An Introduction to An Introduction to India India

India : Geography

7th largest country (Area:3.28 m sqkm)

1.21 Billion (16.7% of world) population in 2.4 % world’s land area

E-W: 2933 Km,

N-S: 3214Km

7517 km coastline,

15200 km land frontiers

• 28 states (Provinces) & 7 Union Territories

Neighbours• Pakistan• China• Bangladesh• Nepal• Bhutan• Myanmar• Sri Lanka• Maldives• Indonesia

Our landscape:

You can see the mountains in the north- these are the Himalayas (Abode of Snow) are 2500 Km long

• Over 100 mountain peaks more than 7200 m (23,622 ft)

• 15,000 Glaciers

Landscape continued

1. Aravallis, Vindhya, Satpura, Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats

2. Alluvial Plains3. Deccan Plateau4. Thar Desert5. 14 major rivers-

Ganga, Yamuna, Bhramaputa, Godaveri, Mahanadi etc

6. Islands – Lakshwadeep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands

ClimateClimate

Tropical MonsoonTropical Monsoon Four Seasons: Four Seasons: Winter (Jan-Feb)Winter (Jan-Feb) Summer (March-May)Summer (March-May) Rainy SeasonRainy Season

(SW Monsoon) –(June - September)(SW Monsoon) –(June - September) Post Monsoon (NE Monsoon) – (Oct-Post Monsoon (NE Monsoon) – (Oct-

Dec)Dec)

LanguagesLanguagesScheduled Languages: 22 Scheduled Languages: 22

Other spoken Languages – more than thousand.Other spoken Languages – more than thousand.

There are million plus speakers of 29 different languages. There are million plus speakers of 29 different languages.

The top 6 languages spoken in IndiaThe top 6 languages spoken in India

Sr NoSr No LanguageLanguage Percent PopulationPercent Population

11 HindiHindi 4141

22 BengaliBengali 88

33 TeluguTelugu 77

44 MarathiMarathi 77

55 TamilTamil 66

66 UrduUrdu 55

62,483 registered newspapers in 123 languages.62,483 registered newspapers in 123 languages.

National Flag coloursNational Flag colours

The saffron color represents courage and The saffron color represents courage and sacrifice; sacrifice;

white - truth and purity; white - truth and purity; green - peace and prosperity; green - peace and prosperity; and the wheel at the centre or the ashok chakra and the wheel at the centre or the ashok chakra

as it is called represents the Laws of dharma as it is called represents the Laws of dharma (righteousness).(righteousness).

National AnimalNational Animal

Tiger

National bird- PeacockNational bird- Peacock

Lotus Mango

Banyan Tree

Other symbols

Our emblem-Our emblem-

The Ashoka PillarThe Ashoka Pillar

It is a replica of the Lion of Sarnath, near It is a replica of the Lion of Sarnath, near Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh. Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh.

Belongs to third century BC Belongs to third century BC Reign of Emperor AshokaReign of Emperor Ashoka The four lions (one hidden from view) - The four lions (one hidden from view) -

symbolising power, courage and confidence - symbolising power, courage and confidence - rest on a circular abacus. rest on a circular abacus.

The abacus is girded by four smaller animals The abacus is girded by four smaller animals - guardians of the four directions: - guardians of the four directions:

the lion of the north, the lion of the north, the elephant of the east, the elephant of the east, the horse of the south and the horse of the south and the bull of the west.the bull of the west. The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom, The abacus rests on a lotus in full bloom,

exemplifying the fountainhead of life and exemplifying the fountainhead of life and creative inspiration.creative inspiration.

‘Satyamev Jayate’ (‘Truth alone Triumphs’)

Government & AccountabilityGovernment & Accountability

Parliamentary Democracy: Two Houses of parliament Parliamentary Democracy: Two Houses of parliament Upper House (Rajya Sabha -Indirectly elected 250 Upper House (Rajya Sabha -Indirectly elected 250

Members)Members) Lower House (Loksabha - 552 directly elected Members)Lower House (Loksabha - 552 directly elected Members)

ParliamentParliament works through Committees. works through Committees. ExecutiveExecutive: Cabinet headed by PM is directly responsible to the Parliament. : Cabinet headed by PM is directly responsible to the Parliament.

Size of the cabinet is restricted to 15% of the strength of Lower House.Size of the cabinet is restricted to 15% of the strength of Lower House. Ministries (about 50)Ministries (about 50)

Parliamentary CommitteesParliamentary Committees Two committees are part of financial accountability Two committees are part of financial accountability

mechanism which discuss Audit Reports of SAI. mechanism which discuss Audit Reports of SAI. Public Accounts Committee (PAC): Discuss Audit Reports Public Accounts Committee (PAC): Discuss Audit Reports

on accounts of the Government. (22 Members = 15 Lower on accounts of the Government. (22 Members = 15 Lower House + 7 Upper House)House + 7 Upper House)

Committee on Public Accounts (COPU) : Discuss the Committee on Public Accounts (COPU) : Discuss the Audit Reports pertaining to functioning of the Public Audit Reports pertaining to functioning of the Public Sector Undertakings. (22 Members)Sector Undertakings. (22 Members)

ECONOMYECONOMY National Income National Income GDP in 2012-2013 is more than $ 1.824 TrillionGDP in 2012-2013 is more than $ 1.824 Trillion GDP Growth of is 3.9%GDP Growth of is 3.9% Imports (2012): $ 488.6 BillionImports (2012): $ 488.6 Billion Exports (2012): $ 309.1 BillionExports (2012): $ 309.1 Billion Foreign Exchange Reserves: $ 295.29 Billion Foreign Exchange Reserves: $ 295.29 Billion

(October,2012) (October,2012) Sectors: Agriculture : 17.2%, Industry : 26.4%, Sectors: Agriculture : 17.2%, Industry : 26.4%,

Services : 56.4% (2011)Services : 56.4% (2011)

Incredible India imagesIncredible India images

Thar Desert, Jaisalmer

Coastline, KeralaAndaman Islands

Godavari River

Kanchanjangha Peak in HimalayaThar Desert of Rajasthan

Backwaters of Kerala Tea Gardens of Assam

Konkan Valley Snowcapped Kashmir

Emerald Islands Andamans Rafting in Ganga

Religions in India: Four religions of the world have Religions in India: Four religions of the world have originated from India: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism originated from India: Hinduism, Jainism, Sikhism

and Buddhism and Buddhism

Hindu (80.5%)

Sikhs (1.9%)

Islam (13.4%)

Christians (2.3%)

Other Religions in IndiaOther Religions in India

Bahai

Parsi Jew

Buddhist (0.8%)

Jain (0.4%)

FestivalsFestivals - - DiwaliDiwali

Diwali-the festival of lights-is the most popular festival in India. It is celebrated throughout the country in the month of October / November.

DASSERADASSERA

The festival of Dassera, also The festival of Dassera, also known as Vijayadashmi, is known as Vijayadashmi, is one of the fascinating one of the fascinating festivals of India and is festivals of India and is celebrated with joy and celebrated with joy and enthusiasm.enthusiasm.

It is the tenth day of It is the tenth day of navaratri.navaratri.

It is in honor of Godess It is in honor of Godess Durga.Durga.

FestivalsFestivals

Ganesha Chaturthi is the most important festival of Mumbai. It is celebrated every year around September.

The Durga Puja is celebrated every year around October in Bengal.

HOLIHOLI

Holi is the most colourful Holi is the most colourful festival of the Hindus and falls festival of the Hindus and falls on the Full moon day.on the Full moon day.

Holi heralds the arrival of Holi heralds the arrival of Spring - the season of hope and Spring - the season of hope and new beginnings and marks the new beginnings and marks the rekindling of the spirit of life. rekindling of the spirit of life.

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Christmas & Good FridayChristmas & Good Friday

EIDEID

Dances of IndiaDances of India

The cultural richness of India The cultural richness of India is reflected in her numerous is reflected in her numerous

classical and folk dances.classical and folk dances.

KathakaliKathakali

KathakaliKathakali is is one of the one of the oldest theatre oldest theatre forms in the forms in the world. It world. It originated in originated in the area of the area of southwestern southwestern India now India now known as the known as the state of state of Kerala.Kerala.

BharatnatyamBharatnatyam is one is one of the seven major of the seven major classical dance classical dance forms, which forms, which originated in India originated in India (Tamilnadu). (Tamilnadu).

Bharatnatyam

MohiniyattMohiniyattamam

This classical style was born out of a clever fusion of Kathakali with Bharatnatyam

KuchipuKuchipudidi

KuchipudiKuchipudi was born in a was born in a remote village of Andhra remote village of Andhra Pradesh from which it derives Pradesh from which it derives its name.its name.The style portrays various The style portrays various religious themes in the form religious themes in the form of a dance drama. of a dance drama.

Odissi

Odissi may be the earliest classical dance style of India.It is nurtured in the famous shrines of Orissa situated at Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar. .

ManipuriManipuri

ManipuriManipuri dance dance originated in originated in Manipur. The Manipur. The love of Lord love of Lord Krishna and Krishna and Radha is the Radha is the dominant theme dominant theme in this dance in this dance form. form.

Kathak

The Kathak dance form originated in the north. The  influence of the Mughal tradition is evident in this dance form.

FolkFolk DanceDance

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Dandiya - A folk dance of Gujarat. Its popularity has spread all over India.

Bhangra – This folk dance from Punjab is characterized by vigorous movements. Bhangra is a rage in India.

Dresses in India : Varied ways Dresses in India : Varied ways of wearing Sareeof wearing Saree

Ghagra Choli

Churidar

Salwar kurta

sherwani Dhoti-kurta

turban

Jodhpuri coat

SportsSports

Cricket is the most popular sport in India.

Hockey is the national sport of India.

WildlifeWildlife

Wildlife

Kaziranga in Assam is the home of the one-horned Rhino.

The Red Panda is found in the hills of Darjeeling in West Bengal.

The Indian elephant is smaller than its African counterpart. Elephants were extensively used in warfare in ancient times. They are still used for various temple rituals.

India is home to more than thousand varieties of birds

Namaskar and Dhanyavaad…..come again to India