General Facts

Land area: 3.29 million square kilometers
Capital: New Delhi
Population: 1,027 million (2001).
Population growth rate: 1.93 per cent (1991 – 2001)
Population density: 324 persons per square kilometer
Life expectancy: 60.4 years, male: 61.8 years, female: 59 years
Literacy rate: 65.38 percent
International airports: Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kolkata, Mumbai, New Delhi, Thiruvananthapuram and Guwahati.
Major ports of entry: Kandla, Mumbai, Mormugao, New Mangalore, Kochi, Tuticorin, Chennai, Vishakhapatnam, Paradip, Kolkata, and Haldia.
Time zone: GMT +5 ½ hours. 10 ½ hours ahead of Panama.
Currency unit: Indian Rupee (INR), 100 paise=1 INR. Coins in vogue 50 paise, INR 1 and 5. Currency notes INR 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000. (US $ 1=Rs. 45.70 in January 2004)