Emerging Powers - India

• India is the second largest English-speaking nation in the world (after America) which means it has seen economic growth through the growth of its services sector.
• Many global TNCs outsource their services in IT to India. BT has call centres in Bangalore.
• India also has universities with global reputations that will allow it to continue being regarded as a well-educated nation.
• India is expected to grow its economy by 7-8% up to 2020.
• However, poverty is still high and sanitation is often poor, with many people not using toilets across India.

• India is the world’s largest democracy and is politically stable.
• It has over 800 million voters and its youthful population means that 2.7% of those were aged 18-19 years old.
• It was a founding member of the UN and maintains a role in UN peacekeeping missions.
• However, the 'caste system' treats Indians from different backgrounds differently, in a way that isn't too different to Apartheid in South Africa. People from lower castes have worse opportunities.
• Narendra Modi became Prime Minister in 2014 with an agenda to reform India and modernise its economy.

• Global Fire Power ranks India as the world’s 4th largest military power in terms of its weaponry.
• India has nuclear weapons.

• India has global cultural influence as the birthplace of 4 world religions (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism).
• There is still some disquiet between Hindus and Muslims in India. In 2012, 97 people died in religion-related riots.

-India has the world’s second largest population at 1.3 billion people.

• The ability to speak English that has helped India to grow and attracted jobs from TNCs.
• India's population doesn’t have the problems of other BRICs with an ageing population- the working population may exceed China’s by 2020.
• It has a youthful population and a fertility rate that remains above replacement level at 2.4 children per women.

• India is a very biodiverse country with 6% of the world’s plant and animals species.
• But, similarly to other BRICs, India has severe problems with pollution.
• It’s the world’s 3rd largest carbon emitter and has many problems with slums.