CONTINENTAL /

SUB-CONTINENTAL REGION

SOUTH ASIA

India, Pakistan, Bangladesh,

Sri-Lanka

REGIONAL GEOGRPHY OF SOUTH ASIA

(India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka)

COUNTRY POPULATION POPULATION

DENSITY

LIFE EXPECTANCY

AVERAGE

INCOME

US $

per annum

CAPITAL

INDIA 1.09 billion 368 63 480 New Delhi

PAKISTAN 165 million 215 64 410 Islamabad

BANGLADESH 147 million 1113 62 360 Dhaka

SRI LANKA 20 million 313 74 840 Sri Jay Kotte

POPULATION DENSITIES OF MAJOR CITIES

INDIA

CITY POPULATION DENSITY

New Delhi 13000 sq km (24000)

Kolkata 24760 sq.km

Mumbai 29000 sq.km

PAKISTAN

Islamabad 1100 sq.km

Karachi 18900 sq.km

BANGLADESH

Dhaka 20000 sq.km

TYPICAL INDIAN

VILLAGE LIFE

PUNJABI

FARM VILLAGE

PALACE ON

WHEELS

INCREDIBLE INDIA

TOURISM

BATHING IN THE

GANGES

PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY

RELIEF

Himalya

100 to 150 km wide

Over 1000 km long

Some peaks over 8000m high

Middle Himalaya over 5000m high

Foothills 1200m

Glaciers and snow feed rivers like the Ganges

Ganges Plain

The Ganges Plain is a broad, alluvial lowland, 100 to 300 miles (160 to 480 km) wide, spanning the country south of the

Himalayas. It consists mainly of the fertile basin of the Ganges River.

Deccan Plateau

The Deccan Plateau, often called simply the Deccan, occupies the peninsula south of the Ganges Plain. It is roughly

triangular in shape and consists of a vast tableland broken by river valleys, with areas of rolling hills. The land slopes gently

downward toward the east.

Western Ghats

The Western Ghats, 3,000 to 5,000 feet (900 to 1,500 m) high, form a sheer wall that drops abruptly to a narrow coastal

plain along the Arabian Sea.

Eastern Ghats

The Eastern Ghats, in contrast, consist of low, disconnected ranges that slope gently toward a broader coastal plain along

the Bay of Bengal

DRAINAGE

Ganges River

India's principal river is the Ganges. It flows from the western Himalayas to the Bay of Bengal—a distance of

more than 1,500 miles (2,400 km). Together with such tributaries as the Yamuna, Son, Ghaghara, and Gandak,

the Ganges drains most of the mountains and the plains and part of the Deccan.

Brahmaputra River

In the northeast the Brahmaputra River follows a tortuous course through the Assam Valley from China and

merges with the Ganges to form a vast delta, lying partly in India and partly in Bangladesh. The Ravi and Sutlej

rivers, part of the Indus system, flow across northern India to Pakistan.

Deccan Plateau Rivers

The Deccan is drained primarily by the eastward-flowing Mahanadi, Godavari, Krishna, and Cauvery rivers. They

form large, fertile deltas at their mouths on the Bay of Bengal. The Narmada and Tapti are the only sizable rivers

flowing to the Arabian Sea.

India's rivers are used extensively for irrigation; they are also used for hydroelectric power and navigation. Of

particular importance is the Indus River system, which provides water for the dry Punjab region of India and

Pakistan. The Indus Waters Treaty of 1960 allocates the waters of the Ravi and Sutlej to India and the waters of

the Indus and its other major tributaries to Pakistan. Bhakra Dam, on the Sutlej River, is the largest of many

dams in India and one of the highest dams in the world.

CLIMATE

MONSOON MONSOON MONSOONThree seasons are generally recognized in India—the cool, the hot, and the rainy.

The cool season lasts from October or November until early March. Average temperatures in December and

January, the coolest months, vary from about 55°F. (13°C.) on the northern edge of the Ganges Plain to

between 70°and 80°F. (21°and 27°C.) in the coastal cities of the south. For most of the country this is the

dry season. A notable exception is the southeastern coast, which receives much of its annual rainfall with the

winter, or northeast, monsoon in October, November, and December. There is heavy snowfall in the

Himalayas.

The hot season prevails from about mid-March until June; it is extremely dry. Temperatures rise rapidly over

most of the country, reaching averages of 85°to 95°F. (29°to 35°C.) in May, the hottest month. Daytime

highs often exceed 100°F. (38°C.), especially on the Ganges Plain. Nights bring only slight relief from the

intense heat.

The rainy season begins in June with the onset of the summer, or southwest, monsoon and continues

through September. Most of India receives more than 80 per cent of its annual rainfall during this period. In

addition to rain, the summer monsoon brings a reduction in the heat, but causes high, often oppressive,

humidity. The heaviest rains, totaling more than 100 inches (2,540 mm) a year, occur in the northeast and

along the Malabar Coast in the southwest. At Cherrapunji, in Meghalaya state in the northeast, the annual

average is about 425 inches (10,800 mm)—one of the highest in the world. Elsewhere rainfall usually varies

from 20 to 80 inches (500 to 2,000 mm) a year. Only the Thar Desert receives less than 10 inches (250 mm).

The summer monsoon is vital to India's agriculture. The timing and the amount of the rains can mean the

difference between a successful harvest and widespread crop failure and famine.

ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

PRIMARY ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES

Agriculture

Over 65% of subcontinent’s workforce employed in agriculture

India

At present, in terms of agricultural production, the country holds the second position all over

the world.

In 2007, agriculture and other associated industries such as lumbering and forestry represented

around 16.6% of the Gross Domestic Product of the country. In addition, the sector recruited

about 52% of the entire manpower.

It contributes approximately one-fifth of total gross domestic product (GDP). Agriculture

accounts for about 10 per cent of the total export earnings and provides raw material to a large

number of industries.

About 10% of the fruits produced in the world are produced in India

India houses the biggest number of livestock in the world and the count is 281 million.

The total arable territory in India is about 56.78% of the overall land zone of the country.

Mean yearly precipitation of 1,100 mm.

Irrigation represents 92% of the consumption of water.

AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS

India ranks first in producing the following agricultural outputs:

• Fresh fruit

• Badian

• Fennel

• Tropical fresh fruit

• Coriander

• Pigeon peas

• Jute

• Spices

• Pulses

• Castor oil seed

• Millets

• Safflower seeds

• Sesame seeds

• Limes

• Lemons

• Dry chillies and peppers

• Cow's milk

• Cashew nuts

• Chickpeas

• Ginger

• Okra

• Guavas

• Turmeric

• Goat milk

• Mangoes

• Meat

• Buffalo milk

India is fast emerging as a global manufacturing hub. India has all the requisite

skills in product, process and capital engineering, thanks to its long

manufacturing history and higher education system.

India's cheap, skilled manpower is attracting a number of companies, spanning

diverse industries, making India a global manufacturing powerhouse. India with

its vast design skills has attracted a lot of outsourcing technological orders.

Manufacturing

• In 1947 only 2% of workforce in manufacturing

• Industry now accounts for 28% of the GDP and employ 17% of the total workforce.

• In absolute terms, India is 12th in the world in terms of nominal factory output.

• The Indian industrial sector underwent significant changes as a result of the economic reforms of 1991, which removed import restrictions, brought in foreign competition, led to privatisation of certain public sector industries, liberalised the FDI regime & improved infrastructure.

• Post-liberalisation, the Indian private sector was faced with increasing domestic as well as foreign competition, including the threat of cheaper Chinese imports. It has since handled the change by squeezing costs, revamping management, and relying on cheap labour and new technology.

The automobile industry in India is the ninth largest in the world

with

an annual production of over 2.3 million units in 2008. In 2009,

India emerged as Asia's

fourth largest exporter of automobiles, behind Japan, South

Korea and Thailand.

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India has emerged as one of the world's largest manufacturers of small cars. According to

New York Times, India's strong engineering base and expertise in the manufacturing of low-

cost, fuel-efficient cars has resulted in the expansion of manufacturing facilities of several

automobile companies like Hyundai Motors, Nissan, Toyota, Volkswagen and Suzuki

In 2008, Hyundai Motors alone exported 240,000 cars made in India.

Nissan Motors plans to export 250,000 vehicles manufactured in its India plant by 2011.

Similarly, General Motors announced its plans to export about 50,000 cars manufactured in

India by 2011.

In September 2009, Ford Motors announced its plans to setup a plant in India with an annual

capacity of 250,000 cars for US$500 million. The cars will be manufactured both for the Indian

market and for export. The company said that the plant was a part of its plan to make India

the hub for its global production business. Fiat Motors also announced that it would source

more than US$1 billion worth auto components from India.

Textile manufacturing is the second largest source of employment after agriculture

and accounts for 20% of manufacturing output, providing employment to over 20

million people.

The transformation of the textile industry from a degrading to rapidly developing

industry, has become the biggest achievement of the central government.

After freeing the industry in 2004–2005 from a number of limitations, primarily

financial, the government gave the green light to the flow of massive investment –

both domestic and foreign.

During the period from 2004 to 2008, total investment amounted to 27 billion

dollars.

By 2012, still convinced of the government, this figure will reach 38 billion as

expected; these investments in 2012 will create an additional sector of more than

17 million jobs.

Ludhiana produces 90% of woollens in India and is known as the Manchester of

India. Tirupur has gained universal recognition as the leading source of hosiery,

knitted garments, casual wear and sportswear.

• In textiles, the country is ranked fourth after China, USA and Italy, while in

electrical machinery and apparatus, it is ranked fifth.

• It holds sixth position in the basic metals category; seventh in chemicals and

chemical products;

• 10th in leather, leather products, refined petroleum products and nuclear fuel;

twelfth in machinery and equipment and motor vehicles.

• Quarterly estimate of GDP for July-September (Q2) 2009-10, according to data

released by the Central Statistical Organisation (CSO), for manufacturing stood at

US$ 46.42 billion at current prices, 9.4 per cent higher than during the same

period in 2008-09.

TRANSPORT

Railways: total: 63,230 km (16,693 km electrified)

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

Harbours: Chennai, Haldia, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Kolkata (Calcutta), Mumbai (Bombay),

New Mangalore, 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

Airports: 333 (2004 est.)

Heliports: 20 (2004 est.)