Haryana is a state in northern India, formed on 1 November 1966 through the reorganisation of the erstwhile state of Punjab on a linguistic basis. It is bordered by Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to the north, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh to the east, Rajasthan to the south and west, and surrounds the National Capital Territory of Delhi on three sides. The state capital is Chandigarh, which it shares with Punjab as a Union Territory.
Key facts
| Formation | 1 November 1966 |
|---|---|
| Capital | Chandigarh (shared with Punjab) |
| Largest city | Faridabad |
| Official language | Hindi |
| Additional official language | Punjabi |
| Districts | 22 |
| Legislature | Unicameral (Vidhan Sabha) |
| Parliamentary seats | 10 Lok Sabha, 5 Rajya Sabha |
| High Court | Punjab and Haryana High Court |
| Region | Northern India |
Etymology
The name Haryana is generally interpreted as "the abode of God" (from Hari, a name of Vishnu, and ayana, abode), though some scholars derive it from Hariyana, meaning "green forest" or fertile land.
Geography
Haryana covers an area of about 44,212 square kilometres, making it one of the smaller Indian states by area. The terrain is largely a part of the Indo-Gangetic plain, with the Shivalik foothills in the north and the Aravalli range extending into the south. Major rivers include the Yamuna, which forms the eastern boundary with Uttar Pradesh, and the Ghaggar. The state lies in the catchment of historical river systems and is traversed by the Western Yamuna Canal, an important irrigation network.
History
The region of Haryana has been continuously inhabited since prehistoric times. Sites such as Rakhigarhi in Hisar district are among the largest known settlements of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The area is associated with Vedic literature and is traditionally identified as the setting of the Mahabharata war at Kurukshetra. Subsequent centuries saw the region come under the Mauryan, Gupta, and later Delhi Sultanate and Mughal empires. Three major battles of Panipat (1526, 1556 and 1761) were fought on its soil and decisively shaped Indian history.
After British annexation in the 19th century, the territory was administered as part of the Punjab Province. Following Indian independence and the linguistic reorganisation of Punjab, the Hindi-speaking districts were carved out to form Haryana on 1 November 1966, on the recommendations of the Shah Commission. Bhagwat Dayal Sharma became the state's first Chief Minister.
Administration
Haryana is divided into 22 districts grouped into administrative divisions including Ambala, Rohtak, Hisar, Gurgaon, Faridabad and Karnal. The state has a unicameral legislature, the Haryana Legislative Assembly, with 90 constituencies. Executive authority is exercised by the Council of Ministers led by the Chief Minister, with the Governor as the constitutional head. The Punjab and Haryana High Court at Chandigarh has jurisdiction over the state.
Economy
Haryana has one of the highest per capita incomes among Indian states. Agriculture remains important, with the state being a major producer of wheat, rice, sugarcane, cotton and oilseeds; it played a leading role in the Green Revolution of the 1960s and 1970s alongside Punjab. The industrial economy is concentrated in the Gurgaon–Manesar–Faridabad belt adjoining Delhi. Faridabad and Gurgaon (Gurugram) host major automobile, IT, BPO, retail and real estate industries. Manesar is a centre for automobile manufacturing, including operations of Maruti Suzuki. Panipat is known for textiles and a major refinery, while Hisar has steel and metallurgical units.
Demographics and culture
According to the 2011 Census, Haryana had a population of about 25.35 million. Hindi is the official language, with Punjabi as an additional official language; Haryanvi is widely spoken as a regional dialect. Major communities include Jats, Brahmins, Rajputs, Ahirs (Yadavs), Gurjars, Sainis, Sikhs and Scheduled Castes. The state is known for traditions of folk music and dance such as Saang and Phag, and festivals such as Teej, Lohri and Baisakhi. Haryana is also notable for producing a disproportionately high share of India's wrestlers, boxers and other Olympic athletes.
Transport
Haryana is well connected by national highways including NH 44 (Delhi–Chandigarh–Amritsar), NH 48 (Delhi–Jaipur–Mumbai) and the Kundli–Manesar–Palwal (KMP) Expressway. The Northern Railway and North Western Railway zones serve the state. The Delhi Metro extends into Gurugram, Faridabad and Bahadurgarh. Faridabad is served by metro stations on the Violet Line, including Bata Chowk metro station. Hisar Airport is being developed as a major regional aviation hub.
Education and sports
Major educational institutions in the state include the Indian Institute of Technology Delhi's extension at Jhajjar, the National Institute of Technology Kurukshetra, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences at Jhajjar, Maharshi Dayanand University Rohtak, Kurukshetra University, and the National Brain Research Centre at Manesar. Haryana has produced numerous Olympic and Commonwealth medallists in wrestling, boxing, hockey and athletics, and operates dedicated sports schools and stadia under the state Sports Department.