-
India
What is an overview of India? Geography, Landscape, and Weather in India? Economy of India. Education and the best grade, high schools, junior colleges, colleges, and graduate schools in India. Tourism and Traveling in India. What are the best cities in India. What does $500 a month (U.S. Dollar) get you in India? How much does a average middle class wage earner make in India? How much is the average college graduate make in India? How is living in the United States like compared in India? How do you buy a house in India? What is the average cost of a house and how much money do you need to buy and finance a home? How does the housing and mortgage industry in the India work? How much does a car cost? How do you buy and finance a car in India?
-
6 Replies
-
Can you explain how you buy a house and car in India?
-
This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by Otis.
-
This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by
-
Overview and Summary of India
Land, Weather, and Geography
Geography: India is a country in South Asia that borders Pakistan to the northwest, China and Nepal to the north, Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. The southern part touches the Indian Ocean.
Land: Land varies in many different types. The land includes mountains like the Himalayas in northern India and plains along rivers like the Ganges River basin (Indo-Gangetic Plain). Deserts like the Thar Desert are in western Rajasthan, which borders Pakistan’s Punjab province. Coastal plains are on either side – the east coast faces the Bay of Bengal, while the Arabian Sea washes the west coast. The central area mainly comprises the Deccan Plateau, covering most parts except northeast regions where hills are there instead.
Climate: There are various climates –
- North – cold winters and hot summers with monsoons from June through September.
- South–tropical climate with fairly uniform temperatures all year round plus heavy monsoon rains during southwest monsoon season (June-September).
- West—desert climate is characterized by extreme temperature variations throughout the day and night due to scant rainfall received annually.
- Mainly because this region lies in rain shadow areas behind the Western Ghats, which block moisture-laden winds blowing inland off the Arabian Sea.
- The eastern monsoonal climate features high rainfall amounts brought about by southwest summer monsoons originating over the Bay of Bengal.
- They are combined with high humidity levels experienced here, especially near adjacent coastal areas.
Economy of India
India has a mixed economy based on agriculture, industry, and services. Key industrial sectors include:
- IT (information technology), textiles.
- Telecommunications & other communication equipment manufacturing industries such as telephones/microphones/radios, etc., and the chemicals sector (including petrochemicals).
- Pharmaceuticals/biotechnology.
- Food processing industry.
- Steel production mills.
- Transport equipment manufacturing plants, e.g., vehicles including aircraft/ helicopters /ships/trains, etc.
- Cement-making factories.
- Mining operations (like coal mines).
- Oil refinery units where crude oil is refined into various products like petrol/diesel/kerosene/liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
- Machinery-making factories, among others.
India’s service sector has accounted for over half of the GDP growth over the past years. It has been fueled mainly by financial activities, especially in the banking sector and insurance companies that play significant roles in education.
Education System in India
Primary and Secondary Education:
Best Schools:
- The Doon School, Shri Ram School.
- Dhirubhai Ambani International School.
Junior Colleges and Colleges:
Top Institutions:
- St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai.
- Loyola College.
- Chennai; Christ University, Bangalore.
Graduate Schools:
Best Institutions:
- Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
- Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
- Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).
- Indian Institute of Science (IISc).
Tourism in India
India is known for its rich cultural heritage, historical sites, and natural beauty. Some popular destinations are.
Historical Sites:
- Taj Mahal, Red Fort Complex (which includes Diwan-i-Am public audience hall.
- Diwan-i-Khas private chamber where the emperor sat to hear petitions from subjects, etc.).
- Qutub Minar complex has several ancient monuments.
- This includes the Alai Darwaza gatehouse.
- Alauddin Khilji was built in 1311 AD as the entrance gateway to a walled city called Siri during his rule over the Delhi Sultanate.
- They were used until present times, among other structures thereunder.
Religious Sites:
- Varanasi is the oldest continuously inhabited city worldwide.
- B. Hindus believe it to be the City of Shiva, and the holiest site is Manikarnika Ghat.
- This is where dead bodies are cremated beside the Ganges river bank daily.
- It is also known as a sacred burning ground for Hindus.
- Golden Temple, also known as Harmandir Sahib, is in Amritsar city.
- Punjab North Western India.
- It’s the most important pilgrimage center for Sikhs.
- Rishikesh – Yoga Capital Of The World has many ashrams offering courses on yoga, meditation, spirituality, etc.
Natural Beauty:
- Kerala Backwaters are a network of brackish lagoons lying parallel to the Arabian Sea coast (Malabar) connected by canals.
- Artificial and natural estuaries form where freshwater from rivers merges with seawater, creating a unique ecosystem that supports various species, such as fish, prawns, and crabs.
- The Himalayas are the world’s highest mountain ranges, located in northern India. They border countries such as Bhutan, Nepal, China, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Iran, Myanmar, and Bangladesh.
- Includes the highest peak, Mount Everest.
- Goa Beaches—sandy beaches fringed by coconut palms lined up along the Arabian Sea, stretching about 125 km in the state known as Las Vegas East.
- Attracts tourists worldwide, especially during the winter season due to warm weather.
- Plus, alcohol is available throughout the year without any restrictions.
Cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Jaipur, Kolkata
Purchasing a House in India
Process:
Discover a Property: Collaborate with a real estate agent or search online.
Validate Ownership: Ensure the property title is clean, and the the seller is the owner.
Place an Offer: Bargain and agree on a price.
Obtain Financing: Apply for a mortgage if required.
Sign the Contract: Complete the sale with the Sale Deed.
Transfer Title: Register the property under your name at the local sub-registrar office.
Costs:
Average House Price: In metropolitan areas, prices vary between ₹5 million to ₹20 million ($67,000 to $270,000). Prices are lower in rural areas.
Down Payment: Normally 20% of the purchase price.
Mortgage Rates: Interest rates range from 7% to 9% per annum, and loan tenures can be up to 20 years.
Housing and Mortgage Industry in India
The housing and mortgage industry in India is regulated by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Banks and housing finance companies (HFCs) offer home loans. The market is expanding due to increased demand in urban areas.
Buying and Financing a Car in India
Costs:
Average Car Price: A new small sedan costs around ₹500,000 to ₹800,000 ($6,700 to $10,700). Used cars are cheaper than this.
Financing: Down payments range from 20% to 30%. Loan terms typically span 3 to 5 years, with interest rates between 8% and 12%.
Loan Process:
Select a Car:
- Decide on the make & model you want to buy.
- Apply for Finance—Submit necessary documents (proof of income, ID, etc.)to banks /dealerships offering vehicle financing options.
Approval:
- Once approved, pay the down payment amount.
- Sign Contracts—Complete the loan agreement and other paperwork needed during this process, such as insurance coverage, etc., which should be done only after careful consideration by both parties involved (buyer and seller).
Drive Away: Get ownership of the car after making all payments and completing all paperwork required by law for this transaction.
Watch the attached documentary on unveiling the real India. It is Part I of a two part series:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pu4TAKVCW0s&ab_channel=DocumentaryCentral
-
What they don’t tell you about life in india welcome to india part 2.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ALFfTWABZYU&ab_channel=DocumentaryCentral
-
This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by Stella.
-
This reply was modified 3 months, 2 weeks ago by
-
Thank you, Stella for the informative information and overview on India. Great read and I also enjoyed the video. I would appreciate if @sapna and @Ravi can share their input about life in India because they were born, raised, and educated in India and are natives. I like everything about India. I like the people, the culture, the food, and working with the great people of India. I have always had Indian friends, classmates, colleagues, business partners, teachers, bosses, and college professors. Now I have Sapna and Ravinder Sharma who are heading our technical and digital marketing department of GCA Mortgage Group so I like to know more about the Indians culture, history, economy, educational systems, and overview of everything India. From the research I came up independently, here is what I came up with:
Here’s an India overview covering all the different things you asked for:
Geography, Landscape, and Weather:
Diversity of landscape:
- Himalayas in the north.
- Coastal plains.
- Deserts.
- Forests.
Climate ranges from tropical (south) to temperate (north)
Monsoon season (June-September) brings heavy rainfall
Economy in India:
Fifth largest economy in the world by nominal GDP
The services sector dominates, followed by industry and agriculture.
IT and technology sectors are growing rapidly.
Education:
Top institutions include:
- Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).
- Indian Institutes of Management (IIMs).
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).
- Delhi University, University of Mumbai.
Tourism:
- Places to go: Taj Mahal; palaces in Rajasthan.
- The backwaters in Kerala.
- The beaches in Goa.
The best cities vary depending on what you’re looking for, but Mumbai, Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Pune are usually mentioned most often.
Where Can You Live in Indian With $500 per USD per Month:
You can live off USD 500 per month outside city centers. This includes rent, food, utilities, and entertainment for a small apartment. But this would be a modest lifestyle, especially if you’re living in one of the major cities.
The middle-class wage would be around 30k-150k INR/month ($360-USD 1800).
The average college graduate’s salary varies greatly by field and institution, but entry-level salaries can range from 400k to 1.5mil INR/year ($ 4.8k to USD 18k).
Living in the US vs India:
There is a higher cost of living, generally speaking, here in the US, but also more infrastructure development, different cultural norms, social structures, etc.
India tends to have stronger family ties, community involvement, etc…
Buying a house in India:
- Find property.
- Verify documents.
- Negotiate price.
- Obtain financing if needed.
- Register property, etc…
Average house cost varies significantly based on location. For example, some, like an apartment building, could easily run anywhere from 50 lakhs – to 1 crore INR or more (60k-120k USD).
The housing and mortgage industry is a mix of public and private sector banks offering home loans with typical interest rates of 6.5% to 9.5% (as of 2024), loan tenure of up to 30 years, and a down payment typically around 10-20%.
Car costs:
Entry-level cars start at around three lakhs INR (USD 3.6k), but luxury vehicles can cost much more.
Buying & financing a car:
- Choose a car.
- Negotiate price.
- Arrange financing if necessary.
- Complete registration insurance, etc…
Car loans typically require a down payment proof of income credit check with interest rates ranging from 7%-12% (as of 2024).
Again, these are all general overviews and can vary significantly based on specific locations, individual circumstances, current economic conditions, etc., so it’s always best to consult local experts, do your research, etc., before making any major financial decisions in India!
-
Average car cost in India is somewhere $6K – $10K but you have to manage with 0 to 1 star safety rating. 😆
-
India is one of the most diverse countries in the world, characterized by its rich cultural, linguistic, religious, and geographical diversity. Here’s an overview:
1. Cultural Diversity
– Languages: India is home to 22 officially recognized languages and hundreds of dialects. Hindi and English are the official languages, but languages like Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu are also widely spoken.
– Festivals: Each region has its own festivals, often linked to religion and local traditions. Major festivals include Diwali, Eid, Christmas, Holi, and Pongal.
– Cuisine: Indian cuisine varies significantly by region, with each state offering unique dishes. For example, North India is known for its breads and curries, while South India is famous for its rice-based dishes like dosa and sambar.
2. Religious Diversity
– India is a secular country with a rich tapestry of religions. Hinduism is the majority religion, but there are significant populations of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and others.
– Many of the world’s major religions either originated in India (Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, Sikhism) or have deep historical roots in the country.
3. Linguistic Diversity
– India has the second-largest number of languages spoken in the world. The Indian Constitution recognizes 22 languages under the Eighth Schedule, with hundreds of languages and dialects spoken across the country.
– The linguistic diversity is reflected in the literature, films, and daily communication, with each region having its own media in regional languages.
4. Geographical Diversity
– India’s landscape ranges from the snow-capped Himalayas in the north to the tropical rainforests in the south. It includes deserts in the west, fertile plains in the north, and coastal regions along the east and west.
– This geographical diversity influences the climate, agriculture, and lifestyle of the people living in different regions.
5. Ethnic Diversity
– India is home to numerous ethnic groups, including Indo-Aryans, Dravidians, Mongoloids, and others. Each group has its own cultural practices, languages, and traditions.
– There are also numerous indigenous tribes, particularly in the northeastern states and central India, each with its own distinct culture.
6. Social Diversity
– India’s social fabric is complex, with a caste system that historically influenced social stratification. However, the country has made significant progress in reducing caste-based inequalities, with affirmative actions and legal protections in place.
– Urbanization has led to greater mixing of people from different backgrounds, but rural areas often maintain strong traditional ties.
7. Art and Architecture
– Indian art and architecture vary widely, with each region offering its own styles, from the Mughal architecture in the north to the Dravidian temples in the south.
– India’s artistic diversity is also seen in its music, dance, and handicrafts, with each region having its own traditional forms.
India’s diversity is often seen as its strength, contributing to a vibrant and pluralistic society. The country’s ability to maintain unity despite its diversity is often celebrated as a hallmark of its national identity.