FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY India Country Handbook This handbook provides basic reference information on India, including its geogra- phy, history, government, military forces, and communications and transportation networks. This information is intended to familiarize military per sonnel with local customs and area knowledge to assist them during their assignment to India. The Marine Corps Intel ligence Activity is the community coordinator for the Country Hand book Program. This product reflects the coordinated U.S. Defense Intelligence Community position on India. Dissemination and use of this publication is restricted to official military and government personnel from the United States of America, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and other countries as required and designated for support of coalition operations. 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Published: January 2012 Prepared by: Marine Corps Intelligence Activity 2033 Barnett Avenue Quantico, VA 22134-5103 Comments and Suggestions: [email protected] DOD-2630-IND-003-12 FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY CONTENTS KEY FACTS .................................................................... 1 U.S. MISSION ................................................................. 2 U.S. Embassy .............................................................. 2 U.S. Consulate ............................................................ 2 U.S. Military Facilities ................................................ 3 Travel Advisories ........................................................ 3 Entry Requirements .................................................... 4 Customs Restrictions .................................................. 5 GEOGRAPHY AND CLIMATE ..................................... 5 Geography ................................................................... 5 Land Statistics ........................................................ 7 Borders ................................................................... 7 Bodies of Water ...................................................... 9 Topography ............................................................ 10 Climate ........................................................................ 15 Climatic Patterns .................................................... 15 Climate Phenomena ............................................... 18 INFRASTRUCTURE ...................................................... 19 Transportation ............................................................. 19 Roads ..................................................................... 21 Rail ......................................................................... 23 Air .......................................................................... 25 Maritime ................................................................ 28 Communication ........................................................... 31 iii Contents (Continued) General Description ............................................... 31 Radio ...................................................................... 31 Television ............................................................... 33 Telecommunications .............................................. 35 Newspapers and Magazines ................................... 37 Postal Service ......................................................... 38 Internet ................................................................... 39 Satellites ................................................................. 40 SOCIETY AND CULTURE ............................................ 41 Statistics ...................................................................... 41 Population Patterns ..................................................... 41 Ethnic Density ............................................................. 43 Society ........................................................................ 43 People .................................................................... 45 Family .................................................................... 45 Roles of Men and Women ...................................... 46 Education and Literacy Rates .................................... 47 Religion ....................................................................... 49 Recreation ................................................................... 52 Customs and Courtesies .............................................. 53 Cultural Considerations .............................................. 55 MEDICAL ASSESSMENT ............................................. 58 Disease Risks to Deployed Personnel ......................... 58 Food- and Waterborne Diseases ............................. 58 Vector-borne Diseases ............................................ 59 Animal-associated Diseases ................................... 59 Sexually Transmitted and/or Blood-borne Diseases 60 Water-contact Diseases .......................................... 60 Respiratory Diseases .............................................. 60 iv Contents (Continued) Medical Capabilities ................................................... 61 Key Medical Facilities ........................................... 62 HISTORY ......................................................................... 69 Chronology of Key Events .......................................... 75 GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS .................................. 78 Government ................................................................. 78 National Level ........................................................ 79 Local Level ............................................................ 82 Key Government Officials ..................................... 83 Politics ........................................................................ 84 Political Parties ...................................................... 84 Foreign Relations ....................................................... 86 United States .......................................................... 88 China ...................................................................... 89 Pakistan .................................................................. 89 Burma (Union of Myanmar) ................................. 90 Nepal ...................................................................... 90 Bhutan .................................................................... 91 Bangladesh ............................................................. 91 Sri Lanka ................................................................ 92 United Kingdom .................................................... 92 International Organizations ......................................... 92 Non-governmental Organizations ............................... 93 Corruption ................................................................... 93 ECONOMY ..................................................................... 94 General Description .................................................... 94 Economic Aid ............................................................. 95 Banking Services ........................................................ 96 Economic Statistics (2010) ......................................... 96 v Contents (Continued) Resources .................................................................... 97 Industry .................................................................. 97 Utilities .................................................................. 98 Water ...................................................................... 99 Agriculture ............................................................. 100 Foreign Investment ................................................ 101 Economic Outlook ................................................. 102 THREAT .......................................................................... 102 Crime .......................................................................... 102 Travel Security ............................................................ 104 Terrorism ..................................................................... 105 Kashmir .................................................................. 108 Conflict Involving Sikhs ........................................ 114 Militancy in the Northeast ..................................... 115 Naxalite (Communist) Movement ......................... 116 Drug Trafficking ......................................................... 118 Major Intelligence Services ........................................ 120 ARMED FORCES ........................................................... 123 Roles and Missions ..................................................... 124 Organization ................................................................ 124 Capabilities ................................................................. 127 Strategy and Doctrine ................................................. 128 Personnel .................................................................... 130 Key Defense Personnel .......................................... 130 Training .................................................................. 132 Uniforms, Ranks,