy

Predominantly agricultural with 64% of the labour force, but rapid industrialization and urbanization is taking place. India is now a nuclear power and has a space industry. It is one of the world leaders in computer software production. Economic growth accelerated in the 1990s but has been offset by high birth rate, illiteracy, prejudice, widespread corruption and bureaucratic inefficiency. The 250 million middle class would benefit most from the market reforms and liberalization being instituted. Over 600 million live in deep poverty, and 300 million live below the bread-line. India’s widespread use of English gives the country a major advantage as its economy opens up to the world.

4. Politics

Independent from Britain in 1947. The world’s largest functioning democracy. The RSS and the VHP (which some view as Hindu extreme nationalist movements, although RSS is more liberal in nature) have grown in strength and influence with their nationalist Hindutva ideology, and with effective populist propaganda have infiltrated most of the power structures in India. Their rise may be related to the growth in Islamic strength. As a result of this, the Hindu nationalist BJP party have gained political power, but cannot tame the powerful forces that faciliated this. Many analysts fear the undermining of democracy and the emergence of an intolerant Hindu dictatorship.

5. Religions

Hindu/other: 792,075,313 adherents (79.83% of population)

Muslim: 126,707,722 adherents (12.50% of population)

Christian: 25million adherents (?) (2.40% of population)

Sikh: 19,462,306 adherents (1.92% of population)

Traditional ethnic: 14,191,265 adherents (1.40% of population)

Buddhist: 8,109,294 adherents (0.80% of population)

Jain: 3,500,000 adherents (0.35% of population)

Non-religious: 5,575,000 adherents (0.55% of population)

Baha’i: 2,331,422 adherents (0.23% of population)

Parsee: 150, 000 adherents (0.02% of population)

Churches: Catholic (6.424m members)

Ch of South India (CSI) (1,387,324 members)

Council of Bap Ch of NEI (760,000 members)

Malankara Orth Syrian (1,143,713 members)

United Ev Luth Chs in I (608,108 members)

Ch of North India (CN) (714, 286 members)

Samavesam of Telu. Bapt (475,639 members)

Mar Thoma Syrian (508,982 members)

Assemblies of God (350,000 members)

Presby Ch of NE I (389,385 members)

Indian Pente Ch of God (320,000 members)

Seventh-day Adventist (289,417 members)

Chr Assemblies of India (130,000 members)

Evang Church of India (363,390 members)

Believers Church (GFA) (100,000 members)

Baptist Con. Of N Circars (185,400 members)

Indian Evang Team (200,000 members)

Baptist Convention (165,000 members)

Mennonite S.S. (80,000 members)

Salvation Army (230,000 members)

9 Garo Baptist Assoc (185,00 members)

Assembs –Jeh Shammah (80,000 members)

United Pentecostal (140,000 members)

Ch of God (Cleveland) (95,000 members)

Baptist U of Mizoram (70,000 members)

Chs of Christ (75,000 members)

New Life Fellowship (80,000 members)

N Bank Baptist Assoc (60,000 members)

St Thomas Evangelical (65,868 members)

Source: http://www.religiousintelligence.co.uk