World Enivironmental Issues Brief

  • LARGE AREAS SUBJECT TO OVERPOPULATION
  • INDUSTRIAL DISASTERS
  • POLLUTION (air, water, acid rain, toxic substances)
  • LOSS OF VEGETATION (overgrazing, deforestation, desertification)
  • LOSS OF WILDLIFE
  • SOIL DEGRADATION
  • SOIL DEPLETION
  • EROSION
  • GLOBAL WARMING

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Global Issues Snapshots

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India

— Current Environmental 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 growing population is overstraining natural resources

— Health Indicators —
HIV / AIDS prevalancy rate: 0.9
Fertility Rate: 2.8
Infant Mortality Rate: 34.6
Life Expectancy at Birth: Male: 66.3
Life Expectancy at Birth: Female: 71.0
Life Expectancy at Birth: Total Population: 68.6

— Population —
Population Total: 1,129,866,154
Population Growth Rate: 1.6

— Economic Indicators —
GDP Real Growth Rate: 8.5
Military Expendatures Percent of GDP: 2.7
Unemployment Rate: 7.8
Inflation rate (consumer prices): 5.3
GDP Per Capita PPP: 3,700
Population Below Poverty Line: 25
    (Definitions of poverty vary considerably among nations.)

— Education and Communications —
Global Issues Snapshots
Global Issues Snapshots
Bordering country: Bangladesh
Bordering country: Bhutan
Bordering country: Burma
Bordering country: China
Bordering country: Nepal
Bordering country: Pakistan

— Background —
The Indus Valley civilization, one of the oldest in the world, dates back at least 5000 years. Aryan tribes from the northwest infiltrated onto Indian lands about 1500 B.C.; their merger with the earlier Dravidian inhabitants created the classical Indian culture. Arab incursions starting in the 8th century and Turkish in the 12th were followed by those of European traders, beginning in the late 15th century. By the 19th century, Britain had assumed political control of virtually all Indian lands. Indian armed forces in the British army played a vital role in both World Wars. Nonviolent resistance to British colonialism led by Mohandas GANDHI and Jawaharlal NEHRU brought independence in 1947. The subcontinent was divided into the secular state of India and the smaller Muslim state of Pakistan. A third war between the two countries in 1971 resulted in East Pakistan becoming the separate nation of Bangladesh. Despite impressive gains in economic investment and output, India faces pressing problems such as the ongoing dispute with Pakistan over Kashmir, significant overpopulation, environmental degradation, extensive poverty, and ethnic and religious strife.