<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-99.L2
<SEQUENCE>4
<FILENAME>g14093exhibit_l2.txt
<DESCRIPTION>OPINION AND CONSENT OF PIPER RUDNICK
<TEXT>
                                                                  EXHIBIT (l)(2)

                        [Letterhead of Piper Rudnick LLP]


                                December 3, 2004



THE INDIA FUND, INC.
200 Park Avenue, 24th Floor
New York, New York  10166

         Re:  Registration Statement On Form N-2
              ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We serve as special Maryland counsel to The India Fund, Inc., a
Maryland corporation (the "Fund"), in connection with the issuance by the Fund
to the holders (each, a "Holder" and, collectively, the "Holders") of common
stock, $.001 par value per share, of the Fund ("Common Stock"), at the close of
business on the record date (the "Record Date") set forth in the Prospectus (as
defined below), of 22,640,973 non-transferable rights (the "Initial Rights"),
entitling the Holders to acquire 7,546,991 shares (the "Initial Shares") of
Common Stock upon exercise of the Initial Rights. The Fund further reserves the
option to increase the number of shares offered by up to 1,886,747 shares of
Common Stock (the "Additional Shares" and, together with the Initial Shares, the
"Shares"). Collectively, the transaction is referred to herein as the "Offer".
The Shares are being registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), and the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, pursuant to a
Registration Statement on Form N-2 of the Fund (File Nos. 333-116736 and
811-8266, respectively) (as amended, the "Registration Statement"), initially
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on June 22,
2004, including the prospectus included therein at the time the Registration
Statement is declared effective (the "Prospectus"). Each Holder is being offered
one Initial Right for each whole share of Common Stock owned by the Holder on
the Record Date. Each Initial Right will entitle the Holder thereof to acquire
one share of Common Stock for each three Initial Rights held, rounded down to
the nearest number of Initial Rights evenly divisible by three, subject to the
terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus. This opinion is being provided
at your request in connection with the filing of an amendment to the
Registration Statement.

         In rendering the opinion expressed herein, we have reviewed originals
or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the
following documents:

                  (a) The charter of the Fund (the "Charter"), as in effect as
         of the date hereof, certified as of July 30, 2004 by the State
         Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the "SDAT"), and
         certified as of the date hereof in the Certificate (as defined below).
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                                                            THE INDIA FUND, INC.
                                                                          Page 2


                  (b) The By-Laws of the Fund, as in effect on the date hereof
(the "By-Laws"), certified as of the date hereof in the Certificate.

                  (c) The Registration Statement and a preliminary draft of the
Prospectus, each in the form attached to the Certificate.

                  (d) The resolutions of the Board of Directors of the Fund (the
         "Resolutions"), relating to the organization of the Fund, the
         authorization of the Offer and the transactions contemplated thereby,
         the authorization of the filing of the Registration Statement and the
         authorization and issuance of the Initial Rights and the Shares.

                  (e) A short-form Good Standing Certificate for the Fund, dated
as of the date hereof, issued by the SDAT.

                  (f) An Officer's Certificate of the Fund, dated the date
hereof (the "Certificate"), as to certain factual matters.

         In our examination of the aforesaid documents, we have assumed, without
independent investigation, the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity
of all individuals who have executed any of the aforesaid documents, the
authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with
originals of all documents submitted to us as copies (and the authenticity of
the originals of such copies), the absence of other agreements or understandings
among the parties, written or oral, or actions or conduct of the parties or
otherwise that would modify, amend, supplement or waive the terms of any of the
aforesaid documents, or the respective rights or obligations of the parties
thereunder, and the accuracy and completeness of all public records reviewed by
us. In making our examination of documents executed by parties other than the
Fund, we have assumed that such parties had the power, corporate or other, to
enter into and perform all obligations thereunder, and we have also assumed the
due authorization by all requisite action, corporate or other, and the valid
execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity,
binding effect and enforceability thereof with respect to such parties. As to
any facts material to this opinion, we have relied solely upon the Certificate,
without independent verification.

         Based upon the foregoing, having regard for such legal considerations
as we deem relevant, and limited in all respects to applicable Maryland law, we
are of the opinion and advise you that:

                  (1) The Fund is a corporation duly incorporated and existing
         under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good
         standing with the SDAT.

                  (2) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
         delivered pursuant to the terms of the Registration Statement and the
         Resolutions and upon receipt by the Fund of the consideration for the
         Shares as described in the
<PAGE>


                                                            THE INDIA FUND, INC.
                                                                          Page 3


         Registration Statement and the Resolutions, will be validly issued,
         fully paid and non-assessable.

         The opinion set forth herein is subject to additional assumptions,
qualifications and limitations as follows:

                  (a) We have made no investigation of, and we express no
         opinion as to, the laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the
         State of Maryland.

                  (b) This opinion concerns only the effect of the laws
         (exclusive of the principles of conflict of laws) of the State of
         Maryland as currently in effect. We assume no obligation to supplement
         this opinion if any applicable laws change after the date hereof or if
         any facts or circumstances come to our attention after the date hereof
         that might change this opinion.

                  (c) We express no opinion as to compliance with the securities
         (or "blue sky") laws of the State of Maryland.

                  (d) We assume that the issuance and sale of the Shares will
         not cause the Fund to exceed the total number of authorized shares of
         capital stock of the Fund, as provided in the Charter.

                  (e) This opinion is limited to the matters set forth herein,
         and no other opinion should be inferred beyond the matters expressly
         stated.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as
Exhibit (l)(2) to the Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm
under the heading "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus. In giving our consent, we
do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is
required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.

                                                     Very truly yours,

                                                     /s/ Piper Rudnick LLP

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
