What do we know about India? In the imagination of most people, it seems like a fabulous, romantic and mysterious country. But what is the real life in India? How strong is its economy? What is the average salary in India today?
Geographical location and general information about the country
The Republic of India (such is the official name of the country) is a large state in South India with a rich history and culture. It is the birthplace of the oldest Indian civilization, which has achieved significant success in art, urban planning and agriculture.
Modern India occupies the entire Hindustan peninsula, in the north extends to the Himalayan mountains, and in the south has wide access to the ocean. On the western side, it is washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea, and on the southeastern side, by the Bay of Bengal. The total coastline of India reaches 7, 500 kilometers.
Today, 1.34 billion people live in India (2017). In terms of population, it ranks second in the world, second only to China. Although, according to scientists, by the middle of the 21st century, India could overtake the PRC in a “demographic race” and gain a firm first position.
What does India produce? The country's economy and its structure
India is one of the strongest and fastest growing economies in Asia. The country has the fourth largest GDP in the world ($ 4.7 trillion). However, per capita incomes are small and amount to $ 2, 700 per year. According to this indicator, the country occupies only 118th place in the world.
India's GDP structure is as follows:
- 18% is industry.
- 28% are in the agricultural sector.
- 54% - services.
The main sectors of the Indian economy are: automotive, electronics, mining, petroleum, chemical, food and pharmaceutical industries. The country is the largest supplier to the world market of mica, bauxite, various equipment, textiles, agricultural raw materials, as well as software and medicines.
The country's economy consumes a huge amount of energy (in particular, oil and coal). Indian agriculture is extensive. It grows rice, tea, wheat, cotton, jute, sugarcane. Among other things, India is a significant investment donor. Most of the Indian funds are invested in the economies of Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands and the USA.
Currency and average salary in India
The monetary unit in India is rupee. Fractional coin - paise. Rupee to dollar rate: 68: 1 (as of May 2018). That is, for one American dollar you can buy 68 Indian rupees. For 100 Russian rubles you can get about 110 rupees.
The currency of India is presented in coins and banknotes. The smallest bill in the country is 5 rupees, and the largest - 2 thousand. The rupee exchange rate against the dollar, euro or ruble is constantly changing, so it is recommended to use online currency calculators.
The average salary in India, according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) for 2017, is $ 223 per month. According to this indicator, the country occupies a disappointing 121th place in the world. The monthly minimum wage in the state is 4, 000 rupees ($ 60) for rural areas and 5, 500 rupees ($ 82) for urban areas. It is worth noting that the average salary in India has a significant regional differentiation. So, the ranking of the cities with the highest earnings includes Mumbai, New Delhi, Goa and Calcutta.
The standard of living in the country: key indicators
In the ranking of states on the Human Development Index (HDI), India is located at 131st place, between Bhutan and Honduras. In general, India is a country of striking contrasts, where the stratification of society is quite noticeable.
In one city, the poorest slums can be adjacent to fashionable hotels, boutiques and expensive restaurants. Some Indians live in terrible conditions, eating mainly rice and vegetables. At the same time, other segments of the population can afford to have a permanent servant of housekeepers, gardeners and cooks. A list of the following statistical facts will help to better understand the standard of living in India:
- A third of the country's population are illiterate (they cannot read and write).
- 90% of Indian cities do not have sewers.
- Only half of the cities in India have access to clean tap water.
- About 300 million residents of the country are denied access to electric networks.
- Only 20 major cities in India have municipal public transport.
- Nearly a quarter of India's population lives below the poverty line (less than two dollars a day).
“No power can stop our country on the path to progress!” - These words were recently said by the Prime Minister of India. Indeed, India is already one of the world leaders in the field of IT-technologies. Light industry and high-precision production are developing rapidly. However, whether all this will affect the welfare of the Indians - time will tell.
Let us also find out how things are in India with medicine, education and beautification.
The medicine
According to numerous reviews of our compatriots who, for one reason or another, moved to distant India, the situation with medicine there is far from ideal. The services of doctors in this country are either very expensive or cheap, but extremely poor quality. However, in recent years, India has become one of the centers of "medical tourism". This is due to the presence of a sufficiently large number of professional English-speaking doctors.
A large percentage of private and public clinics are equipped with the latest technology, and real professionals work in them. By the way, many of them studied abroad (including in post-Soviet countries). However, treatment in such clinics is available only to 10% of the Indian population.
Education
At this stage, the state is trying to provide school education to absolutely all of its residents, including those who live in slums and villages. But many families living in poverty and poverty prefer to send their children not to school, but to work from an early age. Child labor is a serious problem in modern India.
Today, about 500 universities work in the country. Especially popular are technical specialties. Education at most universities is in English. The cost of one year of study at an Indian university is about 15 thousand dollars. However, a person with a higher education has a good chance of finding a decent and well-paid job in his country.
Transport and landscaping
Inside the country there is the opportunity to travel by various means of transport: from traditional trains and buses to very exotic bicycle and motor rickshaws. The most developed railway transport. The entire territory of India (with the exception of the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir) is covered by a dense network of railways. In recent years, air traffic between large Indian cities has been actively developing.
The improvement of public spaces in India is in a very deplorable state. In many settlements, in fact, there are no recreational zones at all. The streets are rarely equipped with sidewalks, parks and squares - very few. Some Indian hotels offer a unique service - the so-called "daily subscription." At this time, you can be on the well-groomed territory of the hotel and use a certain list of amenities.
In India, the problem of sanitary cleaning is quite acute. Dirt and rubbish on city streets are quite a common sight for this country.
Prices for products and services
In India, the prices of local fruits and vegetables are very low. They are very tasty, as they are always fresh, and are available all year round. Dairy products are more expensive (a liter of good milk costs about 80 rupees), and cheeses are very difficult to find in local stores. The choice of meat is also very limited. More details about food prices are discussed in the next video.
Communication and Internet services, as well as transportation in India, are quite cheap. Clothing and shoes are also inexpensive. The price of household appliances is approximately comparable to Russian.
