Republic of India
INDIA. Republic of India
A country in South Asia, on the Indian subcontinent. Area - 3,287,590 km². Capital - New Delhi (over 13 million, 2003), largest cities (data from 2004): Kolkata (over 16 million), Mumbai (Bombay) (over 15 million), Chennai (Madras) (6 million), Hyderabad (5 million), Bangalore (4.5 million), Ahmedabad (4 million). Administrative-territorial division: 28 states, which are subjects of the federation, as well as the National Capital Territory of Delhi and 6 union territories, considered administrative units under central authority. Population -
1.6 billion (2003) (72% of the population lives in rural areas). Population growth - 1.85% per year.
There are a total of 500 ethnic groups and tribes speaking 1,652 languages and dialects. Four language families are represented in India: Indo-European - 73.4%, Dravidian - 24.5%, Austroasiatic - 1.4%, and Tibeto-Burman - 0.7%. The official language of India, according to the constitution, is Hindi, while English remains a legally established means of interethnic communication.
An appendix to the constitution provides a list of 18 main regional languages officially used in state administration. Religion: 82.6% of the population practice Hinduism and 12.2% - Islam (census 1991, excluding the states of Jammu and Kashmir and Assam), Christians - 2.34%, Sikhs - 1.94%, Buddhists - 0.76%, Jains - 0.4%. The currency unit is the Indian rupee = 100 paise. Since August 1, 1994, the rupee has been convertible for current operations.
India has diplomatic relations with the Russian Federation (established between the USSR and India on April 13, 1947, four months before India's independence). On January 28, 1993, a Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation was signed between the Russian Federation and the Republic of India. The first Russian consulate in India was opened in Bombay in 1900.
National holidays: August 15 - Independence Day (1947) and January 26 - Republic Day (1950).
India is a federal republic. The constitution of 1950 (with subsequent amendments) is in effect. The constitution defines India as a "union of states," which do not have the right to freely exit it. Indian states are large administrative-territorial entities based on the linguistic community of the population. The head of state is the president (since July 2002 - A. P. J. Abdul Kalam), elected for a term of 5 years by an electoral college (elected members of both houses of parliament and members of the legislative assemblies of the states). He is also the supreme commander of the armed forces, has the right to introduce bills and veto passed laws, appoints the prime minister, and, on the recommendation of the latter, the members of the Council of Ministers, and is endowed with a number of other powers in the legislative and judicial spheres. The president acts according to the recommendations of the government. The highest executive power is practically concentrated in the hands of the prime minister - the leader of the parliamentary faction of the party that has the support of the majority in the Lok Sabha (since May 2004 - Manmohan Singh, INC).
The highest legislative body of India is the parliament, consisting of 2 houses: Rajya Sabha - Council of States (250 seats) and Lok Sabha - House of the People (545 seats). The Council of States is intended to represent the interests of the states. Elections to the House of the People are held every 5 years, although extraordinary elections are also possible. The last elections were held in 2004. Elections for the vice president (since August 12, 2002 - Bhairon Singh Shekhawat) are conducted by law every 5 years by an electoral college consisting of deputies from both houses of the Indian parliament through secret ballot. The vice president is ex officio the chairman of the Council of States but is not a member of parliament. 12 members of the Council of States are appointed by the president from among individuals with significant practical experience and extensive knowledge in literature, science, art, and public activities. The rest are elected by a system of proportional representation by elected members of the state legislative bodies for a term of 6 years with rotation every 2 years.
Legislative assemblies of the states are elected by direct vote for a 5-year term and are endowed with basic legislative powers within the competence of the states (administration of justice, local self-government, maintenance of police, healthcare, the entire range of agricultural relations, education, local taxes, etc.). Local government is formed by the chief minister of the state from members of the political party that won the elections to the legislative assembly. The management of the states is built on the same principle as that of the union. It is based on a parliamentary system, where the constitutional head of the state (the governor appointed by the president of the country) acts according to the recommendations of the cabinet of ministers, which is responsible to the elected legislative body of the state. In practice, just as in the central parliament, the real executive power is held by the chief minister of the state, approved by the governor.
The union territories were mainly former non-English colonies (Portuguese and French), which, due to their small size and low population, could not obtain the status of a full-fledged state.
Political parties: the Indian National Congress - founded in 1885. Under the leadership of M. K. Gandhi, J. Nehru, and other prominent political figures, the INC led the struggle of Indians against colonial dependence. It became the main political force conducting nationwide transformations in India. At the same time, a tendency towards the formation of a multi-party system gradually grew in the country. Gradually, a number of political parties are structurally formed and reach a nationwide level, which, as part of the opposition bloc, come to power in 1977-79, 1989-91, and 1996-98. From March 1998 to May 2004, the National Congress was in opposition to the ruling coalition of parties led by the BJP. From 1966 to 1984, the INC was headed by Indira Gandhi (1917-84) and from 1984 to 1991 by her son Rajiv Gandhi (1944-91) (both were killed in terrorist attacks). The current leader of the INC is S. Gandhi (widow of R. Gandhi). It has 148 seats in the House of the People.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) - has a total of 134 seats in the House of the People. It was formed in 1980 by a group of members of the former religious-community party Bharatiya Janata Sangh, who broke away from the Janata Party (established by several parties in 1977 on a coalition basis).
The president of the BJP is L. K. Advani.
The left movement is mainly represented by two parties: the Communist Party of India (CPI), established in 1925, has 10 seats in the House of the People, and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) - CPI (M), which split from it in 1964, has 43 seats in the House of the People. The Communist Party has the most influence in West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura. The General Secretary of the CPI National Council is A. B. Bardhan, and the General Secretary of the CPI (M) Central Committee is Prakash Karat.
The main trade union associations: the Indian National Trade Union Congress - operates under the leadership of the INC; All-India Trade Union Congress - works under the leadership of the CPI; Indian Workers' Union - is influenced by the Janata Dal party (People's Party); Center of Indian Trade Unions - under the influence of the CPI (M); Congress of United Trade Unions - under the influence of several left parties and organizations; Indian Workers' Union - under the influence of the BJP.
India ranks 7th in the world by area and 2nd by population.
India is a country with deep historical and cultural traditions. The first major state formations appeared in the second half of the 1st millennium BC. Indians were the first to learn to cultivate rice, cotton, sugarcane, and raise poultry. India gave the world chess and the decimal system of counting. Achievements of ancient and medieval India in philosophy, literature, and art have become an integral part of world culture.
Since the early 16th century, India has been gradually conquered by European colonizers. For almost 200 years, it was a colony of Great Britain. Major events in the struggle for national liberation included the Sepoy Rebellion of 1857-59, the Non-Cooperation and Civil Disobedience Movements of 1918-22, 1928-33, and 1942, and the uprising of Indian naval sailors in 1946. In August 1947, India achieved independence, gaining the status of a dominion. In January 1950, it was proclaimed a republic.
