POLITICAL, SOCIAL,

CULTURAL , GEOGRAPHY
AND ECONOMICAL
CHALLEGES TO HOMELAND
SECURITY
• Indian Government Worlds largest democracy
• Constitution (1950)
• individual rights and social services
• Outlawed Untouchability
• Healthcare
• Federal Union of States
• 28 states and 7 territories
• Parliamentary Democracy 2
• Form of government in which power lies in the
hands of the political party that wins the most
seats in parliament
• Prime Minister leader of political party wins
majority

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• Indian Government 3 Branches of Government

• Parliament Two houses

• Council of State members are chosen by the state

legislatures

• Upper House Rajya Sabha

• House of the People elected directly by the

people

• Lower House Lok Sabha

• Council of Ministers
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• Dividing Forces

• Caste system

• Cultural Diversity

• Treatment to minorities

• Muslim-Hindu clashes

• Modern nationality limited

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• Government Weakens the Caste System

• Outlawed Untouchability - Constitution

• Discrimination illegal

• Compensatory discrimination quota system to

help Harijans/Dalit (p.207)

• Set aside openings for Untouchables

• Government, public jobs, education

• Still not fully accepted - Why?

• gap between law and tradition

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ECONOMIC CHALLENGES

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Geography of India

•Landforms
• South Asia is separated from the rest of Asia by the Himalaya,
Karakoram Range, and the Hindu Kush mountain ranges.
• India occupies most of the subcontinent, a large landmass
that is part of a continent but still distinct from it.
• The Gangetic Plain, the world’s longest alluvial plain, an area
of fertile soil deposited by floodwaters, is India’s most densely
populated area.

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•Water Systems
• Three major river systems, the Ganga, the
Brahmaputra, and the Indus, flow from sources high
in the Himalaya through the northern part of the
subcontinent.
• The Ganga is a sacred river to the Hindus, and
many major cities are located on its shores.
• The Indus flows mostly through Pakistan and is an
important source of irrigation and a major
transportation route.
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•Climates & Resources

• India’s shape, proximity to the Equator, and the

influence of the Indian Ocean affect its climate.
• The monsoon winds cause rainfall and temperatures to
fluctuate, or ebb and flow, creating wet and dry
seasons.
• Cyclones, storms with heavy rains and high winds, are
the most common natural hazards in South Asia.
• Tsunamis, huge sea waves caused by undersea
earthquakes, also threaten the region and can destroy
villages and kill thousands.

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•Human Impact
• India’s population size and density create significant
human impact on the environment, the complex
physical, chemical, and biotic factors that act upon an
ecological community.
• While India has greatly improved water quality and
sanitation, overcrowding in urban areas still threatens
water resources.
• Fires used for cooking and an ever increasing number
of cars continue to create smog and harmful air
pollution.
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•Addressing the Issues
• India’s government has worked to protect the
environment.
• Indian courts have enforced laws aimed at
restricting harmful pesticides and reducing
ecotourism in India’s tiger reserves.
• Efforts continue to improve the quality of life
through sustainable development and economic
growth.

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