A `metropolis` (from the Greek word m?t?r implying `mother` and pólis standing for `city/town`), also referred to as a `metropolitan`, is a big city, in most instances with more than half a million inhabitants in the city proper and with a populace of at least one million residing in its urban agglomeration. Big cities belonging to a larger urban agglomeration, but which are not the nucleus of that agglomeration, are not generally conceived a metropolis, but a part of it. A metropolitan is usually a vital economical, political and cultural nerve-centre for some country or region, and a crucial hub for regional or international associations and communications. And these are the precise lines in which any modern metropolitan city of India is governed.

India is a classic instance of that Oriental country, bounded with everything ancient and mysterious in its approach. Since prehistoric times, India has served incessantly as a country that was approached for its superb accessibility amongst the king`s courts, the bunch of erudite men with their presence of scholarly treatises and the splendid cultural and ethnic wonders strewn out from just the intelligent mind. Both the women and men were known to have contributed to such genius performances, a prime guiding factor that had led to several western civilisations to take interest in this far off country by the seven seas and traverse several thousand nautical miles only to execute an artistic and intellectual amalgamation and exchange. India was, by this time (referring to the pre-Christian era, precisely times of Chinese or European expeditions to India by sea, during the 10th - 14th centuries B.C.E.) already a matured and well-planned country, with the Indus Valley Civilization spreading its mathematical strategies in its every move of execution. As such, the cites from yesteryears, with their ancientness by now had established their supreme hold over the pan-Indian civilisation, with sophistication speaking out from every angle. It was the construction and building up of these ancient cities of India, that had first arrested attention of the overseas men and presently considered the cardinal guiding factor for the infrastructure of modern metropolitan cities in India.

In modern usage although, the word metropolis is also utilised for a metropolitan area, a set of adjacent and interlinked cities, constellated around a major urban centre. In this sense, "metropolitan" usually implies "spanning the whole metropolis" (as in "metropolitan administration"); or "proper of a metropolis" (as in "metropolitan life" and opposed to "provincial" or "rural"). In the contemporary Republic of India, the Census Commission defines a metropolitan city as one possessing a population of more than 40 lakh (4 million). Mumbai, New Delhi, Chennai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune are the eight cities that qualify under this specified criterion. Inhabitants of these cities are also entitled to a `higher House rent allowance`. The figure however, only applies to the city region and not the urban extension. The metropolitan, or more popularly, the metro cities of India, can very much be identified by the cloud kissing buildings, sky scraping shopping malls, smooth and accessible roads, technically advanced hospitals, bikes, cars, home appliances, gym and health centres, palate pleasing restaurants - the list can indeed be endless. The advantages of living in a metropolitan in India, are no doubt endless. These metropolitans showcase a true merging of modernity and antiquity. The metropolitan cities in current India are also very much economically well developed, with the Central Government shelling out every kind of treasure to make Indian metropolises appear the most opportune to the overseas market. These eight cities already mentioned, are truly moneyed with facilities and comforts of all kinds, which brings umpteen dreamers and ambitious lots to in search of prospects to fulfil those `dreams`. The present-day metropolitan Indian cities do catch one`s fancy in terms of its sheer vastness and modish appearance.

These metropolitan Indian cities being referred, does indeed offer extreme employment opportunities to the employment seekers and enthusiasts. They also incessantly furnish excellent means of enjoyment and fun, with the contemporary Indian state of affairs also attracting the night life revellers enjoying to their heart`s content in a class and section of their own. However, besides the five A-1 cities (New Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Chennai), metropolitan cities in India also possesses a second tier (A-2) of sophisticated cities, comprising - Hyderabad, Ahmedabad and Pune. And, if considered in all, fascinating India does bedazzle with its ancient legacies that mingle seamlessly with hi-tech modernisation. These metropolitan cities of India, have solemnly been painstakingly well developed from the economic side, with features of the most contemporaneous infrastructure of education in the schools, colleges and universities, contemporary facilities to everyday commuters and cultural modernisation for the artistic bent of minds.

They can be delineated as under:
New Delhi, the capital of Indian Republic, is an imperative commercial centre of South Asia. New Delhi has a per capita income of 53,976 INR (Indian Rupee), which is approximately 2.5 times of the national average. New Delhi`s service sector has expanded enormously due to the presence of large skilled English-speaking workforce that has attracted umpteen multinational companies. The key service industries of New Delhi comprise information technology, telecommunications, hotels, banking, media and tourism. New Delhi`s colossal consumer market coupled with the easy availability of skilled labour, has attracted foreign investment in the Indian capital in staggering amounts. New Delhi`s retail industry is also one of the fastest growing industries in India.

Mumbai, the capital of Maharashtra, is the financial hub and financial capital of India. It is also proudly one of the world`s fourth largest urban agglomerations. The Mumbai Stock Exchange is one of the most vital Stock Exchanges amongst the 23 Stock Exchanges of the country. Mumbai is also the abode of all famous personalities of Bollywood, home to one of the supreme cinema industry of the world. A number of Indian financial institutions have headquarters based in Mumbai. Mumbai has been ranked as the world`s biggest centres of commerce in terms of the financial flow volumes in a survey compiled by Mastercard Worldwide.

Kolkata is the capital of West Bengal and also touted artistically as the `City of Joy`, making it India`s third-largest city and urban agglomeration. The city is the major business, commercial and financial hub of eastern India and also of the north-eastern states. India`s second largest bourse - the Calcutta Stock Exchange is based here. Some notable companies and business magnets established in Kolkata are ITC Limited, Bata India, Birla Corporation, Coal India Limited, Damodar Valley Corporation, United Bank of India, UCO Bank, Allahabad Bank and Vijaya Bank.

Banglore, the capital of Karnataka, is the third largest city in India and the fifth largest metropolitan agglomeration, renamed as Silicon Valley of India. Bangalore is the technical and the major Information Technology nucleus of the country. It is the largest and the fastest growing market. The city is reputed as the third largest hub for high net worth individuals after Mumbai and Delhi. Bangalore is also proud to serve as the headquarters of heavy industries as Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, National Aerospace Laboratories, Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited, Bharat Electronics Limited, Bharat Earth Movers Limited and Hindustan Machine Tools. It was in June 1972, that the ISRO (Indian Space Research Organisation) was established in the city. The place is blessed with a large number of Information Technology companies and swank details and as a result successfully justifies its renaming as the Silicon Valley of India.

Chennai is the fourth largest metropolitan area of India and the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. The urban agglomeration of Chennai has an estimated population over 8 million, making it one of the largest urban agglomerations in India. Approximately 40 percent of the automobile industries have their base in Chennai and hence the place is proudly recognised as the Automobile Capital of India. Major software companies like Accenture, Cognizant Technology Solutions (CTS), CSC, EDS, HCL, HP, IBM, Infosys, Satyam, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, TCS (Tata Consultancy Services Ltd.), Verizon, Wipro have development centres in the city. The city is now the second largest exporter of IT and IT Enabled Services in the country after Bangalore.

Ahmedabad is the largest city in the Gujarat State. It is located on the banks of River Sabarmati. The city is reputed as the largest island industrial centre in western India. Ahmedabad was once a major trade destination for Western India, due to its closeness to the port of Surat. Ahmedabad owns a number of textile and pharmaceuticals industry. The city serves as the headquarters of one of the leading multi national trading company (Advani Group). The leading detergent and chemical industrial unit, Nirma has based its corporate headquarters in the city. Today, numerous foreign companies as the Bosch (Germany), Rexroth (Germany), Stork (Netherlands), Rollepaal (Netherlands) and Johnsons (Netherlands) have set up their administrative units at Ahmedabad. The IT industry has developed significantly in Ahmedabad with emerging companies like Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS), Satyam Computers Ltd, Wipro Ltd etc.

Hyderabad, the capital of Andhra Pradesh, is the largest contributor of the states` gross domestic product, state tax and excise revenues. Hyderabad is the major centre of pharmaceuticals with companies as Dr. Reddy`s Laboratories, Matrix Laboratories, Hetero Drugs Limited, Divis Labs, Aurobindo Pharma Limited and Vimta Labs being based in the city. The major contributor is the service industry of the state. Hyderabad city is known today for its IT and IT Enabled Services, Pharmaceuticals and Entertainment industries. The HITEC City (Hyderabad Information Technology Engineering Consultancy City) had prompted several IT and ITES companies to setup operations in the city. Hyderabad has also been nobly chosen as the location for India`s first Fab City.

Pune, the eighth largest urban agglomeration of India, is located in western Indian state of Maharashtra, serving as a major industrial nucleus. It is home to the world`s largest two-wheeler manufacturers, comprising the Bajaj Auto and Tata Motors. The major engineering goods industries situated in Pune incorporate - Bharat Forge Ltd, the world`s second largest forging company, Cummins Engines Co. Ltd. etc. The major food companies like Frito Lay and Coca Cola have their food processing plants in Pune, presently looked at as the `Oxford of the East`, and the most dazzling metropolitan Indian city. Pune has the presence of software industries like Rajiv Gandhi IT Park, Magarpatta Cybercity, MIDC Software Technology Park, Marisoft IT Park etc. Many of the major software companies of India as Infosys, TCS, Tech Mahindra, Wipro, Sasken, Satyam, Eometric Software Solutions Limited, Neilsoft etc. have a major presence in Pune. Global majors like Accenture, BMC Software, HSBC Global Technology, IBM, Siemens also have made a successful foray into the populace of Pune.