India – Key Facts

1. India – Key Facts • In Asia, an emerging country • Population of 1.25 billion – expected to overtake China by 2022 • ‘Opened doors’ to foreign investment in 1991 • Predicted to have the second largest economy by 2050 (behind China, over taking USA) – currently 10th • Economy has grown by 7% every year since 1997 (UK is 2%!) • Capital = New Delhi • World’s largest democracy – in 2015 672 million people were registered to vote

2. Globalisation in India • Globalised economy began in 1991 with economic liberalisation (encouraging FDI by reducing taxes and tariffs) • GDP increased from US$1.2 trillion in 1991 to US$7.3 trillion in 2014. • A 500% increase in GDP per capita over 23 years! • Reduced unemployment and poverty rates • However, increased water pollution (waste from factories), air pollution (increased traffic and industry emissions) and loss of biodiversity (more land needed for food, cities and industry).

3. For a named emerging country, assess how far it has benefited from globalisation. [12 marks]

4. What key information should I include in the answer? E.g. India’s GDP has increased from 1.2 trillion in 1991 to 7.3 trillion in 2014 For a named emerging country, assess how far it has benefited from globalisation. [12 marks] What do I need to include in the answer? E.g. A balanced argument

5. For a named emerging country, assess how far it has benefited from globalisation. [12 marks] India is located in Asia. In 1991 it introduced a policy of supporting a market economy where it encouraged foreign investment. It also looked to reduce or get rid of import tariffs and taxes. This encouraged other countries to invest in India. The increase in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in India has led to greater investment from TNCs. This has really helped to boost India’s economy. The economy of India has grown rapidly since 1991 with GDP increasing from 1.2 trillion to 7.3 trillion. This is an increase of 500% per capita. This has resulted in reduced unemployment and a decrease of the number of people in poverty. Changes in health and education have also followed economic growth. India’s infant mortality rate has fallen by over 50% since 1991. This is due to increased access to safe water supplies, as waterborne diseases are on the of the biggest child killers. There has also been a rapid expansion of hospitals in rural areas as the government have had more money to pay for these. However, there has been an increase in environmental issues as the industry in India has grown. Water pollution, air pollution and loss of biodiversity are all negative impacts of the country’s growth. The capital city, New Delhi, has the highest rates of air pollution of any city in the World. This is a result of increased traffic and emissions from coal-fired power stations. This is also contributing to an increase in greenhouse gases.

7. Top Down Government Scheme • SardarSarovar Dam on the Narmada River in western India. It is one of the Worlds largest dams • The reservoir behind the dam stores water from monsoon rains to be used during the dry season • Originally 80m high, the government plans to raise it to 163m to increase its capacity.

8. Who benefits? • India’s cities – the dam is multipurpose, providing 3.5billion litres of drinking water daily and HEP • Farmers – A network of canals will irrigate 1.8 million hectares of farmland in nearby states. These states suffer drought causing loss of crops and animals each year

9. Who loses? • Local residents – 234 villages have been flooded by the dam, forcing 320,000 people out. Few rural families can afford electricity from the scheme – only cities benefit • Local farmers – good quality farmland has been flooded. Damming the river means that fertile sediment, deposited on flood plains each year, is also lost • Western India – Religious and historic sites have been flooded • People downstream – the region has a history of earthquake activity. Seismologist believe that the weight of large dams can trigger earthquakes, which could destroy the dam and cause massive loss of life

10. For a named top-down development project, evaluate its benefits and problems. [12 marks]

11. What key information should I include in the answer? For a named top-down development project, evaluate its benefits and problems. [12 marks] What do I need to include in the answer?

12. For a named top-down development project, evaluate its benefits and problems. [12 marks] The SardarSarovar Dam has been built on the Narmada River in India. It is one of the World’s largest dams and stores monsoon rainfall for use during the dry season. The dam will provide drinking water for the growing cities in India and will benefit the people living there. 3.5 billion litres of drinking water is provided each day which will improve the health of residents and increase life expectancy. Farmers will also benefit as the water can be used for irrigation, which will lead to higher yields and an improved supply of food. In Western India, where the dam has been built, drought is common causing a loss of crops and animals. This water supply will prevent this from happening. On the other hand, local people were affected when it was built with 320,000 people were forced out of the area when the dam flooded the land. This included good quality farmland was also lost. Religious and historic sites were also lost when the land was flooded behind the dam resulting in a loss of culture for this part of Western India. In addition to this, few rural families who live near to the dam can afford to pay for the electricity generated from the HEP. Therefore only the cities are benefiting and the rural areas are being left in poverty.