India at a Glance

• Population: approx. 1.1 billion


• Capital city: New Delhi, approx. 15 million inhabitants


• Language: Hindi and English (national languages); 21 more approved languages


• Religions: Approx. 80,5% Hinduism, 13,4% Islam, 2,3% Christianity, 1,8% Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism et al.


• Form of government: Parliamentary Democracy

Economy

Germany is India's fifth-largest customer (4%) and also ranks fifth among exporters to India. India ranks 34th among exporters to Germany and 41st among Germany's customers.

Culture and Science

There are six branches of the Goethe Institute in India. They are called Max Mueller Bhavans after the founder of Indian studies, Max Mueller. The institutes do language and programme work and provide information in New Delhi (also the regional institute for South Asia), Kolkata, Chennai, Bangalore, Mumbai and Pune (language work only). Each year, an average of approx. 9,000 people attend the German courses offered by the six institutes. The branch office of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) in New Delhi promotes bilateral university and research cooperation programmes and is concerned with scholarship programmes and study counselling. In the 2002/2003 winter semester there were more than 4,110 Indian students at German universities. The South Asia Institute of the University of Heidelberg has had an office in New Delhi since 1962. It plays an important role as an interface for Indian studies experts from German and Indian research institutions. Indian science (particularly space research and IT) enjoys a good reputation in Germany, as does German scientific activity in India. After the US and Japan, India is the third-largest recipient of Alexander von Humboldt scholarships. At present, more than 100 joint research projects are being carried out. Every year there is an exchange of around 200 scientists between the two countries.

Links

www.indianembassy.de (Official Representation of India in Germany)
www.germanembassy-india.org (German Embassy in India)
www.indo-german.com (German-Indish Chamber of Commerce)
www.goethe.de/newdelhi (Goethe-Institut in New Delhi)