Punjab state in northwestern India, is bordered on the north by Jammu and Kashmìr state and Himachal Pradesh state, on the east and south by Haryana state, on the south and southwest by Rajasthan state, and on the west by Pakistan. Punjab covers an area of 50,362 sq km (19,445 sq mi).

Punjab state lies between the great systems of the Indus and Ganges rivers. Most of the state is an alluvial plain, irrigated by canals; Punjab's arid southern border edges on the Thar, or Great Indian, Desert. The Siwalik Range rises sharply in the north of the state.

The climate of the plains is excessively hot and dry between April and August, with temperatures as high as 49° C (120° F). The rains of the monsoon season begin at the end of June. Winters are cool with some frosts. Annual rainfall ranges from about 915 mm (about 36 in) in the north to 102 mm (4 in) in the south. The average temperature in January is 13° C (55° F), although at night the temperature sometimes lowers to freezing. In June the average temperature is 34° C (93° F), occasionally climbing as high as 45° C (113° F). Annual average rainfall ranges from 1250 mm (49 in) in the north to 350 mm (14 in) in the southwest. More than 70 percent of the annual rainfall occurs during the monsoon season from July to September.

At the 1991 census Punjab had a population of 20,281,969, with an average density of 403 persons per sq km (1043 per sq mi). Chandìgarh is the state capital. The population of Punjab consists mainly of Punjabis, Jats, and Rajputs. The official language is Punjabi, which is spoken by about two-thirds of the population; the rest speaks Hindi. The majority of the population is Sikh, the largest minority is Hindu, and a very small percentage is Muslim, Buddhist, Christian, or Jain. In 1991, 59 percent of Punjab's population was literate. Universities located in the state include Guru Nanak Dev University (founded in 1969) in Amritsar, Punjab Agricultural University (1962) in Ludhiana, and Punjabi University (1962) in Patiala.

More than 80 percent of Punjab is cultivated, and farming is the leading occupation. The major crops are wheat, maize (corn), rice, pulses (legumes), sugarcane, and cotton. Among the livestock raised are buffalo and other cattle, sheep, goats, and poultry. The principal industries include the manufacture of textiles, sewing machines, sporting goods, starch, fertilizers, bicycles, scientific instruments, electrical goods, and machine tools, and the processing of sugar and pine oil. Punjab has a single-chamber legislative assembly with 117 seats. The state sends 19 members to the Indian national parliament: 7 to the Rajya Sabha (Upper House) and 12 to the Lok Sabha (Lower House). Local government is based on 12 administrative districts.

The state of Punjab was formed on November 1, 1956, by merging East Punjab States Union with Punjab and Patiala provinces of India (for earlier history of the area, see Punjab, historic region). Subsequently, the Sikhs in the new state demanded a Punjabi-speaking state. In 1966 most of Punjab was divided into Punjabi-speaking Punjab state and Hindi-speaking Haryana state. An accord with the centre to expand the boundaries of Punjab state and to make Chandìgarh, formerly capital of both Punjab and Haryana states, the capital of Punjab only, due to be implemented in 1986, has been delayed.

In the Indian portion of the Punjab region the majority of the population is Sikh; the largest minority is Hindu with a very small percentage of Muslims, Buddhists, Christians, and Jains. In the Pakistani portion, about 97 percent of the population is Muslim.

Most of the inhabitants are engaged in agriculture; the Punjab is the most important wheat-growing region of the subcontinent. The soil is very fertile, but much of it requires extensive irrigation. Punjabi industry is known for the products of native artisans, such as handloom carpets, shawls, and rugs; work in gold, silver, brass, and copper; and glazed tiles and pottery.

Industry-wise, Punjab is one of the leading states of the country. Its average growth rate of 10% is amongst the highest in the country, clearly reflecting the progressive economy of the state .Punjab also boasts a 58% literacy rate and the highest per capita income in India. Today's Punjab has become a land of boundless opportunities, offering distinct advantages for investment and industry.

Since the recent liberalization of India's economy, Punjab has started making its mark on the global business mainstream, with major players from around the world forming joint ventures in the field of agri-business.

Privileged by nature and the dynamism of its people, Punjab is a land of rivers, fertile soils and steady achievement. With its inimitable style of transforming every potential opportunity into a success story, the state was the first to translate agricultural technology into the "green revolution", recording highest growth rate in food production. From a minor producer it emerged a major rice surplus state. Providing the impetus for the "White revolution", during Operation Flood, it was Punjab that recorded the highest per capita availability of milk.

Today's Punjab has over 1.97 lakhs of small and medium industries and about 653 large scale industries. It leads in the manufacture of machine and hand tools; printing and paper cutting machinery; auto parts and electrical switch gear. The state also provides more than 75% of the country's requirement for bicycles, sewing machines, hosiery and sports goods. At par with the highest quality standards in the world, these products have carved a niche for themselves in markets across the globe.