India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: Bhārat गणराज्य), is a country in South Asia. Here’s a brief overview:
Key Facts:
- Population: As of 2023, India is the most populous country in the world, with an estimated 143.81 crores (1.4381 billion) people.
- Area: It is the seventh-largest country in the world by land area, covering 3,287,263 square kilometers (1,269,346 sq mi).
- Capital: New Delhi.
- Government: Sovereign Socialist Secular Democratic Republic with a Parliamentary system.
- Independence: Achieved independence from British colonial rule on August 15, 1947.
- Constitution: The Constitution of India came into force on January 26, 1950.
- Official Languages: Hindi and English. India has 22 major languages and 844 different dialects.
- Currency: Indian Rupee (₹) (INR).
- GDP: India has the world’s fifth-largest economy by nominal GDP and the third-largest by purchasing power parity (PPP). It is projected to become the third-largest economy by 2026.
- Religion: India is a secular country with a diverse religious landscape. Hinduism is the largest religion, followed by Islam, Christianity, and Sikhism.
- Culture: India has one of the oldest and most diverse cultures in the world, influenced by its long history, geography, and religions. It’s known for its rich traditions in music, dance, theatre, art, literature, and philosophy.
Geography:
- Located entirely in the Northern Hemisphere.
- Bounded by the Great Himalayas in the north, tapering into the Indian Ocean in the south.
- Surrounded by the Bay of Bengal in the east and the Arabian Sea in the west.
- Shares borders with Pakistan and Afghanistan to the northwest, China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north, Myanmar to the east, and Bangladesh to the east of West Bengal. Sri Lanka is separated by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar.
- The mainland comprises four main regions: the great mountain zone, the plains of the Ganga and the Indus, the desert region, and the southern peninsula.
- The climate is broadly classified as a tropical monsoon climate.