Progress Report for the Hindi Radio Discipleship Translation Project
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Guide to India for Missionaries and Prayer Warriors
Area 3,204,000 sq.km. 25 union states and 7 union territories. Geographically India dominates South Asia and the Indian Ocean.
Population Ann. Gr. Density
1990 824,554,000 2.35 % 257/sq. km
1995 904,800,000 2.30 % 282/sq. km
Nearly 16% of the world's population is Indian, living on 2.4% of the world's land surface. In 2020 India will become the most populous country in the world with nearly 1.3 billion people.
Peoples: The great racial, ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity makes a simple subdivision of the population difficult. A 1991 survey identified 4,635 communities or people groups.
Ethno-Linguistic:
Indo-Aryan 73.3%. In north and central India. Hindi 200,600,000; Marathi 81,650,000; Bengali 69,760,000; Urdu 44,542,000; Bhojpuri-Bihari 43,300,000; Gujarati 40,372,000; Oriya 31,000,000; Punjabi 24,330,000; Sindhi 18,760,000; Rajasthani/Mawari 17,000,000; Assamese 13,947,000; Nepali 6,480,000; Kashmiri 3,817,000; Lambadi/Gypsy 3,624,000; Konkani 2,371,000; Bagri 1,644,000.
Dravidian 24%. Majority in south India. Major groups: Telugu 69,623,000; Tamil 58,547,000; Malayalam 34,166,000; Kannada 33,600,000; Oraon 1,932,000.
Austro-Asiatic 1.6%. Scattered all over India as tribal groups. Over 80 peoples. Major groups (including all related languages): Bhil 10,660,000; Gond 8,349,000; Santal 5,753,000; Kui 2,856,000; Munda 1,200,000; Ho 1,168,000; Khasi 726,000.
Sino-Tibetan 1.0%. Predominantly in northeast India. Over 105 groups; major: Tibetan (16) 1,950,000, Manipuri 1,216,000; Naga (28) 940,000; Tripuri (8) 814,000; Garo 641,000; Mizo 446,000; Kuki-Chin (17) 338,000.
Other 0.1%. British, Chinese, Arabs, Russians, Armenians, Jews.
Caste: A system that perpetuates the racial superiority of Brahmins and other higher castes over the majority. Fundamental to Hinduism, it pervasively influences all religious and social structures in India. Caste discrimination is forbidden by the constitution, but is socially important for over 80% of the population. There are an estimated 6,400 castes. Each functions effectually as a separate group because of the high social barriers that separate them.
High caste 4.9%. Brahmin; the priestly caste.
Forward castes 10.5%. Kshatriya and Vaisya.
Backward castes 47.6%.
Scheduled castes 15%. (Also known as Outcastes, Untouchables, Harijan.) Generally deprived, subjugated and exploited.
Other 22%. Muslims, Christians and Scheduled tribes are not considered part of the caste structure, but are often strongly influenced by caste thinking.
Literacy 52%. Functional literacy nearer 15%. Official languages: Hindi (the language of the Union), English (legislative and judicial language), 16 other official regional languages (usually of States): Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Kashmiri, Malayalam, Manipuri, Marathi, Nepali, Oriya, Punjabi, Sanskrit, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu, Sindhi. All languages 1,652 (1971 census) of which 33 spoken by more than 100,000 people; 381 are listed in the SIL Ethnologue. Languages with Scriptures 46Bi 35NT 60por.
Capital: New Delhi 9,252,000. Other major cities (20 over 1 million): Bombay 13,545,000; Calcutta 13,413,000; Madras 5,582,000; Bangalore 4,410,000; Hyderabad 4,280,000; Ahmedabad 3,298,000; Pune 2,485,000; Kanpur 2,111,000; Nagpur 1,661,000; Lucknow 1,642,000. Urbanization 28%.
Economy: Agriculture and industry are both important. 74% of the labour force is agricultural, but rapid industrialization and urbanization is taking place. Economic growth has been offset by the high birth rate, illiteracy, prejudice, resistance to change and bureaucratic inefficiency. The 200 million middle class would benefit most from the market reforms and liberalization being instituted. Over 600 million live in deep poverty, and 300 million live below the bread-line. Population growth will outstrip food production just after 2000. Unemployment 13%. Public debt/person $85. Income/person $350 (1.6% of USA).
Politics: Independent from Britain in 1947. The world's largest functioning democracy. Troubled relations with surrounding nations; two wars with Pakistan and one with China. Internal tensions have steadily increased because of caste, religious and regional loyalties. Secession movements in Kashmir, Nagaland, Manipur, Tripura, Punjab, Assam, and the tribal regions of south Bihar are weakening the union. Religious militancy among Sikhs, Muslims and especially Hindus threatens the survival of secular democracy. The BJP, a radical Hindu political party, became the largest opposition party in the 1991 elections, and then openly provoked confrontation with the government in 1992. This culminated in savage rioting and destruction of Muslim mosques, property and lives, and in destabilizing India's political life and social balance.
Religion: India is a secular state. The rising power of intolerant Hindu factions has caused the passing of anti-conversion laws in some states, discriminatory deprivation of benefits and privileges to the poor who convert to Islam or Christianity, and a rising level of physical violence against both Muslims and Christians. Should the BJP become the government party, federal legislation against minority religions is likely to increase.
Hindu 78.8% (officially 82%). Figure somewhat raised by the automatic inclusion of untouchables and many tribal animists. Hinduism readily absorbs elements of any religion with which it comes into contact. Popular Hinduism is idolatrous with 200 million holy cows and a pantheon of 33 million gods. Intellectual Hinduism is philosophical and mystical and has a growing appeal to Western countries.
Muslim 12% (Muslims claim 14%). A widespread minority, but a majority in Kashmir and Lakshadweep, and growing among scheduled castes. The Muslim secessionist movement in Kashmir is in armed conflict with the government.
Sikhs 1.92%. Majority in Punjab where extremists have waged a bitter guerrilla war against the government for an independent Sikh state. Many Sikhs are in the armed forces.
Tribal religions approx. 1.5%. Among Scheduled tribes.
Buddhist 0.7%. A small minority in the land of its origin. Majority among scheduled castes of Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh, and Tibetans.
Jain 0.48%. Baha'i 0.2%. Parsi 0.01%.
Non-religious/other 0.43%.
Christian 2.61% (official)#; possibly 4%. Affil 3.94%. Growth 2.8%. Many denominational figures are estimates.
Protestant 1.91%. Growth 3.4%.
Church Cong Members Affiliated
Ch of South India 9,300 800,000 1,700,000
Council of Baptist
Chs of NE India 3,969 488,367 1,630,000
United Ev Lutheran
Chs (11) 12,392 533,000 1,184,132
Ch of North India 3,300 700,000 1,000,000
Samavesam of
Telugu Bapt Ch 1,625 312,000 780,000
Mar Thoma Syrian Ch 900 431,000 718,000
Presby Ch of NE Ind 1,600 234,260 526,503
Ind Pente Ch of God 4,444 120,000 300,000
Salvation Army 3,573 162,000 270,000
Chr Assemblies of Ind 1,200 80,000 267,000
Churches of Christ (6) 3,000 105,000 263,000
Bapt Conv of N Circars 210 125,000 250,000
Seventh-day Adventist 829 160,635 247,000
Assemblies (Jehovah
Shammah) 1,350 54,000 216,000
Evang Ch of India 558 73,670 200,000
Baptist Convention 1,023 65,731 164,000
Ch of God (Cleveland) 879 59,022 148,000
Bapt Union of Mizoram 269 41,076 137,000
Pentecostal Mission 1,071 75,000 125,000
Assemblies of God (2) 1,392 43,500 124,366
St Thomas Evang Ch 675 54,000 90,000
All other (319) 44,237 2,661,655 5,921,191
Denominations (356) 97,796 7,378,916 16,261,192
Evangelicals 1% of pop 3,601,000 8,307,000
Pentecostal/charismatic 0.38% 1,364,000 3,181,000
Missionaries:
to India 766 (1:1,076,000 people) in 150 agencies.
from India 11,284 (1:524 Protestants) in 198 agencies 171frn 5,137xcul 6,147dom.
Roman Catholic 1.76%. Growth 2.2%.
Catholic Ch 22,460 8,400,000 15,000,000
Charismatics 15,000 25,000
Missionaries:
to India 2,377 (1:347,000 people).
from India 5,420 (1973 figure).
Other Catholic 0.01%. Growth 10.5%.
All groups (1) 648 27,500 65,500
Orthodox 0.2%. Growth 1.2%.
Malankara Orth Syrian 1,200 1,020,000 1,700,000
All other (5) 90 27,000 45,000
All denominations (6) 1,290 1,047,000 1,745,000
Foreign Marginal 0.01%. Growth 5.1%.
Jehovah's Witneses 316 10,272 25,700
All other (9) 187 22,727 56,415
All groups (10) 503 32,999 82,115
Indigenous Marginal Affil 0.06%. Growth 4.4%.
All groups (20) 200,000 500,000
# Note: Census figures are artificially low because only the religion of the head of house was recorded. Also many backward classes and scheduled caste Christians registered as Hindu out of fear.
INDIA GENERAL
1. Praise God for the 200 years since William Carey went to India. The Holy Spirit has used the labours of countless thousands of preachers, both Indian and expatriate, to change India and plant the Church. Praise for:
a) Great freedom to spread the gospel despite efforts to limit this.
b) People movements among the scheduled castes and tribal peoples which continue to this day.
c) Spiritual stirrings since independence, manifest hunger for peace with God and response to literature and radio evangelism.
d) Revivals in South India, in 1976 in Nagaland, and in the '80s in Mizoram.
e) New missionary burden based on prayer that is stirring thousands of churches and resulting in five successive waves of missions, from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, northeast India, Andhra Pradesh and now Orissa.
2. These advances are being contested by the enemy of souls through:
a) Militant Hinduism which has become a powerful political force, winning four northern states in the 1991 elections. Pray for the preservation of democracy and wisdom for the government in the face of militant violence. The conversion of hundreds of thousands of untouchables to minority religions as an escape from oppressive Brahmin Hinduism has provoked a vigorous response with rising levels of violence against Christian workers and congregations. Pray that Christians may humbly and lovingly commend the gospel to their persecutors without compromise of the truth. Pray also that the Hindu caste system may lose its hold on people.
b) Discriminatory legislation in a growing number of states, which inhibits conversions and deprives converts of access as underprivileged classes to government-allocated jobs and funds. Many Christians have succumbed to such blackmail. The law gives inadequate protection to tribals and former scheduled caste underprivileged Christians when Hindu extremists use force to coerce conversion to Hinduism. Pray that Christians may follow Jesus whatever the cost.
c) Nominalism in the churches. People movements to Christ were often inadequately discipled. The quality of life of many Christians deters non-Christians from putting their trust in Jesus. Christians have often become just another caste in a Hindu world. Revival is sorely needed to rid the churches of self-seeking, social climbing, petty squabbles and sin; to implant a love for the brethren irrespective of social origin; and to give a burden to evangelize.
3. Missionary visas for new workers are hard to obtain, so the missionary force is ageing and in rapid decline. Praise God for the perseverance and dedication of these men and women; pray for eternal fruit through their ministry. Pray that God may raise up a new generation of expatriate workers to gain entrance, develop new ministries and reach the Hindu heartland, unreached cities and peoples for Christ. For too long people have forgotten India's need for workers.
4. Christians were the fastest growing minority in India until the '70s. That growth has slowed in many states because people movements were forcibly arrested and also because witnessing to non-Christians is rare; many congregations have no first-generation Christians from a non-Christian background. Nominalism has become a major problem. Newer churches are often more effective in attracting Christians from other churches than winning Hindus or Muslims. Pray for revival that reverses this trend and fires up the believers for outreach and missions.
5. Caste is one of the biggest issues facing the nation. Constitutional equality and legal banning of discrimination are provoking intense conflict and violence between the higher castes and untouchables. About 80% of Christians are of backward or scheduled caste and tribal origin, and are not yet liberated from the effects of what is little more than legitimized racism. The ambivalent attitude of Christians is a problem to higher-caste Hindus who are attracted by the gospel but repelled by the low social origin of Christians, and a stumbling block to the untouchables who are put off by castism among Christians. Pray that Christians may both preach and live by biblical standards and set aside the pride and inferiorities of caste, yet reach out sensitively to those still bound by them.
6. Praise God for growth that is occurring. In Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Bihar, Gujarat and in the northeast states hundreds of new village congregations are being planted by indigenous missionaries and local churches. The widespread impact of Christian radio (FEBA, TWR) and evangelism through literature (OM, EHC, International Bible League) has softened millions to the point of receptivity. OM teams have "graduated" 5,000 young people who are now leaders in pioneer work today. Pray for more to become involved in evangelism, and for better coordinated and more determined evangelism of non-Christians by local churches -- even if it does result in discomfort or persecution. A nationwide DAWN movement was launched by most of India's Protestant denominations in 1990 with a vision to plant a church in every one of India's 600,000 unchurched villages. Pray for the Holy Spirit's enabling.
7. The evangelical witness is a growing force in the Church today. The proportion of evangelical pastors is steadily increasing in the mainline denominations. Praise God for outstanding, mature leaders of international stature in both the older and newer denominations. Pray for:
a) The Bible to be given its rightful place in both the theologically liberal and more evangelical denominations. In the former, dialogue and universalism have replaced evangelism and conversion. In the latter there is little solid teaching, expository preaching or application of teachings to the real and pressing needs of India today.
b) The Evangelical Fellowship of India which has a membership of more than 100 evangelical churches and agencies. It is having a significant impact in maturing, stabilizing and mobilizing believers through weeks of prayer and conventions, pastors' retreats, and coordinating missionary outreach, literature production, Sunday School courses and TEE (under title TAFTEE), as well as backing the Union Biblical Seminary.
8. Training of Christian leaders is of crucial importance. Syncretism in Catholic, Protestant and evangelical churches is a problem. The lack of dedicated Christian workers prepared to leave all for the sake of Christ is the biggest factor limiting the growth of the Church and causing reversions to Hinduism in rural areas where there is a lack of teaching. There is an average of one pastor for eight churches and 400 villages across the country. Pray for:
a) Degree-level seminaries, of which there are over 40. A minority are theologically evangelical. One such is Union Biblical Seminary in Pune, with 225 students from 50 evangelical denominations and agencies. Pray for a stream of warm-hearted workers, anointed by the Spirit, to move out from these institutions to India and beyond.
b) Bible schools numbering 150. Evangelical institutions are full. Only 10% of all those trained for Christian work go out into evangelistic or pioneer church-planting ministries. Pray that this percentage may increase.
c) TEE -- widely used for training church leaders. The best known is TAFTEE with thousands of students. Multiplication of leaders by all means possible is essential.
9. Praise the Lord for the growth of Indian indigenous missions. In 1973 there were 420 missionaries, in 1983, 3,017, and in 1992 over 11,000 in 198 agencies -- about half in cross-cultural work. Both denominational and interdenominational agencies have multiplied; most are based in south and northeast India. The India Missions Association is a coordinating body for 50 evangelical agencies. The three largest: India Evangelical Team (IET) with 575 missionaries, Friends Missionary Prayer Band with 474 missionaries working in 60 people groups; IEM with 388 missionaries working in 50 people groups. Pray for:
a) Vision and sensitivity to the problems of cross-cultural outreach, and dynamic and strategic direction for the mission movement.
b) Effective training. The task is so enormous that cooperation is essential.
c) Adequate cross-cultural preparation for missionaries. There are a number of cross-cultural training institutes including the inter-mission Indian Institute of Cross-cultural Communications begun in 1980, OTI (IEM), INCEP (OM) and others. Union Biblical Seminary has started a Centre for Missionary Studies.
d) Missionaries called to go to the Hindu heartlands of the Ganges plain in the north. Most Indian church-planting missionaries have gone to under-privileged and marginalized people groups. The cultural, linguistic and emotional barriers for south Indian missionaries to reach caste Hindus are high.
10. Lack of firm information about India's spiritual needs has crippled prayer, limited recruitment and slowed the evangelization of the country. Pray for completion of the massive analysis of India's Christian resources (India Christian Handbook) and research being undertaken into the unreached peoples of India (India Missions Association and India Church Growth Research Centre). Pray that this information may be widely disseminated and effectively used to mobilize the Church.
11. India's unreached. No area of the world has such a diversity and concentration of unreached peoples. Some of the broader categories are mentioned here; others will be found under individual states below.
a) The North India plains with their teeming millions. Christians have failed to make a significant impression on the caste Hindu. Pray for the right strategy for evangelizing each caste and planting churches. Of the 6,400 castes, only about 100 have yielded any fruit as a reward for the Saviour's sufferings.
b) The higher castes which have shown little open response to the claims of Christ. Pray for the Brahmin (the priestly castes), Kshatriya (the warrior castes) and Vaisya (merchant castes) that pride of descent may be replaced by conviction of sin and faith in the Lord Jesus. Pray for the right approach to win and disciple each group.
c) The rural population. Over 70% of Indians live in the 700,000 village communities; only about 65,000 communities would have a Christian congregation -- most of these being in south and northeast India, south Bihar and south Gujarat.
d) The Muslim minority of 110,000,000 -- one of the world's largest and most accessible Muslim communities. Muslims ruled much of India for 600 years. More evangelistic effort and a marginally increased response were evident in the '80s. There may now be a few thousand Muslims who have turned to Christ, but persecution has been severe for many. Pray for the five agencies and 150 or so Indian missionaries labouring among them.
e) The great cities with their exploding populations. Many areas are unreached, and few adequate strategies have been proposed to reach them. Many live in abject poverty and have no homes. This is one of the greatest challenges for the gospel in the '90s.
f) Young people, neglected in the churches through lack of manpower, training and interest. How much more needy are those who are unchurched! Youth For Christ, CEF, SU, CCC and others are seeking to reach out to some.
g) Students numbering nearly four million in 176 universities and 6,380 colleges. A high proportion use addictive drugs. Pray for the nationwide ministries of YFC, Inter-collegiate Pentecostal Fellowship and the Union of Evangelical Students of India (UESI-IFES) with groups and staff workers in most campuses. Pray for a clear, vibrant witness to the thousands of non-Christian students. Pray for their growth and integration into local churches. There are no UESI staff workers in Kashmir, Sikkim or Himachal Pradesh.
h) Tibetan refugees, possibly numbering 450,000 and scattered through India in special areas and camps where Christian witness is rarely allowed. There are only three churches known with six pastors. The majority remain bound in their superstitions and Lamaistic Buddhism.
i) AIDS which has rapidly become a major issue in Bombay and Calcutta. In 1991 there were estimated to be 500,000 HIV virus carriers. The enormity of the disaster that could afflict India has scarcely dawned on the authorities or Christians. Pray that ministry to afflicted families may be initiated.
j) Leprosy sufferers numbering 3.2 million. Christian agencies, especially The Leprosy Mission, have a ministry of love to some.
k) The blind. India's 10 million blind represent over a quarter of the world total. Few have ever learned the Braille script, nor are there many materials in Braille in Indian languages. The Torch Trust for the Blind is committed to producing the whole Bible in Braille in the 12 major languages of India. At present there are some books in nine languages, but none have the whole Bible. Other agencies with ministry to blind people are Mission to Blind and India Fellowship for Physically Handicapped. Compass Braille is an agency specializing in producing Braille Scriptures in Indian languages by means of computer.
12. Help ministries. Pray for the impact of:
a) Literature distribution. The prodigious growth of the writing, publishing and distributing of Christian literature has been a major factor in breaking down opposition to the gospel. EHC teams are in the process of giving literature out to nearly every home in India for the third time. By 1991, 415 million pieces of literature had been distributed with 4.5 million responses and the formation of 8,000 village fellowships. OM teams distributed one million Scripture portions or New Testaments and two million tracts in 1989; it is estimated that 250 million or more have been exposed to the gospel through these teams. SGM dispatches around five million Scripture portions to India annually.
b) Christian publishing and bookstores. Publishers must contend with lack of local writing talent and high costs in a poor land, but many locally-produced books have been printed and sold in large numbers. The Evangelical Literature Fellowship of India is a major coordinating body. Pray for the Gospel Literature Service in Bombay (publishing books, tracts, etc.), the Evangelical Literature Service (CLC) in Madras (35 full-time workers, eight stores, 45 book titles published annually), and OM Books (publishing and nationwide distribution). There are only 260 known Christian bookstores in the country, and 330 Christian literature agencies.
c) Bible Correspondence Courses sent out from 60-70 centres. These have proved fruitful. The centre linked with TEAM has courses in 22 languages. The ICI (AoG) sends out courses in 11 languages, with two million having completed at least one course.
d) The Bible Society with its long and remarkable ministry, distributing 90-100 million portions of Scripture or Bibles annually. Other organizations are also supplying and distributing Scriptures -- such as World Home Bible League, Bibles for the World, and Bharatiya Bible League.
e) Bible translation -- a major need. A new effort as great as that of William Carey and his team 180 years ago should be mounted. At least 13 NTs must be revised and maybe up to 236 languages need translation teams. A new colloquial Hindi Bible has been published. There are 58 languages in which work is in progress. Indian Institute of Cross-Cultural Communication (India Missions Association) provides training in linguistics and is monitoring 25 translation projects. IEM workers are translating 12 NTs. FMPB, India Bible Translators and others are also involved in translation programmes. Pray for more Indian Bible translators.
f) The Gospel Recordings Network (GRn) with a unique ministry in India's complex linguistic diversity. There are now recordings on cassettes and records in 312 languages and dialects. World Cassette Outreach aims to produce the New Testament on cassette for all minority groups by the year 2000.
g) Christian medical work. This has had to be streamlined with the reduction in missionary staff. The Christian Medical Assoc. has the oversight of 430 institutions with both Indian and expatriate medical workers. The Emmanuel Hospitals Assoc. has responsibility for all the institutions that were run by evangelical missions. Pray that the witness going out from these hospitals to the many patients may lead many to seek the Saviour. Pray for the Evangelical Medical Fellowship of India and Evangelical Nurses Fellowship with groups in many hospitals. All over India the proportion of Christian medical workers is high; pray that many non-Christians may be won to Jesus through them.
h) Christian radio which has won a huge audience among Christians and non-Christians. Although there is no Christian broadcasting from stations within India, more than 20 studios prepare programmes for broadcasting by TWR Sri Lanka and Guam (24 languages), FEBA Seychelles (18 languages and 250 programmes a week) and FEBC Manila (4). Weekly there are 295 hours of broadcasting in a total of 35 languages. TWR broadcasts in the early morning have gained an audience of millions. Pray for wise long-term strategies that will lead to effective evangelism and church planting -- perhaps by radio alone. Pray also for the inter-agency World by 2000 radio vision; there are still 21 languages of over one million speakers without Christian broadcasting and for which talent and resources must be found.
i) The Jesus film. This is complete or in production in 22 languages, and a further 33 are targeted for 1993. Over 40 teams show the film. Pray for safety for the teams, especially in north India. Pray for the wide dissemination of video cassettes for showing in homes and backyard cinemas.
13. Indians in other lands number 13 million. There are large numbers who have emigrated to the Americas (USA 500,000; Trinidad 430,000; Canada 250,000; Suriname 156,000), Europe (UK 800,000), Africa (South Africa 900,000; Mauritius 701,000; Kenya 137,000), Pacific (Fiji 340,000; Australia), Asia (Nepal 3,800,000; Malaysia 1,170,000; Sri Lanka Tamil 1,028,000; Myanmar). A further one million are migrant workers in the Middle East. In some of these communities many have become Christians -- as in South Africa, USA and Mauritius; in others there has been relatively little response. Pray that expatriate Indian Christians may be called as witnesses to their land of origin. Visas are easier for them to obtain.
INDIA -- STATES
June 3
Most of these states are far larger than the majority of nations dealt with in far more detail elsewhere in this book, yet limitations of space permit only a brief description of each below.
Note: The Peoples/languages percentages do not add up to 100%; there is considerable overlap.
ANDHRA PRADESH
Area 275,000 sq.km. India's fifth largest state -- in southeast.
Population 66,355,000. People per sq.km. 241.
Peoples/languages 167. Telugu 85%, Urdu 8%; Hindi 2.6%; Tamil 1.2%; Scheduled castes (59) 15%; Scheduled tribes (33) 5.9%. Largest: Koya 386,000; Konda 245,000; Saora 110,000; Jatapu 100,000; Bagatya 97,000; Goudu 60,000; Kammara 48,000; Gadaba 34,000; Chenchu 33,000.
Religion: Hindu 88%. Muslim 8.5%. Christian 3.5%.
1. Andhra Pradesh has the third largest Christian population of any Indian state with a total of possibly 2.3 million (1.4 million officially). 90% of Christians come from scheduled and backward castes. Conversions continue to take place among all castes and tribal peoples. Pray that present outreach by churches and indigenous cross-cultural missions may increase despite opposition.
2. The unreached:
a) Forward castes. Only a few of these have been penetrated with the gospel.
b) Muslims, a close-knit Urdu-speaking community. Little is being done to reach them.
c) Tribal peoples. Most are still unreached with no known Christians, with significant breakthroughs only among the Saora (CBIM), Koya, Lambadi, Konda, and Chenchu (IEM, Christian Outreach Uplifting New Tribes and others), though Indian missions have commenced work in 11 other tribes.
ARUNACHAL PRADESH
Area 89,000 sq.km. Remote and mountainous, bordering on China and Myanmar. Politically isolated and sensitive.
Population 858,000. People per sq.km. 10.
Peoples/languages 21 tribal groups (many sub-groups). Largest: Adi 186,000; Nissi 150,000; Tagin 57,000; Mishmi 56,000; Wanchoo 54,000; Nocte 51,000; Monpa 32,000; Akpatani 25,000; Tangsa 25,000. Bengali 7.5%. Hindi 4%.
Religion: Est. Animist 68.5%; Christian 5% in 1981 (maybe 10% in 1991); Buddhist 13.7%; Hindu 12%; Muslim 0.8%.
1. Praise God for the growth of the Church amid severe persecution. Strenuous efforts by the authorities in the late '70s and early '80s to prevent evangelism and persecute Christians have failed, and persecution has ended. In 1971 only 0.8% of the population was Christian. The Nissi have 220 churches today, the Adi over 300, and the Tangsa may be 30% Christian. However, restrictive legislation has yet to be repealed. Pray that constitutionally guaranteed freedoms may be granted to Christians.
2. There are plans to reach every tribe by the year 2000. Pray for Arunachal Pradesh to become majority Christian by then. Indigenous Christians, refugee Christians from Myanmar, and Indian mission agencies from Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram and other states have planted churches in more than nine peoples. Only the Tangsa and Adi languages have a New Testament. Much translation work is needed.
3. The unreached.
a) The Buddhist peoples of the west adjoining Bhutan -- the Monpa, Memba, Mishmi, Sherdukpen and Sulung -- are more resistant to the gospel.
b) The animist peoples of the centre and west have a complex and expensive sacrificial system, but are more receptive.
ASSAM
Area 78,000 sq.km. Dominated by the Brahmaputra River.
Population 22,295,000. People per sq.km. 284.
Peoples/languages 60. Assamese 55%; Bengali 25%; Nepali; etc. 8%; Scheduled castes (16) 6.2%; Namasudra 370,000. Scheduled tribes (23) 12%. Largest: Kumaoni 1,705,000; Munda 1,060,000; Bore 840,000; Boro 510,000; Mizo 371,000; Mikir 244,000; Rabha 191,000; Lalung 131,000; Miri 110,000.
Religion: Hindu 70.9%; Muslim 24%; Christian 4.7% (Catholic 0.9%, Protestant 3.8%); Buddhist 0.3%.
1. Christian growth has been fast among the receptive tribal peoples. The largest churches are Baptist, Lutheran and Presbyterian among the Lushai (Mizo), Pawi, Mikir and Garo who are majority Christian. Naga and Mizo missionaries have continued what Western missionaries started and have had success in hitherto unreached groups. Lack of evangelists, church planters, Bible teachers and translators limits faster growth.
2. The unreached:
a) The indigenous majority Assamese are mostly Hindu. They could one day become a minority in their own state because of illegal Muslim Bengali immigration from Bangladesh. This has resulted in bitter violence and killings, but an amicable settlement was achieved in 1985. Pray that the new climate of peace may be conducive to the spread of the gospel. Pray, too, that the relatively few Christian Assamese and Bengali may exercise a loving ministry among the two estranged peoples, and that effective outreach to Hindu and Muslim alike might be expanded.
b) Some tribal groups are only partially evangelized such as the Boro, Miri, Munda, Kachari, yet churches are being planted among them. Other groups such as the Bodo and Rabha remain unreached.
BIHAR
Area 174,000 sq.km. Ganges plain in north; wooded, mineral-bearing hills in south.
Population 86,339,000. People per sq.km. 497. One of the poorest and least literate populations in India.
People/languages 77+. Hindi 44%; Hindi dialects 35% (Bhojpuri, Maithili, Magai); Urdu 9%; Bengali 2.5%; Scheduled castes (23) 14.1%, most speaking Sadani Bhojpuri. Scheduled tribes (30) 8.5%. Largest: Santal 2,648,000; Oraon 1,288,000; Munda 1,063,000; Ho 742,000; Kharwar 205,000; Kharia 187,000; Bhumij 187,000; Lohara 172,000; Mahli 110,000.
Religion: Hindu 81.5%; Muslim 14.8%; Christian 1.97% (officially 1.06% -- Catholic 1.64%, Protestant 0.33%); Animist 1.6%.
1. North Bihar has been known as a graveyard of missions. The effort expended has yielded meagre fruit among the Hindu and Muslim peoples of the plains. Strongholds of spiritual darkness are still unchallenged.
a) The 11.7 million forward caste Hindus have had exposure to the gospel, but the message has not been socially acceptable. Only 3,000 call themselves Christian (0.03% of total).
b) The 28 million of the backward castes are marginally more evangelized; about 0.5% are Christian in 42 of the castes, but in at least 36 others there are no known Christians.
c) The 12.7 million Muslims are unreached and gradually increasing as a percentage of the population. No ongoing effort is being made to reach them, and only a handful of converts to Christ are known. As a community they are insecure and subject to Hindu mob violence.
d) The 11.5 million in the Scheduled castes are 0.7% Christian, but only three of the 30 castes have more than 1% Christian. People movements earlier this century fizzled out. Pray that these abused, despised, illiterate peoples in grinding poverty might find liberty in Christ. The potential for a harvest is great, but the biggest barrier is lack of prayer-covered, long-term workers. The Gospel Echoing Missionary Society is working among them.
Tribal peoples are agitating for their own state, Jharkand, as a means of escaping exploitation by more powerful Hindu groups.
2. About 75% of all Christians are southern tribal peoples. They are isolated by language and culture and despised by other Biharis. A major impact was made by Catholic, Lutheran and Anglican missionaries, but lack of Scriptures and literature in the local languages, low literacy and limited teaching have made nominalism a major problem. Pray for revival among the Santal, Kharia, Munda, Oraon, Lohara and Ho that will bring a missions vision both for the ten animistic tribes with few believers and for all Biharis. There is growth through the pioneer work of the Friends Missionary Prayer Band among the Pahari and Malto. The National Missionary Society, IMS and IBT also work among the Bihar tribal peoples.
GOA
Area 3,660 sq.km. Portuguese colony 1510-1961. Full statehood 1987.
Population 1,169,000. People per sq.km. 319.
Peoples/languages. Konkani 60%; Marathi 25%; Gujarati 7%; Kannada 3.2%.
Religion: Hindu 64.5%; Christian 31.2% (almost entirely Catholic); Muslim 4%; Other 0.3%.
1. Traditional Catholicism is the legacy of centuries of Portuguese rule. Hindu beliefs and customs are interwoven with Christianity. New life in Christ and a clear understanding of biblical Christianity are both urgent needs. Protestants are only around 1,000 in number and churches very few. There is not an adequate Konkani Bible, nor evangelical literature in the language.
2. Workers able to communicate in Konkani are a great need. There are few labourers to reach nominal Catholics,Hindus or Muslims.
GUJARAT
Area 196,000 sq.km. Coastal state adjoining Pakistan.
Population 41,174,000. People per sq.km. 210.
Peoples/languages 64. Gujarati 70.7%; Marwari 20%; Sindhi 2.1%; Hindi 2.1%; Urdu 1.8%; Marathi 1.1%. Scheduled castes (30) 7.2%. Scheduled tribes (29) 14.2%. Largest: Bhil 2,500,000; Dubla 534,000; Dhodia 494,000; Garasia 381,000; Gamit 380,000; Rathawas 265,000; Chaudhri 245,000; Kukna 202,000; Dhanka 191,000; Varli 173,000.
Religion: Hindu 89.4%; Muslim 8.9%; Jain 1.2%, Christian 0.5% (Catholic 0.13%, Protestant 0.37%).
1. Gujarat is Gandhi's birth place. Several extremist Hindu groups have polarized society by violent actions against scheduled caste groups, Muslims and Christians. Pray that these events may open the eyes of many to the Truth. Most sections of the community are closed to the gospel. Sadly, the thinking in the traditional Christian community has been Hinduized.
2. The Christian Church is predominantly Catholic, Church of North India and Methodist. Many other smaller evangelical denominations are also present (CMA, Salvation Army, TEAM, Brethren and Pentecostal). Generally, compromise with Hinduism, divisions and lack of outreach have sapped Christian spiritual life. The Christian percentage of the population dropped from 0.44% in 1961 to 0.39% in 1981. The impact of Methodist Church outreach, Salvation Army, OM teams, and new Indian missionary efforts (IEM, FMPB, IMS, Church Growth Missionary Movement and others) among tribals has reversed this trend, with one church a week being planted in the south. Many Bhil, Kukna, Gamit, Chaudhri, Garasia, Koli, Dhodia and others have come to Christ -- possibly increasing the percentage of Christians in the state to 0.5%. Pray that this turning to God may continue unchecked by external opposition or internal failures.
3. The unreached. While some tribal peoples are responding to the gospel, much need remains. Pray out labourers for:
a) Saurashtra, the southwest peninsula, which has 12 million people and seven Christian congregations. The Amreli district has one million people and just one church.
b) North Gujarat, which has more Muslims. There are very few Christians in the area.
c) Unreached caste groups. The Scheduled caste groups -- the Bhangi, Nadia and Pasi -- are urbanized and potentially responsive.
d) The 20 tribal peoples with little or no existing outreach -- the larger being the Dubla, Dhanka and Rathawa.
e) The Parsees (11,000 of India's 75,000 are in Gujarat), a well-educated, wealthy people of Persian origin who follow the Zoroastrian religion. Few have ever believed, and little work has been attempted.
4. Large Gujarati communities have grown up in east and central Africa and in Britain. Most have become wealthy traders but, although surrounded by Christians, there has been little success in evangelism.
HARYANA
Area 44,000 sq.km. Between Delhi and Punjab on plains of Ganges.
Population 16,317,000. People per sq.km. 370.
Peoples/languages. Hindi 88.8%; Panjabi 9.2%; Urdu 1.8%; Scheduled castes (37) 19%.
Religion: Hindu 89.3%; Sikh 6.2%; Muslim 4.1%; Jain 0.27%: Christian 0.08% (Catholic 0.02%, Protestant 0.06%).
1. Hindu revival movements are increasingly active, and are very anti-Christian. The church is woefully weak and in gradual decline. Pray that the spiritual powers in this state may be disarmed and captives released, and that revival may come to the churches.
2. The unreached. Haryana is one of India's least evangelized states. Indian agencies are pioneering work among the eight million Jat and 1.5 million Chamar castes (FMPB, Indian Inland Mission), and the Sikhs (Indian Inland Mission). Pray for a response. Pray also for the unreached Muslims and Jains. There is nothing of the Bible translated into the local language, Haryanavi.
HIMACHAL PRADESH
Area 56,000 sq.km. Mountainous; the foothills of the Himalayas.
Population 5,111,000. People per sq.km. 91.
Peoples/languages (210). Hindi 89%; however most actually speak Pahari, a related language with many dialects but closer to Panjabi. Panjabi 5.8%. Scheduled castes (56) 24.6%. Scheduled tribes (8) 4.6%: Gaddi 129,000; Lahuli 15,000.
Religion: Hindu 95.9%; Muslim 1.7%; Buddhist 1.2%; Sikhs 1.1%; Christian 0.08%.
1. Himachal Pradesh is India's least evangelized state. The church is small, weak and not growing. Pray that Christians may mobilize to redress this tragic situation by sending missionaries. It is a centre of Hindu pilgrimages in the Himalayas, so strong spiritual powers need to be bound in Jesus' name.
2. Christian outreach is limited. IEM have a pioneer church-planting work in the Kullu district and Shimla, the capital, but there are only three congregations and 50 believers. FMPB and Indian Inland Mission are also working in the state. There is a fierce loyalty to idols and animistic Hinduism which needs to be broken. The Buddhist Lahuli are unreached.
JAMMU and KASHMIR
Area 222,000, but of this 83,000 sq.km. in the north and west was seized by Pakistan in 1947 and 38,000 sq.km. in remote Himalayan Ladakh in 1950 by China. The disputed territory has provoked three wars with Pakistan and a rapidly growing Muslim revolt against Indian rule which, if successful, threatens the integrity of all India.
Population 7,718,700. People per sq.km. 42.
Peoples/languages 74. Kashmiri 52%; Hindi 17%, but many actually speaking Dogri; Panjabi 2.7%. Urdu widely spoken. Scheduled castes (13) 8.3%. Tibetan peoples: Balti 150,000; Brukpa 17,000; Changla 9,000; Zanskar 8,000; Ladakhi 7,000.
Religion: Muslim 64.2%, Hindu 32.2%, Sikh 2.2%, Buddhist 1.2%, Christian 0.16%.
1. Kashmir has become ungovernable with numerous Muslim guerrilla groups contesting India's rule. Violence and atrocities have become commonplace. Pray for wise statesmanship to resolve this half-century conflict about Kashmir's future, and for a government for Kashmir that promotes religious tolerance and freedom.
2. Kashmir is spiritually poverty-stricken. There are only about 12,000 Christians, most are nominal and either low-caste Hindu or immigrant in origin. Evangelical believers number a few thousand, most being Pentecostal. Pray for workers, open hearts and the planting of new groups of believers.
3. Missionary activity has always been limited -- Central Asian Mission and WEC in the past, but now the Kashmir Evangelical Fellowship, Indian Evangelical Team and others are seeking to reach a few of the peoples. Pray for the protection and fruitfulness of these workers living and working in tense and dangerous situations.
4. Unreached peoples. All are in this category. Pray for:
a) Kashmiri Muslims who have become more militant for their faith in the uprising. There are a number of smaller Muslim peoples such as the Baltis and Gujars who are unreached. Only about 30 Christians have come from within the Muslim community, and in the Muslim uprising of the late '80s some of these were martyred, and churches destroyed. Helping Hands International has a ministry among them.
b) Tibetan Buddhists from the groups named above in the mountainous north and northeast who have been only marginally evangelized. The Moravians have a small work in Ladakh with three churches and only 150 believers.
c) The high-caste Brahmin Pandits of Kashmir, only 17% of the population but very influential. There are no known Christians. Pull down this stronghold by prayer.
d) The Dogras of Jammu. They have had some Christian outreach, but there are few believers.
KARNATAKA
Area 192,000 sq.km. Southwestern coastal state.
Population 44,806,000. People per sq.km. 234.
Peoples/languages 19. Kannada 66% with many dialect variations; Urdu 9.5%, most speaking Deccani, distantly related to Urdu; Telugu 8.1%; Marathi 3.8%; Hindi 1.8%; Malayalam 1.6%. All castes 250. Scheduled castes (101) 15%. Scheduled tribes (49) 4.9%. Largest: Kol 158,000; Dhodia 145,000; Naikdda 93,000; Zadmali 77,000.
Religion: Hindu 85.4%; Muslim 11.6%; Christian 2.1%, Jain 0.8%.
1. Karnataka is the least receptive of India's southern states. Almost all the Hindu caste groups and the Scheduled tribes are unreached. The few Christians are culturally isolated from them, and few have a vision to evangelize outside their community. Almost all Christians are concentrated in Bangalore (6.7% Christian) and the south of the state. The Deccani Muslims number 60,000, but there are only 100 Christians among them.
2. Bangalore City is the Indian headquarters for many Christian churches, Indian missions (IEM, Quiet Corner) and international agencies (The Bible Society, Language Recordings India (GRn), SGM, EHC, Asia Graduate School of Theology, International Correspondence School of AoG, India Bible League, FEBA, etc.) and theological institutions. The Methodists and CSI are strong in the area. Pray that Bangalore's privileged Christian community may be revived.
KERALA
Area 39,000 sq.km. The most southwesterly state.
Population 29,033,000. People per sq.km. 747. India's most literate, prosperous and densely populated state.
Peoples/languages 63. Malayali 96%; Tamil 2.3%. All castes 423. Scheduled castes (68) 10%. Scheduled tribes (35) 1%.
Religion: Hindu 57%; Muslim 23%; Christian 20% (Syrian Orthodox 6.7%, Catholic 8.9%, Protestant and Mar Thoma Syrians 4.4%.)
1. The Syrian Christians, with links to the Syrian Jacobite Church, have a tradition that they are direct descendants of those evangelized by the Apostle Thomas. They form the majority of Kerala's Christians and are members of Orthodox, Catholic and Protestant denominations. They have high social status but have become little more than a caste within Hindu society, and few have broken out to become vital witnesses to those of other cultures. There are, therefore, few converts out of non-Christian religions in the churches. Pray that Ephesians 2:13-17 may be true for these Christians.
2. Kerala has numerous Protestant denominations and evangelistic agencies. Movings of the Spirit over the last 100 years brought multitudes of both nominal Syrian Christians and low-caste Hindus to faith in Christ. Over the past 30 years the Christian percentage of the population has declined, largely through migration all over India and the world. There are strong mainline, Brethren and Pentecostal congregations. Casteism within the churches is an unmentioned reality, and foreign funds and materialism have provoked divisions. A revived Church in Kerala would have a deep impact on all of India because of the level of education, wealth and dynamism of many Christians -- many of whom live all over India.
3. Unreached peoples. Some Christians in Kerala are beginning to catch a missionary vision for the unreached religious, caste and tribal groups in their state and beyond. Yet social barriers are high, and believers need to be liberated from the spirit of caste both to evangelize other social groups and welcome converts as brethren in their fellowships.
a) Of the 35 small tribal groups only three or four have significant Christian groups and ten others a handful of believers. Most are Hindus, animists or demon worshippers. Only seven have over 10,000 people. Kerala Christians need to catch a vision to reach them -- praise God a few have.
b) The Malabar Muslims or Mapilla are numerous in the north of Kerala and number 6.6 million. The ministry of OM, Helping Hands Intl and others has led to several thousand known conversions and also groups of believers, but resistance to the gospel is high and new Christians have suffered much. Pray for those involved in this arduous and costly ministry.
c) Of the higher and 68 Scheduled castes of Hindus, there have been people movements to Christianity from among only six or seven of the latter.
MADHYA PRADESH
Area 443,000 sq.km. India's biggest state; in the centre of the country. Poor and underdeveloped.
Population 66,135,000. People per sq.km. 149.
Peoples/languages 223. Hindi 84%; Marathi 2.3%; Urdu 2.2%; Oriya 1.1%. Scheduled castes (47) 14%. Scheduled tribes (60) 23%. Largest: Gond 4,394,000; Halba 2,341,000; Bhil 2,131,000; Kol 510,000; Oraon 500,000; Dubla 383,000; Seharia 260,000; Baiga 239,000; Bhumia 159,000; Bhatra 96,000; Pardhan 94,000; Patelia 93,000; Korwa 91,000; Nagesia 82,000; Sawar 80,000.
Religion: Hindu 92.4%. (Most of the Scheduled castes and tribes are actually animists.) Muslim 5.2%; Jain 0.85%; Christian 0.70%; Sikh 0.27%; Buddhist 0.14%.
1. This state was one of the last to open up for missions and is one of the most resistant to Christianity. It is strongly Hindu with stern laws limiting conversions to Christianity. The small Christian community is growing, but slowly. The great majority of Christians are Catholic; many are in Church of North India or Lutherans and Mennonites, and most are Scheduled caste or tribal in origin. Pray for the overturning of opposition to the gospel in high places and for the frustration of extremist Hindu efforts to "reconvert" Christians -- thousands of tribal peoples have been forced to renounce Christianity. The whole state is a pioneer mission field, and could be responsive were there to be more evangelistic outreach.
2. There are numerous tribal peoples -- especially in the southern three districts where nine tribal groups make up 80% of the population. There are now believers in most of them through the work of IEM, FMPB, India Church Growth Mission (ICGM), Evangelical Churches of India, the Discipleship Centre and a number of denominational missions. However, this is still a tough pioneer field with many unbreached strongholds of the enemy of souls.
3. Bible translation is a major need. Translation work is in progress in four languages (ICGM), but a further 30 languages await a New Testament translation.
MAHARASHTRA
Area 308,000 sq.km. India's most urbanized and industrialized state.
Population 78,707,000. People per sq.km. 256.
Peoples/languages 226. Marathi 73.6%; Urdu 6.9%; Hindi 6.7%; Telugu 1.5%; Kannada 1.5%. Scheduled castes (59) 7.1%. Scheduled tribes (47) 9.1%. Largest: Bhil 916,000; Gond 447,000; Varli 397,000; Korku 356,000; Thakur 241,000; Kathodi 198,000; Koli 193,000; Gamit 174,000; Malvi 123,000; Andh 103,000.
Religion: Hindu 80.4%; Muslim 10%; Buddhist 6.2%; Jain 1.6%; Christian 1.5% (Catholic 1.35%, Protestant 0.15%).
1. Bombay not only has the second highest Christian population of any major city in India (5%), but also has a reputation for vice, child prostitution and a frightening mushrooming of AIDS. There are many Catholics and a growing number of Protestant denominations and churches. Pray that the Christians may be "salt and light" in their city. Bombay New Life Fellowship has won many non-Christians through a massive Scripture distribution campaign.
2. Christians are far fewer outside the cities of Bombay and Pune. Some 40% never attend church; court cases, bitterness and quarrelling are common among them. The Protestant community is scattered and very small, and few of them have a personal experience of salvation. In the early '80s OM's Love Maharashtra, and in the '90s EHC's F.T.-5000 Project have helped to mobilize many Christians for extensive literature distribution campaigns. Pray that revival, growth and outreach may become part of the life of the churches.
3. Unreached areas and peoples:
a) Rural areas are neglected and the percentage of Christians is very low.
b) Many Hindu caste groups, Muslims and Buddhists are unreached, and little effective evangelism and church planting is being directed to them. Pray for EHC, FMPB, Maharashtra Village Movement (MVM), Love Maharashtra and others that are seeking to reach them.
c) Tribal groups such as the Gond, Bhil, Korku and Kolam have not responded readily to the gospel. IEM has an outreach to them and the Gowli caste group. MVM and a number of other Indian agencies are pioneering another 15 groups; they are joined by international missions such as TEAM, IMS, NMS and CNI. Most other tribe and caste groups remain unreached.
d) The Jains. 1.2 million of India's 3.5 million live in Maharashtra. This prosperous community with their own religion, derived from Hinduism, has scarcely been touched with the gospel in a culturally appropriate way.
MANIPUR
Area 22,000 sq.km. On Myanmar (Burma) border.
Population 1,827,000. People per sq.km. 82
Peoples/languages: Meitei 1,226,000. Scheduled castes (7) 1.3%. Scheduled tribes (29) 27.3%. Largest: Chin 184,000; Aimol 115,000; Thadou 82,000; Thangkhul 80,000.
Religion: Hindu 59%; Christian 34% (Catholic 3%, Protestant 31%); Muslim 6%; Other 1%.
1. Nearly all the tribal people have become Protestant over the past 80 years. Despite some persecution from Hindus, churches have multiplied. Most numerous are Baptists followed by Presbyterians and 14 other denominations. This state has the potential to become majority Christian in the '90s. Pray that this may be so. Drug addiction and AIDS are major problems in the state.
2. The less reached.
a) The majority Meitei are Hindu, but nationalism is lowering commitment to Indian Hinduism. The number of Christians among them more than doubled to 10,000 in the '80s. The Meitei Bible has recently been published.
b) Muslims and Scheduled caste groups have been neglected.
c) Nepalis. There are some churches among them, but the majority are still Hindu.
There are over 12 indigenous mission agencies ministering in the state.
MEGHALAYA
Area 22,000 sq.km. Mountainous state on Bangladesh's northern border. Average annual rainfall is 12 metres -- the world's highest.
Population 1,761,000. People per sq.km. 78.
Peoples/languages. Scheduled tribes (14) 80.6%. Largest: Khasi 630,000; Garo 446,000; Hajong 26,000. Caste Hindus 18.3%; Scheduled castes 0.4%: Bengali 100,000; Assamese 25,000; Hindi 13,000.
Religion: Christian 57%; Animist/other 22%; Hindu 17%; Muslim 4%.
1. Praise God for the turning to the Lord in Meghalaya. Most Khasis are Presbyterian and most Garos Baptists. There are a number of other denominations in the state.
2. The less reached. Some of the smaller tribes -- notably the Hajong, Mikir and others -- have been less responsive and remain entrenched in their animism. The Hindu minority has been little affected by the gospel.
MIZORAM
Area 21,000. Wedged between Bangladesh and Myanmar.
Population 686,000. People per sq.km. 33.
Peoples/languages. Scheduled tribes (14) 94%. Largest: Mizo (Lushai) 340,000; Chakma 31,000; Pawi 28,000; Lakher 18,000.
Religion: Christian 85%; Buddhist 8%; Hindu 7%.
1. Nearly all indigenous peoples are now Christian. Great awakenings and recent revival have filled the churches -- Presbyterian, Baptist and large indigenous denominations predominating. Secularization and denominational divisions are trends that could hamper vision.
2. Praise God for the dynamic missions movement that has blossomed. No nation on earth has sent out a higher proportion of their people as missionaries. There may now be nearly 1,000 Mizo missionaries serving in other parts of India and beyond.
3. The less reached. The Buddhist Chakma are being intensively evangelized by Mizo, and churches are multiplying. The Bangladeshi refugees and the Hindu population are needy.
NAGALAND
Area 16,500 sq.km. Mountainous northeastern border with Myanmar (Burma).
Population 1,218,000. People per sq.km. 73
Peoples/languages: Naga tribes (16 tribes, 60 dialects/languages) 84%. Other 16%; Hindi, Bengali, Nepali, Assamese.
Religion: Christian 85%; Hindu 11%; Muslim 1.8%; Other 2.2%.
1. The majority of Nagas are Baptists -- in this Nagaland is a state unique in the world. Almost all Nagas are Christian. Revivals since 1976 have brought new life, fervour and a surge of evangelistic and missions outreach. More recently inter-ethnic divisions, compromise over corruption by state leaders, and complacency have dampened spiritual ardour. In-depth Bible teaching is needed; most pastors tend to be evangelists.
2. Naga Christians are isolated from the mainstream of Christians due to the geographic and political sensitivity of their area. There is a low-level guerrilla campaign for Naga independence. Pray that Christians may enjoy more helpful interactive fellowship with the Body of Christ worldwide.
3. Missionary vision blossomed as a result of revival. Christians made a solemn covenant in 1980 to live for, and further, world evangelization. They are trusting God that 10,000 missionaries will be sent from Nagaland. Pray for Naga mission agencies and missionaries in surrounding states, across India and beyond, and pray that this vision might be fulfilled -- there were around 500 Naga missionaries in 1990.
ORISSA
Area 156,000 sq.km. Eastern coastal state.
Population 31,512,000. People per sq.km. 202
Peoples/languages 68. Oriya 82%; Tamil 2.3%; Hindi 2.3%; Bengali 1.5%; Urdu 1.5%: Telugu 1.4%. Scheduled castes (93) 15.1%. Scheduled tribes (62) 23.1%. Largest: Khond 1,200,000; Gond 686,000; Santal 625,000; Saora 483,000; Kolha 426,000; Shabar 330,000; Munda 305,000; Paroja 285,000; Bhottada 270,000; Bhuiya 260,000; Kisan 250,000; Kol 236,500; Oraon 226,000; Bhumiji 202,000; Siyal 184,000; Bathudi 180,000; Kharia 166,000; Bhumiya 85,000; Koya 81,000.
Religion: Hindu 94.8% (including many animist tribal people), Christian 2% (Catholic 0.8%, Protestant 1.2%), Muslim 1.7%, Animist 1%.
1. Praise God for steady growth in the number of Christians and churches despite strong opposition from violent Hindu fanatics. Many churches have been destroyed and converts compelled to revert to Hinduism. Anti-conversion laws are in operation. Pray that Christians may manifest both fortitude and the love of Christ for their persecutors, and that growth may continue.
2. Tribal peoples of Orissa are the most responsive to the gospel, as are their brethren in adjoining south Bihar. The Oraon (40% Christian), Kharia (37%), Munda (34%), Binhjia (6.4%), Saora (6%), Kisan (5%), Kol (5%) and Khond (2%) have significant numbers of Christians. Their illiteracy, economic deprivation and political marginalization slow what could be a large movement to Christ. Numerous denominations and agencies work among them. There is an exciting development of missions vision among these believers.
3. Unreached peoples abound.
a) The forward (high) castes have never been confronted with the claims of Christ.
b) The 93 Scheduled castes -- all but one are untouched by the gospel.
c) The tribals. Of the 62 groups, 20 are less than 0.1% Christian and 42 less than 1% Christian. Pray specifically for a breakthrough among the Bhathudi, Bhottada, Bhuiya, Bhumiji, Gond, Kolho, Paraja, Santal, Siyal and Koya.
4. Literacy is low -- 52% of the population, 70% of the Scheduled castes and tribes, and 89% of all women cannot read. Pray for effective use of Scripture cassettes, and other audio-visual means of communicating the gospel.
PUNJAB
Area 50,400 sq.km. Northwestern India; one of the most productive agricultural regions of the country.
Population 20,191,000. People per sq.km. 401.
Peoples/languages. Panjabi 85%; Hindi 14.6%; Scheduled castes (37) 27%.
Religion: Sikh 63.6%, Hindu 34%, Christian 1.1% (Catholic 0.18%, Protestant 0.92%); Muslim 1%.
1. Punjab, India's only state with a Sikh majority, has been the scene of a violent and bitter guerrilla war with over 15,000 deaths, the assassination of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi in 1984, alienation of the Sikh and Hindu communities and a breakdown of the economic and social fabric of the state. The guerrillas' aim is the establishment of a Sikh state, Khalistan. A solution to the tragedy looks distant, but pray that one may be found. Pray that these events may open the hearts of many to the Prince of peace. It is reported that some Sikh guerrillas have come to Christ.
2. Most of the Christian community originated in the last century in mass movements from depressed Chamar and Chuhra castes. Christians are under-privileged, generally nominal and discouraged. May God revive them! Evangelism through Pentecostal churches and the Indian Evangelical Team is bearing fruit, halting the decline in numbers. IET has 320 workers in Punjab, Haryana, Orissa, and other states and has already planted 352 churches. The Ludhiana Christian Medical College and Hospital has a worldwide reputation for Christian care and witness. Pray for a dynamic Panjabi Church to emerge.
3. The unreached. Only two of the caste groups have shown any response to the gospel. The Sikh Jat have recently become more open, with some churches planted among them through the ministry of Indian Evangelical Team. Slum dwellers in Chandigarh are responding through the ministry of Baptists.
RAJASTHAN
Area 342,000. An arid state abutting on Pakistan.
Population 43,881,000. People per sq.km. 128
Peoples/languages: Hindi 90%, using the Rajasthani dialect; Urdu 2.2%; Panjabi 2.1%; Sindhi 0.8%. Scheduled castes (81) 17%. Scheduled tribes (12) 12.2%. Largest: Mina 2,070,000; Bhil 491,000; Garasia 71,000; Seharia 36,000; Damor 20,000.
Religion: Hindu 89%; Muslim 7.5%, Jain 1.8%; Sikh 1.5%, Christian 0.12% (Catholic 0.07%, Protestant 0.05%).
1. Christians are a tiny minority within minority castes and tribes. There are about 50,000 Christians in the state. Pray for the little CNI, Pentecostal and Brethren congregations. Anti-conversion laws and Hindu pressures have not stopped the steady growth in number of believers through literature distribution, radio evangelism (TWR Sri Lanka) and Bible correspondence courses. Most evangelism has been through six Indian missions, OM, EHC, Rajasthan Bible Institute teams and National Missionary Movement. Only 14 of the 25 districts have any established Christian work.
2. Unreached peoples:
a) The Bhil (IEM), Mina (Indian Inland Mission, Pentecostals), Garasia (IEM) and others are Hindu/animist and only now beginning to respond to the gospel. Most of the Christians are of these groups.
b) The Meo (2,000,000) are Muslim; no Christians are known.
c) The higher-caste Hindus, especially the 12 million warlike Rajputs, the Jats and Marwari, have shown no response to the gospel. Entrenched spiritual powers need to be bound.
d) Jaipur, the capital, has 1,500,000 inhabitants, but only 8,000 are Christian; half of these are from south India, and the majority are very nominal. There are only five churches in the city.
SIKKIM
Area 7,100 sq.km. Himalayan state sandwiched between Nepal and Bhutan, and long a buffer state between Tibet (China) and India. Annexed by India in 1975.
Population 406,000. People per sq.km. 57.
Peoples/languages: Nepali 75%. The Nepali language is rapidly becoming the de facto state language. Lepcha 14% -- the original people; Tibetan (Bhutia) 10%.
Religion: Hindu 67%; Buddhist 28.6%; Christian 2.4%; Muslim 1%; Other 1%.
1. Christians have steadily grown in numbers despite persecution at times and the exclusion of Western missionaries since 1980. The two main churches are the CNI and the Free Church started by Finnish missionaries. There are also a number of Pentecostal churches. Denominationalism and disunity have harmed the witness of Christians. Several Indian mission agencies have workers in Sikkim. Pray for the complete evangelization of this state.
2. The less reached. Most of the Christians are Lepcha and Nepali, with only a few Tibetans. Many settlements and villages are without a witness. There is a lack of trained full-time workers. Pray for the Reach Sikkim Movement launched in 1992.
TAMIL NADU
Area 130,000 sq.km.. The most southeasterly state, well watered and a with strong agricultural economy.
Population 55,638,000. People per sq.km. 428
Peoples/languages: Tamil 85.4%; Telugu 8.4%; Kannada 2.4%; Urdu 1.8%. Upper caste Brahmin 4%; Backward castes (202) 36%. Scheduled castes (76) 18.3%. Scheduled tribes (36) 1.1%; most very small -- largest: Badaga 540,000; Irula 123,000; Kurumans 16,000; Kurumba 15,000.
Religion: Hindu 88.6%; Christian 6.0%; Muslim 5.3%.
1. Christians number nearly 3.5 million; growth in a number of caste groups has been significant. Pray that high barriers between castes may be broken down for the gospel to permeate every level of society.
2. There is a spirit of prayer and revival in both older and newer Evangelical and Pentecostal denominations. The number and variety of Christian denominations, missions and agencies is large. Many are based in Madras, which is nearly 10% Christian and which has doubled in five years to 1,400 churches -- the largest number in a south Asian city. One third of Indian missions and numerous interdenominational agencies have their headquarters in the state. Pray that all this vision and activity may result in fruitful outreach to tribal peoples and north India.
3. The unreached. There are 28 Indian mission agencies working in Tamil Nadu, including IEM, FMPB and India Church Growth Mission.
a) Over 16 large caste groups have resisted the gospel.
b) Tribal groups. There are 15 tribal groups with no known churches. Only among the Badaga (3% Christian) and Kuruman (6.5%) are there a significant number of churches. The Irula, Kurumba and Toda have just a few believers.
c) The Tamil-speaking Muslims, the Labbai, are fairly strongly Islamic. Helping Hands International has an outreach to them.
TRIPURA
Area 10,500 sq.km. Almost an enclave within eastern Bangladesh.
Population 2,775,000. People per sq.km. 262.
Peoples/languages: Bengali 70%; Tripuri 16%; Hindi 1.3%. Scheduled castes (32) 15%. Scheduled tribes (19) 28.5%; largest: Tripuri 345,000; Riang 89,000; Jamatia 47,000; Chakma 40,000; Halam 26,000; Mag 18,000; Noatia 14,000.
Religion: Hindu 87.7% -- including Tripuri animists as "Hindu"; Muslim 6.8% (Bengalis); Christian 3% (Tribal peoples); Buddhist 2.5% (Chakma).
1. The indigenous peoples are now a minority in their own state. Massive Bengali immigration has occurred over the past 30 years, and this group has become politically dominant. Oppression and social exclusion of tribal peoples led to a violent backlash in 1980, with ongoing guerrilla activity against the migrants, but also to an unprecedented openness to the gospel. A dramatic people movement has been taking place since 1970 in all peoples but the Tripuri. Six tribes are now Christian, and at least seven are rapidly becoming so. There are Christians in every indigenous ethnic group, and their numbers exceed official figures.
2. Christians have been persecuted both by animists and by extremist Hindu groups. Pray that Christians may thrive and maintain their witness to non-Christians in spite of communal violence.
3. The unreached:
a) The Bengali majority is unresponsive because of the turning of tribal peoples to Christ. Little ministry is directed to their evangelization.
b) The Buddhist Chakma are slowly responding to the gospel. Over 40,000 Chakma refugees from Bangladesh have taken refuge in Tripura.
c) The Tripuri have become more open, and there are now some 30 Baptist churches among them. Most are animists, but Hindu coercion and bribery is used to convert them to Hinduism.
UTTAR PRADESH
Area 294,000 sq.km. India's strategic heartland and most populous state.
Population 139,031,000. People per sq.km. 470.
Peoples/languages 88: Hindi 90%; Urdu 9.7%. Scheduled castes (66) 21.2%. Scheduled tribes (5) 0.2%. Largest: Tharu 94,000; Jaunsari 78,000; Bhotia 47,000; Buksa 32,000.
Religion: Hindu 79.8%; Muslim 19.6%; Sikh 0.4%; Jain 0.13%; Christian 0.12% (Catholic 0.04%, Protestant 0.08%).
1. Uttar Pradesh is the home of Hinduism, Buddhism and Jainism, but has given no home to the gospel. It is one of the darkest and most needy parts of the world. Millions of pilgrims visit Varanasi, the "holy" city of Hinduism on the Ganges River, but few find the Living Water that only Jesus can give. Pray that there might be a major mobilization of prayer on this key state, and that God may give the workers who will turn the tide for the gospel.
2. Christians are a tiny minority of outcaste (Chamar) and tribal (Dom) origin. Most are nominal and rarely attend church. There is a stream of reversions to Hinduism. There are only 172 little evangelical churches and fellowships and 17 denominations in the whole state -- which means there is almost one church per million people. Evangelists and church planters are desperately few, though there are 12 Bible schools in U.P. Pray for the missionaries of AoG, the All India Prayer Fellowship, IEM, Friends Missionary Prayer Band, Agape and others who are planting churches in the state.
3. The unreached are many. The Hindus of Uttar Pradesh are among the world's least-reached mega-peoples. South and northeastern Indian missions have concentrated more on tribal and scheduled caste groups and less on the politically and economically more powerful Hindu castes. Pray that this may be rectified. Pray also for:
a) The Hindi-related Bhojpuri (28,000,000) and Kumaoni (2,000,000) in the east of U.P. who are physically and spiritually poor with very few believers.
b) The Garhwalis (1,800,000), largely unresponsive. However, the New Testament was recently completed through the work of IEM and Agape and there are now over 100 believers among them. Christian broadcasting has begun in Garhwali.
c) The tribal Jaunsari, Tharu and Buksa who are being reached by a number of Indian missions. Lack of workers, indigenous New Testaments, and significant results give stimulus for prayer.
d) Muslims who are a large minority of 27 million, and are frequently victims of Hindu mob violence. The destruction of the Babri mosque in Ayodhya in December 1992 provoked nationwide rioting and destruction and seriously damaged India's social fabric. Several Christian agencies are seeking to reach Muslims, but results are yet meagre.
e) Students. They are a challenge! UESI/IFES has 12 student groups for the 24 universities and 407 colleges. Pray for these and for the two staff workers.
WEST BENGAL
Area 89,000 sq.km. Bordering on Bangladesh (which used to be East Bengal).
Population 67,983,000. People per sq.km. 766.
Peoples/languages:. Bengali 86.3%; Hindi 5.9%; Urdu 2.2%; Nepali 1.0%. Scheduled castes (59) 22%. Scheduled tribes (38) 5.6%; largest: Santal 1,844,000; Oraon 400,000; Bhumij 233,000; Kora 129,000; Mahali 67,000; Lodha 63,000; Bhotia 47,000; Mal Pahariya 43,000; Lepcha 20,000.
Religion: Hindu 76.5%, Muslim 22.9%, Christian 0.6% (Catholic 240,000, Protestant 70,000).
1. Christians are a tiny minority among Bengalis. Hindu reform movements have coopted Christian ethical elements. Christians are largely nominal, and their life style has often deterred Hindus and Muslims from receiving the gospel. Some reckon that in the whole state there are less than 10,000 born-again believers. This is the area where William Carey gave his life for India's evangelization; pray that the work he founded may be revived again. Pray also for the Reach Bengal Movement which has drawn denominations together in fruitful outreach since its inception in 1991.
2. Calcutta is a huge and tragic slum with the lowest urban standard of living in the world. It is named after the Hindu deity Kali, the goddess of destruction. Pray for the destruction of Satan's kingdom there. Pray also for Catholics and Evangelicals alike who seek to share their faith in squalid slums where 4.5 million people live, and in streets where a further million eke out an existence. Only 45 of the 163 congregations in the city are Bengali-speaking.
3. The majority of Christians in the state are tribal, mainly Santal, Munda and Oraon. Even these groups are only partially evangelized; others have scarcely been touched with the gospel. There are too few workers to reach them.
4. Muslims are in the majority in central districts. They are unevangelized.
THE SEVEN UNION TERRITORIES
Mention is made here of three of the more unique Union Territories. The other four are similar to the states of which they are enclaves: Chandigarh (capital of Punjab and Haryana 640,000); Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Gujarat 138,000); Daman and Diu (Gujarat 101,000) and Pondicherry (Tamil Nadu 789,000).
1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands. 278,000 inhabitants on 35 islands in the Bay of Bengal. Over 25% of the population of mainland immigrants and indigenous Nicobari (25,000) are Christian. The unreached are the four isolated negrito peoples (only 500 people) and the Hindu (64%) and Muslim (8.6%) Bengali, Hindi, Malayali, Telugu and Tamil immigrants.
2. Delhi, India's Capital (9,370,000). With its power, wealth and industries, Delhi is a trend-setting city with significant communities from nearly every ethnic group in India. Only 1% of the population is Christian with 220 congregations and 16 denominations.
a) Outreach ministries through the CNI, Baptists, Pentecostals, Evangelical Churches of India, Brethren and the Delhi Bible Fellowship (TEAM) need to penetrate many of the unreached population segments. IEM has a ministry to the Telugu.
b) Many India-wide Christian organizations have headquarters in Delhi -- notably Evangelical Fellowship of India, All India Prayer Fellowship, Emmanuel Hospital Association, TWR-India. Pray that life and blessing may flow from Delhi to the whole country.
3. Lakshadweep. 12 coral atolls and 36 islands in the Arabian Sea. 52,000 people live on its 32 sq.km. Over 95% of the population is ardently Muslim; the rest are Hindu (4%) and Christian (0.7%) immigrants from the mainland. No long-term ministry to these Malayali-speaking Muslims has ever been permitted or attempted.
Demographic Profiles
Geography
Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan
Geographic coordinates: 20 00 N, 77 00 E
Map references: Asia
Area:
total area: 3,287,590 sq km
land area: 2,973,190 sq km
comparative area: slightly more than one-third the size of the US
Land boundaries:
total: 14,103 km
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463 km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
Coastline: 7,000 km
Maritime claims:
contiguous zone: 24 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
territorial sea: 12 nm
International disputes: boundaries with Bangladesh and China in dispute; status of Kashmir with Pakistan; water-sharing problems with downstream riparians, Bangladesh over the Ganges and Pakistan over the Indus (Wular Barrage)
Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north
Terrain: upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
Natural resources: coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica, bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum, limestone
Land use:
arable land: 55%
permanent crops: 1%
meadows and pastures: 4%
forest and woodland: 23%
other: 17%
Irrigated land: 430,390 sq km (1989)Environment:
current issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not potable throughout the country; huge and rapidly growing population is overstraining natural resources
natural hazards: droughts, flash floods, severe thunderstorms common; earthquakes
international agreements: party to - Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Nuclear Test Ban, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Tropical Timber, Wetlands; signed, but not ratified - Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Desertification
Geographic note: dominates South Asian subcontinent; near important Indian Ocean trade routes
People
Population: 952,107,694 (July 1996 est.)
Age structure:
0-14 years: 34% (male 168,030,766; female 159,283,151)
15-64 years: 62% (male 304,805,787; female 281,311,834)
65 years and over: 4% (male 19,148,385; female 19,527,771) (July 1996 est.)
Population growth rate: 1.64% (1996 est.)
Birth rate: 25.94 births/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Death rate: 9.61 deaths/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Net migration rate: 0.04 migrant(s)/1,000 population (1996 est.)
Sex ratio:
at birth: 1.05 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.98 male(s)/female
all ages: 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Infant mortality rate: 71.1 deaths/1,000 live births (1996 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:
total population: 59.71 years
male: 59.12 years
female: 60.32 years (1996 est.)
Total fertility rate: 3.2 children born/woman (1996 est.)
Nationality:
noun: Indian(s)
adjective: Indian
Ethnic divisions: Indo-Aryan 72%, Dravidian 25%, Mongoloid and other 3%
Religions: Hindu 80%, Muslim 14%, Christian 2.4%, Sikh 2%, Buddhist 0.7%, Jains 0.5%, other 0.4%
Languages: English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political, and commercial communication, Hindi the national language and primary tongue of 30% of the people, Bengali (official), Telugu (official), Marathi (official), Tamil (official), Urdu (official), Gujarati (official), Malayalam (official), Kannada (official), Oriya (official), Punjabi (official), Assamese (official), Kashmiri (official), Sindhi (official), Sanskrit (official), Hindustani a popular variant of Hindu/Urdu, is spoken widely throughout northern India
note: 24 languages each spoken by a million or more persons; numerous other languages and dialects, for the most part mutually unintelligible
Literacy: age 15 and over can read and write (1995 est.)
total population: 52%
male: 65.5%
female: 37.7%Government
Name of country:
conventional long form: Republic of India
conventional short form: India
Data code: IN
Type of government: federal republic
Capital: New Delhi
Administrative divisions: 25 states and 7 union territories*; Andaman and Nicobar Islands*, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Chandigarh*, Dadra and Nagar Haveli*, Daman and Diu*, Delhi*, Goa, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachel Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Karnataka, Kerala, Lakshadweep*, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Orissa, Pondicherry*, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal
Independence: 15 August 1947 (from UK)
National holiday: Anniversary of the Proclamation of the Republic, 26 January (1950)
Constitution: 26 January 1950
Legal system: based on English common law; limited judicial review of legislative acts; accepts compulsory ICJ jurisdiction, with reservations
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: President Shankar Dayal SHARMA (since 25 July 1992) was elected for a five-year term by an electoral college consisting of elected members of both houses of Parliament and the legislatures of the states; Vice President Kicheril Raman NARAYANAN (since 21 August 1992) was elected by both houses of Parliament
head of government: Prime Minister P. V. Narasimha RAO (since 21 June 1991) was appointed by the president
cabinet: Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on recommendation of the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Sansad)
Council of States (Rajya Sabha): body consisting of not more than 250 members, up to 12 appointed by the president, the remainder chosen by the elected members of the state and territorial assemblies
People's Assembly (Lok Sabha): elections last held 21 May, 12 and 15 June 1991 (next to be held 27 April through May 1996); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (545 total, 543 elected, 2 appointed) Congress (I) Party 245, BJP 119, Janata Dal Party 39, Janata Dal (Ajit Singh) 20, CPI/M 35, CPI 14, Telugu Desam 13, AIADMK 11, Samajwadi Janata Party 5, Shiv Sena 4, RSP 4, BSP 1, Congress (S) Party 1, other 23, vacant 9; note - the distribution of seats as of 18 January 1995 is as follows: Congress (I) Party 260, BJP 117, CPI/M 36, Janata Dal Party 24, Samata Party 14, CPI 14, AIADMK 12, Janata Dal (Ajit) 7, Telugu Desam 7, RSP 4, Janata Dal (Ex-Ajit) 3, Samajwadi Party 3, BSP 3, AIFB 3, Shiv Sena 2, Congress (S) Party 1, Kerala Congress (Mani faction) 1, Bihar Peoples Party 1, India National League 1, other 14, vacant 16
Judicial branch: Supreme Court, judges are appointed by the president
Political parties and leaders: Congress (I) Party, P. V. Narasimha RAO, president; Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), L.K. ADVANI; Janata Dal Party, Laloo Prasad YADAV; Janata Dal (Ajit), Ajit SINGH; Janata Dal (Ex-Ajit), leader NA; Communist Party of India/Marxist (CPI/M), Harkishan Singh SURJEET; Communist Party of India (CPI), Indrajit GUPTA; Telugu Desam (Naidu) (a regional party in Andhra Pradesh), Chandrababu NAIDU; All-India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (AIADMK; a regional party in Tamil Nadu), Jayaram JAYALALITHA; Samajwadi Party (SP), Mulayam Singh YADAV (president), Om Prakash CHAUTALA, Devi LAL; Shiv Sena, Bal THACKERAY; Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP), Tridip CHOWDHURY; Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Kanshi RAM; Congress (S) Party, leader NA; Communist Party of India/Marxist-Leninist (CPI/ML), Vinod MISHRA; Dravida Munnetra Kazagham (a regional party in Tamil Nadu), M. KARUNANIDHI; Akali Dal factions representing Sikh religious community in the Punjab; National Conference (NC; a regional party in Jammu and Kashmir), Farooq ABDULLAH; Bihar Peoples Party, Lovely ANAND; Samata Party (formerly Janata Dal members), George FERNANDES; Indian National League, Suliaman SAIT; Kerala Congress (Mani faction), K.M. MANI; All India Forward Bloc (AIFB), Prem Dutta PALIWAL (chairman), Chitta BASU (general secretary); Congress (Tiwari), Arjun SINGH and N.D. TIWARI
Other political or pressure groups: various separatist groups seeking greater communal and/or regional autonomy; numerous religious or militant/chauvinistic organizations, including Adam Sena, Ananda Marg, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh
International organization participation: AfDB, AG (observer), AsDB, C, CCC, CP, ESCAP, FAO, G- 6, G-15, G-19, G-24, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICC, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Inmarsat, Intelsat, Interpol, IOC, IOM (observer), ISO, ITU, NAM, OAS (observer), PCA, SAARC, UN, UNAMIR, UNAVEM III, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNHCR, UNIDO, UNIKOM, UNITAR, UNMIH, UNOMIL, UNU, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WToO, WTrO
Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Naresh CHANDRA
chancery: 2107 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008; note - Embassy located at 2536 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20008
telephone: [1] (202) 939-7000
consulate(s) general: Chicago, New York, and San Francisco
US diplomatic representation:
chief of mission: Ambassador Frank G. WISNER
embassy: Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri 110021, New Delhi
mailing address: use embassy street address
telephone: [91] (11) 600651
FAX: [91] (11) 6872028
consulate(s) general: Calcutta, Madras, Mumbai (Bombay)
Flag: three equal horizontal bands of orange (top), white, and green with a blue chakra (24-spoked wheel) centered in the white band; similar to the flag of Niger, which has a small orange disk centered in the white band
Economy
Economic overview: India's economy is a mixture of traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services. Faster economic growth in the 1980s permitted a significant increase in real per capita private consumption. A large share of the population, perhaps as much as 40%, remains too poor to afford an adequate diet. Financial strains in 1990 and 1991 prompted government austerity measures that slowed industrial growth but permitted India to meet its international payment obligations without rescheduling its debt. Production, trade, and investment reforms since 1991 have provided new opportunities for Indian businessmen and an estimated 200 million plus middle class consumers. New Delhi has always paid its foreign debts on schedule and has stimulated exports, attracted foreign investment, and revived confidence in India's economic prospects. GDP growth in 1992-95 has averaged nearly 5%. Most of the country's external fundamentals - including the current account balance and reserves (now nearly $17 billion) are healthy. Party politics is increasingly shaping the debate over economic reforms. In addition, the 25 Indian states and several union territories, which are playing a more active role in determining economic policy, are further complicating the economic climate. The Indian Government will also have to watch closely rising government expenditures and higher debt servicing which could create a debt trap by the turn of the century. Nevertheless, India should achieve economic growth of 5.5%-6.5% annually through the next several years. Even if a weak coalition government comes to power in 1996 and is unable to push reforms aggressively, parts of the economy that have already benefited from deregulation will continue to grow. Moreover, the country can build on other strengths, including its diverse industrial base, large scientific and technical pool, well-developed legal system, and its large middle class to achieve higher growth.
GDP: purchasing power parity - $1.4087 trillion (1995 est.)
GDP real growth rate: 5.5% (1995 est.)
GDP per capita: $1,500 (1995 est.)
GDP composition by sector:
agriculture: NA%
industry: NA%
services: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 9% (1995)
Labor force: 314.751 million (1990)
by occupation: agriculture 65% (1993 est.)
Unemployment rate: NA%
Budget:
revenues: $36.5 billion
expenditures: $54.9 billion, including capital expenditures of $11.4 billion (FY94/95)
Industries: textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining, petroleum, machinery
Industrial production growth rate: 10% (1995 est.)
Electricity:
capacity: 81,200,000 kW (March 1995)
production: 314 billion kWh (1993)
consumption per capita: 324 kWh (1993)
Agriculture: rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, potatoes; cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry; fish catch of about 3 million metric tons ranks India among the world's top 10 fishing nations
Illicit drugs: licit producer of opium for the pharmaceutical trade, but an undetermined quantity of opium is diverted to illicit international drug markets; major transit country for illicit narcotics produced in neighboring countries; illicit producer of hashish and methaqualone; produced 70 metric tons of illicit opium in 1995
Exports: $29.96 billion (f.o.b., 1995)
commodities: clothing, gems and jewelry, engineering goods, chemicals, leather manufactures, cotton yarn, and fabric
partners: US, Japan, Germany, UK, Hong Kong
Imports: $33.5 billion (c.i.f., 1995)
commodities: crude oil and petroleum products, machinery, gems, fertilizer, chemicals
partners: US, Germany, Saudi Arabia, UK, Belgium, Japan
External debt: $97.9 billion (March 1995)
Economic aid:
recipient: ODA, $1.237 billion (1993); US ODA bilateral commitments $171 million; US Ex-Im bilateral commitments $680 million; Western (non-US) countries, ODA bilateral commitments $2.48 billion; OPEC bilateral aid $200 million; World Bank (IBRD) multilateral commitments $2.8 billion; Asian Development Bank (AsDB) multilateral commitments $760 million; International Finance Corporation (IFC) multilateral commitments $200 million; other multilateral commitments $554 million (1995-96)
Currency: 1 Indian rupee (Re) = 100 paise
Exchange rates: Indian rupees (Rs) per US$1 - 35.766 (January 1996), 32.427 (1995), 31.374 (1994), 30.493 (1993), 25.918 (1992), 22.742 (1991)
Fiscal year: 1 April - 31 March
Transportation
Railways:
total: 62,462 km (11,793 km electrified; 12,617 km double track)
broad gauge: 37,824 km 1.676-m gauge
narrow gauge: 20,653 km 1.000-m gauge; 3,985 km 0.762-m and 0.610-m gauge (1995 est.)
Highways:
total: 2.037 million km
paved: 981,834 km
unpaved: 1,055,166 km (1995 est.)
Waterways: 16,180 km; 3,631 km navigable by large vessels
Pipelines: crude oil 3,005 km; petroleum products 2,687 km; natural gas 1,700 km (1995)
Ports: Calcutta, Cochin, Jawaharal Nehru, Kandla, Madras, Mumbai (Bombay), Vishakhapatnam
Merchant marine:
total: 310 ships (1,000 GRT or over) totaling 6,787,834 GRT/11,296,222 DWT
ships by type: bulk 133, cargo 65, chemical tanker 10, combination bulk 2, combination ore/oil 3, container 11, liquefied gas tanker 6, oil tanker 73, passenger-cargo 5, roll-on/roll-off cargo 1, short-sea passenger 1 (1995 est.)
Airports:
total: 288
with paved runways over 3,047 m: 11
with paved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 48
with paved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 59
with paved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 68
with paved runways under 914 m: 62
with unpaved runways 2,438 to 3,047 m: 2
with unpaved runways 1,524 to 2,437 m: 2
with unpaved runways 914 to 1,523 m: 36 (1995 est.)
Heliports: 15 (1995 est.)Communications
Telephones: 9.8 million (1995)
Telephone system: probably the least adequate telephone system of any of the industrializing countries; three of every four villages have no telephone service; only 5% of India's villages have long-distance service; poor telephone service significantly impedes commercial and industrial growth and penalizes India in global markets; slow improvement is taking place with the recent admission of private and private-public investors, but demand for communication services is also growing rapidly
domestic: local service is provided mostly by open wire and obsolete electromechanical and manual switchboard systems; within the last 10 years a substantial amount of digital switch gear has been introduced for local service; long-distance traffic is carried mostly by open wire, coaxial cable, and low-capacity microwave radio relay; since 1985, however, significant trunk capacity has been added in the form of fiber-optic cable and a domestic satellite system with over 100 earth stations
international: satellite earth stations - 8 Intelsat (Indian Ocean) and 1 Inmarsat (Indian Ocean Region); submarine cables to Malaysia and UAE
Radio broadcast stations: AM 96, FM 4, shortwave 0
Radios: 70 million (1992 est.)
Television broadcast stations: 274 (government controlled)
Televisions: 33 million (1992 est.)
Defense
Branches: Army, Navy, Air Force, various security or paramilitary forces (includes Border Security Force, Assam Rifles, and Coast Guard)
Manpower availability:
males age 15-49: 260,624,007
males fit for military service: 153,176,413
males reach military age (17) annually: 9,770,331 (1996 est.)
Defense expenditures: exchange rate conversion - $8.0 billion, 2.7% of GDP (FY95/96)
Budget Costs for the Afghanistan Translation Project:
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