Delhi, locally pronounced as Dilli (Hindi: िदलली, Punjabi: ਿਦੱਲੀ, Urdu: ‫ )ِدّلی‬or Dehli

(Hindi: देहली, Punjabi: ਦੇਹਲੀ, Urdu: ‫)دهلی‬, officially National Capital Territory of
Delhi (NCT), is the largest metropolis by area and the second-largest metropolis by
population in India.[4][5][6][7] It is the eighth largest metropolis in the world by population
with 16,753,235 inhabitants in the Territory at the 2011 Census. There are nearly 22.2
million residents in the greater National Capital Region urban area (which also includes
Noida, Greater Noida, Ghaziabad, Gurgaon and Faridabad along with other smaller
nearby towns).[2] The name Delhi is often also used to include urban areas near the NCT,
as well as to refer to New Delhi, the capital of India, which lies within the metropolis.
Although technically a federally administered union territory, the political administration
of the NCT of Delhi today more closely resembles that of a state of India with its own
legislature, high court and an executive council of ministers headed by a Chief Minister.
New Delhi, jointly administered by both the federal Government of India and the local
Government of Delhi, is also the capital of the NCT of Delhi.

Located on the banks of the River Yamuna, Delhi has been known to be continuously
inhabited since at least the 6th century BC,[8] though human habitation is believed to have
existed since the second millennium BC.[9] Delhi is also widely believed to have been the
site of Indraprastha, the legendary capital of the Pandavas during the times of the
Mahabharata.[10] Delhi re-emerged as a major political, cultural and commercial city
along the trade routes between northwest India and the Gangetic plain after the rise of the
Delhi sultanates.[11][12] It is the site of many ancient and medieval monuments,
archaeological sites and remains. In 1639, Mughal emperor Shahjahan built a new walled
city in Delhi which served as the capital of the Mughal Empire from 1649 to 1857.[13][14]

After the British East India Company had gained control of much of India during the 18th
and 19th centuries, Calcutta became the capital both under Company rule and under the
British Raj, until George V announced in 1911 that it was to move back to Delhi. A new
capital city, New Delhi, was built to the south of the old city during the 1920s.[15] When
India gained independence from British rule in 1947, New Delhi was declared its capital
and seat of government. As such, New Delhi houses important offices of the federal
government, including the Parliament of India, as well as numerous national museums,
monuments, and art galleries.

Owing to the migration of people from across the country, Delhi has grown to be a
multicultural, cosmopolitan metropolis. Its rapid development and urbanisation, coupled
with the relatively high average income of its population, has transformed Delhi into a
major cultural, political, and commercial centre of India.[16]

Human habitation was probably present in and around Delhi during the second
millennium BC and before,[9] and continuous inhabitation has been evidenced since at
least the 6th century BC.[8] The city is believed to be the site of Indraprastha, legendary
capital of the Pandavas in the Indian epic Mahabharata.[10] Settlements grew from the
time of the Mauryan Empire (c. 300 BC).[9]
Remains of seven major cities have been discovered in Delhi. The Tomara dynasty
founded the city of Lal Kot in AD 736. The Chauhans conquered Lal Kot in 1180 and
renamed it Qila Rai Pithora. The Chauhan king Prithviraj III was defeated in 1192 by the
Afghan Muhammad Ghori.[10]

In 1206, Qutb-ud-din Aybak, the first ruler of the Slave Dynasty established the Delhi
Sultanate. Qutb-ud-din started the construction the Qutub Minar and Quwwat-al-Islam
(might of Islam), the earliest extant mosque in India.[10][27] After the fall of the Slave
dynasty, a succession of Turkic and Afghan dynasties, the Khilji dynasty, the Tughluq
dynasty, the Sayyid dynasty and the Lodhi dynasty held power in the late medieval
period, and built a sequence of forts and townships that are part of the seven cities of
Delhi.[28]

In 1398, Timur Lenk invaded India on the pretext that the Muslim sultans of Delhi were
too lenient towards their Hindu subjects. Timur entered Delhi and the city was sacked,
destroyed, and left in ruins.[29] Near Delhi, Timur massacred 100,000 captives.[30] Delhi
was a major centre of Sufism during the Sultanate period.[31] In 1526, Zahiruddin Babur
defeated the last Lodhi sultan in the First Battle of Panipat and founded the Mughal
Empire that ruled from Delhi, Agra and Lahore.[10]

The Mughal Empire ruled northern India for more than three centuries, with a sixteen-
year hiatus during the reign of Sher Shah Suri, from 1540 to 1556.[32] During 1553–1556,
the Hindu king, Hemu Vikramaditya acceded to the throne of Delhi by defeating forces
of Mughal Emperor Akbar at Agra and Delhi. However, the Mughals reestablished their
rule after Akbar's army defeated Hemu during the Second Battle of Panipat.[33][34][35] Shah
Jahan built the seventh city of Delhi that bears his name (Shahjahanabad), and is more
commonly known as the "Old City" or "Old Delhi". The old city served as the capital of
the Mughal Empire from 1638. After 1680, the Mughal Empire's influence declined
rapidly as the Hindu Marathas rose to prominence.[36]

A weakened Mughal Empire lost the Battle of Karnal, following which the victorious
forces of Nader Shah invaded and looted Delhi, carrying away many treasures, including
the Peacock Throne.[37] A treaty signed in 1752 made Marathas the protector of the
Mughal throne at Delhi.[38] In 1761, after the Marathas lost the third battle of Panipat,
Delhi was raided by Ahmed Shah Abdali. In 1803, the forces of British East India
Company overran the Maratha forces near Delhi and ended the Mughal rule over the city.
[39]

After the Indian Rebellion of 1857, Delhi came under direct rule of the British crown and
was made a district province of the Punjab.[10] In 1911, the capital of British India was
transferred from Calcutta to Delhi, following which a team of British architects led by
Edwin Lutyens designed a new political and administrative area, known as New Delhi, to
house the government buildings. New Delhi, also known as Lutyens' Delhi, was officially
declared as the capital of the Union of India after the country gained independence on 15
August 1947.
During the partition of India, thousands of Hindu and Sikh refugees from West Punjab
and Sindh fled to Delhi, while many Muslim residents of the city migrated to Pakistan.
Starting on 31 October 1984, approximately three thousand Sikhs were killed during the
four-day long anti-Sikh riots after the Sikh body guards of then-Prime Minister, Indira
Gandhi, assassinated her. Migration to Delhi from the rest of India continues,
contributing more to the rise of Delhi's population than the birth rate, which is declining.
[40]

The Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991 declared the Union Territory of
Delhi to be formally known as National Capital Territory of Delhi.[41] The Act gave Delhi
its own legislative assembly, though with limited powers.[41] In December 2001, the
Parliament of India building in New Delhi was attacked by armed militants resulting in
the death of six security personnel.[42] India suspected the hand of Pakistan-based militant
groups in the attacks resulting in a major diplomatic crisis between the two countries.[43]
Delhi again witnessed terrorist attacks in October 2005 and September 2008 resulting in
the deaths of 62[44] and 30[45] civilians respectively.

Geography
Main article: Environment of Delhi

River Yamuna near Delhi

Lightning strikes near India Gate, New Delhi. Delhi receives much of its rainfall during
the monsoon season which lasts from July to September

The National Capital Territory of Delhi is spread over an area of 1,484 km2 (573 sq mi) ,
of which 783 km2 (302 sq mi) is designated rural, and 700 km2 (270 sq mi) urban. Delhi
has a maximum length of 51.9 km (32 mi) and the maximum width of 48.48 km (30 mi).
There are three local bodies (statutory towns) namely, Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(area is 1,397.3 km2 or 540 sq mi), New Delhi Municipal Committee (42.7 km2 or
16 sq mi) and Delhi Cantonment Board (43 km2 or 17 sq mi).[46]

Delhi is an expansive area, in its extremity it spans from Narela in the north to Badarpur
in the south. Najafgarh is the furthest point west, and Seemapuri is its eastern extremity.
The NCR encompasses towns south and east of the said border, namely Ghaziabad,
Noida, Faridabad and Gurgaon.

Oddly, the main expanse of Delhi does not follow a specific geographical feature. The
main city area of Delhi does not end until Saket in the South, whilst the northern limit is
Jahangirpuri and the western limit is Janakpuri-Dwarka. The terrain of Delhi shows great
variation. It changes from plain agricultural fields in the north to dry, arid hills (an
offshoot of the Aravalli Hills of Rajasthan) in the south and west. There used to be large
natural lakes in the southern part of the city, but most have now dried up. Most of Delhi,
including New Delhi, is situated on the western banks of the river Yamuna which
separates the main city from eastern suburbs (commonly known as trans-Yamuna),
although there is a good connectivity between the eastern and western sides, with a
number of road and railway bridges as well as the Delhi Metro.

Delhi is located at 28°37′N 77°14′E / 28.61°N 77.23°E, and lies in northern India. It
borders the Indian states of Uttar Pradesh to the east and Haryana on the north, west and
south. During British Raj it was adjacent to the province of Punjab and still historically
and culturally tied closely to the region of Punjab.[47] Almost entirely within the Gangetic
plains, two prominent features of the geography of Delhi are the Yamuna flood plains
and the Delhi ridge. The low-lying Yamuna flood plains provide fertile alluvial soil
suitable for agriculture but are prone to recurrent floods. Reaching up to a height of 318
m (1,043 ft),[48] the Delhi ridge forms a dominating feature in this region. It originates
from the Aravalli Range in the south and encircles the west, northeast and northwest parts
of the city. Yamuna, a sacred river in Hinduism, is the only major river flowing through
Delhi. Another river called the Hindon River separates Ghaziabad from the eastern part
of Delhi. Delhi falls under seismic zone-IV, making it vulnerable to major earthquakes,
but earthquakes have not been common in recent history.[49] Delhi has the third highest
tree-cover among cities in India.[50]

Delhi was one of the world's ten most polluted cities in the 1990s, with vehicles
producing 70% of the polluting emissions.[51] In 1996 the Centre for Science and
Environment started a public interest litigation in the Supreme Court of India that ordered
the conversion of Delhi's fleet of buses and taxis to be run on Compressed Natural Gas
and banned the use of leaded petrol in 1998. In 2003, Delhi won the United States
Department of Energy’s first ‘Clean Cities International Partner of the Year’ award for
‘‘bold efforts to curb air pollution and support alternative fuel initiatives’’.[51]

Climate

See also: Climate of Delhi

Delhi features an atypical version of the humid subtropical climate (Köppen Cwa).
Summers are long and extremely hot, from early April to mid-October, with the monsoon
season in between. Early March sees a reversal in the direction of wind, from the north-
western direction, to the south-western. These bring the hot waves from Rajasthan,
carrying sand and are a characteristic of the Delhi summer. These are called loo. The
months of March to May see a time of hot prickling heat. Monsoon arrives at the end of
June, bringing some respite from the heat, but increasing humidity at the same time. The
brief, mild winter starts in late November and peaks in January and is notorious for its
heavy fog.[52]

Extreme temperatures range from −0.6 °C (30.9 °F) to 46.7 °C (116.1 °F).[53] The annual
mean temperature is 25 °C (77 °F); monthly mean temperatures range from 13 °C to 32
°C (56 °F to 90 °F).[54] The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 mm
(28.1 inches), most of which is during the monsoons in July and August.[10] The average
date of the advent of monsoon winds in Delhi is 29 June.[55]

[hide]Climate data for Delhi

Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average
21.1 24.2 30.0 36.2 39.6 39.3 35.1 33.3 33.9 32.9 28.3 23.0 31.4
high °C
(70) (75.6) (86) (97.2) (103.3) (102.7) (95.2) (91.9) (93) (91.2) (82.9) (73.4) (88.5)
(°F)
Average
7.3 10.1 15.4 21.5 25.9 28.3 26.6 25.9 24.4 19.5 12.8 8.2 18.8
low °C
(45.1) (50.2) (59.7) (70.7) (78.6) (82.9) (79.9) (78.6) (75.9) (67.1) (55) (46.8) (65.8)
(°F)
Rainfall
20.3 15.0 15.8 6.7 17.5 54.9 231.5 258.7 127.8 36.3 5.0 7.8 797.3
mm
(0.799) (0.591) (0.622) (0.264) (0.689) (2.161) (9.114) (10.185) (5.031) (1.429) (0.197) (0.307) (31.39)
(inches)
Avg.
rainy 1.7 1.3 1.2 0.9 1.4 3.6 10.0 11.3 5.4 1.6 0.1 0.6 39.1
days
Sunshine
213.9 217.5 238.7 261.0 263.5 198.0 167.4 176.7 219.0 269.7 246.0 217.0 2,688.4
hours
Source no. 1: WMO [56]
Source no. 2: HKO (sun only, 1971–1990) [57]

Civic administration
See also: Divisions of Delhi, Districts of Delhi, and List of towns in National Capital
Territory of Delhi

As of July 2007, the National Capital Territory of Delhi comprises nine districts,
27 tehsils, 59 census towns, 300 villages[58] and three statutory towns – the Municipal
Corporation of Delhi (MCD); the New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC); and the
Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB).[59]

Map showing the nine districts of Delhi

The Delhi metropolitan area lies within the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT).
The NCT has three local municipal corporations: Municipal Corporation of Delhi
(MCD), New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and Delhi Cantonment Board. MCD is
one of the largest municipal corporations in the world providing civic amenities to an
estimated 13.78 million people.[60] The capital of India, New Delhi, falls under the
administration of NDMC. The chairperson of the NDMC is appointed by the Government
of India in consultation with the Chief Minister of Delhi.[citation needed]

Delhi has four major satellite cities, which lie outside the National Capital Territory of
Delhi. These are Gurgaon and Faridabad (in Haryana), and New Okhla Industrial
Development Authority (Noida) and Ghaziabad (in Uttar Pradesh). Delhi is divided into
nine districts. Each district (division) is headed by a Deputy Commissioner and has three
subdivisions. A Subdivision Magistrate heads each subdivision. All Deputy
Commissioners report to the Divisional Commissioner. The District Administration of
Delhi is the enforcing department for all kinds of State and Central Government policies
and exercises supervisory powers over numerous other functionaries of the Government.
[citation needed]

The Delhi High Court has jurisdiction over Delhi. Delhi also has lower courts: the Small
Causes Court for civil cases; the Magistrate Court and the Sessions Court for criminal
cases. The Delhi Police, headed by the Police Commissioner, is one of the largest
metropolitan police forces in the world.[61] Delhi is administratively divided into nine
police-zones, which are further subdivided into 95 local police stations.[62]

Recently, there have been changes in the Police Districts, their jurisdiction etc., although
the Administrative Districts of Delhi are nine only, it seems. For instance, an Outer Delhi
Police District has been carved out in the Western part of Delhi.

Government and politics

Main article: Government of Delhi

The North Block, built in 1931 during the British Raj, houses key government offices

Earlier known as a special union territory, the National Capital Territory of Delhi has its
own Legislative Assembly, Lieutenant Governor, council of ministers and Chief
Minister. The legislative assembly seats are filled by direct election from territorial
constituencies in the NCT. However, the Union Government of India and the
Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi jointly administer New Delhi, a city in
Delhi, which is the capital and seat of government of both the National Capital Territory
of Delhi and of India itself.[citation needed]

While services like transport and others are taken care of by the Delhi government,
services such as the police are directly under the control of the Central Government.[63]
The legislative assembly was re-established in 1993 for the first time since 1956, with
direct federal rule in the span. In addition, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD)
handles civic administration for the city as part of the Panchayati Raj act. New Delhi, an
urban area in Delhi, is the seat of both the State Government of Delhi and the
Government of India. The Parliament of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan (Presidential
Palace), Cabinet Secretariat and the Supreme Court of India are located in New Delhi.
There are 70 assembly constituencies and seven Lok Sabha (Indian parliament's lower
house) constituencies in Delhi.[64][65]

Delhi was a traditional stronghold of the Indian National Congress, also known as the
Congress Party. In the 1990s, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) under the leadership of
Madan Lal Khurana came into power; however in 1998, Congress regained power under
Sheila Dikshit, the incumbent Chief Minister. The Congress retained power in the
Legislative Assembly in the 2003 and 2008 elections.[citation needed]

Economy
See also: Gurgaon and Noida
Further information: Economy of India and Economic development in India
Gurgaon, a satellite city of Delhi, is an important economic hub in the National Capital
Region

With an estimated net State Domestic Product (FY 2007) of 118,200 crore (US$26.24
billion) in nominal terms and 336,400 crore (US$74.68 billion) in PPP terms,[66][67] Delhi
is the largest commercial center in northern India.[68] In 2007, Delhi had a per capita
income of 66,728 (US$1,481.36) at current prices, the third highest in India after
Chandigarh and Goa as of 2006–07.[69]

The tertiary sector contributes 70.95% of Delhi's gross SDP followed by secondary and
primary sectors, with 25.20% and 3.85% contribution, respectively.[67] Delhi's workforce
constitutes 32.82% of the population showing an increase of 52.52% between 1991 and
2001.[70] Delhi's unemployment rate decreased from 12.57% in 1999–2000 to 4.63% in
2003.[70] In December 2004, 636,000 people were registered with various employment
exchange programmes in Delhi.[70]

In 2001 the total workforce in all government (union and state) and quasi-government
sector was 620,000. In comparison, the organised private sector employed 219,000.[70]
Key service industries include information technology, telecommunications, hotels,
banking, media and tourism.[71] Delhi's manufacturing industry has also grown
considerably as many consumer goods industries have established manufacturing units
and headquarters in and around Delhi. Delhi's large consumer market, coupled with the
easy availability of skilled labour, has attracted foreign investment in Delhi. In 2001, the
manufacturing sector employed 1,440,000 workers while the number of industrial units
was 129,000.[72]

Construction, power, telecommunications, health and community services, and real estate
form integral parts of Delhi's economy. Delhi has India's largest and one of the fastest
growing retail industries.[73] As a result, land prices are booming and Delhi is currently
ranked the 7th most expensive office hotspot in the world, with prices at $145.16 per
square foot.[74] As in the rest of India, the fast growth of retail is expected to affect the
traditional unorganized retail trading system.[75]

Utility services
The headquarters of the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). On the foreground
is Jantar Mantar.

The water supply in Delhi is managed by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB). As of 2006, it
supplied 650 MGD (million gallons per day) of water, while the water demand for 2005–
06 was estimated to be 963 MGD.[76] The rest of the demand is met by private and public
tube wells and hand pumps. At 240 MGD, the Bhakra storage is the largest water source
for DJB, followed by the Yamuna and the Ganges.[76] With falling groundwater level and
rising population density, Delhi faces severely acute water shortage. Delhi daily produces
8000 tonnes of solid wastes which is dumped at three landfill sites by MCD.[77] The daily
domestic waste water production is 470 MGD and industrial waste water is 70 MGD.[78]
A large portion of the sewerage flows untreated into the river Yamuna.[78]

The city's per capita electricity consumption is about 1,265 kWh but actual demand is
much more.[79] In 1997, Delhi Vidyut Board (DVB) replaced Delhi Electric Supply
Undertaking which was managed by the MCD. The DVB itself cannot generate adequate
power to meet the city's demand and borrows power from India's Northern Region Grid.
As a result, Delhi faces a power shortage resulting in frequent blackouts and brownouts,
especially during the summer season when energy demand is at its peak. Several
industrial units in Delhi rely on their own electrical generators to meet their electric
demand and for back up during Delhi's frequent and disruptive power cuts. A few years
ago, the power sector in Delhi was handed over to private companies. The distribution of
electricity is carried out by companies run by Tata Power and Reliance Energy. The
Delhi Fire Service runs 43 fire stations that attend about 15,000 fire and rescue calls per
year.[80]

State-owned Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) and private enterprises like
Vodafone Essar, Airtel, Idea cellular, Reliance Infocomm, and Tata Indicom provide
telephone and cell phone service to the city. In May 2008, Airtel alone had approximately
4 million cellular subscribers in Delhi.[81] Cellular coverage is extensive, and both GSM
and CDMA (from Reliance and Tata Indicom) services are available. Affordable
broadband penetration is increasing in the city.[82]
Transport
Main article: Transport in Delhi

The Indira Gandhi International Airport is the busiest airport in South Asia.[83] Shown
here is Terminal 1D of the airport.

The Delhi metro has an average ridership of 1.6 million commuters per day and runs at
an operational profit.[84]

The DTC operates the world's largest fleet of CNG buses, totaling 9000[51][85]

AC bus fleet of Delhi Transport Corporation

Public transport in Delhi is provided by buses, auto rickshaws and a metro rail system.
Buses are the most popular means of transport catering to about 60% of the total demand.
[86]
The state-owned Delhi Transport Corporation (DTC) is a major bus service provider
for the city. The DTC operates the world's largest fleet of environment-friendly CNG
buses.[87] Delhi BRTS is Bus rapid transit serving the city which runs between Ambedkar
Nagar and Delhi Gate.

The Delhi Metro, a mass rapid transit system built and operated by Delhi Metro Rail
Corporation (DMRC), serves many parts of Delhi as well as the satellite city of Gurgaon
in the neighbouring Haryana and Noida in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh. As of October
2010, the metro consists of six operational lines with a total length of 153 km (95 mi) and
130 stations while several other lines are under construction.[88] The Phase-I was built at a
cost of US$2.3 billion and the Phase-II will cost an additional US$4.3 billion.[89] Phase-II
of the network is under construction and will have a total length of 128 km. It is expected
to be completed by 2010.[90] Phase-III and IV will be completed by 2015 and 2020
respectively, creating a network spanning 413.8 km, longer than that of the London
Underground.

Auto rickshaws are a popular means of public transportation in Delhi, as they charge a
lower fare than taxis. Most run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) and are yellow and
green in colour. Taxis are not an integral part of Delhi public transport, though they are
easily available. Private operators operate most taxis, and most neighborhoods have a taxi
stand from which taxis can be ordered or picked up. In addition, air-conditioned radio
taxis, which can be ordered by calling a central number, have become increasingly
popular, charging a flat rate of 15 per kilometre.

Delhi is a major junction in the rail map of India and is the headquarters of the Northern
Railway. The five main railway stations are New Delhi Railway Station, Old Delhi,
Nizamuddin Railway Station, Anand Vihar Railway Terminal and Sarai Rohilla.[86] Delhi
is connected to other cities through many highways and expressways. Delhi currently has
three expressways and three are under construction to connect it with its prosperous and
commercial suburbs. The Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway connects Delhi with Gurgaon and
the international airport. The DND Flyway and Noida-Greater Noida Expressway
connect Delhi with two prosperous suburbs of Noida and Greater Noida.

Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) is situated in the western corner of Delhi and
serves as the main gateway for the city's domestic and international civilian air traffic. In
2006–07, the airport recorded a traffic of more than 23 million passengers,[91][92] making it
one of the busiest airports in South Asia. A new US$1.93 billion Terminal 3 handles an
additional 34 million passengers annually in 2010.[93] Further expansion programs will
allow the airport to handle more than 100 million passengers per annum by 2020.

Private vehicles account for 30% of the total demand for transport.[86] At 1922.32 km of
road length per 100 km², Delhi has one of the highest road densities in India.[86] Delhi is
well connected to other parts of India by five National Highways: NH 1, 2, 8, 10 and 24.
Roads in Delhi are maintained by MCD (Municipal Corporation of Delhi), NDMC, Delhi
Cantonment Board, Public Works Department (PWD) and Delhi Development Authority.
[94]

Delhi's high population growth rate, coupled with high economic growth rate has resulted
in an ever increasing demand for transport creating excessive pressure on the city's
existent transport infrastructure. As of 2008. Also, the number of vehicles in the
metropolitan region, i.e., Delhi NCR is 112 lakhs (11.2 million).[95] In 2008, there were 85
cars in Delhi for every 1,000 of its residents.[96] In order to meet the transport demand in
Delhi, the State and Union government started the construction of a mass rapid transit
system, including the Delhi Metro.[86] In 1998, the Supreme Court of India ordered all
public transport vehicles of Delhi to use compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel instead of
diesel and other hydro-carbons.[97]

Northern Peripheral Road

Northern Peripheral Road road is being developed under the public private partnership
(PPP) model. This stretch will connect Dwarka with National Highway 8 at Kherki
Dhaula and will pass Pataudi Road. The NPR stretch has been planned as an alternate
link road between Delhi and Gurgaon, and is expected to ease the traffic situation on the
Delhi-Gurgaon Expressway. The road will also provide connectivity to the much-touted
Reliance-HSIIDC SEZ besides the Garhi Harsaru dry depot.[98]

Much like Delhi, Gurgaon too will have a BRT corridor to decongest traffic on the
Northern Peripheral Road .In several sections, the NPR will have provisions for the Bus
Rapid Transit (BRT) corridor to ensure smooth flow. The road will be fully developed in
march 2012.[99]

Demographics
[show]Population Growth of
Delhi

Hindus make up 82% of Delhi's population. Shown here is Akshardham Temple, the
largest Hindu temple in the world.[101]
Sunset at the Bahá'í House of Worship in New Delhi, India, also called the Lotus Temple

Muslims form 10% of Delhi's population. Shown here is Jama Masjid, the largest mosque
in India.

Many ethnic groups and cultures are represented in Delhi, making it a cosmopolitan city.
Being the political and economic hub of northern India, the city attracts workers – both
blue collar and white collar – from all parts of India, further enhancing its diverse
character. A diplomatic hub, home to the embassies of 160 countries, Delhi has a large
expatriate population as well.[citation needed]

According to the 2011 census of India, the population of Delhi is 16,753,235.[100] The
corresponding population density was 11,297 persons per km², with a sex ratio of 866
women per 1000 men, and a literacy rate of 86.34%. In 2004, the birth rate, death rate
and infant mortality rate (per 1000 population) were 20.03, 5.59 and 13.08, respectively.
[102]
As of 2007, the National Capital Territory of Delhi had an estimated population of
21.5 million people, making it the second largest metropolitan area in India after
Mumbai.[103] According a 1999–2000 estimate, the total number of people living below
the poverty line, defined as living on $11 or less per month, in Delhi was 1,149,000
(which was 8.23% of the total population, compared to 27.5% of India as a whole).[104] In
2001, the population of Delhi increased by 285,000 as a result of migration and by an
additional 215,000 as a result of natural population growth[102] – this made Delhi one of
the fastest growing cities in the world. By 2015, Delhi is expected to be the third-largest
agglomeration in the world after Tokyo and Mumbai.[105] Dwarka, Asia's largest planned
residential colony, is located within the National Capital Territory of Delhi.[106]

Hinduism is the religion of 80% of Delhi's population. There are also large communities
of Muslims (10%), Sikhs (7.9%), Baha'i (0.1%), Jains (1.1%) and Christians (0.9%) in
the city.[107] Other minorities include Parsis, Anglo-Indians, Buddhists and Jews.[108]
Hindustani language is the principal spoken language while English is the principal
written language of the city. Other languages commonly spoken in the city are dialects of
Hindi, Punjabi and Urdu. The linguistic groups from all over India are well represented in
the city; among them are Punjabi, Haryanvi, UP, Rajasthani, Bihari, Bengali, Sindhi,
Tamil, Garhwali ,Telugu, North-East, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi and Gujarati.[citation
needed]

52% of Delhi lives in slums[109] without basic services like water, electricity, sanitation,
sewage system, proper housing etc.[110][111]

In 2005, Delhi accounted for the highest percentage (16.2%) of the crimes reported in the
35 cities in India with populations of one million or more.[112] The city also has the
highest rate of crime against women (27.6 compared to national average rate of 14.1 per
100,000) and against children (6.5 compared to national average of 1.4 per 100,000) in
the country.[113]

Culture
See also: Culture of India

Traditional pottery on display in Dilli Haat

Rice and Kadai chicken from Delhi

Delhi's culture has been influenced by its lengthy history and historic association as the
capital of India. This is exemplified by the many monuments of significance found in the
city; the Archaeological Survey of India recognises 1200 heritage buildings[114] and 175
monuments in Delhi as national heritage sites.[115] The Old City is the site where the
Mughals and the Turkic rulers constructed several architectural marvels like the Jama
Masjid (India's largest mosque)[116] and Red Fort. Three World Heritage Sites—the Red
Fort, Qutab Minar and Humayun's Tomb—are located in Delhi.[117] Other monuments
include the India Gate, the Jantar Mantar (an 18th-century astronomical observatory) and
the Purana Qila (a 16th century fortress). The Laxminarayan Temple, Akshardham, the
Bahá'í Lotus Temple and the ISKCON Temple are examples of modern architecture. Raj
Ghat and associated memorials houses memorials of Mahatma Gandhi and other notable
personalities. New Delhi houses several government buildings and official residences
reminiscent of the British colonial architecture. Important structures include the
Rashtrapati Bhavan, the Secretariat, Rajpath, the Parliament of India and Vijay Chowk.
Safdarjung's Tomb is an example of the Mughal gardens style.[citation needed]

Delhi's association and geographic proximity to the capital, New Delhi, has amplified the
importance of national events and holidays. National events like Republic Day,
Independence Day and Gandhi Jayanti (Gandhi's birthday) are celebrated with great
enthusiasm in Delhi. On India's Independence Day (15 August) the Prime Minister of
India addresses the nation from the Red Fort. Most Delhiites celebrate the day by flying
kites, which are considered a symbol of freedom.[118] The Republic Day Parade is a large
cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might.[119]
[120]
Over the centuries Delhi is known for its composite culture, and a festival that
symbolizes it truly is the Phool Walon Ki Sair, which takes place each year in September,
and where flowers and fans embroidered with flowers, pankha are offered to the shrine of
13th century Sufi saint, Khwaja Bakhtiyar Kaki, along with the Yogmaya Temple also
situated in Mehrauli.[121]

Religious festivals include Diwali (the festival of lights), Mahavir Jayanti, Guru Nanak's
Birthday, Durga Puja, Holi, Lohri, Chhath, Krishna Janmastami, Maha Shivaratri, Eid ul-
Fitr, Moharram and Buddha Jayanti.[120] The Qutub Festival is a cultural event during
which performances of musicians and dancers from all over India are showcased at night,
with the Qutub Minar as the chosen backdrop of the event.[122] Other events such as Kite
Flying Festival, International Mango Festival and Vasant Panchami (the Spring Festival)
are held every year in Delhi. The Auto Expo, Asia's largest auto show,[123] is held in Delhi
biennially. The World Book Fair, held biannually at the Pragati Maidan, is the second
largest exhibition of books in the world with as many as 23 nations participating in the
event.[124] Delhi is often regarded as the "Book Capital" of India because of high
readership.[125]

The Auto Expo is held annually at Pragati Maidan and showcases the technological
prowess of the Indian automobile industry
Punjabi and Mughlai delicacies like kababs and biryanis are popular in Delhi. The street
food there is known to be delicious and includes chaat, golgappe and aloo tikki.[126][127]
Due to Delhi's large cosmopolitan and migrant population, cuisines from every part of
India, including Gujarati Rajasthani, Maharashtrian, Bengali, Hyderabadi cuisines, and
South Indian food items like idli, sambar and dosa are widely available. Local delicacies
include Chaat, Golgappe, Aloo-Tikki and Dahi-Papri. There are several food outlets in
Delhi serving international cuisine, including Italian, Japanese, Continental, Middle-
Eastern, Thai and Chinese. Within the last decade western fast food has become more
popular as well.

Historically, Delhi has always remained an important trading centre in northern India.
Old Delhi still contains legacies of its rich Mughal past, which can be found among the
old city's tangle of snaking lanes and teeming bazaars.[128] The dingy markets of the Old
City have an eclectic product range, from oil-swamped mango, lime and eggplant pickles,
candy-colored herbal potions to silver jewelry, bridal attire, uncut material and linen,
spices, sweets.[128] Some of old regal havelis (palatial residences) are still there in the Old
City.[129] Chandni Chowk, a three-century-old shopping area, is one of the most popular
shopping areas in Delhi for jewellery and Zari saris.[130] Notable among Delhi's arts and
crafts are the Zardozi (an embroidery done with gold thread) and Meenakari (the art of
enameling). Dilli Haat, Hauz Khas, Pragati Maidan offer a variety of Indian handicrafts
and handlooms. Over time Delhi has absorbed a multitude of humanity from across the
country and has morphed into an amorphous pool of cultural styles.[16][131]

Education
Main article: Education in Delhi

Consistently ranked as India's top medical college,[132] All India Institute of Medical
Sciences is a global leader in medical research and treatment[133]

Schools and higher educational institutions in Delhi are administered either by the
Directorate of Education, the NCT government, or private organizations. In 2004–05,
there were 2,515 primary, 635 middle, 504 secondary and 1,208 senior secondary schools
in Delhi. That year, the higher education institutions in the city included 165 colleges,
among them five medical colleges and eight engineering colleges,[134] seven major
universities (Delhi University, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Guru
Gobind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), National Law University, Indira
Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU) and Jamia Hamdard), and nine deemed
universities.[134] Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University and National Law University
are the only state universities; IGNOU is for open/distance learning; the rest are all
central universities. Delhi boasts of being home to 3 of top 10 engineering colleges in
India – IIT Delhi, NSIT (Formerly DIT) and DTU (Formerly DCE).

Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi is ranked as Asia's fourth-best institute in science

and technology in year 1999.[135]

Private schools in Delhi—which employ either English or Hindi as the language of

instruction—are affiliated to one of two administering bodies: the Council for the Indian
School Certificate Examinations (CISCE), the Central Board for Secondary Education
(CBSE) and the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS). In 2004–05, approximately
15.29 lakh (1.529 million) students were enrolled in primary schools, 8.22 lakh
(0.822 million) in middle schools and 6.69 lakh (0.669 million) in secondary schools
across Delhi.[134] Female students represented 49% of the total enrollment. The same year,
the Delhi government spent between 1.58% and 1.95% of its gross state domestic product
on education.[134]

After completing the ten-year secondary phase of their education under the 10+2+3/4
plan, students typically spend the next two years either in junior colleges or in schools
with senior secondary facilities, during which their studies become more focused. They
select a stream of study—liberal arts, commerce, science, or, less commonly, vocational.
Upon completion, those who choose to continue, either study for a three-year
undergraduate degree at a college, or a professional degree in law, engineering, or
medicine. Notable higher education or research institutes in Delhi include All India
Institute of Medical Sciences, Dr.Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital & PGIMER, Maulana
Azad Medical College, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Indian Statistical Institute, Indian
Institute of Technology Delhi, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Delhi Technological
University, National Law University, Delhi, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology,
Indian Law Institute, Delhi School of Economics, Jamia Millia Islamia. As of 2008,
about 16% of all Delhi residents possessed at least a college graduate degree.[136]

Media
Pitampura TV Tower broadcasts programming to Delhi

As the capital of India, New Delhi is the focus of political reportage, including regular
television broadcasts of Parliament sessions. Many country-wide media agencies, among
them the state-owned Press Trust of India , Media Trust Of India and Doordarshan, are
based in the city. Television programming in the city includes two free terrestrial
television channels offered by Doordarshan, and several Hindi, English and regional-
languages cable channels offered by multi system operators. Satellite television, in
contrast, has yet to gain large-scale subscribership in the city.[137]

Print journalism remains a popular news medium in Delhi. During 2004–05, 1029
newspapers in thirteen languages were published from the city. Of these, 492 were Urdu
and Hindi language newspapers, including Navbharat Times, Hindustan Dainik, Punjab
Kesari, Pavitra Bharat, Dainik Jagran, Dainik Bhaskar and Dainik Desbandhu. Amongst
the English language newspapers, The Hindustan Times, with over a million copies in
circulation, was the single largest daily. Other major English newspapers include Times
of India, The Hindu, Indian Express, Business Standard, The Pioneer and Asian Age .
Regional dailies include Malayala Manorama and Dinakaran. Radio is a less popular
mass medium in Delhi, although FM radio has been gaining ground[138] since the
inauguration of several new FM channels in 2006.[139] A number of state-owned and
private radio stations broadcast from Delhi, including All India Radio (AIR), one of the
world's largest radio service providers, which offers six radio channels in ten languages.
Other city-based radio stations include "Aaj Tak", "Radio City(91.1 MHz)", "Big
FM(92.7 MHz)", "Red FM(93.5MHz)", "Radio One(94.3 MHz)", "Hit FM(95 MHz)",
"Apna Radio", "Radio Mirchi(98.3 MHz)", "FM Rainbow(102.4 MHz)", "Fever FM(104
MHz)", "Oye FM(104.8 MHz)", "FM Gold(106.4 MHz)".

Various news and general interest magazines are also published from Delhi like India
Today, Outlook, COVERT and many more.
Sports
Main article: Sports in Delhi

The 2010 Commonwealth Games was the largest sports event held in India. Shown here
is the Opening Ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the third largest stadium in
India.

Cricket and soccer are the most popular sports in Delhi.[140] There are several cricket
grounds (or maidans) located across the city. The Feroz Shah Kotla stadium is one of the
oldest cricket grounds in India and is a venue for international cricket matches. The Delhi
cricket team represents the city in the Ranji Trophy, a domestic first-class cricket
championship.[141] The city is also home to the IPL team Delhi Daredevils, and ICL team
Delhi Giants (earlier named Delhi Jets).

Football is a very popular sport in the city and is home to the newly formed AIFF-u19
club which will take part in the 2011 format of the I League. The only football stadium in
Delhi is the Ambedkar Stadium which holds 20000 people though in the past few years
due to tremendous rise in popularity of the sport has held up to 50000 people in the past
years.Delhi even witnessed India winning back to back trophies in football in the form of
the 2007 Nehru Cup defeating Syria 1–0 AFC Challenge Cup 2008 defeating favourites
Tajikistan 4–1 by a stellar performance by local Star Sunil Chhetri and the 2009 Nehru
Cup.

Rugby has become an increasingly popular sport among youngsters and the city is home
to the Delhi Lions and Delhi Hurricanes. The city successfully played host to 2010 Asian
Five Nations Rugby Tournament's Division Two match between India and Philippines.
The Philippines defeated India to win promotion to Division One in 2011, and maintain
their unbeaten record within the tournament in 2010. The Only Stadium in the city for
this particular sport is in the Delhi University North Campus. Boxing and shooting figure
among increasingly popular sports in the suburb of Gurgaon.

Formula 1 has now got a circuit in India in Greater Noida, a suburb of Delhi in the twin
cities area of (Noida-Greater Noida), which is all set to host the Indian Grand Prix in
October 2011 with the Jaypee Group constructing the circuit. It is set to be among the top
5 fastest circuits in the world. The team, Force India F1, was formed in October 2007
when a consortium led by Indian businessman Vijay Mallya and Michiel Mol bought the
Spyker F1 team for € 88 million. Force India F1 represents increased Indian participation
within Formula One.
Golf is also a very popular sport in the capital city and the National Capital Region,
which is home to the highest number of golf courses in India. Other sports such as field
hockey, basketball, tennis, squash, badminton, swimming, kart racing, weightlifting, table
tennis, cycling, roller skating and cue sports, such as snooker, billiards and diving are
also popular.[citation needed]

Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium and the Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium are other stadiums in
Delhi. In the past, Delhi has hosted several domestic and international sporting events,
such as the First and the Ninth Asian Games.[142] Delhi hosted the 2010 Commonwealth
Games, the largest multi-sport event ever held in India. Delhi lost bidding for the 2014
Asian Games,[143] and considered making a bid for the 2020 Summer Olympics.[144]
However, sports minister Manohar Singh Gill later stated that funding infrastructure
would come before a 2020 bid.[145] The mess left after the Commonwealth Games
prompted Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to replace sports and youth affairs minister
Manohar Singh Gill with Ajay Maken in the 19 January 2011 cabinet reshuffle.[146]