• Fish catch per year: 5.97m tonnes
• Oil production and reserves: 793,000 b/d (5.6bn barrels)
• Estimated livestock resources: 226m cattle, 124m goats, 107m ducks, 842m chickens
• Main mineral resources: Iron, diamonds, coal, limestone, zinc, lead, gems, natural gas, oil

Electricity generation

Agriculture still dominates the economy, providing 25% of GDP and employing over 60% of the workforce. Tea, cotton, and rice are the principal cash crops, though agricultural products now only account for 12% of exports. Assam and Darjeeling are among India's most famous teas; cotton and jute provide the raw material for the strong textile industry.

Precious gems and jewelry, including cut diamonds, are the most valuable mineral exports, though iron ore is also important. In addition, there are large coal reserves: India is the world's third-largest coal producer. Despite this, and discoveries of new gas reserves, India is unable to meet its own domestic energy needs, and petroleum and coal dominate imports. Efforts to increase power production through a series of "mega projects" to construct large power plants have been hit by financial mismanagement and a lack of investor confidence. The government hopes to make over $1 billion from the part-privatization of the oil industry.

Consumption and spending

India has become steadily more wealthy since independence, but distribution of this wealth has been far from even. Officially almost 300 million people – just under a third of the population – live in poverty. However, under the UN's $2-a-day guide the number is more like 800 million. Poverty is worse in the countryside, but more visible in the sprawling slums and on the crowded streets of the big cities.

Perched above the poverty line are the increasingly affluent middle classes, making up the bulk of the remaining population. With access to the new economy, the richest enjoy a standard of living comparable to that in the West, and have high expectations for their children.

• Total number of visitors per year: 2.75m visitors
• Tourism trend: Up 15% in 2003

Main tourist arrivals

Tourism provides almost 8% of GDP. More luxury hotels are being built, and wildlife and adventure tourism are being promoted. India has only a small share of the world tourism market, however, and has suffered recently from security worries over the repercussions of the US-led "war on terrorism" and acute tensions with Pakistan, particularly over Kashmir.