Immigrants in Indiana - India: History

The earliest human remains found in India date to 30,000 years ago. Evidence of permanent structures date to 6500 BCE, and around 2000 BCE the first Hindu scriptures appeared in the Gangetic Plain. As Indo-Aryan groups migrated to the region, Indigenous groups spread out across the Indian subcontinent. Chiefdoms and small kingdoms grew across the region. Buddhism became popular alongside Hinduism. For centuries, India remained largely separated and the deep cultural differences still evident in the country began to form.

By 16th century CE, various nomadic Muslim tribes had moved into the area, and the region began to unify under Islam. Eventually, these Muslim leaders were forced out by the powerful warriors of the Mughal Empire, which ruled in a way that allowed for regional differences to endure. Localized identity again became popular, and the popularity of Islam quickly declined.

Eventually, individual groups became powerful within India and the Mughal Empire lost influence. The British recognized the commercial value of the country and used their superior military to gain control of it. India finally gained its independence in 1947. Upon leaving, the British partitioned the land creating both India and Pakistan. The division caused violent upheaval and left many displaced. It created an air of mistrust between India and Pakistan that continued into the 21st century. While India has mostly enjoyed political stability since achieving independence, constant border disputes with Pakistan have been disruptive.

History

Disputes - international:

India-China: since China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other matters continue; Kashmir remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas)

India-Pakistan: India and Pakistan resumed bilateral dialogue in February 2011 after a two-year hiatus, have maintained the 2003 cease-fire in Kashmir, and continue to have disputes over water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian Gujarat State

India-Bangladesh: Prime Minister SINGH's September 2011 visit to Bangladesh resulted in the signing of a Protocol to the 1974 Land Boundary Agreement between India and Bangladesh, which had called for the settlement of longstanding boundary disputes over un-demarcated areas and the exchange of territorial enclaves, but which had never been implemented; Bangladesh referred its maritime boundary claims with Burma and India to the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea

India-Nepal: the Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections, including the 400 sq km dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border activities from Nepal

Refugees and internally displaced persons:

refugees (country of origin): 92,131 (Sri Lanka), 72,315 (Tibet/China), 74,607 (Burma) (refugees and asylum seekers), 10,064 (Afghanistan) (mid-year 2022)

IDPs: 506,000 (armed conflict and intercommunal violence) (2021)

stateless persons: 20,330 (2022)

Illicit drugs:

source and transit point for illicit narcotics and precursor chemicals bound for Europe, Africa, Southeast Asia, and North America; in 2020 India exported over $19 billion of illegal pharmaceutical drugs; illegal opium poppy growing in the Northeast; traffickers retool commercial chemical factories to produce large volumes of ephedrine, methamphetamine, and other drugs illicitly

Human Rights

The territory of India is divided into 29 states and seven union territories with New Delhi serving as the capital. The country maintains a federal parliamentary republic. This means the government serves as a central power, while individual states maintain a significant degree of independent governing ability.

A president serves as a ceremonial head of state after being indirectly elected by an electoral college that contains the members of the Parliament of India and legislative assemblies of its states and territories. The president serves a renewable five-year term. Presidents are responsible for appointing a prime minister to serve as the head of government.

The bicameral parliament consists of a lower house, Lok Sabha (House of the People), and a higher house, Rajya Sabha (Council of States). Members of both houses are directly elected, as are members of the legislative assemblies of the states and territories.

The highest court in the independent judiciary of India is the Supreme Court. It also serves as a constitutional court, able to rule on the legality of proposed legislation. Other courts include the High Courts of each state, as well as state District Courts, Magistrates of Second Class, and Civil Judges.

Government

Flag description:

three equal horizontal bands of saffron (subdued orange) (top), white, and green, with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; saffron 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

note: similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band

National symbol(s):

the Lion Capital of Ashoka, which depicts four Asiatic lions standing back to back mounted on a circular abacus, is the official emblem; Bengal tiger; lotus flower; national colors: saffron, white, green

National anthem:

name: "Jana-Gana-Mana" (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People)

lyrics/music: Rabindranath TAGORE

note: adopted 1950; Rabindranath TAGORE, a Nobel laureate, also wrote Bangladesh's national anthem

National heritage:

total World Heritage Sites: 40 (32 cultural, 7 natural, 1 mixed)

selected World Heritage Site locales: Taj Mahal (c); Red Fort Complex (c); Ellora Caves (c); Hill Forts of Rajasthan (c); Sundarbans National Park (n); Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (c); Champaner-Pavagadh Archaeological Park (c); Dholavira: A Harappan City (c); Jaipur (c); Mahabodhi Temple Complex at Bodh Gaya (c); Manas Wildlife Sanctuary (n); Nanda Devi and Valley of Flowers National Parks (n); Khangchendzonga National Park (m)

National Symbols

Constitution:

history: previous 1935 (pre-independence); latest draft completed 4 November 1949, adopted 26 November 1949, effective 26 January 1950

amendments: proposed by either the Council of States or the House of the People; passage requires majority participation of the total membership in each house and at least two-thirds majority of voting members of each house, followed by assent of the president of India; proposed amendments to the constitutional amendment procedures also must be ratified by at least one half of the India state legislatures before presidential assent; amended many times, last in 2020

Legal System:

common law system based on the English model; separate personal law codes apply to Muslims, Christians, and Hindus; judicial review of legislative acts

Suffrage:

18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:

chief of state: President Droupadi MURMU (since 25 July 2022); Vice President Jagdeep DHANKHAR (since 11 August 2022)

head of government: Prime Minister Narendra MODI (since 26 May 2014)

cabinet: Union Council of Ministers recommended by the prime minister, appointed by the president

elections/appointments: president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 18 July 2022 (next to be held in July 2027); vice president indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament for a 5-year term (no term limits); election last held on 5 August 2022 (next to be held in August 2027); following legislative elections, the prime minister is elected by Lok Sabha members of the majority party

Legislative branch:

description: bicameral Parliament or Sansad consists of:
Council of States or Rajya Sabha (245 seats; 233 members indirectly elected by state and territorial assemblies by proportional representation vote and 12 members appointed by the president; members serve 6-year terms with one-third of the membership renewed every 2 years at various dates)
House of the People or Lok Sabha (545 seats; 543 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 2 appointed by the president; members serve 5-year terms)

elections: Council of States - last held by state and territorial assemblies at various dates in 2019 (in progress March through July 2022 to fill 70 expiry seats)

House of the People - last held April-May 2019 in 7 phases (next to be held in 2024)

Judicial branch:

highest court(s): Supreme Court (consists of 28 judges, including the chief justice)

judge selection and term of office: justices appointed by the president to serve until age 65

subordinate courts: High Courts; District Courts; Labour Court

note: India has dozens of national and regional political parties

Diplomatic representation in the US:

chief of mission: Ambassador Taranjit Singh SANDHU (since 6 February 2020)

chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; Consular Wing located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008

website: https://www.indianembassyusa.gov.in/

consulate(s) general: Atlanta, Chicago, Houston, New York, San Francisco

Politics