INDIA
FACT SHEET
Political Capital
Independence
: New Delhi
15 August 1947.
Republic Day: 26 January (1950).
System of Government
:
Republic. President: Giani Zail Singh (elected for 5 years by members
National and State legislatures).
Mr Rajiv
Parliamentary democracy. Prime Minister and Defence Minister: Gandhi. Ruling Party Congress (I). Elections took place in December 1984.
Federal system. 22 states with own legislative assembly and elected
Chief Minister. 9 Union territories (centrally governed). Foreign Minister:
Finance: Vishwanath Pratap Singh Home
Defence: Mr Gandhi
Mr BR Bhagat
: SB Chavan
Free Press. World's largest democracy (interrupted during emergency
rule 1975-77).
Population
746 million (estimate by Population Reference Bureau, Washington) Population growth:
1 billion by year 2000
2.1% pa
Economy
(Exchange rate £1
=
16.68 rupees)
GDP
US $171 billion (1983)
GNP per capita
:
US $260
Balance of trade
:
1934/85 (estimated) imports US $14.5 billion.
Composition of GDP :
Agriculture
Industries
Services
Oil
Food Grains
Exports US $ 8.4 billion.
% of labour force
71
13
16
% of GDP
35
22
38
:
65% self-sufficient
virtually self-sufficient
India/UK
UK/India trade 1985 : UK exports £897 million. UK imports £433 million. India is UK's 17th largest export market (largest developing country
market)
UK aid to India 1986/87: £108 million UK's largest bilateral programme.
UK is largest bilateral donor to India
Indian community in UK: over 700,000
India's Foreign Relations
Commonwealth member. Hosted CHOGM in Delhi November 1983 Current Chairman of NAM (last NAM Summit in Delhi March 1983) Treaty of Friendship with USSR 1971