With nearly a sixth of the world’s population within its borders, India is a country bursting with people and culture. Home to a diverse array of beliefs from Hinduism to Islam, to a blend of folk religions and other faiths, it is a country of pluralism with twenty-nine languages spoken by over a million native speakers, multiple religions, cuisine, socio-economic classes, and political parties. India’s struggles with poverty and crimes of human trafficking, forced prostitution, religious persecution, and more. You might work with local churches to encourage believers and most likely be challenged by their testimonies. Your presence will bring hope and truth to those that society deems “untouchable.”
Geography:
-7th largest country in the world
-Borders Bangladesh, Bhutan, Burma, China, Nepal, and Pakistan
-Highest point is Kanchenjunga (28,208 ft)
-Capital is New Delhi
People/Society:
-Hindi and English are the official languages
-80.5% Hindu, 13.4% Muslim, 2.3% Christian, 1.9% Sikh, and 1.9% other
– Population is 1,236,344,631
-Median age is 27 years old
-43.5% of children under 5 years old are underweight
-12% (29,965,074) of children 5-14 are in labor situations (est 2006)
Government:
-Federal Republic, President Pranab Mukherjee
-Gained independence in 1947 from The United Kingdom
-National symbol the Lion Capital of Askoka and Bengal tiger
-Orange represents courage, sacrifice, and the spirit of renunciation, white signifies purity and truth, green stands for faith and fertility, the blue chakra symbolizes the wheel of life in movement and death in stagnation
Economy:
-Agriculture: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, lentils, onions, potatoes, dairy products, sheep, goats, poultry, fish
-8.8% unemployment rate
-29.8% live below the poverty line
-Exchange rate: 58.68 Rupees to USD
