| BRIEF |
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| Flag of India |
| Saffron |
#FF9933 |
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| White |
#FFFFFF |
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| Green |
#138808 |
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| Navy Blue |
#000080 |
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| Capital City |
| New Delhi |
| 11,954,217 |
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| Largest City |
| Mumbai |
| 13,682,885 |
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| Total Population |
| 1,147,995,904 |
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| Median Age |
| 25.1 |
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| LITERACY |
| 61% |
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| National Emblem |
| Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka |
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| National Animal |
| Royal Bengal Tiger |
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| National Bird |
| Indian Peafowl |
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| National Flower |
| Lotus |
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| National Tree |
| Banyan |
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| National Fruit |
| Mango |
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| National Sport |
| Field Hockey |
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| Internet TLD |
| .in |
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| Time Zone |
| UTC +5:30 |
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| Campaign Motto: |
| Incredible India |
| LARGE CITIES |
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| Bangalore |
| 5,180,533 |
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| Kolkata |
| 5,021,458 |
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| Chennai |
| 4,562,843 |
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| Hyderabad |
| 3,980,938 |
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| Ahmedabad |
| 3,867,336 |
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| Pune |
| 3,230,322 |
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| Surat |
| 3,124,249 |
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| Kanpur |
| 3,067,663 |
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| Jaipur |
| 2,997,114 |
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| Lucknow |
| 2,621,063 |
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| Nagpur |
| 2,359,331 |
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| Indore |
| 1,768,305 |
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| Patna |
| 1,753,543 |
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| Bhopal |
| 1,742,375 |
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| Thane |
| 1,673,465 |
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| Ludhisa |
| 1,662,335 |
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| Agra |
| 1,590,073 |
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| Vadodara |
| 1,487,956 |
| TOURISM |
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| Top 10 DESTINATIONS |
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RANK |
| Agra |
1 |
| Jaipur |
2 |
| Kashmir |
3 |
| Kumarakom |
4 |
| Kanyakumari |
5 |
| Mysore |
6 |
| Darjeeling |
7 |
| Goa |
8 |
| Khajura |
9 |
| Jorhat |
10 |
Source: tourism.gov.in |
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| Agra |
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| Jaipur |
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| Kashmir |
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| Kumarakom |
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| Kanyakumari |
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| Mysore |
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| Darjeeling |
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| Goa |
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| Khajura |
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| Jorhat |
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| Top 10 STATES |
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RANK |
| Delhi |
1 |
| Maharashtra |
2 |
| Tamil Nadu |
3 |
| Uttar Pradesh |
4 |
| Rajasthan |
5 |
| West Bengal |
6 |
| Andhra Pradesh |
7 |
| Karnataka |
8 |
| Kerala |
9 |
| Goa |
10 |
Source: tourism.gov.in |
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| Delhi |
| Owing to the immigration of people from across the country, Delhi has grown to be a cosmopolitan city. Its rapid development and urbanisation, coupled with the relatively high average income of its population, has transformed the city. Today, Delhi is a major cultural, political, and commercial center of India. |
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| Maharashtra |
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| Tamil Nadu |
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| Uttar Pradesh |
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| Rajasthan |
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| West Bengal |
| The marvelous beach on the Bay of Bengal and Darjeeling, the beautiful hill station in the foothills of the Himalayas, are the two extremes of the state. It is the only state in India where a tourist can have the opportunity to see both the majestic Himalayas and the beautiful Bay of Bengal. And in between these two lies the city of Kolkata or Calcutta as it was called earlier. A journey to West Bengal gives you the opportunity to experience a culture unique to Bengal. |
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| Andhra Pradesh |
| The major industries of the state are Information Technology, Biotechnology, Pharmaceuticals, Business Management, and Construction. |
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| Karnataka |
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| Kerala |
| Myth has it that Kerala was created by Parasuraman (an avatar of the Hindu god Vishnu) when he tossed his axe dripping with the blood of his mother, over the Western Ghats Mountain into the sea. |
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| Goa |
| Renowned for its beaches, places of worship and world heritage architecture, Goa is visited by hundreds of thousands of international and domestic tourists each year. It also has rich flora and fauna, owing to its location on the Western Ghats range, which is classified as a biodiversity hotspot. |
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| Tourism Facts |
| Tourist Arrivals in India: |
5.08 M |
| Annual Growth |
14.3 % |
| Indians Going Abroad |
9.78 M |
| Annual Growth |
17.3 % |
| Domestic Tourism |
526.57 M |
| Annual Growth |
14.0 % |
| FOREX From Tourism |
10.73 B.$ |
| Annual Growth |
24.3 % |
Source: tourism.gov.in |
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| Position in World |
| Share of Tourism Arrivals |
0.56 % |
| World Rank (Arrivals) |
42 |
| Share of Tourism Receipts |
1.25 % |
| World Rank (Receipts) |
20 |
Source: tourism.gov.in |
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| World Tourism |
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RANK |
Share % |
| France |
1 |
9.07 |
| Spain |
2 |
6.56 |
| USA |
3 |
6.20 |
| China |
4 |
6.06 |
| Italy |
5 |
4.84 |
| UK |
6 |
3.40 |
| Germany |
7 |
2.70 |
| Ukraine |
8 |
2.56 |
| Turkey |
9 |
2.46 |
| Mexico |
10 |
2.37 |
| India |
42 |
0.56 |
Source: UNWTO Barometer June 2008 |
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| GEOGRAPHY |
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| Location |
| 20 00 N, 77 00 E |
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| Land Area |
| 3,287,590 km² |
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| Coast Line |
| 7000 km |
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| Coal |
| *Fourth-largest reserves in the world |
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| Iron Ore |
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| Manganese |
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| Mica |
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| Bauxite |
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| Titanium Ore |
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| Chromite |
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| Natural Gas |
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| Diamonds |
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| Petroleum |
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| Limestone |
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| Arable Land |
| ARABLE: 48.83 % |
| PER. CROPS: 2.8 % |
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| IRRIGATED LAND |
| 558,080 sq km |
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| RNW. WATER RESOURCES |
| 1,907.8 cu km |
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| FRESHWATER PER CAPITA |
| 585 cu m/yr |
| TRANSPORTATION |
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| Overview |
| With More than 20 international airports and domestic airlines, Intercity railways, ports and harbours, connected highways, It is both easy and cheap to transport goods and people in India. |
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| Ports |
| The ports are the main gateway of trade. In India about 95% of the trade by quantity and 77% by value take place through the ports. There are 12 major ports and about 180 minor and intermediate ports in India. The total amount of traffic handled at the major port in 2003-2004 was 345 Mt and the minor ports together handled about 115 Mt.The major ports are Kolkata, Haldia, Paradip, Visakhapatanam, Ennore, Chennai, Tuticorin, Kochi, New Mangalore, Mormugao,JNPT, Mumbai and Kandla. |
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| Airports |
In total, there are more than 334 (2002 est.) civilian airports in India - 238 with paved runways and 108 with unpaved runways. There are 20 International Airports: Bengaluru, Calicut, Chatrapati Shivaji, Chennai, Cochin, Coimbatore, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Indira Gandhi, Mangalore, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, Raja Sansi, Rajiv Gandhi, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, Trivandrum, Pune.
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| Railways |
| India's rail network is #3 biggest in world after USA and EU. Rail operations throughout the country are run by the state-owned company, Indian Railways. The rail network traverses through the length and breadth of the country, covering a total length of around 90,000 km . Out of this a total 16,693 km of track has been electrified till now and 12,617 km have double tracks. |
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in KM |
| USA |
226,706 |
| EU |
209,895 |
| India |
90,569 |
| Russia |
84,158 |
| China |
78,000 |
| Canada |
57,042 |
| Argentina |
35,753 |
| Germany |
33,897 |
| Australia |
33,819 |
| France |
29,488 |
| Brazil |
29.487 |
Source: WIKIPEDIA |
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| Railway Cargo |
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FRIGHT PER TON |
| Cement |
$12.96 |
| Coal |
$13.71 |
| Iron ore |
$15.19 |
| Fertiliser |
$16.53 |
| Raw materials for steel plants |
$17.45 |
| Container service |
$18.58 |
| Petroleum oil & lubricant |
$20.82 |
| Food grains |
$23.65 |
| Iron & finished steel |
$26.08 |
| Other goods |
$15.79 |
Source: IBN |
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| Highways |
| India has a network of National Highways connecting all the major cities and state capitals. As of 2005, India has a total of 65,569 km of National Highways, of which 4,885 km are classified as expressways. Most highways are 2 laned, while in some better developed areas they may broaden to 4 lanes. Close to big cities, highways can even be 8 laned. |
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| India Road Network |
| India has a huge network of over 3.314 million kilometers of roadways (2.1 million miles), making it one of the largest road networks in the world. |
| Access Controlled Expressways |
200 |
| 4-6 lane Divided Expressways (with service rd in crowded areas) |
4850 |
| National Highways |
66,590 |
| State Highways |
1,31,899 |
| Major district roads |
4,67,763 |
| Rural & other roads |
26,50,000 |
| Total (approx) |
33,00,000 |
Source: nhai.org |
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| AGRICULTURE |
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| Top 10 Produced |
| |
India Rank |
World Rank |
Paddy rice
|
1 |
2 |
| Buffalo milk |
2 |
1 |
| Wheat |
3 |
2 |
| Cow milk |
4 |
2 |
| Fresh vegetables |
5 |
2 |
| Sugar cane |
6 |
2 |
| Potatoes |
7 |
3 |
| Groundnuts |
8 |
2 |
| Pimento |
9 |
1 |
| Buffalo meat |
10 |
9 |
Source: FAOSTAT, world rank calculated by DG AGRI |
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Paddy rice
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| Buffalo milk |
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| Wheat |
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| Cow milk |
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| Fresh vegetables |
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| Sugar cane |
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| Potatoes |
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| Groundnuts |
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| Pimento |
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| Buffalo Meat |
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| Top 10 Exported |
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USD M$ |
| Milled Rice |
1234 |
| Soya-Bean Meal |
717 |
| Cashew Nuts |
487 |
| Frozen Beef |
393 |
| Cotton |
291 |
| Tea |
269 |
| Wheat |
262 |
| Coffee |
189 |
| Castor Oil |
172 |
Mucicalges
|
166 |
Source: COMTRADE |
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| Milled Rice |
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| Soya-Bean Meal |
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| Cashew Nuts |
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| Frozen Beef |
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| Cotton |
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| Tea |
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| Wheat |
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| Coffee |
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| Castor Oil |
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| Mucicalges |
| SEZs |
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| About the Zones |
| Considering the need to enhance foreign investment and promote exports from the country and realising the need that a level playing field must be made available to the domestic enterprises and manufacturers to be competitive globally, The Government of India had in April 2000 announced the introduction of Special Economic Zones policy in the country, deemed to be foreign territory for the purposes of trade operations, duties and tariffs. As of 2007, more than 500 SEZs have been proposed, 220 of which have been created. This has raised the concern of the World Bank, which questions the sustainability of such a large number of SEZs. The Special Economic Zones in India closely follow the PRC model. India passed special economic zone act in 2005 |
| Indian Special Economic Zones |
| Sricity, Andhra Pradesh |
| Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. |
| Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh |
| Ahmedabad, Baroda, Kandla and Surat, Gujarat. |
| Cochin, Kerala. |
| Nagpur also refer MIHAN, Pune and SEEPZ in Mumbai, Maharashtra. |
| Chennai, Ilandaikulam Madurai, Nanguneri and Tirunelveli, Tamil Nadu. |
| NOIDA, Greater NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh. |
| Falta, West Bengal. |
| Source: sezindia.nic.in |
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| Sri city |
| Advertised as: If you are looking for a business destination that has 'everything I need', this is it. With: A multi-product Special Economic Zone:
An adjacent Domestic Tariff Area.
Proximity to 3 seaports and 2 airports.
Easy access to supplier networks and a rich talent pool. Lifestyle support – homes, schools, hospitals, malls…Source: sricity.in |
| IF:BPO's |
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| BPO at a Glance |
| India, with its English Speaking Population was quick to make use of it by offering call center support. |
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| BPO Centers |
| Sometimes 3000 people work at these places in beautiful looking buildings, such as Infosys offices. |
| IF:FURNITURE |
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| Gunjan Gupta |
| Designer. |
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| Ayush Kasliwal |
| Designer. |
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| At a Glance |
| Indian Furniture Design is usually trying to profit from its rich heritage, there are not so many famous designers, however it is changing, we have found many designer blogs and websites about Indian furnitures. From old doorways, columns and arches, cornices to ironware lanterns, brass sculpture doorknobs, the feeling of ‘ancience’ is coloured by vibrance of rugs, saris, curtains, covers and cushions, there is a tendency to exactly copy historical items when creating furniture for exports. For the interior market, Italian furniture is on demand for the high profile customer. |
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| Furniture Labs. |
| We have compiled a library of 2500 images consisting of both the traditional and contemporary Indian furniture, most of these are wooden works but we can also see rarely silverworks and other metalworking. Click here to proceed. |
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| ECONOMY |
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| Currency |
| Indian Rupees |
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| GDP (PPP) |
| GDP:$5.21 Trillion |
| GDP/P: $2,659 |
| The gross domestic product (GDP) or gross domestic income (GDI) is one of the measures of national income and output for a given country's economy. GDP is defined as the total market value of all final goods and services produced within the country in a given period of time (usually a calendar year). It is also considered the sum of a value added at every stage of production (the intermediate stages) of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period of time, and it is given a money value. The numbers here are based on Purchasing Power Parity. |
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| GDP GROWTH RATE |
| India has recorded a GDP growth rate of 9.2% for the fiscal year 2007–2008 (%9.6 2006-2007) which makes it the second fastest big emerging economy, after China, in the world. At this rate of sustained growth many economists forecast that India would, over the coming decades, have a more pronounced economic effect on the world stage. |
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| Labor Force |
| 509.3 million |
| by occupation: agriculture: 60%, industry: 12%, services: 28% (2003) |
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| GDP per Sector |
agriculture: 19.9% industry: 19.3%
services: 60.7% |
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| Puplic Expenditures |
| $ 143.8 billion |
| EXPORT GOODS |
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| Textiles |
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| Chemicals |
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| Food Processing |
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| Steel |
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| Transportation Eqp. |
| |
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| Cement |
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| Mining |
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| Macihnery |
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| Software |
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| Services |
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| DOING BUSINESS |
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| WORLD BANK REPORTS |
| Each year the World Bank provides reports on doing business in all over the world in doingbusiness.org, the reports are taken from there. |
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| Starting A Business |
| Number of Procedures |
13 |
| Duration in Days |
30 |
| Cost (%GNI/P) |
70.1 |
| Paid in Minimum Capital |
0.0 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| Construction Permit |
| Number of Procedures |
20 |
| Duration in Days |
224 |
| COST (%GNI/P) |
414.7 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| Employing Workers |
| Number of Procedures |
13 |
| Duration in Days |
30 |
| Cost (%GNI /P) |
70.1 |
| Paid in Minimum Capital |
0.0 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| Registering Property |
| Number of Procedures |
13 |
| Duration in Days |
30 |
| Cost (%GNI /P) |
70.1 |
| Paid in Minimum Capital |
0.0 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| Getting Credit |
| Number of Procedures |
13 |
| Duration in Days |
30 |
| Cost (%GNI /P) |
70.1 |
| Paid in Minimum Capital |
0.0 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| Protecting Investors |
| Disclosure Index |
7 |
| Director Liability Index |
4 |
| Shareholder Suits Index |
7 |
| Investor Protection Index |
6.0 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| Paying Taxes |
| Number of Payments |
60 |
| Time in Hours |
271 |
| Profit Tax |
22.9 % |
| Labor Tax and Contr. |
18.2 % |
| Other Taxes |
30.4 % |
| Total Tax Rate |
71.5 % |
Source: WORDBANK |
|
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| Trading In-Out |
| Documents for Export |
8 |
| Time of Export in Days |
17 |
| Cost to Export ($/Container) |
945 |
| Documents for Import |
9 |
| Time for Import in Days |
20 |
| Cost to Import ($/Container) |
960 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| Enforcing Contracts |
| Number of Procedures |
46 |
| Duration in Days |
1420 |
| Cost (% of Claim) |
39,6 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| Closing a Business |
| Time in Years |
10 |
| Cost (Estate) |
9 % |
| Recovery Rate (c/d) |
10.4 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| World Rankings |
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RANK |
| Singapore |
1 |
| New Zealand |
2 |
| United States |
3 |
| Hong Kong |
4 |
| Denmark |
5 |
| United Kingdom |
6 |
| Ireland |
7 |
| Canada |
8 |
| Australia |
9 |
| Norway |
10 |
| India |
122 |
Source: WORDBANK |
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| Corruption |
| |
INDIA |
OECD |
| % of Firms Expected to Pay Informal Payment to Public Officials (to Get Things Done) |
47.49 |
35.22 |
| % of Firms Expected to Give Gifts to Get an Operating License |
52.45 |
17.01 |
| % of Firms Expected to Give Gifts In Meetings With Tax Officials |
52.32 |
24.19 |
| % of Firms Expected to Give Gifts to Secure a Government Contract |
23.79 |
27.54 |
| % of Firms Identifying Corruption as a Major Constraint |
25.65 |
33.40 |
Source: enterprisesurveys.org /2006 |
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| Innovation and Tech |
| |
INDIA |
WORLD |
| % of Firms With Internationally-Recognized Quality Certification |
22.51 |
14.14 |
| % of Firms with Annual Financial Statement Reviewed by External Auditor |
59.59 |
50.03 |
| % of Firms Using Technology Licensed from Foreign Companies |
5.26 |
12.96 |
| % of Firms using its Own Website |
31.09 |
38.15 |
Source: enterprisesurveys.org /2006 |
|
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| Trade |
| |
INDIA |
WORLD |
| Average Time to Clear Direct Exports Through Customs (days) |
15.55 |
5.40 |
| Average Time to Clear Imports from Customs (days) |
15.15 |
8.88 |
| % of Exporter Firms |
12.53 |
24.98 |
| % of Firms that Use Material Inputs and/or Supplies of Foreign origin |
11.77 |
58.54 |
| % of Firms that Trade Identifying Customs & Trade Regulations as a Major Constraint |
14.85 |
17.83 |
Source: enterprisesurveys.org /2006 |
|
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| Workforce |
| |
INDIA |
WORLD |
| % of Firms Offering Formal Training |
15.93 |
37.50 |
| Average Number of Seasonal/Temporary, Full-Time Employees |
6.42 |
23.74 |
| Average Number of Permanent, Full Time Employees |
50.56 |
84.43 |
| % of Firms Identifying Labor Regulations as a Major Constraint |
9.16 |
12.91 |
Source: enterprisesurveys.org /2006 |
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| MANUFACTURES |
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| Top 10 Exported |
| |
%* |
m USD $ |
| Pearl, Semi P. Stone |
13 |
6.477 |
| Textiles |
7 |
1.161 |
| Floor Coverings |
7 |
650 |
| Cinema Movies |
7 |
1.021 |
| Textile Yarn |
6 |
25 |
| Cotton Fabrics |
6 |
2.003 |
| Synth Dye, Natrl Indigo |
6 |
1.103 |
| Womens Outwear |
5 |
470 |
| Gold, Silverware |
5 |
2.137 |
| Organic Chemicals |
5 |
1.019 |
Source: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Manufacture Report 2005.%* Share in Global Exports. |
|
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| |
| Top 10 Produced |
| |
%* |
| Food Products |
15.5 |
| Chemicals |
14.6 |
| Petroleum Products |
13.6 |
| Basic Metals |
10.8 |
| Textiles |
7.7 |
| Motor Vehicles |
5.3 |
| Machinery and Equipment |
4.4 |
| Rubber and Plastics |
3.3 |
| Non Metal Mining |
3.3 |
| Electrical Goods |
2.9 |
| Transport Equipment |
2.6 |
Source: Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, Manufacture Report 2005. %*:% of GDP share in Manufactures. |
|
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| Cinema Movies |
| Bollywood contributes an enermously high 7 % GDP in Manufactures Exports and has an overal 40.000.000$ USD Export Volume. |
| |
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| Silverwares |
| Silver and Gold items are one of India's most exported products. |
| MULTI NAT. COMP. |
 |
| Infosys |
| IT Services |
| |
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| Tata Consultancy |
| IT Services |
| |
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| Wipro |
| IT Services:Wipro employs 41,857 people in the country. According to the figure supplied by Wipro to rediff.com, the strength of Wipro Technologies and Wipro BPO combined as of April 2005 stands at 41,857 employees. |
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| Mphasis BFL |
| IT enabled Services |
| |
 |
| Spectramind |
| IT enabled Services |
| |
 |
| CIPLA |
| Pharmaceuticals |
| |
 |
| Shashun Chemicals |
| Pharmaceuticals |
| |
 |
| Lupin Laboratories |
| Pharmaceuticals |
| |
 |
| Tata Motors |
| Engineering |
| |
 |
| Moser Baer |
| Engineering |
| |
 |
| Essel Propack |
| Engineering |
| |
 |
| Bharat Forge |
| Engineering |
| IT & SERVICES |
 |
| Top 10 Employers |
| |
Employees |
| Wipro |
41.857 |
| Tata Consultancy |
40.922 |
| Infosys Technologies |
35.000 |
| HCL |
22.034 |
| Satyam Comp Serv. |
20.000 |
| Cognizant Tech. |
17.000 |
| Patni Computers |
10.000 |
| BFL Mphasis |
8.375 |
| Polaris |
6.003 |
| i-flex |
4.747 |
Source: Rediff.com |
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| Emerging growth segments that require relevantly skilled professionals include product data management, content management, enterprise application integration, data warehousing, contingency planning and disaster recovery, e-supply chain management (eSCM), wireless applications, straight through processing (STP), knowledge management, business intelligence, sales force automation (SFA), e-Learning, ePharma, bioinformatics and nanotechnology. |
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| Top 10 Exported |
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m USD $ |
| IT Services |
18.000 |
| BPO |
8.400 |
| Engineering |
4.900 |
Source: InfoWorld |
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| BPO's |
| Business Process Outsourcing is one of the biggest service sector incomes of India, and it grows quite fast. |
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| 101 INDIAN STUFF |
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| Taj Mahal |
| Taj Mahal is a mausoleum located in Agra, India, that was built under Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The Taj Mahal (also "the Taj") is considered the finest example of Mughal architecture, a style that combines elements from Persian, Turkish, Indian, and Islamic architectural styles. |
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| Hindu Wedding |
| Hindu weddings are very bright events, filled with ritual and celebration, that continue for several days. They are not small affairs, often with 400-1000 people attending (many of whom are unknown to the bride and groom). Though most marriages are arranged, some couples in urban areas have love marriages. The true Indian wedding is about two families getting wedded socially with much less emphasis on the individuals involved. |
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| LAKH |
| A lakh (also written lac) is a unit in the Indian numbering system equal to one hundred thousand (100,000; 105). It is widely used both in official and other contexts in Bangladesh, India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Myanmar and Pakistan, and is often used in Indian English. |
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| Katakali Dancer |
| Katakali dancers, all men, wear elaborate makeup and costumes to help portray the characters. Makeup is bright and intense, to tell the audience which character they are watching. |
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| Sari |
| A sari is a strip of unstitched cloth, ranging from four to nine metres in length that is draped over the body in various styles. The most common style is for the sari to be wrapped around the waist, with one end then draped over the shoulder baring the midriff. |
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| Hinduism |
| Hinduism is a religious tradition that originated in the Indian subcontinent. Hinduism is often referred to as Sanātana Dharma by its practitioners, a Sanskrit phrase meaning "the eternal law". |
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| Ganges |
| The Ganges is the major river in the Indian subcontinent flowing east through the Indo-Gangetic Plain of northern India into Bangladesh. |
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| Yoga |
| Yoga refers to traditional physical and mental disciplines originating in India; to the goal achieved by those disciplines; and to one of the six orthodox (āstika) schools of Hindu philosophy. |
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| Ayurveda |
| Ayurveda has become an alternative form of medicine in the western world, where patents for its medicine have been passed, and the intellectual property rights contested by Western and Indian institutions. |
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| Indian Peacock |
| The Indian Peafowl is a resident breeder in the Indian subcontinent and has been introduced into many parts of the world and feral populations exist in many introduced regions. |
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| FAKIR |
| A fakir or faqir is a Sufi, especially one who performs feats of endurance or apparent magic. |
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| Snake Charmer |
| Snake charming practice is most common in India, is the practice of apparently hypnotising a snake by simply playing an instrument. A typical performance may also include handling the snakes or performing other seemingly dangerous acts, as well as other street performance staples, like juggling and sleight of hand. |
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| Bollywood |
| Bollywood is the informal term popularly used for the Mumbai-based Hindi-language film industry in India. The term is often incorrectly used to refer to the whole of Indian cinema; it is only a part of the Indian film industry. |
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| Indian Numbering |
| The Indian numbering system also uses separators differently than the Western system — after the first three digits, a comma divides every two rather than every three digits, thus: * Indian system: 12,12,12,123 5,05,000 7,00,00,00,000. * are the same quantities as Western system: 121,212,123 505,000 7,000,000,000 This accords with the Indian naming system, which has units for thousand, hundred thousand, ten million, etc. |
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| Indian Elephant |
| The Elephants of Kerala are an integral part of the daily life in Kerala, South India. These Indian elephants are loved, revered, groomed and given a prestigious place in the state's culture. |
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| Mandir |
| A Hindu temple or trat is a house
of worship for Hindus, followers of Hinduism. They are usually
specifically reserved for religious and spiritual activities. A Hindu
temple can be a separate structure or a part of a building. A feature
of most temples is the presence of murtis of the Hindu deity to whom
the temple is dedicated. |
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| Deli Haat |
| Situated in the heart of the capital
city, Dilli Haat is the first ever permanent crafts market showcasing
crafts from allover India. The word Haat implies a weekly market in
rural and semi-urban India. The Dilli Haat offers a delightful amalgam
of craft, food and cultural activities. |
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| Mehndi |
| The "henna tattoo", has become
the in thing for women. No Indian wedding is complete without mehendi.
Whichever part of the country the bride may be from; her hands are
adorned with the lovely red hue of mehndi |
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| The Golden Temple |
| The Golden Temple or Temple of God, is
culturally the most significant place of worship of the Sikhs and one
of the oldest Sikh gurdwaras. It is located in the city of Amritsar,
which was established by Guru Ram Das, the fourth guru of the Sikhs
and the city that it was built in, is also due to the shrine, known as
"Guru Di Nagri" meaning city of the Sikh Guru. |
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| Holi |
| Holi, The Festival of Colors, is
the most colourful, friendly battle on earth. Holi is a time for
celebrating the arrival of spring and the approaching harvest season. |
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| Bangle |
| Jingle Jangle Bangles or Chudi are
ornaments worn mainly by women. Indian women, especially Hindus wear
them after their marriage signifying the matrimony. |
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| Lal Quila |
| Red Fort, is an eloquent reminder of the
glory of the Mughal era, and its magnificence simply leaves one
awestruck. IIt is a calm haven of peace, which helps one to break away,
from the noisy and busy life outside the walls of the Fort, and
transports the visitor to another realm of existence. |
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| Indian Chai |
| The Indian Chai has its own blend which
is full Indian leaf tea has got a malty flavor. This premier quality
special flavor tea is quite refreshing due to its awesome smell and
flavor |
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| Indian Bazaar |
| Walking the narrow winding strrets of
bazaars is in itself a novel experience. The bazaars are certainly not
the mall. Put aside any notions of peace and quiet and jump into the
thick of it. |
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| Indian Cury |
| The word "Karhee" or "Kadhi" from which "curry" is derived, comes from Southern India and refers to a sauce of any kind. "Curry powder" was developed by the British, who wished to take the taste of Indian food home, without having to utilize fresh spices. As a result "curry powder" in the Western world has a fairly standardized taste, but there are literally millions of curry flavors in India. |
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| Thrissur Pooram |
| A formation of gold-caparisoned elephants at the Thrissur Pooram. Poorams are Hindu Temple-centered festivals popular among both Keralites and tourists. |
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| Ganesh Festival |
| Ganesha Festival is a day on which Lord
Ganesha, the son of Shiva and Parvati, is believed to bestow his
presence on earth for all his devotees. |
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| Bharatanatyam |
| Bharatanatyam is a classic dance form
originating in Tamil Nadu, a state in South India. This popular South
Indian dance form is a 20th century reconstruction of Cathir, the art
of temple dancers. Cathir in turn, is derived from ancient dance forms. |
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| Kalarippayattu |
| Kalarippayattu is a martial art with
origins in Kerala and practised in that south Indian state and
contiguous parts of neighbouring Tamil Nadu. It incorporates strikes,
kicks, grappling, choreographed martial art sequences, and weaponry,
as well as healing techniques |
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| Gatka |
| Gatka is a defensive and offensive Sikh
martial art associated with the Sikhs that focuses on infusing the
physical martial art with both the spiritual and mental. Gatka is also
the name of a stick used for practicing sword fighting. |
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| Tilak |
| In Hinduism, the tilaka or tilak is a
mark worn on the sole of the foot and other parts of the body. Tilaka
may be worn on a daily basis or for special religious occasions only,
depending on different customs. |
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| Kumkum |
| The kumkum, a powder used for social and religious markings in Hinduism, is an auspicious symbol. When a girl or a married woman visits a house, it is a sign of respect or blessings to offer kumkum to them when they leave. |
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| Indian Music |
| The music of India includes multiple
varieties of folk, popular, pop, and classical music. India's
classical music tradition, including Carnatic and Hindustani music,
has a history spanning millennia and, developed over several eras. |
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| Rangoli |
| Rangoli is one of the most popular art
forms in India. It is a form of sandpainting decoration that uses
finely ground white powder and colours, and is used commonly outside
homes in India. |
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| Eating with Hands |
| In India, eating with hands is quite a
traditional and an ongoing practice, despite the onslaught of western
culture and etiquettes. For Indians, eating with hands is the most
natural, hassle-free and convenient practice. |
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| Gold |
| Gold is increasingly seen as a good form
of investment in India, with a leading industry source describing it
as a "good financial vehicle" to put money in. |
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| Dosa |
| The Dosa is a South Indian crêpe made from rice and lentils. Dosa is a typical South Indian food, taken as breakfast or dinner, and is rich in carbohydrates and protein. |
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| Sandesh |
| Created with coconut and sugar, Sandesh is a sweet that is made in West Bengal state of India . |
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| Chicken Tikka |
| Chicken tikka, a well-known dish across the globe, reflects the amalgamation of Indian cooking styles with those from Central Asia |
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| Banana Leaf Plates |
| A celebration in South India means eating food the traditional way on a tender Banana leaf. It is also bio degradable. |
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| Pani Puri |
| Panipuri, also known as Phoochka, Gol Gappa or Gup chup is a popular street snack in the Indian subcontinent |
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| Rajasthani Puppet |
| Rajasthani Puppets are string marionettes that originate from the state of Rajasthan in India. The puppets are controlled by a single string that passes from the top of the puppet over the puppeteers. Characteristic to this form are the shrill voices produced by the lead puppeteer which are spoken through a bamboo reed. |
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| Indian Bus |
| Cracked, full, ready to explode. A normal indian box can be extremly full. |
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| Chundan Vallam |
| Chundan Vallam (Beaked Boat) known to outside world as Kerala snake boats is one of the icons of Kerala culture used in Vallamkali (boat race). |
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| Hanuman |
| Hanuman known also as 'Anjaneya' , is one of the most popular concepts of servants of God (bhakti) (devotion to God) in Hinduism and one of the most important personalities in the Indian epic, the Ramayana. |
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| Sacred Cow |
| Indian scriptures tell us that the cow is a gift of the gods to the human race. It is a celestial being born of the churning of the cosmic ocean. Guias the cow is called in Hindi, is symbolic of Earth itsel. In Hinduism, the cow is a symbol of wealth, strength, abundance, selfless giving and a full Earthly life, Therefore they freely travel in India. |
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| Kama Sutra |
| The Kama Sutra, is an ancient Indian text widely considered to be the standard work on human sexual behavior in Sanskrit literature written by the Indian scholar Vatsyayana. A portion of the work consists of practical advice on sex. |
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| Hindustan Ambassador |
| Hindustan Ambassador Classic on the streets of Kolkata, produced by Hindustan motors from 1958 till today.. |
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