Punjab, northwestern India, bordered on the north by Jammu and Kashmir State and Himachal Pradesh State, on the east by Uttar Pradesh State, on the south by Haryana State, on the south and southwest by Rajasthan State, and on the west by Pakistan. Punjab State lies between the great systems of the Indus and Ganges rivers. Most of the state is an alluvial plain, irrigated by canals; the arid southern border of the state edges on the Great Indian (or Thar) Desert. The Siwalik Hills rise sharply in the north of the state. Farming is the leading occupation; the major crops are wheat, maize, rice, pulses, 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, sports goods, starch, fertilizers, bicycles, scientific instruments, electrical goods, and machine tools and the processing of sugar and pine oil.   The state of Punjab was formed on November 1, 1956, by merging East Punjab States Union with Punjab and Patiala provinces of India. 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 India to expand the boundaries of the Punjab State and make Chandigarh, formerly capital of both Punjab and Haryana states, the capital of Punjab only, due in 1986, has been delayed. Area, 50,362 sq km (19,445 sq mi); population (1991) 20,281,969.