What do we know about India? In the imagination of most people, it seems to be a fabulous, romantic and mysterious country. But what is real life like in India? How strong is its economy? What is the average salary in India today?
Geographic location and general information about the country
The Republic of India (this is the official name of the country) is a large state in South India with a rich history and culture. It is the birthplace of the ancient Indus civilization, which has achieved significant success in art, urban planning and agriculture.
Modern India occupies the entire Hindustan peninsula, in the north it extends to the Himalayan mountains, and in the south it has a wide outlet to the ocean. From the western side, it is washed by the waters of the Arabian Sea, and from the southeast - by the Bay of Bengal. The total length of India's coastline reaches 7,500 kilometers.
Today India has 1.34 billion people (2017). In terms of population, it ranks second in the world, second only to China. Although, according to scientists, by the middle of the 21st century, Indiacan overtake China in the "demographic race" and reach a solid first position.
What does India produce? The country's economy and its structure
India is one of the strongest and fastest growing economies in Asia. The country has the fourth largest GDP in the world ($4.7 trillion). However, per capita income is low at $2,700 per year. According to this indicator, the country ranks only 118th in the world.
The structure of India's GDP is as follows:
- 18% - industry.
- 28% - agricultural sector.
- 54% - service sector.
The main sectors of the Indian economy: automotive, electronics, mining, oil, chemicals, food and pharmaceutical industries. The country is the world's largest supplier of mica, bauxite, various equipment, textiles, agricultural raw materials, as well as software and medicines.
The country's economy consumes a huge amount of energy resources (in particular, oil and coal). Agriculture in India is extensive. Rice, tea, wheat, cotton, jute, and sugar cane are grown here. Among other things, India is a significant donor of investment. Most of the Indian funds are invested in the economies of Singapore, Mauritius, the Netherlands and the United States.
Currency and average salary in India
The currency in India is the rupee. Fractional coin - pice. Rupee to dollar exchange rate: 68:1 (as of May 2018). That is, for one American dollar you can buy 68 Indian rupees. For 100 Russian rubles you can get about 110 rupees.
The currency of India is presented in coins and banknotes. The smallest bill in the country is 5 rupees, and the largest is 2,000 rupees. The exchange rate of the rupee against the dollar, euro or ruble is constantly changing, so it is recommended to use online currency calculators.
The average salary in India according to the International Labor Organization (ILO) for 2017 is $223 per month. According to this indicator, the country occupies a disappointing 121st place in the world. The monthly minimum wage in the state is 4,000 rupees ($60) for rural areas and 5,500 rupees ($82) for urban areas. It should be noted that the value of the average salary in India has a significant regional differentiation. Thus, the ranking of cities with the highest earnings includes Mumbai, New Delhi, Goa and Calcutta.
The standard of living in the country: key indicators
In the ranking of countries on the Human Development Index (HDI), India is in 131st place, between Bhutan and Honduras. In general, India is a country of striking contrasts, where the stratification of society is quite noticeable.
In one city, the poorest slums can coexist with fashionable hotels, boutiques and expensive restaurants. Part of the Indians live in terrible conditions, eating mainly rice and vegetables. At the same time, other segments of the population can afford to have permanent servants fromhousekeepers, gardeners and cooks. A list of the following statistical facts will help to better understand the standard of living in India:
- A third of the country's population are illiterate (cannot read and write).
- 90% of Indian cities do not have sewerage.
- Only half of India's cities have access to clean piped water.
- About 300 million people in the country are deprived of access to electricity networks.
- Only 20 major cities in India have municipal public transport.
- Almost a quarter of India's population lives below the poverty line (less than two dollars a day).
"No force can stop our country from progressing!" - such words were recently uttered by the Prime Minister of India. Indeed, India is already among the world leaders in the field of IT technologies. Light industry and high-precision production are developing at a rapid pace. However, whether all this will affect the well-being of the Indians - time will tell.
Let's also find out how things are in India with medicine, education and landscaping.
Medicine
According to the numerous reviews of our compatriots who moved to distant India for one reason or another, the situation with medicine there is far from ideal. Medical services in this country are either very expensive or cheap, but of extremely poor quality. However, in recent years, India has become one of the centers of "medical tourism". This is due to the presence of a sufficiently large number of professional English-speaking doctors.
A large percentage of private andstate clinics are equipped with the latest technology, and they employ real professionals. By the way, many of them studied abroad (including in post-Soviet countries). However, treatment in such clinics is available only to 10% of the Indian population.
Education
At this stage, the state is trying to provide school education to absolutely all of its residents, including those living in slums and villages. But many families living in poverty and poverty prefer to send their children not to school, but to work from an early age. Child labor is a major problem in India today.
Today, there are about 500 universities in the country. Technical speci alties are especially popular. Education in most universities is conducted in English. The cost of one year of study at an Indian university is about 15 thousand dollars. However, a person with a higher education has a good chance of finding a decent and well-paid job in his country.
Transport and landscaping
Within the country there is an opportunity to travel by various modes of transport: from traditional trains and buses to very exotic bike and auto rickshaws. The most developed rail transport. The entire territory of India (with the exception of the northern state of Jammu and Kashmir) is covered by a dense network of railways. In recent years, air traffic between major Indian cities has been actively developing.
The landscaping of public spaces in India is in an extremely deplorable state. In many localities,In fact, there are no recreational areas at all. The streets are rarely equipped with sidewalks, there are very few parks and squares. Some Indian hotels offer a unique service - the so-called "day pass". During this time, you can stay in the well-groomed territory of the hotel and use a certain list of amenities.
In India, there is a rather acute problem with sanitary cleaning. Dirt and rubbish on city streets is a common sight in this country.
Prices for products and services
In India, prices for local fruits and vegetables are very low. They are very tasty, as they are always fresh, and are available all year round. Dairy products are more expensive (a liter of good milk costs about 80 rupees), and cheeses are very difficult to find in local stores. The choice of meat is also very limited. See the next video for more details on food prices.
Communication and Internet services, as well as transportation in India, are quite cheap. Clothes and shoes are also cheap. The price of household appliances is approximately comparable to Russian ones.
In conclusion…
Summarizing all of the above: is it worth thinking about emigrating to this country? If you look for work here, then only in the field of high technologies. Opportunity to work part-time in the tourism industry. As for working speci alties, the salaries in India in dollars are extremely low. It is important to note that it is quite difficult for a foreigner to find a job here. To get a work visa to India, you need to conclude a contract with a local employer. Atthis monthly salary should not be less than 2100 US dollars.
