The southern region which includes a narrow coastal plain along the Arabian Sea and a broader one along the Bay of Bengal.
The Indo-Gangetic Plain is separated from the southern region by mountain ranges and a plateau on the Deccan Peninsula, which are flanked by the Western and Eastern Ghats.
The rivers of India are generally divided into the Himalayan and peninsula rivers, and the principal rivers include: the Ganges with its tributaries, the Jumna, Yamuna, Ghaghra, Gandak, Kosi, Chambi, Betwa, Son, Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, Cauvery, Narmada and Tapti.
The major cities and 2004 estimated populations are as follows: Mumbai (Bombay) 10,560,500, New Delhi 7,842,600, Calcutta 5,683,200, Madras 4,695,000, Bangalore 4,512,800, Hyperabad 3,850,000, Ahmadabad 3,246,700, Kanpur 2,354,400, Nagpur 1,720,300, Lucknow 1,650,500, Pune 1,610,
CLIMATE
India has a sub-tropical climate that is characterized by the two Asiatic monsoons with four fairly distinct seasons which are, more or less, common to the entire sub-continent:
- A relatively cool winter monsoon season. (Dec.-March)
- A hot and rainless transitional season. (April-June)
- A rainy monsoon season and (July-August)
- A humid season. (Sept.-Dec..)
Typical New Delhi Average Temperatures. January-February: 47-74ºF; May-June: 80-105ºF; July-August: 70-82ºF; October-November: 76-88ºF
RELIGIONS
Approximately 84% of the population are Hindu, 11% are Muslim, 3% are Christian, 1% are Sikh while just under 1% are Buddhist and .5% are Jain.
LITERACY (age 25 or greater)
- % population with no formal schooling: 63.4%,
- % population with incomplete primary school: 7.2%
- % population completed primary school: 11.2%
- % population incomplete secondary school: 6.4%
- % population completed secondary school: 7.4%
- % population with university/graduate degrees: 2.8%
Literate population (aged 15 or greater): 49.8% (1994)
CURRENCY
The official currency is the Rupee (Rs) which is divided into 100 Paisa. Currently the exchange rate is 1 USD = 48.2 Rs
(The following information was culled from The Wealth Of India)
MAJOR INDUSTRIES
Agriculture, Beverages, Cement, Chemicals, Coke, Fertilizers, Food Processing, Iron and Steel, Machinery, Oil Refining, Software Development, Textiles, Transport Equipment.
MAJOR TRADING PARTNERS
Its main trading partners are the USA, Russia, the UK, Japan, Iran and Iraq.
MAJOR PRODUCTS
Barley, Bauxite, Chromium, Coal, Cotton, Copper, Fruit, Gemstones, Ground Nuts, Iron Ore, Jute, Limestone, Manganese, Mica, Millet, Oil and Gas, Potatoes, Pulses, Rice, Sorghum, Sugar Cane, Tea, Vegetables, Wheat.
MAJOR EXPORTS
Computer Software, Fish, Gemstones, Grains, Handicrafts, Iron Ore, Leather, Tea, Textiles.
