Source:

CIA World Factbook 2004: Communications [ID 6173]

"[...]Telephones - main lines in use:
48.917 million (2003)
Telephones - mobile cellular:
26,154,400 (2003)
Telephone system:
general assessment: recent deregulation and liberalization of telecommunications laws and policies have prompted rapid change; local and long distance service provided throughout all regions of the country, with services primarily concentrated in the urban areas; steady improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and private-public investors, but telephone density remains low at about seven for each 100 persons nationwide but only one per 100 persons in rural areas and a national waiting list of over 1.7 million; fastest growth is in cellular service with modest growth in fixed lines
domestic: expansion of domestic service, although still weak in rural areas, resulted from increased competition and dramatic reductions in price led in large part by wireless service; mobile cellular service (both CDMA and GSM) introduced in 1994 and organized nationwide into four metropolitan cities and 19 telecom circles each with about three private service providers and one state-owned service provider; in recent years significant trunk capacity added in the form of fiber-optic cable and one of the world's largest domestic satellite systems, the Indian National Satellite system (INSAT), with five satellites supporting 33,000 very small aperture terminals (VSAT)
international: country code - 91; satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean region); nine gateway exchanges operating from Mumbai (Bombay), New Delhi, Kolkata (Calcutta), Chennai (Madras), Jalandhar, Kanpur, Gandhinagar, Hyderabad, and Ernakulam; 5 submarine cables, including Sea-Me-We-3 with landing sites at Cochin and Mumbai (Bombay), Fiber-Optic Link Around the Globe (FLAG) with landing site at Mumbai (Bombay), South Africa - Far East (SAFE) with landing site at Cochin, i2icn linking to Singapore with landing sites at Mumbai (Bombay) and Chennai (Madras), and Tata Indicom linking Singapore and Chennai (Madras), provide a significant increase in the bandwidth available for both voice and data traffic (2004)
Radio broadcast stations:
AM 153, FM 91, shortwave 68 (1998)
Television broadcast stations:
562 (of which 82 stations have 1 kW or greater power and 480 stations have less than 1 kW of power) (1997)
Internet country code:
.in
Internet hosts:
86,871 (2003)
Internet users:
18.481 million (2003)
[...]"

Document(s): Open document

19.07.2007 - Source: Hanns Seidel Stiftung

Monthly report on recent developments (June 2007); economic growth at an all-time high ("Indien Monatsbericht Juni 2007") [ID 20987]

"Die indische Wirtschaft ist in den zwölf Monaten bis Ende März dieses Jahres um 9,4 Prozent gewachsen. Triebfeder des Aufschwungs waren der Dienstleistungssektor und die Industrie. Demnach hat sich das Wachstum in dem asiatischen Schwellenland seit dem Vorjahreszeitraum, von März 2005 bis März 2006, als das Bruttoinlandsprodukt (BIP) um neun Prozent zugelegt hatte, noch weiter beschleunigt. Mit dem neuen Rekordwert behauptet Indien weiterhin Platz zwei der am schnellsten wachsenden Volkswirtschaften nach China, wo das BIP im vergangenen Jahr nach offiziellen Angaben um 10,7 Prozent zunahm. Die indische Zentralbank warnt vor einer harten Landung und hatte in den vergangenen Monaten mehrmals die Zinsen angehoben, um die Inflation zu dämpfen."

Document(s): Open document

05.06.2007 - Source: Hanns Seidel Stiftung

Monthly report on recent developments (May 2007); economy ("Indien Monatsbericht Mai 2007") [ID 20921]

"Indien beendete sein Fiskaljahr (31. März) mit einem Handelsdefizit von 57 Mrd. US Dollar. Wie Regierungsstellen mitteilten, wurde mit einem Exportvolumen von 124,6 Mrd. US Dollar ein Rekord erreicht. Es lag um 23,9 Prozent über dem Vorjahr und verfehlte um 400 Mio. US Dollar das Ziel. Der Import legte noch stärker um 29,3 Prozent auf 181,4 Mrd. US Dollar zu. Vor allem Ölimporte führten zu dem Handelsdefizit, welches im vorangegangenen Jahr bei 39 Mrd. US Dollar lag. Gestiegene Ölpreise sind Hauptverantwortlich für die Defizitausweitung, so die Regierungsstellen. Indien muss etwa zwei Drittel seines Ölbedarfs importieren. Anmerkung: Indien ist derzeit die am schnellsten wachsende demokratische Volkswirtschaft der Welt. Beim Konsum könnte der Subkontinent laut einer Studie schon 2025 Deutschland überflügeln. In den letzten vier Jahren ist die Wirtschaft um jeweils acht Prozent. Zuletzt beschleunigte sich die Wachstumsdynamik. Von Anfang April 2006 bis Ende März 2007 betrug das Plus 9,2 Prozent. Die Regierung von Neu-Delhi hatte lediglich 8,1 Prozent vorausgesagt. Wichtigster Wachstumsmotor war der Konsum. Er trug 68 Prozent zum Volkseinkommen bei. Vor allem die entstandene neue Mittelklasse trieb die Nachfrage. Sie wird auf rund 100 bis 250 Millionen Indern geschätzt – das ist ein Zehntel bis knapp ein Viertel der Bevölkerung. [...]"

Document(s): Open document

10.06.2006 - Source: Hanns Seidel Stiftung

Economy ("Indien Monatsbericht Mai 2006") [ID 17307]

"Supermarkt-Ketten drängen nach Indien: Laut einer Studie der Unternehmensberatung A.T. Kearney ist Indien weltweit für den Einzelhandel derzeit der interessanteste Markt. Bedenkt man allein die Größe und das Potenzial des indischen Marktes, dann ist das nicht weiter überraschend. Das Handelsvolumen liegt bei 330 Milliarden Dollar und wächst jährlich um zehn Prozent. Multinationale Konzerne, u.a. auch die Metro AG, klopften schon vor Jahren an die Tür, und die einheimische Kette Reliance plant, in den nächsten Jahren 2,2 Milliarden Dollar in neue Supermärkte zu investieren. In einigen indischen Bundesstaaten ist es den Bauern aber verboten, ihre Produkte direkt an den Einzelhandel zu verkaufen. Im Bundesstaat Karnataka, dessen Hauptstadt Bangalore ist, dürfen Agrarprodukte nur auf staatlichen Märkten über ein kompliziertes System von Mittelsmännern gehandelt werden. Obst und Gemüse machen in Indien 30 Prozent des gesamten Warenumsatzes aus. In diesem schwierigen Umfeld hat sich vor drei Jahren die deutsche Großhandelskette Metro in Indien gegen die Konkurrenten Wal-Mart und Carrefour durchgesetzt. Doch der Einstieg in den indischen Markt gestaltet sich schwierig. Trotzdem soll es nach Aussagen des deutschen Metro-Konzerns in allen 30 indischen Städten mit über einer Million Einwohner in Zukunft einen Metro-Markt geben.

Honda verdoppelt Autoproduktion in Indien: Der japanische Autohersteller Honda Co. gab bekannt, dass das Unternehmen die Produktionskapazität in Indien bis zum nächsten Jahr auf 100.000 Einheiten verdoppeln will. Ursprünglich sollte dieses Ziel erst im Jahr 2010 erreicht werden.

Indien wird Informationstechnologie-Branche zu teuer: Der größte indische Informationstechnologie (IT)-Dienstleister Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) befürchtet, das andere Niedriglohnländer Indien langfristig als bevorzugten Standort für die Auslagerung von Unternehmensdienstleistungen ablösen könnten. Indiens Preisvorteil werde sukzessive geringer. Nach Aussagen der TCS werden Länder wie China oder Vietnam die neuen Niedrigpreisländer der IT-Branche sein. Dorthin und in die schnell wachsenden Outsourcing-Zentren Osteuropas und Lateinamerikas müssten die indischen Anbieter expandieren, um ihre Kosten niedrig zu halten. Indien gilt wegen seiner gut ausgebildeten Spezialisten bei gleichzeitig niedrigem Lohnniveau derzeit als bevorzugter Standort für die Auslagerung von Wartung, Betreuung und Herstellung von Hard- und Software. Zuletzt flossen 22 Mrd. $ des auf 300 Mrd. $ geschätzten globalen Outsourcingvolumens nach Indien. Branchenexperten warnen aber, der Auslagerungsboom in das Land werde abflauen. Sie verweisen auf zu geringe Absolventenzahlen, Gehaltssteigerungen von mehr als 15 Prozent pro Jahr und Engpässe in der Infrastruktur des Landes. Während in den 80er Jahren Dateneingabe und einfache Softwareentwicklung für Konzerne aus Europa, Japan und den USA das Geschäft der indischen Anbieter bestimmte, übernehmen sie inzwischen ganze Geschäftsbereiche für ihre Kunden, wie etwa Buchhaltung und Kundenverwaltung sowie IT-Integration oder Teileentwicklung. "

Document(s): Open document

23.05.2006 - Source: Amnesty International

Annual Report 2006 ("Annual Report 2006") [ID 17251]

"Despite positive economic gains in recent years, approximately 300 million people remained mired in poverty. Following persistent reports over increasing rural unemployment and campaigns to empower the rural poor, the UPA government enacted legislation to guarantee minimum annual employment for all poor households in selected rural areas. However, guidelines for its implementation had not been fully framed by the end of the year. Twenty-one years after the Union Carbide Corporation’s (UCC) pesticide plant in Bhopal leaked toxic gases that took a heavy toll on lives and the environment, survivors continued to struggle for adequate compensation, medical help and rehabilitation. The plant site had still not been cleaned and toxic wastes continued to pollute groundwater. UCC and Dow Chemicals (which took over UCC in 2001) had publicly stated that they had no responsibility for the leak or its consequences. AI joined a year-long campaign by the Bhopal survivors and other organizations to call for an immediate clean-up of the pollutants from the site and the affected surroundings as well as a full remedy for the victims, and for those responsible to be brought to justice."

Document(s): Open document

30.04.2006 - Source: Hanns Seidel Stiftung

India: Monthly report april 2006 ("Indien Monatsbericht April 2006") [ID 15819]

"Indien Partnerland 2006 auf Hannover Messe In Hannover wurde die weltweit größte Technologiemesse durch den indischen Ministerpräsident Dr. Manmohan Singh und Bundeskanzlerin Dr. Angela Merkel eröffnet. Nach 21 Jahren ist Indien wieder Partnerland der Messe in Hannover. Galt der Subkontinent vor zwei Jahrzehnten noch weitgehend als Entwicklungsland, begegnen sich Wirtschaftsvertreter beider Staaten heute auf Augenhöhe. Die indischen Aussteller sind vor allem in den Bereichen Automation, Energie, Forschung und Entwicklung, Mikrotechnologie und Satellitentechnik tätig. Geplant sind ein Wissenschaftsforum und ein Energiedialog, wobei auch die friedliche Nutzung der Kernenergie angesprochen wurde. Boom in indischer Wirtschaft Im April schloss die indische Börse mit einem neuen Rekordhoch von 12 000 Punkten und verbuchte einen Anstieg von mehr als 4 Prozent in einem Quartal. Indiens Demographie und Globalisierung zählen zu den strukturell wichtigsten Wachstums-Faktoren. Mit 1,112 Milliarden Einwohnern ist Indien das zweitbevölkerungsreichste Land der Erde und die größte Demokratie der Welt. Indien entwickle sich derzeit zum globalen Dienstleister und zum künftigen „High Tech Labour der Welt“. Indische Unternehmer expandieren rund um die Welt. Von insgesamt 40 Prozent des weltweiten Wirtschaftswachstums kommen 12 Prozent in den nächsten 15 Jahren aus Indien. Indien erwartet in diesem Jahr ein Exportwachstum von 20 Prozent. Das Exportvolumen von Indien im letzten Kalenderjahr war 100 Milliarden US Dollar. Mittlerweile hat die Wirtschaftsagentur Standard & Poor`s für Indien ihren Ausblick von „stabil“ auf „positiv“ erhöht. Die Experten verweisen für die viertgrößte asiatische Volkswirtschaft auf die Verbesserung der Situation im Bereich der Schulden und die Aussicht auf Generierung von höherem Wirtschaftswachstum. Der Ausblick folgt zudem den Versprechen der indischen Regierung das Budgetdefizit zu verringern und dem Rupee gegenüber anderen Währungen mehr Freiheiten zu verschaffen. Eine noch bessere Einstufung wird aber nur dann möglich sein, wenn sich die Situation auf dem Energiesektor verbessert. Indien kann bisher seinen Investoren noch keine Garantie für eine störungsfreie Stromversorgung geben. Vor allem in der heißen Sommerzeit, wenn überall im Land Klimageräte rund um die Uhr im Einsatz sind, brechen die Stromnetze oft zusammen."

Document(s): Open document

24.06.2005 - Source:

CIA World Factbook 2004: Economy [ID 6172]

"[...]Economy - overview:
India's diverse economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of services. Services are the major source of economic growth, though two-thirds of the workforce is in agriculture. The UPA government has committed to furthering economic reforms and developing basic infrastructure to improve the lives of the rural poor and boost economic performance. Government controls on foreign trade and investment have been reduced in some areas, but high tariffs (averaging 20% in 2004) and limits on foreign direct investment are still in place. The government has indicated it will do more to liberalize investment in civil aviation, telecom, and insurance sectors in the near term. Privatization of government-owned industries has proceeded slowly, and continues to generate political debate; continued social, political, and economic rigidities hold back needed initiatives. The economy has posted an excellent average growth rate of 6.8% since 1994, reducing poverty by about 10 percentage points. India is capitalizing on its large numbers of well-educated people skilled in the English language to become a major exporter of software services and software workers. Despite strong growth, the World Bank and others worry about the combined state and federal budget deficit, running at approximately 9% of GDP. The huge and growing population is the fundamental social, economic, and environmental problem. In late December 2004, a major tsunami took at least 60,000 lives in India, caused massive destruction of property, and severely affected the fishing fleet.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.319 trillion (2004 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
6.2% (2004 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $3,100 (2004 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.6%
industry: 28.4%
services: 48% (2002 est.)
Investment (gross fixed):
23.8% of GDP (2004 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):
4.2% (2004 est.)
Labor force:
482.2 million (2004 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 60%, industry 17%, services 23% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
9.2% (2004 est.)
Budget:
revenues: $67.3 billion
expenditures: $104 billion, including capital expenditures of $13.5 billion (2004 est.)
Public debt:
59.7% of GDP (federal debt only; state debt not included) (2004 est.)
Agriculture - products:
rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish
Industries:
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software
Industrial production growth rate:
7.4% (2004 est.)
Electricity - production:
547.2 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - consumption:
510.1 billion kWh (2002)
Electricity - exports:
350 million kWh (2002)
Electricity - imports:
1.54 billion kWh (2002)
Oil - production:
780,000 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:
2.13 million bbl/day (2001 est.)
Oil - exports:
NA
Oil - imports:
NA
Oil - proved reserves:
5.7 billion bbl (2004 est.)
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:
542.4 billion cu m (2004)
Current account balance:
$4.897 billion (2004 est.)
Exports:
$69.18 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:
textile goods, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals, leather manufactures
Exports - partners:
US 18.4%, China 7.8%, UAE 6.7%, UK 4.8%, Hong Kong 4.3%, Germany 4% (2004)
Imports:
$89.33 billion f.o.b. (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:
crude oil, machinery, gems, fertilizer, chemicals
Imports - partners:
US 7%, Belgium 6.1%, China 5.9%, Singapore 4.8%, Australia 4.6%, UK 4.6%, Germany 4.5% (2004)
Reserves of foreign exchange & gold:
$126 billion (2004 est.)
Debt - external:
$117.2 billion (2004 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.9 billion (FY98/99)
Currency:
Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code:
INR
Exchange rates:
Indian rupees per US dollar - 45.317 (2004), 46.583 (2003), 48.61 (2002), 47.186 (2001), 44.942 (2000)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March
[...]"

Document(s): Open document

24.06.2005 - Source:

CIA World Factbook 2004: Transportation [ID 6174]

"[...]Railways:
total: 63,140 km (15,994 km electrified)
broad gauge: 45,099 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 14,776 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,265 km 0.762-m gauge and 0.610-m gauge (2003)
Highways:
total: 2,525,989 km
paved: 1,448,655 km
unpaved: 1,077,334 km (1999)
Waterways:
14,500 km
note: 5,200 km on major rivers and 485 km on canals suitable for mechanized vessels (2004)
Pipelines:
gas 6,171 km; liquid petroleum gas 1,195 km; oil 5,613 km; refined products 5,567 km (2004)
Ports and harbors:
Chennai (Madras), Cochin, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay), Vishakhapatnam
Merchant marine:
total: 299 ships (1,000 GRT or over) 6,555,507 GRT/11,069,791 DWT
by type: bulk carrier 85, cargo 75, chemical tanker 13, combination ore/oil 1, container 7, liquefied gas 14, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 91, roll on/roll off 1
foreign-owned: 10 (Australia 1, China 1, Greece 1, UAE 6, United Kingdom 1)
registered in other countries: 30 (2005)
Airports:
333 (2004 est.)
Airports - with paved runways:
total: 234
over 3,047 m: 14
2,438 to 3,047 m: 47
1,524 to 2,437 m: 78
914 to 1,523 m: 74
under 914 m: 21 (2004 est.)
Airports - with unpaved runways:
total: 99
2,438 to 3,047 m: 3
1,524 to 2,437 m: 9
914 to 1,523 m: 42
under 914 m: 45 (2004 est.)
Heliports:
20 (2004 est.)
[...]"

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004 ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29545],  [ID 6175]

Document(s): Open document

28.02.2005 - Source: US Department of State

Economy ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2004") [#29545],  [ID 6176]

"[...]The country continued its transition from a government-controlled to a largely market-oriented economy. The private sector was predominant in agriculture, most non-financial services, consumer goods manufacturing, and some heavy industrial sectors. The economic growth rate during the year was approximately 7 percent. A 1.7 percent annual population growth rate, and a population that surpassed 1.03 billion, according to the most recent census figures of 2001, compounded the country's economic problems. Wages and benefits kept pace with inflation. On December 26, a large-scale tsunami devastated parts of the southeastern coastal areas of the country, killing, injuring and displacing thousands of persons."

Document(s): Open document

10.2004 - Source: UK Home Office

Economy ("Country Report - October 2004") [#28325],  [ID 6177]

"3.1 As noted in the US State Department Background Note for India, reviewed in August 2004,
“India is continuing to move forward with market-oriented economic reforms that began in 1991. Recent reforms include liberalized foreign investment and exchange regimes, industrial decontrol, significant reductions in tariffs and other trade barriers, reform and modernization of the financial sector, significant adjustments in government monetary and fiscal policies and safeguarding intellectual property rights…. However, economic growth is constrained by inadequate infrastructure, a cumbersome bureaucracy, corruption, labor market rigidities, regulatory and foreign investment controls, the ‘reservation’ of key products for small-scale industries and high fiscal deficits…. The rapidly growing software sector is boosting service exports and modernizing India's economy.” [2f](p7)
3.2 According to the same source, “It has the world's 12th largest economy, and the third largest in Asia behind Japan and China, with total GDP of around $570 billion. Services, industry and agriculture account for 50.7%, 26.6% and 22.7% of GDP respectively. Nearly two-thirds of the population depends on agriculture for their livelihood. About 25% of the population lives below the poverty line, but a large and growing middle class of 320-340 million has disposable income for consumer goods.” [2f](p7)
3.3 As noted in the Economic Intelligence Unit Country Report for India, 2004-5, “Congress has also been challenged by its Left Front partners over the proposed liberalisation of foreign investment, highlighting the strains between the two groups. The budget released in July focuses attention on agricultural development and the provision of employment and social services to the poor, who are widely thought to have supported Congress in the recent election. Economic growth will moderate to 6.1% (at factor cost) in fiscal year 2004/05 (April-March), down from an exceptional 8.3% in 2003/04, owing to a likely contraction in the agricultural sector and hence less robust growth in personal incomes.” [16](p1)
3.4 A BBC News Report of 27 August 2004 noted that the World Bank is to raise its lending to India under a newly drafted 4-year assistance programme, which starts in 2005. [32ad] A further report of 30 August 2004 indicated that India’s central bank, the Reserve Bank of India, has warned that the high price of oil and drought are the two biggest threats to economic growth. [32ds]
3.5 As noted in the Economic Intelligence Unit Country Report for India, 2004-5, the average unemployment rate in 2003 was 9.5%. The consumer price inflation at the end of 2003 was 3.7%. [16](p6) According to XE.com, the approximate rate of exchange on 28 September 2004 was £1 = 83.3533 Indian rupees. [36] [...]"

Document(s): Open document

08.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Background information on people, history, political and economic situation ("Background Note: India") [#25734],  [ID 6178]

"Economy

GDP: $576 billion (2003); $648 (2004E)
Real Growth rate: 8.2% 2003
Per Capita GDP: $543 (2003); $602 (2004E)
Natural Resources: Coal, iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, chromite, thorium, limestone, barite, titanium ore, diamonds, crude oil
Agriculture: 22.7% of GDP; Products--wheat, rice, coarse grains, oilseeds, sugar, cotton, jute, tea
Industry: 26.6% of GDP; Products--textiles, jute, processed food, steel, machinery, transport equipment, cement, aluminum, fertilizers, mining, petroleum, chemicals, computer software
Services and transportation: 50.7% of GDP
Trade: Exports--$62 billion; agricultural products, engineering goods, precious stones, cotton apparel and fabrics, gems and jewelry, handicrafts, tea; Software Exports-- $12.5 billion
Imports--$76 billion; petroleum, machinery and transport equipment, electronic goods, edible oils, fertilizers, chemicals, gold, textiles, iron and steel
Major trade partners--U.S., EU, Russia, Japan, Iraq"

Document(s): Open document

11.05.2004 - Source:

CIA World Factbook 2004: Economy [ID 6179]

"Economy - overview:
India's economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services. Government controls have been reduced on foreign trade and 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 is capitalizing on its large numbers of well-educated people skilled in the English language to become a major exporter of software services and software workers. Despite strong growth, the World Bank and others worry about the continuing public-sector budget deficit, running at approximately 10% of GDP.
GDP:
purchasing power parity - $3.022 trillion (2003 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:
7.6% (2003 est.)
GDP - per capita:
purchasing power parity - $2,900 (2003 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:
agriculture: 23.6%
industry: 28.4%
services: 48% (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):
4.6% (2003 est.)
Labor force:
406 million (1999)
Labor force - by occupation:
agriculture 60%, services 23%, industry 17% (1999)
Unemployment rate:
9.1% (2003)
Budget:
revenues: $48.3 billion
expenditures: $78.2 billion, including capital expenditures of $13.5 (FY01/02 est.)
Industries:
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery, software
Industrial production growth rate:
6% (2003 est.)

[...]

Debt - external:
$95.3 billion (2003 est.)
Economic aid - recipient:
$2.9 billion (FY98/99)
Currency:
Indian rupee (INR)
Currency code:
INR
Exchange rates:
Indian rupees per US dollar - 46.58 (2003), 48.61 (2002), 47.19 (2001), 44.94 (2000), 43.06 (1999)
Fiscal year:
1 April - 31 March"

Document(s): Open document

04.2004 - Source: UK Home Office

Economy ("Country Report - April 2004") [#22427],  [ID 6180]

"3.1 Since the early 1990s, India has been undergoing a transition from a governmentcontrolled economy to one that is largely market oriented. The private sector is predominant in agriculture, most non-financial services, consumer goods, manufacturing and some heavy industry, although the State dominates the economy through public ownership in sectors such as finance, energy, capital goods and heavy industry, and infrastructure. The State also employs nearly 70% of the 28 million workers in organised employment.
3.2 India is the world's fifth largest economy in terms of gross national product (GNP), but its per capita GNP brings it to 90th place. Agriculture, together with fishing and industry, contribute approximately one third of GNP. About 70% of the population are involved in cultivation activities. Nearly 33% of cultivated land is under assured irrigation while the rest depends on the annual monsoon. The main crops are food grains for domestic consumption such as rice, wheat and sorghum. Large-scale poverty means that out of the 1.13 billion people living below the poverty line throughout the world, 40% are found in India.
3.3 India is also regarded as a giant in technological achievements and industrial output: it has significant expertise in nuclear energy, communication satellites, vehicles, software design, combat aeroplanes and helicopters, oceanography and deep sea oil drilling, as well as machinery and manufactured goods.
3.4 According to XE.com, the approximate rate of exchange on 19 March 2004 was £1 = 79 Indian rupees."

Document(s): Open document

25.02.2004 - Source: US Department of State

Transition from a government-controlled to a largely market-oriented economy; income distribution very unequal ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2003") [#19765],  [ID 6181]

"The country was in transition from a government-controlled to a largely market-oriented economy. The private sector was predominant in agriculture, most non-financial services, consumer goods manufacturing, and some heavy industrial sectors. Economic liberalization and structural reforms begun in 1991 continued, although momentum slowed. The country's economic problems were compounded by a population growth rate of 1.7 percent annually and a population of more than 1.2 billion. Income distribution remained very unequal, with the top 20 percent of the population receiving 46.1 percent of national income and the bottom 20 percent receiving 8.1 percent. According to a government survey, 16.6 percent of the urban population and 18.6 percent of the rural population lived below the poverty level."

Document(s): Open document

08.2002 - Source: European Reintegration Networking

Background information on India (including procedures for entrance, supply and care, health, education, work opportunies,...) ("Background information on India (including procedures for entrance, supply and care, health, education, work opportunies,...)") [#28646],  [ID 6182]

"[...]Wirtschaftsdaten 2001
Bruttosozialprodukt (BSP): 453,4 Mrd. US$
BSP pro Kopf: 450 US$
Bruttoinlandsprodukt (BIP): 457 Mrd. US$
Wachstum BIP: 4 %
Inflationsrate (BIP Deflator): 4,1 %
Auslandsverschuldung: 103,67 Mrd. US$
Export von Gütern und Dienstleistungen: 63,76 Mrd. US$
Import von Gütern und Dienstleistungen: 75,65 Mrd. US$
Wirtschaftsstruktur:

Landwirtschaft: 24,9 % des BIP
Industrie: 26,9 % des BIP
Dienstleistungen: 48,2 % des BIP
Quelle: Worldbank, Country at a Glance Tables, http://www.worldbank.org/data/countrydata/countrydata.html (abgerufen im August 2002)
[...]"

Document(s): Open document