Topic 2: Indian Case Study

Question 1

Site of India

Answer 1

• Tropic of Cancer runs through the North of India
• Himalayas to the North of India

Question 2

Situation of India

Answer 2

• South Asia
• North of the Indian Ocean
• Arabian Sea to the West and Bay of Bengal to the east
• Land borders with China, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Bhutan
• Capital City is New Delhi

Question 3

India’s strategic site

Answer 3

• Unique semi-tropical climate which has lead to diverse flairs and fauna.
• India has the longest coastline in the Indian Ocean and so it trade with Africa, south-east Asia, Australia and Europe.
• The Himalayas also prevent the cold Siberian air masses from entering into India. Without it India would be a cold desert.

Question 4

India’s strategic situation

Answer 4

• Located in between the Middle East and south-east Asia the worlds fastest growing economic regions.
• Indian Ocean bridges the gap between the East and the West and so is located in the middle of trade routes.

Question 5

India’s social composition?

Answer 5

• Worlds second largest population - 1.25 billion in 2015
• Worlds 4th and 5th largest cities - (Mumbai- 16 million), (Kalkata-15 million)
• Some of the worlds worst urban slums (regions accommodating people who lack basic necessities)

Question 6

India’s political composition?

Answer 6

• Worlds largest democracy
• Growing global influence - one of the founding members of the United Nations and of G20 industrial nations. Takes part in UN peacekeeping missions

Question 7

India’s cultural composition?

Answer 7

• Birth place of 4 of the worlds religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Judaism, Sikhism
• Diverse religions
• Worlds most ancient cultures
• Worlds largest film industry

Question 8

India’s environmental composition?

Answer 8

• Richest biodiversity
• Worst environmental problems, with land, air and water pollution.

Question 9

India’s key economic trends?

Answer 9

India’s development has been rapid in recent decades so much so that it’s now classed as an emerging country as opposed to a developing country.

Question 10

How has GDP and GNI per capita changed?

Answer 10

GDP has grown steadily since 1950 and increased rapidly in the 1990s growing 7% on average for the last 2 decades. It was the worlds fastest growing economic in 2014 and is now the worlds 7th largest economy GDP and 3rd by PPP, GNI has almost doubled between 2006 and 2014.

Question 11

How has India’s economy changed?

Answer 11

As a country develops its economic structure changes as does the number of people working in each employment sectors. There has been an increase in service sector jobs and a decrease in agriculture jobs whilst industry jobs have remained the same level in India’s economy.
Primary: 37% - 14%
Secondary: 17-18%
Tertiary: 46% - 67%

Question 12

What are the key features of India’s trade?

Answer 12

India’s becoming more integrated into the global economy with the volume of imports and exports increasing from US$252 billion to US$794 in 2012 with higher value goods becoming more prominent. Asia is the main market for India’s goods and China for its imports.

Question 13

How has FDI boosted India’s economy?

Answer 13

The government has been keen to encourage FDI for the development of the country’s infrastructure including some of the biggest railway projects. The 2 biggest sources of FDI in 2014 were Mauritius and Singapore. The gap between outward and inward FDI is narrowing which is a key indicator of India’s development.

Question 14

What are the drivers to India’s development?

Answer 14

1. Government policy
2. Aid
3. Globalisation

Question 15

Government policy

Answer 15

Since 1999 it has been easier for Indian companies to make international links due to economic reforms with the government encouraging innovation and increasing the science budget. Education has also been a priority for the government with free and compulsory education for 6-14 year olds. It now has 1.4 million schools and 36000 HE facilities. As a result there have been significant improvements in literacy.

Question 16

Aid

Answer 16

Historically India has revived the most amount of international aid but this has declined rapidly as the country has developed. The UK, for example, planned to end all aid to India by 2015 although some technical assistance would continue. India now sends aid to other country’s reversing the trend from recipient to donor e.g. Butan and Nepal with expenditure est. US$1.3 billion 2014-2015

Question 17

Globalisation

Answer 17

Due to its improved connectivity its rate of growth as increased attracting FDI from TNCs. A number of other key factors have contributed to its growth:
• Cheap skilled workforce
• Large and well-educated English speaking workforce
• Improvements in transport and communications (rail network 63000km, 12 ports, 11 international airports, 6 million KM roads)
• Government incentives e.g. tax exemptions

Question 18

Demographics

Answer 18

The study of population based on quantifiable/statistical data. It might be the study of a whole population or a group within it.

Question 19

What has the Demographic change been?

Answer 19

• Fertility rate has dropped from 5.2 in 1971 to 2.3 in 2013
• Mortality rates have fallen:
Infant mortality: 129/1000 in 1970 to 40/1000 in 2013
Life expectancy: 50 in 1970 to 68 present day although there are significant regional differences due to healthcare and education.

Question 20

Where do people live in India?

Answer 20

As a result of economic growth an increased proportion of people live in urban areas because this is where the better paid jobs and entertainment are.

Question 21

Positive and negative impacts of development on different age and gender groups?

Answer 21

Positive impacts:
• All age groups have better health.- Elderly people are living longer. Lower infant and maternal mortality rate.
• Some age groups have better education - young graduates have better access to better jobs. Many adults have better literacy.
• There can be better gender equality - women have better access to education. Better access to contraception and family planning advice.

Negative impacts:
• Rapid industrialisation means young men may have to do dangerous jobs and working conditions may be poor due to a lack of regulations.
• Fewer workers in rural villages - children in rural areas may get a poor education due to a lack of skilled teachers. Children may have to work as agricultural labourers to support families.
• Lot of gender inequality - It is unsafe for woman in many urban areas. When men leave to find work in cities, women are left to care for and provide for the entire household - balancing a job with housework.

Question 22

Are there any regional differences in levels of development?

Answer 22

There are significant difference in the level of development between states in urban core for example Kerala and the rural periphery for example Bihar. This can be seen in terms of GDP, literacy rates and life expectancy.

Question 23

Why is Goa more developed than Bihar?

Answer 23

Goa is more developed because it is surrounded by the sea. This means that it is easily accessible which means that TNCs are attracted to set up in Goa. Furthermore, it attracts lots of tourists because of its easy accessibility. This means that investment and money is brought into Goa which means that they are wealthier.

Question 24

Why are core regions better than peripheral regions?

Answer 24

• Better infrastructure and technology
• Access to roads and buildings
• Better access to services such as healthcare and education
• More tertiary sector jobs
• Higher tourism

Question 25

What impacts has economic growth had on the natural environment?

Answer 25

• Air pollution
• Water pollution
• Land pollution
• Greenhouse gasses

Question 26

Air pollution

Answer 26

• The pollution is so bad in some cities in India.
• Gasses such as sulfur dioxide and smoke particles damage peoples health and cause breathing problems and lung diseases.
• Air pollution reduces life expectancy and causes lots of deaths.

Question 27

Land and Water pollution

Answer 27

• Lack of infrastructure means that about 70% of India’s sewage flows untreated into rivers.
• Waste may not be correctly sorted and disposed of.

Question 28

Greenhouse gasses

Answer 28

• Industrialisation leads to higher energy consumption.
• Increased demand for fossil fuels in industry, homes and vehicles means more greenhouse gases are released, contributing to climate change.

Question 29

How is India playing a larger role in regional and global politics as it develops?

Answer 29

• The Indian government has improved relations with its immediate neighbours (e.g. joining ASEAN, a political and economic organisation made up of countries in Southeast Asia)
• A high demand for goods and services from these countries has increased their economic power.
• This helps India to get better infrastructure because of the New Development Bank set up to provide resources for infrastructure and sustainable development projects.

Question 30

What is India’s role in international organisations?

Answer 30

• India was one of the founding members of the United Nations which works towards sustainable development.
• India is part of the World Trade Organisation.
• India is a member of G20, a group of 20 of the world’s largest economies.

Question 31

India and the USA

Answer 31

1) India used to have a poor relationship with the USA but this is improving,
2) The USA expects the economic development of India to increase trade, employment and economic growth in both countries.
3) The USA also sees India as a huge market for renewable and nuclear energy because of the number of increasingly wealthy people and the growth of industry.

Question 32

India and the EU

Answer 32

1) India has a good relationship with the EU and they became strategic partners in 2004, agreeing to cooperate on certain issues.
2) Negotiations for a free trade agreement began in 2007. The EU is one of India’s biggest markets and trading partners.
3) The EU supports health and education programmes in India to promote continued development.

Question 33

Costs of changing international relations

Answer 33

• India should focus on their own national problems.
• There is increasing tension between India and China - both have rapidly growing economies.
• International politics is forming allegiances with some countries who might not be natural friends.

Question 34

Benefits of changing international relations

Answer 34

• Trade more easily
• India can have a say in trade policies
• India can cooperate with other countries on global issues

Question 35

Costs of foreign direct investment from TNCs

Answer 35

• To attract FDI from TNCs tact rates must be low which means they have little money to pay for public services.
• TNCs cause environmental problems.
• TNCs could withdraw their business from India at any time.

Question 36

Benefits of foreign direct investment from TNCs

Answer 36

• Positive multiplier effect, investment from TNCs leads to growth in industry and as a result people move to an area.
• More job opportunities
• Higher economic output
• More skilled worker