India at a glance

The Republic of India is a parliamentary democracy with a prime minister as head of government and a president as chief of state.

Its 1.2 million square miles (about twice the size of Alaska) contained 684 million people in April 1981.

Its population growth rate is 2.0 percent annually. Literacy is 36 percent. Hindi is the official language, but there are 14 other recognized languages, plus English as an ''associated official language.''

Over 84 percent of the people are Hindu, with 10 percent Muslim and 2.6 percent Christian, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, or Parsi.

Percentage change over previous year using 1971 prices:

1974-75 through 1981-82 (April to March): '74-75 '75-76 '76-77 '77-78 '78-79 '79-80 '80-81 '81-'82 GNP 1.2 9.6 1.3 8.6 5.3 -4.8 7.5 4.5

Agricultural production -3.2 15.2 -7.0 14.5 3.4 -15.5 15.4 3.0

Industrial production 3.2 7.2 9.6 3.3 7.6 -1.4 4.0 9.8

Imports (current prices) 52.9 16.5 -3.6 18.7 13.2 32.4 38.2 4.0

Exports (current prices) 31.9 21.4 27.2 5.2 5.9 12.8 3.9 4.8