Delhi
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{{Infobox Indian Jurisdiction
|type = metropolitan city
|type_2 = capital
|native_name = Delhi
|latd = 28.61
|longd = 77.23
|skyline = Image-New Delhi Lotus.jpg
|skyline_caption = [[Lotus Temple|Bahá'í Lotus Temple]] in [[South Delhi]]
|locator_position = right
|state_name = Delhi
|leader_title = [[Chief Minister]]
|leader_name = [[Sheila Dikshit]]
|leader_title_2 = [[Lieutenant governor|Lt. Governor]]
|leader_name_2 = Tejendra Khanna
|leader_title_3 = [[Mayor]]
|leader_name_3 = [[Aarti Mehra]]
|official_languages = [[Hindi]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]], [[Urdu]]
|legislature_type = Unicameral
|legislature_strength = 70
|established_date = [[1 November]] [[1958]]
|area_total = 1483
|area_rank = 2nd
|area_magnitude = 9
|altitude = 239
|altitude_cite = <ref name="altitude"><!--
-->{{cite web
|url = http://isc2001.nic.in/delhi.htm
|title = General info on Delhi
|publisher = Government of India
|accessdate=2006-05-03
}}</ref>
|population_total = 13,782,976 (2001 census) [http://delhigovt.nic.in/dept/economic/statistics.asp] 17.076 million (2008 estimate) [http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Projected_Population/Projected_population.aspx#2008]
|population_total_cite = <ref name="census01del"><!--
-->{{cite web
|url = http://www.censusindia.net/profiles/del.html
|archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20070811095710/http://www.censusindia.net/profiles/del.html
|archivedate=2007-08-11
|title = Provisional Population Totals: Delhi
|accessdate = 2007-01-08
|work = Provisional Population Totals : India . Census of India 2001, Paper 1 of 2001
|publisher = Office of the Registrar General, India
}}</ref>
|population_as_of = 2007
|population_metro = 25 million
|population_metro_cite = <ref name="megacity"><!--
-->{{cite web
|url = http://www.citypopulation.de/World.html
|title = The Principal Agglomerations of the World
|work = Citypopulation.de
|publisher = Thomas Brinkhoff
|date = [[22 November]] [[2006]]
|accessdate=2007-01-08
}}</ref>
|population_metro_as_of = 2007
|population_rank = 1st
|population_density = 11463
<!--| districts = 9-->
|districts = {{collapsible list
|title=[[Districts of Delhi]]
|1 = [[New Delhi]]
|2 = [[Central Delhi]]
|3 = [[North Delhi]]
|4 = [[North East Delhi]]
|5 = [[East Delhi]]
|6 = [[South Delhi]]
|7 = [[South West Delhi]]
|8 = [[West Delhi]]
|9 = [[North West Delhi]]
}}
|area_telephone = 9111
|postal_code = 110 xxx
|vehicle_code_range = DL-xx
|unlocode = INDEL
|website = delhigovt.nic.in
|seal =
|footnotes =
}}
'''Delhi''' ({{lang-hi|दिल्ली}}; {{lang-pa|ਦਿੱਲੀ}}; {{lang-ur| دلی}}; {{IPA2|d̪ɪlːiː}}; sometimes referred to as ''Dilli'') is the [[List of most populous cities in India|second largest]] metropolis in [[India]], with a population of 17 million <ref>http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Projected_Population/Projected_population.aspx#2008</ref>, and a federally-administered [[States and territories of India|union territory]] officially known as the National Capital Territory of Delhi (NCT). Located on the banks of the [[Yamuna River]] in [[northern India]], it is one of the [[List of oldest continuously inhabited cities|oldest continually inhabited cities in the world]].
Delhi has been the capital of several [[History of India|ancient Indian]] empires and a major city along the old [[trade route]]s between northwest India and the [[Indo-Gangetic Plain]]s. It is the site of many ancient and medieval monuments, archaeological sites and remains. The [[Mughal]] emperor [[Shahjahan]] built the city, now known as "Old Delhi", to serve as the capital of the [[Mughal Empire]] from [[1649]] to [[1857]].
After the [[British Raj]] took control of India during the 19th century, Calcutta became the capital until [[George V of the United Kingdom|George V]] announced in 1911 that it was to move back to Delhi. A new capital city, [[New Delhi]], was built during the 1920s. When India gained [[History of the Republic of India|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]].
Owing to the immigration of people from across the country, Delhi has grown to be a [[Multiculturalism|cosmopolitan]] city. Its rapid development and [[Urbanization|urbanisation]], coupled with the relatively high average income of its population, has transformed the city.<ref name="dayal">{{cite journal |last=Dayal |first=Ravi |year=2002 |month=July |title=A Kayastha’s View |journal=Seminar (web edition) |issue=515 |url=http://www.india-seminar.com/2002/515/515%20ravi%20dayal.htm |accessdate=2007-01-29}}</ref> Today, Delhi is a major cultural, political, and commercial center of India.
==Etymology==
The etymology of '''"Delhi"''' is uncertain. The most common view is that it is an [[eponym]] of ''Dhillu'', a [[king]] who ruled the area in ancient times.<ref name=ecosurv1>{{cite web
|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/1.pdf |title=Chapter 1: Introduction |accessdate=2006-12-21 |format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]] |work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006 |publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi |pages=pp1–7}}</ref> Some historians believe that the name is derived from ''Dilli'', a corruption of ''dehleez'' or ''dehali''—[[Hindi language|Hindi]] for 'threshold'—and symbolic of city as a Gateway to the Indo-Gangetic Plain.<ref name=cohen>{{cite journal
|last = Cohen |first=Richard J. |year=1989 | month = October–December |title=An Early Attestation of the Toponym Dhilli | journal = Journal of the American Oriental Society | volume = 109 | issue = 4 |pages=513–519 | doi = 10.2307/604073 }}</ref> Another theory suggests that the city's original name was Dhillika.<ref name=dhilika>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mewarindia.com/ency/chat.html|title=Chauhans (Cahamanas, Cauhans)|accessdate=2006-12-22|last=Austin |first=Ian| coauthors = Thakur Nahar Singh Jasol|work=The Mewar Encyclopedia|publisher=mewarindia.com}}</ref> The [[Hindi]]/[[Prakrit]] word ''dhili'' ("loose") was also used for the area, and gradually transformed into the local name "Dilli". The coins in circulation in the region under the Tomara Rajputs were called ''dehliwal'' <ref name=ncertVII>{{cite web
|url=http://ncert.nic.in/textbooks/testing/Index.htm|title=Our Pasts II, History Textbook for Class VII|accessdate=2007-07-06|publisher=NCERT}} </ref>
==History==
[[Image:Qutab.jpg|thumb|At {{convert|72.5|m|ft|lk=on|abbr=on|0}}, the [[Qutub Minar]] is the world's tallest free standing [[minaret]].<ref name="Qutab"> {{cite web |url=http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=6643&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html|title=Under threat: The Magnificent Minaret of Jam|work= The New Courier No 1| month=October|year=2002| publisher=UNESCO|accessdate=2006-05-03}}</ref> ]]
[[Image:New Delhi India Humayun.jpg|thumb|Built in 1560, the [[Humayun's Tomb]] is a prime example of [[Mughal Architecture]].]]
[[Image:India gate .jpg|thumb|The [[India Gate]] commemorates [[Indian Army|Indian soldiers]] who died in [[World War I]]]]
{{main|History of Delhi}}
Human habitation was probably present in and around Delhi during the second millennium [[Before Christ|BC]] and before, as evidenced by archeological relics.<ref name=tourhist>{{cite web
|url=http://www.indiatourism.com/delhi-history/index.html
|title=Delhi History |accessdate=2006-12-22 |work=Delhi Tourism |publisher=Advent InfoSoft (P) Ltd }}</ref> The city is believed to be the site of [[Indraprastha]], legendary capital of the [[Pandavas]] in the Indian epic [[Mahabharata]].<ref name=ecosurv1/> Settlements grew from the time of the [[Mauryan Empire]] (c. 300 BC).<ref name=tourhist/> Remains of seven major cities have been discovered in Delhi. The [[Tomara]] dynasty founded the city of Lal Kot in 736 [[AD]]. The [[Chauhan]] [[Rajput]]s of [[Ajmer]] conquered Lal Kot in 1180 AD and renamed it [[Qila Rai Pithora]]. The Chauhan king [[Prithviraj III]] was defeated in 1192 by the [[Afghanistan|Afghan]] [[Muhammad Ghori]].<ref name=ecosurv1/> 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.<ref name=ecosurv1/><ref name=Quwwat>{{cite web
|url=http://whc.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/cycle01/section2/233-summary.pdf
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060524155833/http://whc.unesco.org/archive/periodicreporting/cycle01/section2/233-summary.pdf
|archivedate=2006-05-24
|title=India: Qutb Minar and its Monuments, Delhi |accessdate=2006-12-22 |format=PDF
|work= State of Conservation of the World Heritage Properties in the Asia-Pacific Region: : Summaries of Periodic Reports 2003 by property, Section II |publisher=[[UNESCO]] World Heritage Centre |pages=pp71–72 }}</ref> After the fall of the Slave dynasty, a succession of Turkic and Central Asian 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]].<ref>[http://www.sfusd.k12.ca.us/schwww/sch618/Ibn_Battuta/Battuta's_Trip_Seven.html Battuta's Travels: Delhi, capital of Muslim India]</ref> In 1398, [[Timur Lenk]] invaded India on the pretext that the Muslim sultans of Delhi were too much tolerant to their [[Hindu]] subjects. Timur entered Delhi and the city was sacked, destroyed, and left in ruins.<ref>[http://www.ucalgary.ca/applied_history/tutor/islam/mongols/timurid.html The Islamic World to 1600: The Mongol Invasions (The Timurid Empire)]</ref> Delhi was a major center of [[Sufism]] during the Sultanate period.<ref name=sufi>{{cite web
|url=http://www.saag.org/papers10/paper924.html|title=Sufism in India: Its Origin, History and Politics|accessdate=2007-01-20 |last=Upadhyay|first=R|date=[[16 February]] [[2004]]|publisher=South Asia Analysis Group
}}</ref> 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]].<ref name=ecosurv1/>
The Mughal Empire ruled northern India for more than three centuries, with a five-year hiatus during [[Sher Shah Suri]]'s reign in the mid-16th century.<ref name=shershah>{{cite web |url=http://www.indhistory.com/sher-shah-suri.html |title=Sher Shah - The Lion King |accessdate=2006-12-22 |work=India's History : Medieval India|publisher=indhistory.com }}</ref> In the year 1556, a Hindu General [[Hemu | Hemu Vikramaditya]] defeated Mughals and had his coronation at [[Purana Quila]] and re-established Vikramaditya dynasty. Mughal emperor [[Akbar]] shifted the capital from Agra to Delhi. [[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 since 1638. [[Nader Shah]] defeated the Mughal army at the huge [[Battle of Karnal]] in February, 1739. After this victory, Nader captured and sacked Delhi, carrying away many treasures, including the [[Peacock Throne]].<ref>[http://www.avalanchepress.com/Soldier_Shah.php Iran in the Age of the Raj]</ref> In 1761, Delhi was raided by [[Ahmed Shah Abdali]] after the [[Third battle of Panipat]]. At the [[Battle of Delhi]] on 11 September 1803, [[Gerard Lake, 1st Viscount Lake|General Lake]]'s British forces defeated the [[Maratha Empire|Marathas]].
Delhi came under direct [[British Empire|British]] control after the [[Indian Rebellion of 1857]].<ref name=ecosurv1/> Shortly after the Rebellion, [[Calcutta]] was declared the capital of [[British Raj|British India]] and Delhi was made a district province of the [[Punjab (British India)|Punjab]]. In 1911, Delhi was again declared as the capital of British India. Parts of the old city were pulled down to create New Delhi; a monumental new quarter of the city designed by the British architect [[Edwin Lutyens]] to house the government buildings. New Delhi, also known as Lutyens' Delhi, was officially declared as the seat of the Government of India and the capital of the republic after [[History of the Republic of India|independence]] on [[15 August]] [[1947]]. During the [[partition of India]] thousands of [[Hindu]] and [[Sikh]] refugees from [[Punjab, Pakistan|West Punjab]] and [[Sindh]] migrated to Delhi. 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.<ref name=migrationbirth>{{cite news |title= Fall in Delhi birth rate fails to arrest population rise |url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/03/stories/2005010311230300.htm |date=2005-01-03 |accessdate=2006-12-19 |publisher=The Hindu }}</ref>
The [[Constitution of India|Constitution (Sixty-ninth Amendment) Act, 1991]] declared the Union Territory of Delhi to be formally known as National Capital Territory of Delhi.<ref name=NCTact>{{cite web
|url=http://indiacode.nic.in/coiweb/amend/amend69.htm|title= THE CONSTITUTION (SIXTY-NINTH AMENDMENT) ACT, 1991
|accessdate=2007-01-08|work=THE CONSTITUTION (AMENDMENT) ACTS, THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA
|publisher= National Informatics Centre, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, Government of India
}}</ref> The Act gave Delhi its own [[legislative assembly]], though with limited powers.<ref name=NCTact/>
==Geography and climate==
{{see also|Climate of Delhi}}
The National Capital Territory of Delhi is spread over an area of {{convert|1483|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}}, of which {{convert|783|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}} is designated rural, and {{convert|700|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}} urban. Delhi has a maximum length of {{convert|51.9|km|mi|abbr=on|lk=on|0}} and the maximum width of {{convert|48.48|km|mi|abbr=on|0}}. There are three local bodies (statutory towns) namely, Municipal Corporation of Delhi (area is {{convert|1397.3|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}}), New Delhi Municipal Committee ({{convert|42.7|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}}) and Delhi Cantonment Board ({{convert|43|km2|sqmi|abbr=on|0}}).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ndmc.gov.in/AboutNDMC/NNDMCAct.aspx |title= Introduction|accessdate=2007-07-03 |work=THE NEW DELHI MUNICIPAL COUNCIL ACT, 1994 |publisher=New Delhi Municipal Council}}</ref>
[[Image:Delhiterrian.jpg|thumb|The [[Gangetic Plains|Great Gangetic Plains]] cover most of Delhi, as can be seen in this [[NASA]] image.]]
Delhi is located at {{coor dm|28|61|N|77|23|E|}}, and lies in [[northern India]]. It borders the Indian states of [[Uttar Pradesh]] on East and [[Haryana]] on West, North and South. Delhi lies almost entirely in the [[Gangetic plains]]. Two prominent features of the geography of Delhi are the [[Yamuna]] flood plain and the [[Delhi ridge]]. The low-lying Yamuna flood plains provide fertile [[alluvial soil]] suitable for agriculture. However, these plains are prone to recurrent [[floods]]. Reaching up to a height of 318 [[meters|m]] (1043 [[Foot (unit of length)|ft]]),<ref name=gisridge>{{cite web
|url=http://www.fig.net/pub/fig_2002/Ts3-9/TS3_9_mohan.pdf
|title=GIS-Based Spatial Information Integration, Modeling and Digital Mapping: A New Blend of Tool for Geospatial Environmental Health Analysis for Delhi Ridge
|accessdate=2007-02-03
|last = Mohan
|first = Madan
|date=
|year = 2002
|month = April
|format=PDF
|work=Spatial Information for Health Monitoring and Population Management
|publisher=FIG XXII International Congress
|pages = p5
}}</ref> the ridge forms the most 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. Most of the city, including New Delhi, lies west of the river. East of the river is the urban area of [[Shahdara]]. Delhi falls under [[Earthquake hazard zoning of India|seismic zone-IV]], making it vulnerable to major [[earthquakes]]. <ref name=hazardprofile>{{cite web
|url=http://www.undp.org.in/dmweb/hazardprofile.pdf
|title=Hazard profiles of Indian districts
|accessdate=2006-08-23
|format=PDF
|work=National Capacity Building Project in Disaster Management
|publisher=[[UNDP]]
|archiveurl =http://web.archive.org/web/20060519100611/http://www.undp.org.in/dmweb/hazardprofile.pdf
|archivedate=[[19 May]] [[2006]]
}}</ref>
Delhi has a semi-[[arid]] climate with high variation between summer and winter temperatures. Summers are long, from early April to October, with the [[monsoon]] season in between. Winter starts in October and peaks in January and is notorious for its heavy fog.<ref name=Fog>{{cite news
|publisher=The Hindu| url=http://www.hindu.com/2005/01/07/stories/2005010719480300.htm| title=Fog continues to disrupt flights, trains| date=[[2006-01-07]]| accessdate=2006-05-16
}}</ref> Extreme temperatures range from −0.6 [[Celsius|°C]] (30.9 [[Fahrenheit|°F]]) to {{convert|47|C|F}}.<ref name=coldDelhi>{{cite news| publisher=Hindustan Times|
url= http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1593200,000600010001.htm| title=At 0.2 degrees Celsius, Delhi gets its coldest day| date=[[2006-01-08]]| accessdate=2006-04-29
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20060111153439/http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1593200,000600010001.htm
|archivedate=[[January 11]] [[2006]]}}</ref> The annual mean temperature is 25 °C (77 °F); monthly mean temperatures range from 14 °C to 33 °C (58 °F to 92 °F).<ref name=weatherbase>
{{cite web
|publisher=Canty and Associates LLC | url=http://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather.php3?s=28124&refer=&units=metric | title=Weatherbase entry for Delhi | accessdate=2007-01-16
}}</ref> The average annual rainfall is approximately 714 [[millimeter|mm]] (28.1 [[inches]]), most of which is during the [[monsoon]]s in July and August.<ref name=ecosurv1/> The average date of the advent of monsoon winds in Delhi is [[29 June]].<ref name=hindumonsoon> {{cite news |first= Vinson |last= Kurian |title= Monsoon reaches Delhi two days ahead of schedule|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2005/06/28/stories/2005062800830200.htm |work= |publisher= The Hindu Business Line |date=[[28 June]] [[2005]] |accessdate=2007-01-09 }}</ref>.
==Civic administration==
{{seealso|Divisions of Delhi|Districts of Delhi|List of towns in National Capital Territory of Delhi}}
[[Image:Delhi districts.svg|thumb|Map showing the nine districts of Delhi]]
As of July 2007, the National Capital Territory of Delhi comprises nine districts, 27 [[tehsil]]s, 59 census towns, 165 villages and three statutory towns{{ndash}} the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD); the New Delhi Municipal Committee (NDMC); and the Delhi Cantonment Board (DCB).<ref name="ecosurv0102chap3">{{cite web |url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/Ecosur2001-02/PDF/chap3(table).PDF |title=Table 3.1: Delhi Last 10 Years (1991–2001) — Administrative Set Up |accessdate=2007-07-03 |format=PDF |work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2001–2002 |publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi |pages=p177}}</ref>
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|Delhi Cantonment Board]]. MCD is one of the largest municipal corporations in the world providing civic amenities to an estimated 13.78 million people.<ref name="MCD"> {{cite web |url=http://www.mcdonline.gov.in/|title=About Us|publisher=Municipal Corporation of Delhi|accessdate=2006-05-13}}</ref> 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]].
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.
The [[Delhi High Court]] has jurisdiction over Delhi. Delhi also has [[lower court]]s; the [[Small Causes Court]] for civil cases, and the [[Sessions Court]] for criminal cases. The [[Delhi Police]], headed by the [[Police Commissioner of Delhi|Police Commissioner]], is one of the largest metropolitan police forces in the world.<ref name=largepolice>{{cite web
|url=http://www.delhipolice.nic.in/home/history1.htm|title=History of Delhi Police|accessdate=2006-12-19
|publisher=Delhi Police Headquarters, New Delhi, India}}</ref> Delhi is administratively divided into nine [[Districts of Delhi Police|police-zones]], which are further subdivided into 95 local police stations.<ref name=policestations>{{cite web|url=http://delhigovt.nic.in/newdelhi/police.html|title=Poile Stations|accessdate=2006-12-19|publisher=Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi}}</ref>
==Government and politics==
[[Image:NorthBlock.jpg|thumb|right|The [[North Block]], in [[New Delhi]], houses key government offices]]
As a special [[union territory]], in the same manner as that of Pondicherry, 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. While services like transport and others are taken care of by the Delhi Govt. more important services like police are directly under the control of the Central Government. 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) 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.<ref name=assmbconst>{{cite web
|url=http://www.mapsofindia.com/assemblypolls/delhi.html|title=Delhi: Assembly Constituencies|accessdate=2006-12-19
|publisher=Compare Infobase Limited }}</ref><ref name=loksabhaconst>{{cite news
|title= Lok Sabha constituencies get a new profile |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/09/07/stories/2006090710630400.htm
|work=The Hindu |publisher=The Hindu |date=[[September 07]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2006-12-19}}</ref>
Delhi was a traditional stronghold of the [[Indian National Congress]], also known as the Congress Party. In the 1990s the [[BJP|Bharatiya Janata Party]] (BJP) under the leadership of [[Madan Lal Khurana]] came into power. However in 1998, Congress regained power. [[Sheila Dixit]] of Congress is the incumbent Chief Minister. The Congress retained power in the Legislative Assembly in the 2003 election as well by a large margin. However, in 2007, the BJP scored a crushing victory over the ruling Congress in the MCD election, signalling a near certain return to power in the elections of Dec, 2008. Both parties have advocated full-fledged statehood for Delhi, but the process to establish this has been slow. The next election are slated to take place soon and this has heated up the politics of the city.
==Utility services==
[[Image:New Delhi NDMC building.jpg|thumb|NDMC Building, also known as the Palika Kendra.]]
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.<ref name=ecosurv13>{{cite web|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/13.pdf|title=Chapter 13: Water Supply and Sewerage|accessdate=2006-12-21|format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]|work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006|publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi|pages=pp147–162}}</ref> The rest of the demand is met by private and public [[Water well|tube wells]] and [[hand pumps]]. At 240 MGD, the Bhakra storage is the largest water source for DJB, followed by river Yamuna and [[Ganges]].<ref name=ecosurv13/> With falling [[groundwater]] level and rising population density, Delhi faces severely acute water shortage. Delhi daily produces 8000 [[tonne]]s of solid wastes which is dumped at three [[landfill]] sites by MCD.<ref name=hinduwaste>{{cite news |first=Sandeep |last= Joshi |title= MCD developing new landfill site |url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/19/stories/2006061915630400.htm |publisher=The Hindu |date=2006-06-19 |accessdate=2006-12-19}}</ref> The daily domestic waste water production is 470 MGD and industrial waste water is 70 MGD.<ref name=Delhirisks>{{cite web|url=http://www.gisdevelopment.net/application/natural_hazards/overview/nho0019pf.htm|title=Risks in Delhi: Environmental concerns|accessdate=2006-12-19|last=Gadhok|first=Taranjot Kaur|work= Natural Hazard Management|publisher=GISdevelopment.net}}</ref> A large portion of the sewerage flows untreated into the river Yamuna.<ref name=Delhirisks/>
The city's per capita electricity consumption is about 1,265 [[Watt-hour|kWh]] but actual demand is much more.<ref name=ecosurv11>{{cite web|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/11.pdf|title=Chapter 11: Energy|accessdate=2006-12-21|format=[[Portable Document Format|PDF]]|work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–06 |publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi|pages=pp117–129}}</ref> 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 [[power outage|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.<ref name=dfs>{{cite web
|url=http://dfs.delhigovt.nic.in/aboutf.html|title=About Us|accessdate=2007-01-09 |work=Delhi Fire Service
|publisher=Govt. of NCT of Delhi }}</ref>
State-owned [[Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited]] (MTNL) and private enterprises like [[Vodafone Essar]], [[Bharti Airtel|Airtel]], [[Idea cellular]], [[Reliance Infocomm]] and [[Tata Indicom]] provide [[telephone carrier|telephone and cell phone service]] to the city. Cellular coverage is extensive, and both [[GSM]] and [[CDMA]] (from Reliance and Tata Indicom) services are available. Affordable [[broadband internet]] penetration is increasing in the city.<ref name=hindumtnl>{{cite news |first=Sandeep |last= Joshi |title=
MTNL stems decline in phone surrender rate| url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/01/02/stories/2007010220140300.htm |work= New Delhi Printer Friendly Page |publisher=The Hindu |date=[[2 January]] [[2007]] |accessdate=2007-01-10 }}</ref>
==Economy==
[[Image:Bhonsidi.jpg|left|thumb|[[Shopping mall]]s cater to the increased purchasing power of the people]]
[[Image:Cyber Greens.jpg|right|thumb|Urban extensions of Delhi like [[Gurgaon]] and [[Noida]] have symbiotic association with the city. ]]
[[Image:Delhi New.jpg|thumb|[[Connaught Place, New Delhi|Connaught Place]] is an important economic and cultural center]]
With an estimated net [[State Domestic Product]] (SDP) of [[Indian Rupee|INR]] 830.85 billion (FY 2005),<ref name=ecosurv2>{{cite web|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/2.pdf|title=Chapter 2: State Income| accessdate =| format =PDF|work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006|publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi|pages=pp8–16}}</ref> Delhi is the second largest commercial center in South Asia after [[Mumbai]]. Delhi has a per capita income of 53,976 INR which is around 2.5 times of the national average.<ref name=ecosurv2/> The [[Tertiary sector of industry|tertiary sector]] contributes 70.95% of Delhi's gross SDP followed by [[Secondary sector of industry|secondary]] and [[Primary sector of industry|primary]] sectors with 25.2% and 3.85% contribution respectively.<ref name=ecosurv2/> Delhi's workforce constitutes 32.82% of the population showing an increase of 52.52% between 1991 and 2001.<ref name=ecosurv5>{{cite web|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/5.pdf|title=Chapter 5: Employment and Unemployment| accessdate =|format=PDF|work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–06|publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi|pages=pp59–65}}</ref> Delhi's unemployment rate decreased from 12.57% in 1999–2000 to 4.63% in 2003.<ref name=ecosurv5/> In December 2004, 636,000 people were registered with various employment exchange programmes in Delhi.<ref name=ecosurv5/>
In 2001, the total workforce in all government (union and state) and quasi government sector was 620,000. In comparison, organised private sector employed 219,000.<ref name=ecosurv5/> Delhi's service sector has expanded due in part to the large skilled English-speaking workforce that has attracted many multinational companies. Key service industries include information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banking, media and tourism. Delhi's manufacturing industry has also grown considerably as many [[Economy of India#Industry|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.<ref name=ecosurv9>{{cite web
|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/9.pdf|title=Chapter 9: Industrial Development| accessdate =|format=PDF|work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–06|publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi|pages=pp94–107}}</ref> Construction, power, telecommunications, health and community services, and real estate form integral parts of Delhi's economy. Delhi's retail industry is one of the fastest growing industries in India.<ref name=IBEF>{{cite web| publisher=[[India Brand Equity Foundation]]| url=http://www.ibef.org/industry/retail.aspx| title=India's Retail Industry| accessdate=2007-01-04}}</ref> However, as in the rest of India, the fast growth of retail is expected to affect the traditional unorganized retail trading system.<ref name=BBC070521>{{cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/6667199.stm |title= Supermarkets devour Indian traders|accessdate= 2007-07-03|last= Majumder |first=Sanjoy |authorlink= |date=2007-05-21 |work=South Asia |publisher=BBC}}</ref>
{{seealso|Gurgaon}} {{seealso|Noida}}
==Transport==
{{main|Transport in Delhi}}
[[Image:Gand.jpg|thumb|Buses cater 60% of the transport demand in Delhi. Shown here is a [[DTC]] bus]]
[[Image:New Delhi Metro.jpg|thumb|Delhi metro, operated by the [[Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Limited]]]]
[[Image:New Delhi Airport.jpg|right|thumb|[[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] is the main airport in Delhi.]]
Public transport in Delhi is provided by buses, [[auto rickshaw]]s, a [[Delhi Metro|rapid transit]] system, taxis and suburban railways.
[[Bus]]es are the most popular means of transport catering to about 60% of the total demand.<ref name=ecosurv12>{{cite web|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/12.pdf|title=Chapter 12: Transport|accessdate=2006-12-21|format=PDF|work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006|publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi|pages=pp130–146}}</ref> 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.<ref name=DTC>{{cite web|url=http://dtc.nic.in/ccharter.htm|title=Citizen Charter|accessdate=2006-12-21|work=|publisher=Delhi Transport Corporation}}</ref> Though pollution from road transport has decreased in recent years, it is still at a high level.<ref name=yetpol>{{cite news |first=Dhal Samanta |last=Anjali |title= Pollution on the rise in Capital |url=http://www.hinduonnet.com/2005/02/04/stories/2005020416900300.htm |work=New Delhi |publisher=The Hindu |date=[[4 February]] [[2005]] |accessdate=2007-01-14 }}</ref>. A [[Bus rapid transit|busway]] network, at present consisting of a single line between [[Ambedkar Nagar]] and [[Delhi Gate]], is also under construction.
The [[Delhi Metro]], a mass rapid transit system, serves many parts of Delhi. As of 2007, the metro operates three lines with a total length of 65 [[Kilometre|km]] (40 [[mile]]s) and 59 stations while several other lines are under construction.<ref name=metrostations>{{cite web|url=http://www.delhimetrorail.com/commuters/station_information.html
|title=Station Information|accessdate=2007-01-14|work=www.delhimetrorail.com|publisher=Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (DMRC)}}</ref> Line 1 runs between Rithala and Shahdara. Line 2 runs in an underground tunnel between Vishwa Vidyalaya and the Central Secretariat. Line 3 runs between Indraprastha, Barakhamba Road, and Dwarka.
The network is being expanded at a rapid pace with Phase-II under construction (128 km), expected to be completed by 2010. Phase III and IV will be completed by 2015 and 2020 respectively, creating a network spanning 413.8 km, longer than London's Underground<ref>map of extensions www.delhimetrorail.com/commuters/images/metro_map_big.jpg</ref>
[[Railways]] served only 1% of the local traffic until 2003.<ref name=ecosurv12/> However Delhi is a major junction in the [[:Image:India railway schematic map.svg|rail map of India]] and is the headquarters of the [[Northern Railway (India)|Northern Railway]]. The four main railway stations are [[Old Delhi]], [[Nizamuddin Railway Station]], [[Sarai Rohilla]] and [[New Delhi Railway Station]].<ref name=ecosurv12/>
[[Auto rickshaws]] are an important and popular means of public transportation in Delhi, as they charge a lower fare than taxis. Most run on [[Compressed Natural Gas]] and are yellow and green in colour. Although they are equipped with electronic meters, which are supposed to show the fare, these are rarely used and bargaining is the norm.
[[Taxicab|Taxi]]s 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, [[radio taxis]], which can be ordered by calling a central number, have become increasingly popular. These are usually air-conditioned and charge a flat rate of Rs. 15 per [[kilometer]].
[[Indira Gandhi International Airport]] (IGI) is situated in the southwestern corner of Delhi and serves for domestic and international connections. In 2006–07, the airport recorded a traffic of more than 20.44 million passengers,<ref>[[Indira Gandhi International Airport]]</ref><ref name=essentialtravel>{{cite web| publisher=Essential Travel Ltd., UK.| url=http://parking.essentialtravel.co.uk/worldairport/india/delhi.htm| title=Delhi – Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL) information | accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref> making it one of the busiest airports in South Asia. In future the airport will handle more than 100 million passengers per annum (more than what Atlanta airport, currently world's busiest airport, handles today).<ref>[[Indira Gandhi International Airport]]</ref> [[Safdarjung Airport]] is the other airfield in Delhi used for [[general aviation]] purpose.<ref name=safdur>{{cite web|url=http://gc.kls2.com/airport/VIDD| title =VIDD - Airport|accessdate=2007-01-14|work=Great Circle Search|publisher=Karl L. Swartz}}</ref> The proposed [[Taj international airport|Taj International Airport]] is expected to be operational by 2012<ref>[http://in.news.yahoo.com/080103/32/6p73p.html]</ref>{{dead link|date=April 2008}}
Private vehicles account for 30% of the total demand for transport.<ref name=ecosurv12/> At 1922.32 km of road length per 100 km², Delhi has one of the highest road densities in India.<ref name=ecosurv12/> Delhi is well connected to other parts of India by five [[Indian highways|National Highways]]: [[List of National Highways in India|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]].<ref name=roadauth>{{cite web|url=http://www.gisdevelopment.net/proceedings/mapindia/2006/transportation/mi06tran_200.htm
|title=GIS Based Maintenance Management System (GMMS) For Major Roads Of Delhi|accessdate=2007-01-14|author=I.Prasada Rao| coauthors = Dr. P.K. Kanchan, Dr. P.K. Nanda|work= Map India 2006: Transportation|publisher=GISdevelopment.net}}</ref>
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, Delhi had 55 lakhs (5.5 million) vehicles within its municipal limits, making most vehicle populous city of the world. Also, the number of vehicles in the metropolitan region, i.e., Delhi NCR ([[National Capital Region (India)]]) is 112 lakhs (11.2 million)<ref>[http://www.igovernment.in/site/traffic-snarl-snaps-42-cr-man-hour-from-delhi-ncr-workers/ Traffic snarl snaps 42 Cr man-hour from Delhi, NCR workers at iGovernment<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref>, again surpassing all the metropolitan regions of the world like New York, Los Angeles, Tokyo, Seoul, Mexico City and others. 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 Mass Rapid Transit System|Delhi Metro]].<ref name=ecosurv12/> In 1998, the [[Supreme Court of India]] ordered all public transport vehicles to use [[compressed natural gas]] (CNG) as fuel instead of diesel and other hydro-carbons.<ref name=supremelaw>{{cite web
|url=http://www.cleanairnet.org/caiasia/1412/articles-69423_delhi_case.pdf |title=Introduction|accessdate=2007-01-14|author=Armin Rosencranz
|coauthors = Michael Jackson|format=PDF|work=The Delhi Pollution Case: The Supreme Court of India and the Limits of Judicial Power|publisher=indlaw.com|pages=p.3}}</ref>
==Demographics==
{{IndiaCensusPop
|title= Population Growth of Delhi
|1901= 405819
|1911= 413851
|1921= 488452
|1931= 636246
|1941= 917939
|1951= 1744072
|1961= 2658612
|1971= 4065698
|1981= 6220406
|1991= 9420644
|2001= 13782976
|estimate=
|estyear=
|estref=
|footnote= source: [http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/Ecosur2001-02/PDF/chapter3.pdf delhiplanning.nic.in]<br />
† Huge population rise in 1951 due to large<br /> scale migration after [[Partition of India]] in 1947.
}}
[[Image:New Delhi Temple.jpg|thumb|The [[Akshardham (Delhi)|Akshardham Temple]] in Delhi is the largest [[Hindu temple]] complex in the world.<ref>[http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Akshardham_temple_makes_it_to_Guinness_Book/articleshow/2651500.cms Akshardham temple makes it to Guinness Book-India-The Times of India<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref>]]
[[Image:Jama Masjid.jpg|thumb|[[Jama Masjid, Delhi|Jama Masjid]], is the largest [[mosque]] in India.]]
Many ethnic groups and cultures are represented in Delhi, making it a cosmopolitan city. A seat of political power and a centre of commerce, the city attracts workers—both [[Blue-collar worker|blue collar]] and [[white collar]]—from all parts of India, further enhancing its diverse character. A diplomatic hub, represented by embassies of 160 countries, Delhi has a large [[expatriate]] population as well.
According to the 2001 [[Census of India]], the population of Delhi that year was 13,782,976.<ref name=census01del>{{cite web
|url=http://www.censusindia.net/profiles/del.html
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070811095710/http://www.censusindia.net/profiles/del.html
|archivedate=2007-08-11|title=Provisional Population Totals: Delhi|accessdate=2007-01-08
|work=Provisional Population Totals : India . Census of India 2001, Paper 1 of 2001|publisher=Office of the Registrar General, India }}</ref> The corresponding population density was 9,294 persons per km², with a sex ratio of 821 women per 1000 men, and a [[literacy rate]] of 81.82%. By 2003, the National Capital Territory of Delhi had a population of 14.1 million people, making it the largest metropolitan area in India surpassing [[Mumbai]].<ref>[http://www.prb.org/Articles/2007/delhi.aspx Is Delhi India's Largest City? - Population Reference Bureau<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref><ref name=unpopulation>{{cite web |author=|publisher=United Nations| url=http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/wup2003/2003WUPHighlights.pdf | title=World Urbanization Prospects The 2003 Revision. | pages= p7 | format= [PDF|accessdate=2006-04-29}}</ref> This included 295,000 people living in New Delhi and another 125,000 in Delhi Cantonment. By 2004, the estimated population had increased to 15,279,000. That year, the [[birth rate]], [[death rate]] and [[infant mortality rate]] (per 1000 population) were 20.03, 5.59 and 13.08, respectively.<ref name=ecosurv3>{{cite web|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/3.pdf|title=Chapter 3: Demographic Profile|accessdate=2006-12-21|format=PDF|work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006|publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi|pages=pp17–31}}</ref>. Currently the city's municipal population is expected to be 17 million, making it the world's most populous city<ref>[[List of cities by population]]</ref> (but not the most populous metropolitan region, that being [[Tokyo]]) According a 1999–2000 estimate, the total number of people living below the [[Poverty threshold|poverty line]] in Delhi was 1,149,000 (which was 8.23% of the total population).<ref name=ecosurv21>{{cite web|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/21.pdf|title=Chapter 21: Poverty Line in Delhi|accessdate=2006-12-21|format=PDF|work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–2006|publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi|pages=pp227–231}}</ref> 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<ref name=ecosurv3/> - this made Delhi one of the fastest growing cities in the world. By 2015, Delhi is expected to be the second largest [[agglomeration]] in the world after [[Tokyo]].<ref name=unpopulation/>
[[Hinduism]] is the religion of 82% of Delhi's population. There are also large communities of [[Muslim]]s (11.7%), [[Sikh]]s (4.0%), [[Jain]]s (1.1%) and [[Christian]]s (0.9%) in the city <ref>http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/ 2001 Indian Census Data</ref>. Other minorities include [[Parsi]]s, [[Anglo-Indians]], [[Buddhist]]s and [[Jew]]s.<ref name=Lonelyplanet>{{cite web|author=|publisher= Census of India 2001| url= http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070812142520/http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/| archivedate=2007-08-12index.html| archiveurl= http://web.archive.org/web/20070812011525/http://www.censusindia.net/religiondata/index.html| archivedate=2007-08-12|title=Data on Religion |pages= 1|accessdate=2006-05-16}}</ref>
[[Hindi]] is the principal spoken and written language of the city. Other languages commonly spoken in the city are [[Indian English|English]], [[Punjabi language|Punjabi]] and [[Urdu Language|Urdu]]. Of these, English is an associate official language, and Punjabi and Urdu second official languages. Linguistic groups from all over India are well represented in the city; among them are [[Maithili language|Maithili]],[[bihari language|bhojpuri]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], [[Kannada]], [[Telugu language|Telugu]], [[Bengali language|Bengali]] and [[Marathi language|Marathi]]. [[Punjabi people|Punjabis]], [[Jat people|Jat]]s and [[Gujjar]]s are examples of the various ethnic communities in the city.
In 2005, Delhi accounted for the highest percentage (16.2%) of the crimes reported in the 35 cities in India with populations of [[Million-plus cities in India|one million or more]].<ref name=crmega>{{ cite book | author =National Crime Records Bureau |year=2005 |title=Crime in India-2005 |chapter=Crimes in Megacities | chapterurl = http://ncrb.nic.in/crime2005/cii-2005/CHAP2.pdf | pages= pp.159–160 | format= PDF |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs | accessdate=2007-01-09 }}</ref> 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.<ref name=crisnap>{{ cite book
|author =National Crime Records Bureau |year=2005 |title=Crime in India-2005 |chapter=Snapshots-2005 | chapterurl = http://ncrb.nic.in/crime2005/cii-2005/Snapshots.pdf | pages= p3 | format= PDF |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs | accessdate=2007-01-09 }}</ref>
==Culture==
[[Image:Chicken Chili HR2.jpg|right|thumb|Rice and ''Kadhai Chicken'' from Delhi.]]
[[Image:Img 1456.jpg.jpg|thumb|Traditional Indian pottery on display in ''[[Dilli Haat]]''.]]
[[Image:Delhi Auto Show.jpg|thumb|The [[Auto Expo]], Asia's largest [[auto show]],<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/09/stories/2008010953071500.htm The Hindu : Front Page : Asia’s largest auto carnival begins in Delhi tomorrow<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref> showcases modern forms of transport]]
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 175 monuments in Delhi as national heritage sites.<ref name=asimonuments>{{cite web
|url=http://asi.nic.in/writereaddata/sublinkimages/98.htm
|title=Delhi Circle (N.C.T. of Delhi)
|accessdate=2006-12-27
|work=List of Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains of National Importance
|publisher=[[Archaeological Survey of India]]
}}</ref> The Old City is the site where the Mughals and the Turkic rulers constructed several architectural marvels like the [[Jama Masjid, Delhi|Jama Masjid]] (India's largest mosque)<ref name=Jama>{{cite web| publisher=Radio Singapore| url= http://www.rsi.sg/english/travellerstales/view/20050829130921/1/.html| title=Jama Masjid, India's largest mosque| accessdate=2006-11-14}}</ref> and [[Red Fort]]. Three [[World Heritage Site]]s—the Red Fort, [[Qutab Minar]] and [[Humayun's Tomb]]—are located in Delhi.<ref name=whsite>{{cite web|url=http://whc.unesco.org/en/statesparties/in|title= Properties inscribed on the World Heritage List: India|accessdate=2007-01-13|publisher=UNESCO World Heritage Centre}}</ref> Other monuments include the [[India Gate]], the [[Yantra Mandir (Delhi)|Jantar Mantar]] (an 18th century astronomical observatory) and the [[Purana Qila]] (a 16th century fortress). The [[Laxminarayan Temple]], [[Akshardham (Delhi)|Akshardham]] and the [[Bahá'í Faith|Bahá'í]] [[Lotus 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
Delhi's association and geographic proximity to the capital, [[New Delhi]], has amplified the importance of national events and holidays. National events such as [[Republic Day (India)|Republic Day]], [[Independence Day (India)|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.<ref name=freedom>{{cite web| work=123independenceday.com|publisher=Compare Infobase Limited| url=http://123independenceday.com/indian/gift_of/freedom/ | title=Independence Day| accessdate=2007-01-04}}</ref> The [[Republic Day Parade]] is a large cultural and military parade showcasing India's cultural diversity and military might.<ref name=repmil>{{cite web|url=http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/2002/01/28/stories/2002012800060800.htm
|title= R-Day parade, an anachronism?|accessdate=2007-01-13|last=Ray Choudhury|first=Ray Choudhury|date=[[January 28]] [[2002]]|publisher=The Hindu Business Line}}</ref><ref name=repcul>{{cite web
|url=http://www.india-tourism.org/delhi-travel/delhi-fairs-festivals.html
|archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20070319223442/http://www.india-tourism.org/delhi-travel/delhi-fairs-festivals.html
|archivedate=2007-03-19
|title=Fairs & Festivals of Delhi|accessdate=2007-01-13|work=Delhi Travel|publisher=India Tourism.org}}</ref>
Religious festivals include [[Diwali]] (the festival of lights), [[Mahavir Jayanti]], [[Guru Nanak's Birthday]], [[Durga Puja]], [[Holi]], [[Lohri]], [[Maha Shivaratri]], [[Eid]] and [[Buddha Jayanti]].<ref name=repcul/> 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.<ref name=qutubfest>{{cite news
|first = Madhur |last=Tankha |title= It's Sufi and rock at Qutub Fest |url=http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/15/stories/2005121503090200.htm |work=New Delhi |publisher=The Hindu |date=[[15 December]] [[2005]] |accessdate=2007-01-13}}</ref> Other events such as Kite Flying Festival, [[International Mango Festival, Delhi|International Mango Festival]] and ''[[Vasant Panchami]]'' (the Spring Festival) are held every year in Delhi. The [[Auto Expo]], Asia's largest auto show,<ref>[http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/09/stories/2008010953071500.htm The Hindu : Front Page : Asia’s largest auto carnival begins in Delhi tomorrow<!--Bot-generated title-->]</ref> is held in [[New Delhi]] biennially.
[[Punjabi cuisine]] and Mughlai delicacies like [[kabab]]s and [[biryani]]s are popular in several parts of Delhi.<ref name=delhicuisine>{{cite web |url=http://www.indiasite.com/delhi/cuisine.html|title=Cuisines of Delhi
|accessdate=2007-01-14|work=India: Delhi|publisher=indiasite.com}}</ref> Due to Delhi's large cosmopolitan population, cuisines from every part of India, including [[Rajasthan]]i, [[Maharashtra|Maharashtrian]], [[Bengali cuisine|Bengali]], [[Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh|Hyderabadi]] cuisines, and South Indian food items like [[idli]], [[Sambar (dish)|sambar]] and [[dosa]] are widely available. Local delicacies include ''[[Chaat]]'' and ''Dahi-Papri''. There are several food outlets in Delhi serving international cuisine including [[Italian cuisine|Italian]] and [[Indian Chinese cuisine|Chinese]].
Historically, Delhi has always remained an important trading centre in northern India. Old Delhi still contains legacies of its rich Mughal past that can be found among the old city's tangle of snaking lanes and teeming bazaars.<ref name=slt>{{cite news
|first = Sarina |last=Singh |title=Delhi: Old, new, sleek and rambunctious too |url=http://www.sltrib.com/travel/ci_4853701 |work=Travels with Lonely Planet: India |publisher=The Salt Lake Tribune |date=[[16 December]] [[2006]] |accessdate=2007-01-19}}</ref> The dingy markets of the Old City has 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.<ref name=slt/> Some of old regal ''havelis'' (palacial residences) are still there in the Old City.<ref name=jacob>{{cite journal
|last = Jacob |first=Satish |year=2002 | month = July |title=Wither, the walled city
|journal = Seminar (web edition) | issue = 515 | url =http://www.india-seminar.com/2002/515/515%20satish%20jacob.htm |accessdate=2007-01-19}}</ref> [[Chandni Chowk]], a three century old shopping area, is one of the most popular shopping areas in Delhi for jewellery and ''Zari'' [[sari]]s.<ref name=Chandni>{{cite web| publisher=About Palace on Wheels| work=Delhi Tours| url= http://www.aboutpalaceonwheels.com/palace-on-wheels-destinations/shopping-in-delhi.html
|title=Shopping in Delhi| accessdate=2007-01-04}}</ref> 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. However, the city is said to have lost its own identity and socio-cultural legacies as it went to absorb multitude of humanity from across the country and has morphed into an amorphous pool of cultural styles.<ref name=menon>{{cite journal
|last = Menon |first=Anjolie Ela |year=2002 | month = July |title=The Age That Was
|journal = Seminar (web edition) | issue = 515 | url =http://www.india-seminar.com/2002/515/515%20anjolie%20ela%20menon.htm |accessdate=2007-01-29}}</ref><ref name=dayal>{{cite journal
|last = Dayal|first=Ravi|year=2002 | month = July |title=A Kayastha’s View
|journal = Seminar (web edition) | issue = 515 | url =http://www.india-seminar.com/2002/515/515%20ravi%20dayal.htm |accessdate=2007-01-29}}</ref>
==Education==
{{seealso|Educational Institutions in Delhi}}
[[Image:AIIMS central lawn.jpg|thumb|[[All India Institute of Medical Sciences]], country's premier medical institution]]
[[Image:Mathdept.jpg|thumb|[[Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi]], Maths Department]]
[[School#Regional varieties|Schools]] and [[Higher education|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,<ref name=ecosurv15>{{cite web|url=http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/Chpt/15.pdf
|title=Chapter 15: Education|accessdate=2006-12-21|format=PDF|work=Economic Survey of Delhi, 2005–06|publisher=Planning Department, Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi|pages=173–187}}</ref> six universities—[[Delhi University|DU]], [[Jawaharlal Nehru University|JNU]], [[Jamia Millia Islamia|JMI]], [[Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University|GGSIPU]], [[Indira Gandhi National Open University|IGNOU]] and [[Jamia Hamdard]]—and nine [[Deemed University|deemed universities]].<ref name=ecosurv15/> [[Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University|GGSIPU]] is the only [[state university]]; [[Indira Gandhi National Open University|IGNOU]] is for open/distance learning; the rest are all [[Central University|central universities]].
Private schools in Delhi—which employ either English or Hindi as the language of instruction—are affiliated to one of two administering bodies: the [[Indian Certificate of Secondary Education]] (ICSE) and the [[Central Board for Secondary Education]] (CBSE). 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.<ref name=ecosurv15/> 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.<ref name=ecosurv15/>
<!--Please don't add to the list of colleges mentioned in this section. We cannot mention every college in Delhi here. To see the complete list, visit wiki-article Educational Institutions in Delhi-->
After completing the ten-year secondary phase of their education under the [[10+2+3 plan]], students typically spend the next two years either in [[junior college]]s 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 3-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]], [[Indian Institute of Technology Delhi]], [[Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology]], [[Delhi College of Engineering]], [[Faculty of Management Studies]], [[Delhi School of Economics]], and [[Indian Institute of Foreign Trade]].
==Media==
[[Image:Del.jpg|thumb|[[Pitampura TV Tower]]]]
As the capital of India, New Delhi is the focus of political [[reportage]], including regular television broadcasts of Indian parliament sessions. Many country-wide media agencies, among them the state-owned [[Press 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 television|cable]] channels offered by [[Multi system operator]]s. [[Direct broadcast satellite|Satellite television]], in contrast, is yet to gain large-scale subscribership in the city.<ref name=dthrediff>{{cite web|url=http://www.rediff.com///money/2006/sep/05iycu.htm|title=What is CAS? What is DTH?|accessdate=2007-01-08 |author=Rediff Business Desk
|date=[[5 September]] [[2006]] |work=rediff news: Business
|publisher=[[Rediff.com]]}}</ref>
Print journalism remains a popular news medium in Delhi. During the year 2004–05, 1029 newspapers—in thirteen languages—were published from the city. Of these, 492 were [[Hindi]] language newspapers, and included ''[[Navbharat Times]]'', ''[[Dainik Hindustan]]'', ''[[Punjab Kesri]]'', ''[[Dainik Jagran]]'', ''[[Dainik Bhaskar]]'', ''Dainik Desbandhu'' and fastest growing weekly ''The Stageman International''.<ref name=rnidata>{{cite web|url=https://rni.nic.in/pii.htm |title=General Review |accessdate=2006-12-21 |work=|publisher=Registrar of Newspapers for India }}</ref> Among the [[English language]] newspapers, ''The [[Hindustan Times]]'', with over a million copies in circulation, was the single largest daily.<ref name=rnidata/> Other major English newspapers include ''[[Indian Express]]'', ''[[Business Standard]]'', ''[[Times of India]]'', ''[[The Hindu]]'', ''[[The Pioneer (daily)|The Pioneer]]'' and ''[[Asian Age]]''. Radio is a less popular mass medium in Delhi, although FM radio has been gaining ground<ref name=radiomass>{{cite web|url=http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/trust/pdf/india_sex_selection/Chapter4.pdf
|title=Chapter4: Towards a Mass Media Campaign: Analysing the relationship between target audiences and mass media|accessdate=2007-01-08|last=Naqvi|first=Farah|date=[[14 November]] [[2006]]|format=PDF|work=Images and icons: Harnessing the Power of Mass Media to Promote Gender Equality and Reduce Practices of Sex Selection|publisher=BBC World Service Trust|pages=26–36 }}</ref> since the inauguration of several new [[Frequency modulation|FM]] channels in 2006.<ref name=asiawaves>{{cite web
|url=http://www.asiawaves.net/india/delhi-radio.htm|title=Delhi: Radio Stations in Delhi, India|accessdate=2007-01-07 |date=[[15 November]] [[2006]]|work=ASIAWAVES: Radio and TV Broadcasting in South and South-East Asia|publisher=Alan G. Davies }}</ref>
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 ''[[Big FM]] (92.7 FM)''''[[Radio Mirchi]] (98.3 FM)'', ''Fever (104.0 FM), ''Radio One (94.3 FM)'', ''Red FM (93.5 FM)'' and ''[[Radio City (India radio station)|Radio City]] (91.1 FM)''.
==Sports==
[[Image:61449261 456ab69588 o.jpg|thumb|The [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi|Jawharlal Nehru Stadium]] is the [[List of stadiums by capacity|eighth largest stadium in the world]]]]
As in the rest of India, [[cricket]] is a popular sport in Delhi.<ref name=popular>{{cite web
|url=http://www.aipsmedia.com/index.php?page=interview&cod=4
|title=Cricket may be included in the 2010 Games|accessdate=2007-01-07|last=Camenzuli|first=Charles|work=Interview
|publisher=International Sports Press Association }}</ref> There are several cricket grounds (or ''[[maidan]]s'') located across the city, including the [[Feroz Shah Kotla]] stadium, one of the oldest cricket grounds in India to be granted status as venue for international cricket matches. The [[Delhi cricket team]] represents the city in the [[Ranji Trophy]], a domestic [[first-class cricket]] championship.<ref name=ranji>{{cite web
|url=http://content-ind.cricinfo.com/india/content/story/261615.html
|title=A Brief History: The Ranji Trophy|accessdate=2007-01-06|author=Cricinfo staff|work=Cricinfo|publisher=The Wisden Group}}</ref> The city is also home to the [[Indian Premier League|IPL]] team [[Delhi Daredevils]]. Other sports such as [[field hockey]], [[football (soccer)]], [[tennis]], [[golf]], [[badminton]], [[swimming]], [[kart racing]], [[weightlifting]] and [[table tennis]] are also popular in the city.
Sports facilities in Delhi include the [[Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, New Delhi|Jawharlal Nehru Stadium]] and the [[Indira Gandhi Arena|Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium]]. In the past, Delhi has hosted several domestic and international sporting events, such as the [[1951 Asian Games|First]] and the [[1982 Asian Games|Ninth]] [[Asian Games]].<ref name=asianbid>{{cite news |title=India to bid for 2014 Asian Games |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/4389563.stm |work=South Asia |date=[[29 March]] [[2005]] |accessdate=2006-12-21 |publisher=BBC }}</ref> The coming years will see the city host the [[2010 Commonwealth Games|2010]] [[Commonwealth Games]], projected to be the largest multi-sport event ever held in the city. Delhi lost bidding for the [[2014 Asian Games|2014]] [[Asian Games]],<ref name=hindulostbid>{{cite news
|title= New Delhi loses bid |url=http://www.hindu.com/2007/04/18/stories/2007041802062000.htm |work=The Hindu |publisher=The Hindu |date=2007-04-18 |accessdate=2007-04-18 }}</ref> but is bidding for [[2020 Summer Olympics|2020]] [[Olympic Games]].<ref name=asianbid/><ref name=olympicbid> {{cite web |url=http://www.gamesbids.com/cgi-bin/news/viewnews.cgi?category=1&id=1177787226 |title= Delhi To Bid For 2020 Summer Games|accessdate=2007-08-05 |date=2007-04-28 |work= gamesbids.com|publisher= Menscerto Inc. }}</ref> Delhi was chosen by the [[Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile]] to host the first ever [[Indian Grand Prix]] in 2010.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/formula_one/6751929.stm| title=India agree grand prix | publisher=BBC Sport| date=| accessdate=2007-09-07}}</ref>
{{clear}}
==References==
{{reflist|3}}
==External links==
{{sisterlinks}}
{{Contains Indic text}}
;Government
* [http://goidirectory.nic.in/delhi.htm Directory of Indian Government Websites, Delhi]
* [http://delhigovt.nic.in/ Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi]
* [http://www.mcdonline.gov.in/ Municipal Corporation of Delhi]
* [http://www.cbdelhi.org.in/index1.html Delhi Cantonment Board]
;Other
* [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/worldguide/destinations/asia/india/delhi/ Lonely Planet guide]
* {{wikitravel}}
==Further reading==
<div class="references-small">
*[http://delhiplanning.nic.in/Economic%20Survey/ES%202005-06/ES2005-06.htm Economic Survey of Delhi 2005–2006]. Planning Department. Government of National Capital Territory of Delhi. Retrieved on [[12 February]] [[2007]].
*[http://www.india-seminar.com/2002/515.htm First City? A Symposium on Remembering Delhi] ''Seminar (web edition)'' (515) (July 2002). Retrieved on [[12 February]] [[2007]].
* {{Harvard reference
|Surname1 = Horton
|Given1 = P
|Year = 2002
|Edition = 3
|title=Lonely Planet Delhi
|publisher=Lonely Planet Publications
|ISBN=1864502975
}}
* {{Harvard reference
|Surname1 = Rowe
|Given1 = P
|Surname2= Coster
|Given2= P
|Year = 2004
|title=Delhi (Great Cities of the World)
|Publisher= World Almanac Library
|ISBN = 0836851978
}}
</div>
==See also==
* [[National Capital Region (India)|National Capital Region of India]]
*[[New Delhi]]
{{Template group
|list =
{{Delhi}}
{{States and territories of India}}
{{State and Union Territory capitals of India}}
{{Metropolitan cities of India}}
{{Million-plus cities in India}}
{{Commonwealth Games Host Cities}}
{{World's most populated metropolitan areas}}
{{World's most populated urban areas}}
}}
{{featured article}}
[[Category:Delhi|Delhi]]
[[Category:Host cities of the Commonwealth Games]]
[[Category:Indian Union Territory capitals]]
[[Category:Union Territories of India]]
[[Category:Cities and towns in India| ]]
[[Category:Capital districts and territories]]
[[Category:Places of Indian Rebellion of 1857]]
[[Category:Delhi railway division]]
[[Category:Divisions of Indian Railways]]
[[Category:Northern Railway (India) Zone]]
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