ABSTRACT
Indian civilization started in about 2500 BC after the inhabitants of the Indus River valley had developed a primitive trading system. In about 1500 BC, Aryan-speaking tribes migrated to the subcontinent from the northwest and created the now renowned classical Indian culture. In the tenth and eleventh centuries India was invaded by Turks and Afghans, and sultanates were established in Delhi. The incursions embarked the spread of Islam in the next 500 years’ time. The British started trading activities in India in 1619 and expanded their influence gradually. By 1850s, the British controlled all Indian lands virtually and declared colonial governance. Through nonviolent resistance to colonialism, India assumed independence in 1947. Pakistan and Bangladesh were separated from India following the independence and subsequent wars. Massive overpopulation, extensive poverty, ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir and ethnic strife are the major problems confronted by the Indian government (BSAA, 2002). According to the 2001 Census, the total population of India is 1.027 billion with
the proportion of males slightly higher than females (933 females per 1,000 males). Although India is ranked after China as the second most populous country in the world, its land area is only one-third of China. Hence, a higher population density, 324 persons per square kilometre, is resulted. In the past decades India’s population was increasing at a significant rate (of over 2.5 per cent) but since 1995, the growth rate has been well below 2 per cent (1.77 per cent in 1995 and 1.59 per cent in 2001). India’s economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services.
