Untitled Document

Introduction - North India

(States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan & Delhi)

Geography
These four States stretch across the North West through the centre of the Indian sub¬continent, with the Great Thar desert marking it at the western end, with relatively easy access to Pakistan. The forest covered foothills and mountains of the Himalayas border these States in the North and the thick forest ranges of Madhya Pradesh fringe the Southern end. The mountainous state of Nepal shares its borders with Uttar Pradesh and towards the eastern end lies Bihar with easy access to Bangla Desh.

Nearly 60% of Uttar Pradesh is mountainous, the rest, lowlands, which are a part of the Indo¬gangetic plains. Rajasthan is 60% scrubland and desert, with the Aravalli ranges dominating the South-Western half and the ravines of Chambal occupying the South-East. Haryana is divided into the sub-Himalayan terrain and fertile Indo-gangetic plains. Only the South-West of Haryana is dry, sandy, and barren. Delhi has completely lost its forest cover and the surrounding villages, which till five years ago were a continuum with Haryana’s green agricultural belt. These have been appropriated for construction of farm houses, factories and building complexes.

Climate
The climate varies considerably through this terrain although all these States share extremes of heat and cold. Rajasthan has a general arid desert climate with scanty rainfall during the northern monsoons and some of the dry regions receive less than 100mm annually. Haryana has extremely cold winters and extremely hot dry summers, with two well marked seasons of rainfall from June to September and December to February. Delhi has extreme heat and cold with scanty rainfall and a polluted smog ridden pall hangs over it throughout the year. Uttar Pradesh has a range of temperatures with extreme freezing colds during most of the year in the mountains of Kumaon and Garhwal, and moist heat in the plains, along the Ganges. The Northern Monsoon ensures heavy rainfall throughout during the months of July, August and September.

Population
The population in Uttar Pradesh was estimated in 1991 as 139.1 million and it ranks first in density of population with density averages that exceeds 470 km2 in places. Distribution of the population is determined by the topography, the mountains being sparsely populated, and the concentration being on the major cities of the state as well as along the Ganges. A State as large as Rajasthan has less population than Delhi or Uttar Pradesh being only 44 million with density averages of 129 km2. Delhi has 11.4 million with a density average of 6,195 km2; and Haryana has 16.5 million with a density count of 372 km2, according to census estimates in 1991. In Uttar Pradesh the rural population is 65% while the urban population has boomed to an insupportable 35%, while in Rajasthan 80% of the population is rural and only 20% is urban. In Haryana 75% of the population is rural and 25% concentration is in cities; while in Delhi urban population is 90%. The Literacy rates also vary with 44% literacy in U.P. and 38% in Rajasthan, while Haryana has a 56% literacy rate and Delhi 77%.



	Introduction - North India	Contents
	(States of Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Rajasthan & Delhi)

	Geography These four States stretch across the North West through the centre of the Indian sub¬continent, with the Great Thar desert marking it at the western end, with relatively easy access to Pakistan. The forest covered foothills and mountains of the Himalayas border these States in the North and the thick forest ranges of Madhya Pradesh fringe the Southern end. The mountainous state of Nepal shares its borders with Uttar Pradesh and towards the eastern end lies Bihar with easy access to Bangla Desh. Nearly 60% of Uttar Pradesh is mountainous, the rest, lowlands, which are a part of the Indo¬gangetic plains. Rajasthan is 60% scrubland and desert, with the Aravalli ranges dominating the South-Western half and the ravines of Chambal occupying the South-East. Haryana is divided into the sub-Himalayan terrain and fertile Indo-gangetic plains. Only the South-West of Haryana is dry, sandy, and barren. Delhi has completely lost its forest cover and the surrounding villages, which till five years ago were a continuum with Haryana’s green agricultural belt. These have been appropriated for construction of farm houses, factories and building complexes.

	Climate The climate varies considerably through this terrain although all these States share extremes of heat and cold. Rajasthan has a general arid desert climate with scanty rainfall during the northern monsoons and some of the dry regions receive less than 100mm annually. Haryana has extremely cold winters and extremely hot dry summers, with two well marked seasons of rainfall from June to September and December to February. Delhi has extreme heat and cold with scanty rainfall and a polluted smog ridden pall hangs over it throughout the year. Uttar Pradesh has a range of temperatures with extreme freezing colds during most of the year in the mountains of Kumaon and Garhwal, and moist heat in the plains, along the Ganges. The Northern Monsoon ensures heavy rainfall throughout during the months of July, August and September.

	Population The population in Uttar Pradesh was estimated in 1991 as 139.1 million and it ranks first in density of population with density averages that exceeds 470 km2 in places. Distribution of the population is determined by the topography, the mountains being sparsely populated, and the concentration being on the major cities of the state as well as along the Ganges. A State as large as Rajasthan has less population than Delhi or Uttar Pradesh being only 44 million with density averages of 129 km2. Delhi has 11.4 million with a density average of 6,195 km2; and Haryana has 16.5 million with a density count of 372 km2, according to census estimates in 1991. In Uttar Pradesh the rural population is 65% while the urban population has boomed to an insupportable 35%, while in Rajasthan 80% of the population is rural and only 20% is urban. In Haryana 75% of the population is rural and 25% concentration is in cities; while in Delhi urban population is 90%. The Literacy rates also vary with 44% literacy in U.P. and 38% in Rajasthan, while Haryana has a 56% literacy rate and Delhi 77%.
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