Mumbai

Mumbai (मुंबई) Bombay
—  Metropolitan city  —
Clockwise from top: Skyline at Cuffe Parade, the Rajabai Clock Tower, the Taj Mahal Hotel, Nariman Point andGateway of India
Mumbai (मुंबई) Location of Mumbai (मुंबई) in Maharashtra and India
Coordinates	18°58′30″N72°49′33″E
Former name	Bombay
Country	India
State	Maharashtra
District(s)	Mumbai City Mumbai Suburban
Municipal commissioner	Subodh Kumar
Mayor	Shraddha Jadhav
Population • Density • Metro	12,478,447 (1st) (2011) • 20,694 /km2 (53,597 /sq mi) • 21,900,967 (1st) (2010)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
Area • Elevation	603 km2 (233 sq mi) • 14 metres (46 ft)
Website	www.mcgm.gov.in

Mumbai ( Marathi: मुंबई, Mumbaī, IPA: [mumbə.i]), formerly known as Bombay , is the capital of the Indian state ofMaharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fifth most populous city in the world, with a population of approximately 12.5 million. Along with theneighbouring urban areas, including the cities of Navi Mumbai and Thane, it is one of the most populous urban regions in the world. Mumbai lies on the west coast of India and has a deep natural harbour. As of 2009, Mumbai was named an Alpha world city. Mumbai is also the richest city in India, and has the highest GDP of any city in South, West or Central Asia.

The seven islands that came to constitute Mumbai were home to communities of fishing colonies. For centuries, the islands came under the control of successiveindigenous empires before being ceded to the Portuguese and subsequently to the British East India Company. During the mid-18th century, Mumbai was reshaped by the British with large-scale civil engineering projects, and emerged as a significant trading town. Economic and educational development characterised the city during the 19th century. It became a strong base for the Indian independence movement during the early 20th century. When India became independent in 1947, the city was incorporated into Bombay State. In 1960, following the Samyukta Maharashtra movement, a new state of Maharashtra was created with Bombay as capital. It was renamed Mumbai in 1995.

Mumbai is the commercial and entertainment capital of India, generating 5% of India's GDP, and accounting for 25% of industrial output, 70% of maritime trade in India (Mumbai Port Trust & JNPT), and 70% of capital transactions to India's economy. Mumbai is home to important financial institutions such as the Reserve Bank of India, the Bombay Stock Exchange, the National Stock Exchange of India and the corporate headquarters of numerous Indian companies and multinational corporations. It houses some of India's premier scientific and nuclear institutes like BARC, NPCL, IREL, TIFR, AERB, AECI, and the Department of Atomic Energy. The city also houses India's Hindi (Bollywood) and Marathi film and television industry. Mumbai's business opportunities, as well as its potential to offer a higher standard of living, attract migrants from all over India and, in turn, make the city a potpourri of many communities and cultures.