भारत गणराज्य Bhārata Gaṇarājya Other languages Republic of India
Flag Emblem
Motto: Satyameva Jayate  (Sanskrit) सत्यमेव जयते  (Devanāgarī) "Truth Alone Triumphs"
Anthem: "Jana Gaṇa Mana" listen (help· info)
Capital	New Delhi 28°34′N 77°12′E
Largest city	Mumbai (Bombay)
Official languages	Hindi, English and 21 other official languages
Government	Federal republic
- President	A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
- Prime Minister	Manmohan Singh
Independence	from the UK
- Declared	15 August 1947
- Republic	26 January 1950
Area
- Total	3,166,414† km² (7th) 1,222,559 sq mi
- Water (%)	9.56
Population
- 2006 estimate	1,095,351,995 (2nd)
- 2001 census	1,027,015,248
- Density	329 /km² (31st) 852 /sq mi
GDP (PPP)	2006 estimate
- Total	$4.042 trillion (4th)
- Per capita	$3,700 (117th)
GDP (nominal)	2006 estimate
- Total	$796.1 billion (12th)
- Per capita	$705 (135th)
HDI (2006)	0.611 (medium) (126th)
Currency	Rupee (₨) (INR)
Time zone	IST (UTC+5:30)
- Summer (DST)	not observed (UTC+5:30)
Internet TLD	.in
Calling code	+91
† Includes only Indian-administered territory.

The Republic of India (Hindi: भारत गणराज्य Bhārat Gaṇarājya), commonly known as India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second most populous country, and the most populous liberal democracy in the world. India has a coastline of over seven thousand kilometres, bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east. India borders Pakistan to the west;^[1] the People's Republic of China, Nepal and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia. India (from Greek Ἰνδία, region of the Indus river) may refer to: In politics: Contemporary India (post-1947), officially known as the Republic of India In geography: the region east of the Indus river and south of the Himalaya (OED), see Hindustan the entire Indian subcontinent, including Peninsular India (see also... The official names of the Republic of India in the 23 official languages of India are as follows. ... Image File history File links Flag_of_India. ... Image File history File links Emblem_of_India. ... Indian National Flag Flag ratio: 2:3 The National Flag of India was adopted in its present form during an ad hoc meeting of the Constituent Assembly held on the 22 July 1947, a few days before Indias independence from the British on the 15 August, 1947. ... The Emblem of India The Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. ... Many countries choose to include the national motto in the coat of arms. ... Satyameva Jayate (सत्यमेव जयते) is Indias national motto which is Sanskrit for truth alone triumphs. It is inscribed at the base of the national emblem, which is an adaptation of the Buddhist Lion Capital of Asoka at Sarnath, near Banaras in the north Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. ... The Sanskrit language (Skt. ... DevanāgarÄ« (IPA: ; Sanskrit: , , IPA:  [?]) is an abugida writing system used to write, either along with other scripts, or exclusively, several North Indian languages, including Sanskrit, Hindi, Marathi, Sindhi, Bihari, Bhili, Marwari, Konkani, Bhojpuri, Nepali, Nepal Bhasa from Nepal and sometimes Kashmiri and Romani. ... A national anthem is a generally patriotic musical composition that is evoking and eulogizing the history, traditions and struggles of its people, recognized either by a nations government as the official national song, or by convention through use by the people. ... Jana Gana Mana (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People) is the national anthem of India. ... Image File history File links Janaganamana. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1357x628, 47 KB) Summary copied from wikipedia by user:bawolff. ... This is a list of national capitals of the world in alphabetical order. ... This article is about the urban region that is the capital of India. ... “Bombay” redirects here. ... An official language is a language that is given a privileged legal status in a state, or other legally-defined territory. ... Hindi (Devanagari: हिन्दी or हिंदी; IPA: ), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in northern and central India, is one of the official languages of the Union government of India [1][2]. It is part of a dialect continuum of the Indic family, bounded on the northwest and west by Punjabi, Sindhi, Urdu... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... India has a diverse list of spoken languages among different groups of people. ... The Federal Republic of Germany and its sixteen Bundesländer (federal states) A federal republic is a federation of states with a republican form of government. ... The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India and the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces. ... This biographical article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... Dr. Manmohan Singh (Punjabi: , Hindi: ) is the 17th and current Prime Minister of India. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      For other uses, see Republic (disambiguation). ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... To help compare orders of magnitude of different surface areas  here is a list of areas between 1 million km² and 10 million km². See also areas of other orders of magnitude. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... A square mile is an English unit of area equal to that of a square with sides each 1 statute mile (≈1,609 m) in length. ... This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population, using the most recently available official figures. ... Population density by country, 2006 Population density is a measurement of population per unit area or unit volume. ... Population density by country, 2006 List of countries and dependencies by population density in inhabitants/km². The list includes sovereign states and self-governing dependent territories that are recognized by the United Nations. ... Purchasing power parity (PPP) is in economics the method of using the long-run equilibrium exchange rate of two currencies to equalize the currencies purchasing power. ... Map of world GDP (PPP) by country using the IMF list for 2005 There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita, based on the 2005 IMF data. ... Countries by nominal GDP. Source: IMF (2005) This article includes a list of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP), the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. ... Per capita is a Latin phrase meaning for each head. ... Map of countries by GDP (nominal) per capita. ... World map indicating Human Development Index (2004). ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... This is a list of countries by Human Development Index as included in the United Nations Development Programmes Human Development Report 2006, compiled on the basis of 2004 data. ... ISO 4217 Code INR User(s) India Inflation 5. ... ISO 4217 is the international standard describing three letter codes (also known as the currency code) to define the names of currencies established by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). ... A time zone is a region of the Earth that has adopted the same standard time, usually referred to as the local time. ... Indian Standard Time (IST) is the time zone for India. ... Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is a high-precision atomic time standard. ...  DST used  DST no longer used  DST never used Daylight saving time (DST), or summer time in British English, is the convention of advancing clocks so that evenings have more daylight and mornings have less. ... Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) is a high-precision atomic time standard. ... The following is a list of currently existing Internet Top-level domains (TLDs). ... .in is the Internet country code top-level domain (ccTLD) for India. ... This is a list of country calling codes defined by ITU-T recommendation E.164. ... Hindi (Devanagari: हिन्दी or हिंदी; IPA: ), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in northern and central India, is one of the official languages of the Union government of India [1][2]. It is part of a dialect continuum of the Indic family, bounded on the northwest and west by Punjabi, Sindhi, Urdu... India, as a country and nation, has three principal names, in both official and popular usage, each of which is historically and culturally significant. ... This article is about the geopolitical region in Asia. ... This is a list of the countries of the world sorted by area. ... This is a list of sovereign states and other territories by population, using the most recently available official figures. ... Liberal democracy is a form of government. ... Map of the Arabian Sea. ... A map showing the location of the Bay of Bengal. ...

Home to the Indus Valley Civilization and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. Four major world religions, Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism and Sikhism originated here, while Islam, Christianity, Judaism and Zoroastrianism arrived in the first millennium CE and shaped India's variegated culture. Gradually annexed by the British East India Company from the early eighteenth century and colonised by Great Britain from the mid-nineteenth century, India became a modern nation-state in 1947 after a struggle for independence marked by widespread use of nonviolent resistance as a means of social protest. Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro. ... A trade route is the sequence of pathways and stopping places used for the commercial transport of cargo. ... The archaeological record in India (that is Greater India or the Indian subcontinent, encompassing the territory of the modern nations of the Republic of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal) shows first traces of Homo sapiens from ca. ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... Economic history of India, in the sense of the meaning of the term economic in its current sense, is at least 5000 years old. ... Taj Mahal, a popular icon of India The culture of India was moulded throughout various eras of history, all the while absorbing customs, traditions and ideas from both invaders and immigrants. ... Hinduism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, which is also a philosophy and a system of psychology. ... Jainism (pronounced in English as IPA ), traditionally known as Jain Dharma (जैन धर्म), is a religion and philosophy originating in Ancient India with the teachings of Mahavira (ca. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus. ... Islam is the second-largest religion in India (after Hinduism80. ... The Nasrani Menorah, the symbol of the Knanaya Christian community in South India. ... // Indian Jews are a religious minority, living among Indias predominantly Hindu populace. ... A Parsi (Gujarati: Pārsī, IPA: ), sometimes spelled Parsee, is a member of the close-knit Zoroastrian community based in the Indian subcontinent. ... Era Vulgaris redirects here. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was one of the first joint-stock companies. ... The term nation-state, while often used interchangeably with the terms unitary state and independent state, refers properly to the parallel occurence of a state and a nation. ... The Indian independence movement incorporated the efforts by Indians to liberate the region from British rule and form the nation-state of India. ... Nonviolent resistance (or nonviolent action) is the practice of applying power to achieve socio-political goals through symbolic protests, economic or political noncooperation, civil disobedience and other methods, without using violence. ...

With the world's fourth largest economy in purchasing power and the second fastest growing large economy, India has made rapid progress in the last decade, especially in information technology. Although India's standard of living is projected to rise sharply in the next half-century, it currently battles high levels of poverty, illiteracy, persistent malnutrition, and environmental degradation. A pluralistic, multi-lingual, multi-ethnic country, India is also home to a diversity of wildlife in a variety of protected habitats. The list below is of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP), the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. ... This article contains a list of countries by percentage of the population living below poverty line and a list of countries by population living under $2 a day and $1 a day. ... In New Delhi, a woman wields a pickaxe on a footpath maintenance project while her husband rests and her baby sleeps Although recent positive economic developments have helped the Indian middle-class a great deal, India still suffers from substantial poverty. ... World illiteracy rates by country Literacy is the ability to read and write. ... Malnutrition is a general term for the medical condition caused by an improper or insufficient diet. ... Environmental issues in India include various natural hazards, particularly cyclones and annual monsoon floods, and various combinations of poverty, population growth, increasing individual consumption, industrialization, infrastructural development, poor agricultural practices, and resource maldistribution have led to substantial human transformation of India’s natural environment. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... India has a diverse list of spoken languages among different groups of people. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Glimpses of biodiversity India is one of the high biodiversity regions of the world with three biodiversity hotspots - the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas and the Indo-Burma regions. ... India has the following kinds of Protected areas, in the sense of the word designated by IUCN. As of May 2004, India has 156,700 km² of surface area designated as protected areas, roughly 4. ...

Etymology

Main article: Etymology of the names of India

The name India /'ɪndiə/ is derived from Indus, which is derived from the Old Persian word Hindu, from Sanskrit Sindhu, the historic local appellation for the Indus River.^[2]. The ancient Greeks referred to the ancient Indians as Indoi, the people of the Indus. ^[3] The term India may refer to either the region of Greater India (the Indian subcontinent), or to the contemporary Republic of India contained therein. ... The position of the Sindhu River in Iron Age (Vedic) India. ... See Aryan Language or Old Persian For more information visit: *[Ancient Iranian Languages & Literature The Circle of Ancient Iranian Studies (CAIS) ... This article discusses the adherents of Hinduism. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is an old Indo-Aryan language from the Indian Subcontinent, the classical literary language of the Hindus of India[1], a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... The Indus (सिन्‍धु नदी) (known as Sindhu in ancient times) is the principal river of Pakistan. ... The position of the Sindhu River in Iron Age (Vedic) India. ...

The Constitution of India and common usage in Hindi also recognise Bharat (/bʰɑːrət̪/ (help· info)) as an official name of equal status. A third name, هندوستان, Hindustan (/hin̪d̪ust̪ɑːn/ ( info)) (Persian: Land of the Hindus), has been in use since the twelfth century, though its contemporary use is unevenly applied. The Constitution of India was passed by the Constituent Assembly of India on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950. ... Image File history File links Bharat. ... Hindustan (Hindi: हिन्दुस्तान [Hindustān], Urdu: [Hindostān], from the (Sanskrit) HindÅ« + -stān, archaic Hindoostan) and the adjective Hindustani may relate to various aspects of four geographic areas: Hindustan: Land of the Hindus. ... Image File history File links Hindustan. ... Persian (Local names: فارسی Fârsi or پارسی Pârsi)* is an Indo-European language spoken in Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan as well as by minorities in Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, India, Pakistan, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Georgia, Southern Russia, neighboring countries, and elsewhere. ... The suffix -stan (spelled ـستان in the Perso-Arabic script) is Persian for place of, and -sthan (स्तान in the DevanāgarÄ« script) is a related Sanskrit suffix with the same meaning. ...

History

Main article: History of India

Stone Age rock shelters with paintings at the Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka in Madhya Pradesh are the earliest known traces of human life in India. The first known permanent settlements appeared over 9,000 years ago and gradually developed into the Indus Valley Civilization, dating back to 3300 BCE in western India. It was followed by the Vedic Civilisation, which laid the foundations of Hinduism and other cultural aspects of early Indian society. From around 550 BCE, many independent kingdoms and republics known as the Mahajanapadas were established across the country. The archaeological record in India (that is Greater India or the Indian subcontinent, encompassing the territory of the modern nations of the Republic of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal) shows first traces of Homo sapiens from ca. ... Stone Age fishing hook. ... Bhimbetka rock painting Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka is an archaeological site in Madhya Pradesh where the earliest traces of human life in India were found. ... Madhya PradeÅ›   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Hinduism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ...

The empire built by the Maurya dynasty under Emperor Ashoka united most of modern South Asia in third century BCE. From 180 BCE, a series of invasions from Central Asia followed, including those led by the Indo-Greeks, Indo-Scythians, Indo-Parthians and Kushans in the northwestern Indian Subcontinent. From the third century CE, the Gupta dynasty oversaw the period referred to as ancient India's "Golden Age." While the north had larger, fewer kingdoms, south India had several dynasties such as the Chalukyas, Cholas, Pallavas and Pandyas, which overlapped in time and territory. Science, engineering, art, literature, astronomy, and philosophy flourished under the patronage of these kings. The Mauryan dynasty ruled the Mauryan empire, the first unified empire of India, from 322 BCE to 183 BCE. The rulers of the Mauryan dynasty were: Chandragupta Maurya (322 - 298 BCE) - founder of the Mauryan empire. ... Allegiance: Maurya Empire (Magadha Empire) Rank: Emperor Succeeded by: Dasaratha Maurya Reign: 273 BC-232 BC Place of birth: Pataliputra, Magadha, India Battles/Wars Kalinga War Emperor Ashoka the Great (DevanāgarÄ«: अशोक(:); IAST transliteration: , pronunciation: ) (Imperial title: Devanampiya Piyadassi, Prakrit for He who is the beloved of the Gods and... This article is about the geopolitical region in Asia. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... Maximum extent of Indo-Greek territory circa 175 BCE. The Indo-Greeks (or sometimes Greco-Indians) designate a series of Greek kings, who invaded and controlled parts of northwest and northern India from 180 BCE to around 10 BCE. They are the continuation of the Greco-Bactrian dynasty of Greek... The Indo-Scythian King of Kings Azes II (c. ... Coin of Gondophares (20-50 AD), first king of the Indo-Parthians kingdom. ... Boundary of the Kushan empire, c. ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... The Gupta Empire under Chandragupta II (ruled 375-415) The Gupta Empire was one of the largest political and military empires in ancient India. ... Dark green region marks the approximate extent of northern India while the regions marked as light green lies within the sphere of north Indian influence. ... South India is a linguistic-cultural region of India that comprises the four Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, whose inhabitants are collectively referred to as South Indians. ... The Chalukya Dynasty was an Indian royal dynasty that ruled parts of southern India between 550 and 750, and again between 973 and 1190. ... The Cholas were a South Indian Tamil dynasty, antedating the early Sangam literature (c. ... The Pallavas were hereditary Hindu rulers who dominated southeastern India between the 4th and 9th centuries. ... The Pandyan kingdom was an ancient state at the tip of South India, founded around the 6th century BCE. It was part of the Dravidian cultural area, which also comprised other kingdoms such as that of the Pallava, the Chera, the Chola, the Chalukya and the Vijayanagara. ... Science and technology in ancient India covered all the major branches of human knowledge and activities, including mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, medical science and surgery, fine arts, mechanical and production technology, civil engineering and architecture, shipbuilding and navigation, sports and games. ... A miniature, Kishengarh, Jaipur, Rajasthan The vast scope of the art of India intertwines with the cultural history, religions and philosophies which place art production and patronage in social and cultural contexts. ... Indian literature is generally acknowledged, but not wholly established, as the oldest in the world. ... Science and technology in ancient India covered all the major branches of human knowledge and activities, including mathematics, astronomy, physics, chemistry, medical science and surgery, fine arts, mechanical and production technology, civil engineering and architecture, shipbuilding and navigation, sports and games. ... The term Indian philosophy may refer to any of several traditions of philosophical thought, including: Hindu philosophy Buddhist philosophy Jain philosophy Sikh philosophy Carvaka atheist philosophy Lokayata materialist philosophy Tantric religious philosophy Bhakti religious philosophy Sufi religious philosophy Ahmadi religious philosophy Political and military philosophy such as that of Chanakya...

Paintings at the Ajanta Caves in western India.

Following invasions from Central Asia between the tenth and twelfth centuries, much of north India came under the rule of the Delhi Sultanate, and later the Mughal dynasty. Mughal emperors gradually expanded their kingdoms to cover large parts of the subcontinent. Nevertheless, several indigenous kingdoms, such as the Vijayanagara Empire, flourished, especially in the south. In the seventeenth and eighteenth century, the Mughal supremacy declined and the Maratha Empire became the dominant power. From the sixteenth century, several European countries, including Portugal, Netherlands, France and the United Kingdom started arriving as traders and later took advantage of the fractious nature of relations between the kingdoms to establish colonies in the country. By 1856, most of India was under the control of the British East India Company. A year later, a nationwide insurrection of rebelling military units and kingdoms, variously referred to as the First War of Indian Independence or Sepoy Mutiny, seriously challenged British rule but eventually failed. As a consequence, India came under the direct control of the British Crown as a colony of the British Empire. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1651, 1636 KB) Description: Title: de: Liebespaar Technique: de: Wandmalerei Dimensions: Country of origin: de: Indien Current location (city): de: Ajantâ (Nord-Dekhan, Indien) Current location (gallery): de: Höhlentempel Other notes: Source: The Yorck Project: DVD-ROM, 2002. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1651, 1636 KB) Description: Title: de: Liebespaar Technique: de: Wandmalerei Dimensions: Country of origin: de: Indien Current location (city): de: Ajantâ (Nord-Dekhan, Indien) Current location (gallery): de: Höhlentempel Other notes: Source: The Yorck Project: DVD-ROM, 2002. ... Ajanta (also Ajanta Caves) in Maharashtra, India are rock-cut cave monuments dating back to the second century BCE and containing paintings and sculpture considered to be masterpieces of both Buddhist religious art[1] and universal pictorial art. ... The Delhi Sultanate (دلی سلطنت), or Sulthanath-e-Hind (سلطنتِ ہند) / Sulthanath-e-Dilli (سلطنتِ دلی) refers to the various Muslim dynasties that ruled in India from 1210 to 1526. ... The following list of Indian monarchs is one of several Wikipedia lists of incumbents. ... The Vijayanagara empire was based in the Deccan, in peninsular and southern India, from 1336 onwards. ... Extent of the Maratha Confederacy ca. ... This article is 150 kilobytes or more in size. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... The British East India Company, sometimes referred to as John Company, was one of the first joint-stock companies. ... An engraving titled Sepoy Indian troops dividing the spoils after their mutiny against British rule gives a contemporary view of events from a British perspective. ... The British monarch or Sovereign is the monarch and head of state of the United Kingdom and its overseas territories, and is the source of all executive, judicial and (as the Queen_in_Parliament) legislative power. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Mahatma Gandhi (right) with India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru.

During the first half of the twentieth century, a nationwide struggle for independence was launched by the Indian National Congress and other political and revolutionary organisations. Millions of protesters engaged in mass campaigns of civil disobedience with a commitment to ahimsa or non-violence, led by Mahatma Gandhi. Finally, on 15 August 1947, India gained independence from British rule, but not before losing its Muslim-majority areas, which were carved out into the separate nation-state of Pakistan. Three years later, on 26 January 1950, India became a republic, and a new constitution came into effect. Image File history File linksMetadata Nehru_Gandhi_1937_touchup. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Nehru_Gandhi_1937_touchup. ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Gujarati: , Hindi: , IAST: mohandās karamcand gāndhī, IPA: ) (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948), was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. ... Jawaharlal Nehru (Hindi: , IPA: ) (November 14, 1889 – May 27, 1964) was a senior political leader of the Indian National Congress, was a pivotal figure during the Indian independence movement and served as the first Prime Minister of the Republic of India. ... The Indian independence movement incorporated the efforts by Indians to liberate the region from British rule and form the nation-state of India. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Revolutionary movement for Indian independence is often a less-highlighted aspect of Indian independence movement - the underground revolutionary factions. ... An anti-war activist is arrested for civil disobedience on the steps of the Supreme Court of the United States on February 9, 2005. ... Ahimsa (अहिंसा ) is a Sanskrit term meaning non-violence (literally: the avoidance of violence - himsa). ... Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi (Gujarati: , Hindi: , IAST: mohandās karamcand gāndhī, IPA: ) (October 2, 1869 – January 30, 1948), was a major political and spiritual leader of India and the Indian independence movement. ... August 15 is the 227th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (228th in leap years), with 138 days remaining. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ... The term nation-state, while often used interchangeably with the terms unitary state and independent state, refers properly to the parallel occurence of a state and a nation. ... January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1950 (MCML) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will take you to calendar). ...

Since independence, India has experienced sectarian violence and insurgencies in various parts of the country, but has maintained its unity and democracy. It has unresolved territorial disputes with China, which in 1962 escalated into the brief Sino-Indian War; and with Pakistan, which resulted in wars in 1947, 1965, 1971 and in 1999 in Kargil. India is a founding member of the Non-Aligned Movement and the United Nations (as part of British India). In 1974, India conducted an underground nuclear test. This was followed by five more tests in 1998. Significant economic reforms beginning in 1991 have transformed India into one of the fastest-growing economies, adding to its global and regional clout. An insurgency, or insurrection, is an armed uprising, or revolt against an established civil or political authority. ... Combatants China India Commanders Lin Biao B.M. Kaul Strength 80,000[1][2] Casualties Never released [3] Killed 1,383 Captured 3,968 Missing 1,696 [3] The Sino-Indian War (Simplified Chinese: 中印边境战争; Traditional Chinese: 中印邊境戰爭; pinyin: Zhōng-Yìn Biānjìng ZhànzhÄ“ng; Hindi: भारत-चीन युद्ध Bhārat... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders General K M Cariappa, Lt Gen S M Shrinagesh, Maj Gen K S Thimayya, Maj Gen Kalwant Singh Maj Gen Akbar Khan Casualties 1,104 killed[1](Indian army) 684 KIA(State Forces)[2] [3] 3,152 wounded [1] 1,500 - 5,000 killed[4] (Pakistan... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Gen J N Chaudhuri, Lt Gen Harbakhsh Singh Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Gen Musa Khan Casualties 3,264 killed[1] 8,623 wounded[1] (From July to ceasefire) 3,800[2] - 6,917 killed[3] (17 day period alone) 4,000 - 7,000 killed/ captured[4... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Sam Manekshaw J.S. Aurora A. A. K. Niazi # Strength 1,000,000+ troops[] 90,000+ troops[] Casualties 3,843 killed[1] 9,851 wounded[1] c. ... Combatants India Pakistan, Kashmiri secessionists Strength 30,000 5,000 Casualties Indian Official Figures: 527 killed,[1][2][3] 1,363 wounded[4] 1 POW Pakistani Estimates: 357–4,000+ killed[5][6] (Pakistan troops) 665+ soldiers wounded[5] 8 POWs. ... Member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (2005). ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... The then Indian Prime minister Indira Gandhi at the Indian nuclear test site (Pokhran) The Smiling Buddha was the first nuclear test explosion by India on May 18, 1974 at Pokhran. ... Operation Shakti refers to the second round of nuclear tests conducted by India on May 11 and May 13, 1998. ...

Government

Main article: Government of India

India is the largest democracy in the world.^[4] The Constitution defines India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. India has a federal form of government and a bicameral parliament operating under a Westminster-style parliamentary system. It has three branches of governance: the Legislature, Executive, and Judiciary. The Government of India (Hindi: भारत सरकार Bharat Sarkar), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of India. ... The Indian National Flag is also known as the Tiranga, which in Hindi means tricolour. ... The Emblem of India The Emblem of India is an adaptation from the Sarnath Lion Capital of Ashoka. ... Jana Gana Mana (Thou Art the Ruler of the Minds of All People) is the national anthem of India. ... Vande Mataram (Hindi: वन्दे मातरम् Vande Mātaram, Bengali: বন্দে মাতরম Bônde Matorom) is the national song of India, distinct from the national anthem of India Jana Gana Mana. The song was composed by Bankim Chandra Chatterjee in a mixture of Bengali and Sanskrit. ... Trinomial name Panthera tigris tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Distribution map The Bengal Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger found in parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan,Myanmar and in the south of Tibet. ... Binomial name Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 Indian Peahen with chicks The Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus, is a species of bird in the peafowl genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. ... Binomial name Nelumbo nucifera Gaertn. ... Species Many; see text for examples Banyan (genus Ficus, subgenus Urostigma) is a subgenus of many species of tropical figs with an unusual growth habit. ... Species About 35 species, including: Mangifera altissima Mangifera applanata Mangifera caesia Mangifera camptosperma Mangifera casturi Mangifera decandra Mangifera foetida Mangifera gedebe Mangifera griffithii Mangifera indica Mangifera kemanga Mangifera laurina Mangifera longipes Mangifera macrocarpa Mangifera mekongensis Mangifera odorata Mangifera pajang Mangifera pentandra Mangifera persiciformis Mangifera quadrifida Mangifera siamensis Mangifera similis Mangifera... A game of field hockey in progress Field hockey is a popular sport for men and women in many countries around the world; it is the second most popular team sport after football (soccer)[]. Its official name and the one by which it is usually known is hockey [1][2... The Indian national calendar (sometimes called Saka calendar) is the official civil calendar in use in India. ... Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e. ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. ... Secularity is the state of being without religious or spiritual qualities. ... Liberal democracy is a form of government. ... Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box:      For other uses, see Republic (disambiguation). ... The bicameral legislature of the United States is housed in a capitol building with two wings. ... A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modelled after that of the United Kingdom. ... The Houses of Parliament in London The Westminster system is a democratic parliamentary system of government modeled after that of the United Kingdom system, as used in the Palace of Westminster, the location of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... A legislature is a type of representative deliberative assembly with the power to adopt laws. ... The Politics series Politics Portal This box:      In law, the judiciary or judicial is the system of courts which administer justice in the name of the sovereign or state, a mechanism for the resolution of disputes. ...

The President of India is the official head of state elected indirectly by an electoral college for a five-year term. The Prime Minister is, however, the de facto head of government and exercises most executive powers. The Prime Minister is appointed by the President, with the requirement that they enjoy the support of the party or coalition securing the majority of seats in the lower house of Parliament. The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India and the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces. ... Queen Elizabeth II, is the Head of State of 16 countries including: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, Jamaica, New Zealand and the Bahamas, as well as crown colonies and overseas territories of the United Kingdom. ... An electoral college is a set of electors who are empowered as a deliberative body to elect a candidate to a particular office. ... The Prime Minister of India is, in practice, the most powerful person in the government of India. ... The Head of Government is the chief officer of the executive branch of a government, often presiding over a cabinet. ...

The legislature of India is the bicameral Parliament, which consists of the upper house called the Rajya Sabha (Council of States), and the lower house called the Lok Sabha (House of People). The Rajya Sabha has up to 250 members serving staggered six year terms. Most are elected indirectly by the state and territorial legislatures in proportion to the state's population. The Lok Sabha's 545 members are directly elected by popular vote to represent individual constituencies for five year terms. The Parliament of India is bicameral. ... Executive President Vice-President Prime Minister Dy. ... Lok Sabha The Lok Sabha (House of the People) is the lower house in the Parliament of India. ... India is subdivided into twenty-eight states and seven union territories; the states and territories are themselves further subdivided. ... A constituency is any cohesive corporate unit or body bound by shared structures, goals or loyalty. ...

The executive branch consists of the President, Vice-President, and the Council of Ministers (the Cabinet being its executive committee) headed by the Prime Minister. Any minister holding a portfolio must be a member of either house of parliament. In the Indian parliamentary system, the executive is subordinate to the legislature, with the Prime Minister and his Council being directly responsible to the lower house of the parliament.^[5] The Council of the European Union forms, along with the European Parliament, the legislative arm of the European Union (EU). ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ...

India's independent judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, headed by the Chief Justice of India. The Supreme Court has original jurisdiction over disputes between states and the Centre, appellate jurisdiction over the twenty-one High Courts of India, and the power to declare union and state laws null and void if in conflict with the basic structure of the Constitution of India.^[5] The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the land as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India. ... The Chief Justice of India is the highest position obtainable by a judge in India. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Basic Structure doctrine is the judge-made doctrine whereby certain features of the Constitution of India are beyond the limit of the powers of amendment the Parliament of India. ... The Constitution of India was passed by the Constituent Assembly of India on November 26, 1949, and came into effect on January 26, 1950. ...

Politics

Main article: Politics of India

The Parliament of India (Sansad Bhavan).

For most of its democratic history, the Government of India has been led by the Indian National Congress (INC). State politics have been dominated by several national parties including INC, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Communist Party of India (CPI) and various regional parties. From 1950 to 1990, the INC enjoyed a parliamentary majority barring two brief periods. The INC was out of power between 1977 and 1980, when the Janata Party won the election owing to public discontent with the "Emergency" declared by the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. A Janata Dal coalition, called the National Front, won elections in 1989 but managed to stay in power for only two years. Politics of India takes place in a framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of India is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 124 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) taken by flickr user williewonker. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (2048 × 1536 pixel, file size: 124 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) taken by flickr user williewonker. ... Sansad Bhavan, The Parliament of India The Parliament of India (or Sansad) is bicameral. ... The Government of India (Hindi: भारत सरकार Bharat Sarkar), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of India. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (Hindi: , English: ), created in 1980, is one of the two major national political parties in India. ... The Communist Party of India (CPI) is a political party in India. ... The Janata Party (Peoples Party in Hindi) was an Indian political party that contested the Indian Emergency (1975-77) and became the first political party to defeat the Indian National Congress in the 1977 elections, forming the national government from 1977 to 1980. ... The Indian Emergency of (1975-77) was a 18-month period between 1975 and 1977, when President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed, upon advice by Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, declared a state of emergency under Article 352 of the Constitution of India, effectively bestowing on her the power to rule by decree... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Janata Dal is an Indian political party which was formed through the merger one of the major Janata Party factions, the Lok Dal and a group of Congressmen led by V.P. Singh. ... The National Front was a coalition of communist political parties, led by the Janata Dal, which formed Indias government between 1989 and 1991. ...

The years 1996-1998 were a period of turmoil in the federal government with several short-lived alliances holding sway. The BJP formed a government briefly in 1996, followed by the United Front coalition. In 1998, the BJP formed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) with several regional parties, and became the first non-Congress government to complete a full five-year term. In the 2004 Indian elections the Indian National Congress won the largest number of Lok Sabha seats and formed a government with a coalition called the United Progressive Alliance, supported by a various left-leaning parties and members opposed to the BJP. The United Front was a coalition of political parties which formed Indias government between 1996 and 1998. ... The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) is a coalition in India. ... Legislative elections were held in India, the worlds largest democracy, in four phases between April 20 and May 10, 2004. ... United Progressive Alliance (UPA) is the present ruling coalition of political parties in India. ...

Military and foreign relations

Main articles: Military of India and Foreign relations of India

An Indian-developed Agni-II ballistic missile during a Republic Day parade held in 2004.

Since independence in 1947, India has maintained cordial relationships with most nations. It took a leading role in the 1950s by advocating the independence of European colonies in Africa and Asia. India is one of the founding members of the Non-Aligned Movement. After the Sino-Indian War and the Indo-Pakistani War of 1965, India's relationship with the Soviet Union warmed at the expense of ties with the United States and continued to remain so until the end of the Cold War. India has fought several wars with Pakistan, primarily over Kashmir. India has also fought an additional war with Pakistan for the the liberation of Bangladesh in 1971. The military of India, officially known as the Indian armed forces, is the primary military organisation responsible for the territorial security and defense of India. ... The Republic of India, the second most populous country and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is considered as a major power and a potential superpower. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2870x1854, 958 KB) An Indian Agni-II intermediate range ballistic missile on a road-mobile launcher, displayed at the Republic Day Parade on New Delhis Rajpath, January 26, 2004. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2870x1854, 958 KB) An Indian Agni-II intermediate range ballistic missile on a road-mobile launcher, displayed at the Republic Day Parade on New Delhis Rajpath, January 26, 2004. ... An Agni-II on a road-mobile launcher displayed at the Republic Day Parade 2004 (Photo: Antônio Milena/ABr) The Agni missile (from Sanskrit AgnÄ« meaning Fire, one of the 5 elements of nature) is an IRBM developed under the IGMDP by India. ... Republic Day Parade refers to a military and cultural parade held in the Indian Capital of New Delhi on the Republic Day of India, on 26 January every year. ... This is a list of former European colonies. ... Member states of the Non-Aligned Movement (2005). ... Combatants China India Commanders Lin Biao B.M. Kaul Strength 80,000[1][2] Casualties Never released [3] Killed 1,383 Captured 3,968 Missing 1,696 [3] The Sino-Indian War (Simplified Chinese: 中印边境战争; Traditional Chinese: 中印邊境戰爭; pinyin: Zhōng-Yìn Biānjìng ZhànzhÄ“ng; Hindi: भारत-चीन युद्ध Bhārat... Combatants India Pakistan Commanders Gen J N Chaudhuri, Lt Gen Harbakhsh Singh Field Marshal Ayub Khan, Gen Musa Khan Casualties 3,264 killed[1] 8,623 wounded[1] (From July to ceasefire) 3,800[2] - 6,917 killed[3] (17 day period alone) 4,000 - 7,000 killed/ captured[4... Since both nations achieved independence in August 1947, there have been three major wars and one minor war between India and Pakistan. ... Combatants Mukti Bahini India Aided By  Soviet Union Pakistan Aided By United States People’s Republic of China Commanders • General M A G Osmani • General Jagjit Singh Aurora • General Sam Manekshaw • General A. A. K. Niazi • General Tikka Khan Strength India: 500,000+ Mukti Bahini: 100,000[1][2] Pakistan...

Despite criticism and military sanctions, India has consistently refused to sign the CTBT and the NPT, preferring instead to maintain sovereignty over its nuclear program. Recent overtures by the Indian government have strengthened relations with the United States, China, and Pakistan. In the economic sphere, India has close relationships with other developing nations in South America, Asia, and Africa. In recent years, India has played an influential role in the ASEAN, SAARC, and the WTO. India has been a long time supporter of the United Nations, with over 55,000 Indian military and police personnel having served in 35 UN peace keeping operations deployed across four continents.^[6] The Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty (CTBT) bans all nuclear explosions in all environments, for military or civilian purposes and was opened for signature in New York on 24 September 1996, when it was signed by 71 States, including the five nuclear weapon states at the time (which did not... Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Opened for signature July 1, 1968 in New York Entered into force March 5, 1970 Conditions for entry into force Ratification by the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union, the United States, and 40 other signatory states. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ... A world map showing the continent of Africa. ... Main languages See Languages of ASEAN Secretary General Ong Keng Yong of Singapore Area  - Total 4,480,000 km2 Population  - Total (2004)  - Density 550,000,000 122. ... The South Asian Association for Regional Co-Operation, or SAARC, (established December 8, 1985) is an association of 7 countries of South Asia namely Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka. ... For other uses of the initials WTO, see WTO (disambiguation). ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... The Indian Armed Forces is Indias primary defence organisation. ...

India maintains the third largest military force in the world, which consists of the Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force. Auxiliary forces such as the Paramilitary Forces, the Coast Guard, and the Strategic Forces Command also come under the military's purview. The President of India is the supreme commander of the Indian armed forces. India also became a nuclear state in 1974 after conducting an initial nuclear test explosion. Further underground testing in 1998 led to international military sanctions against India, which were gradually withdrawn after September 2001. Recently, India concluded a deal with the United States that would allow the latter to supply Indian reactors with civilian nuclear technology and fuel. India maintains a "no-first-use" nuclear policy. The Indian Army is the largest branch of the Armed Forces of India and has the primary responsibility of conducting land-based military operations. ... The Indian Navy is the naval branch of the armed forces of India. ... The Indian Air Force (भारतीय वायु सेना : Bharatiya Vayu Sena) is the air-arm of the Armed Forces of India and has the prime responsibility of conducting air-based warfare and securing Indian airspace. ... Components Indian Army Indian Air Force Indian Navy Indian Coast Guard Indian Paramilitary Forces Strategic Nuclear Command History Military history of India British Indian Army Indian National Army Ranks Air Force ranks and insignia of India Army ranks and insignia of India Naval ranks and insignia of India Related Info... Indian Coast Guards coat of Arms. ... On January 6, 2003, the Government of India announced the creation of a new Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) responsible for the management of India’s tactical and strategic nuclear weapons. ... The President of India is the head of state and first citizen of India and the Supreme Commander of the Indian armed forces. ... This is a list of states with nuclear weapons. ... The then Indian Prime minister Indira Gandhi at the Indian nuclear test site (Pokhran) The Smiling Buddha was the first nuclear test explosion by India on May 18, 1974 at Pokhran. ... Pokharan-II refers to test explosions of five nuclear devices, three on 11 May and two on 13 May 1998, by India at Pokhran. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ...

States and union territories

Main article: States and territories of India

India is a union of twenty-eight states and seven federally-governed union territories. All states, and the union territories of Puducherry and the National Capital Territory of Delhi have elected governments. The other five union territories have centrally-appointed administrators. India is subdivided into twenty-eight states and seven union territories; the states and territories are themselves further subdivided. ... A union territory is an administrative division of India. ...

States and territories of India

States: Image File history File links India-states-numbered. ... Image File history File links India-states-numbered. ... India is subdivided into twenty-eight states and seven union territories; the states and territories are themselves further subdivided. ...

Union Territories: Andhra Pradesh  : (Telugu: ఆంధ్ర ప్రదేశ్, Urdu: آندھرا پردیش, IPA: ), is a state in South India. ... Arunachal Pradesh   (Hindi: Aruṇācal PradeÅ›; Chinese: 藏南 Zangnan or South Tibet) is a state of India, but also claimed by China. ... Assam   (Assamese: অসম Ôxôm) is a north eastern state of India with its capital at Dispur, a part of Guwahati. ... Bihar (Hindi: बिहार, Urdu: بہار, IPA: ,  ) is a state of the Indian union situated in the eastern part of the country. ... Chhattisgarh (Chhattisgarhi/Hindi: छत्तीसगढ़, IPA: )  , a state in central India, formed when the sixteen Chhattisgarhi-speaking southeastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained statehood on November 1, 2000. ... Goa   (Konkani: गोंय goṃya; Marathi: गोवा govā; Portuguese: Goa) is Indias smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population (after Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh). ... This article is for the Indian state. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Map of Himachal Himachal Pradesh   (Hindi: हिमाचल प्रदेश, IPA: ), formerly the Punjab Hill States, is a mostly mountainous state in northern India. ... Jammu and Kashmir   (IPA: , Kashmiri:ज्वम त॒ कॅशीर جۄم تٕہ کٔشِیر, Hindi:जम्मू और कश्मीर, Urdu:جموں Ùˆ کشمیر) (often abbreviated as Kashmir), is the northern-most state of India, lying mostly in the Himalayan mountains. ... Jharkhand   (Hindi: झारखंड, Bengali: ঝাড়খণ্ড,IPA: ) is a state in eastern India. ... Karnātakā   (Kannada: ಕನಾ೯ಟಕ) (IPA: ) is one of the four southern states of India. ...   (IPA: ; , Written as േകരളം in the native language Malayalam) is a state on the Western Coast of south-western India. ... Madhya PradeÅ›   (HindÄ«: मध्य प्रदेश, English: , IPA: ), often called the Heart of India, is a state in central India. ... Maharashtra   (Marathi: महाराष्ट्र , English: , IPA: ) is Indias third largest state in terms of area and second largest in terms of population after Uttar Pradesh. ... Manipur (Hindi: मणिपुर) is a state in northeastern India making its capital in the city of Imphal. ... Meghalaya   is a small state in north-eastern India. ... Mizoram (Hindi: िमज़ोरम)   is one of the Seven Sister States in northeastern India on the border with Myanmar. ... Nagaland (Hindi: नागालैंड)   Nagaland is a vibrant hill state located in the far northeastern part of India. ... Orissa   (Oriya: ଓଡ଼ିଶା), is a state situated in the east coast of India. ... This article details the Indian state of Punjab. ... Rājasthān (DevanāgarÄ«: राजस्थान, IPA: )   is the largest state of the Republic of India in terms of area. ... Sikkim (also Sikhim) (DevanāgarÄ«: सिक्किम  ) is a landlocked Indian state nestled in the Himalayas. ... Tamil Nadu (தமிழ் நாடு, Land of the Tamils) is a state at the southern tip of India. ... Tripura   (Bengali: ত্রিপুরা, Hindi: त्रिपुरा) is a state in North East India. ... Uttar Pradesh (Hindi: , Urdu: ‎, translation: Northern Province, IPA: ,  ), also popularly known by its abbreviation U.P., is the most populous and fifth largest state in the Republic of India. ... Uttarakhand presently called Uttaranchal is the ancient name for the stretch of Indian Himalayas that borders the Himachal ranges in the west, and Nepal in the east. ... West Bengal   (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ...

1. Andaman and Nicobar Islands
2. Chandigarh
3. Dadra and Nagar Haveli
4. Daman and Diu
5. Lakshadweep
6. National Capital Territory of Delhi
7. Puducherry

All states and union territories are subdivided into districts. In larger states, districts may be grouped together to form a division. Map of Andaman and Nicobar Islands with an extra detailed area around Port Blair The Andaman & Nicobar Islands   (Tamil: அந்தமான் நிகோபார் தீவுகள், Hindi: अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीप) is a union territory of India. ... Chandigarh   (Punjabi: , Hindi: , pronunciation: ) also called The City Beautiful, is a city in India that serves as the capital of two states: Punjab and Haryana. ... Dadra and Nagar Haveli (Gujarati: દાદરા અને નગર હવેલી, Hindi: दादरा और नगर हवेली, Urdu: دادرہ اور نگر حویلی, Portuguese: Dadrá e Nagar-Aveli) is a Union Territory in western India. ... Daman and Diu (Portuguese: Gujarati is the main language; use of Portuguese is declining because it is not official or taught at school (but still spoken by 10% in Daman). ... Lakshadweep ( ; Malayalam: ലക്ഷദ്വീപ്, []) is the smallest union territory of India. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Delhi. ... Map of Pondicherry Region, Union Territory of Pondicherry, India Puducherry (formerly  ) is a Union Territory of India. ...

Geography

Main article: Geography of India

Elevated regions in India.

India constitutes the major portion of the Indian subcontinent, which sits atop the Indian Plate and the northwesterly portion of the Indo-Australian Plate. India's northern and north-eastern states are partially situated in the Himalayan Range. The rest of northern, central, and eastern India consists of the fertile Indo-Gangetic Plain. In the west, bordering southeastern Pakistan, lies the Thar Desert. Southern India is almost entirely composed of the peninsular Deccan plateau, which is flanked by two hilly coastal ranges, the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats. The geography of India is extremely diverse, with landscape ranging from snow-capped mountain ranges to deserts, plains, hills and plateaus. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3042x2933, 2736 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3042x2933, 2736 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Satellite image of the Indian subcontinent Map of South Asia (see note) This article deals with the geophysical region in Asia. ... The India or Indian Plate is a minor tectonic plate. ...  The Indo-Australian plate, shown in dull orange The Indo-Australian Plate is an overarching name for two tectonic plates that include the continent of Australia and surrounding ocean extending northwest to include the Indian subcontinent and adjacent waters. ... Perspective view of the Himalayas and Mount Everest as seen from space looking south-south-east from over the Tibetan Plateau. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... A NASA satellite image of the Thar Desert, with the India-Pakistan border superimposed is found in canada, united states. ... The Deccan Plateau is a vast plateau in India, encompassing most of Central and Southern India. ... The Agasthiyamalai range of the Western Ghats The Western Ghats are a mountain range in India. ... The Eastern Ghats are a discontinuous range of mountains, eroded and cut through by the four major rivers of southern India, the Godavari, Mahanadi, Krishna, and Kaveri. ...

India is home to several major rivers, including the Ganges, the Brahmaputra, the Yamuna, the Godavari, the Kaveri, the Narmada, and the Krishna. India has three archipelagos — Lakshadweep, which lies off the southwestern coast; the volcanic Andaman and Nicobar Islands island chain to the southeast, and the Sunderbans in the Ganges Delta of West Bengal. This article is about the river. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Not to be confused with Jamuna River. ... The Godavari River, adjacent to the town of Kovvur This article is about Godavari River in India. ... This article or section is not written in the formal tone expected of an encyclopedia article. ... The Narmada or Nerbudda is a river in central India. ... The Krishna River is one of the longest rivers of India (about 1300 km in length). ... Lakshadweep ( ; Malayalam: ലക്ഷദ്വീപ്, []) is the smallest union territory of India. ... Map of Andaman and Nicobar Islands with an extra detailed area around Port Blair The Andaman & Nicobar Islands   (Tamil: அந்தமான் நிகோபார் தீவுகள், Hindi: अंडमान और निकोबार द्वीप) is a union territory of India. ... Where the land meets the sea at the southern tip of West Bengal lies the Indian Sunderbans, a stretch of impenetrable mangrove forest of great size and bio-diversity. ... Ganges River Delta, Bangladesh and India The Ganges Delta (or the Bengal Delta) is a river delta in the South Asia region of Bengal, consisting of Bangladesh and the state of West Bengal, India. ...

The climate of India varies from tropical in the south to more temperate in the Himalayan north, where elevated regions receive sustained winter snowfall. India's climate is strongly influenced by the Himalayas and the Thar Desert. The Himalayas, along with the Hindu Kush mountains in Pakistan, prevent cold Central Asian katabatic winds from blowing in. This keeps the bulk of the Indian subcontinent warmer than most locations at similar latitudes. The Thar Desert is responsible for attracting the moisture-laden summer monsoon winds that, between June and September, provide most of India's rainfall. The climate of India is difficult to lay due to the countrys large geographic size and varied topography. ... A tropical climate is a type of climate typical in the tropics. ... In geography, temperate latitudes of the globe lie between the tropics and the polar circles. ... The Hindu Kush or Hindukush (هندوکش in Persian) is a mountain range in Afghanistan as well as in the Northern Areas of Pakistan. ... Map of Central Asia showing three sets of possible boundaries for the region Central Asia located as a region of the world Central Asia is a vast landlocked region of Asia. ... A katabatic wind, from the Greek word katabatikos meaning going downhill, is a wind that blows down a topographic incline such as a hill, mountain, or glacier. ... Monsoon in the Vindhya mountain range, central India A monsoon is a storm whose direction depends on the specific season. ...

Flora and fauna

Main articles: Fauna of India and Flora of India

The Indian Peacock is India's national bird.

India, lying within the Indomalaya ecozone, hosts significant biodiversity; it is home to 7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of avian, 6.2% of reptilian, and 6.0% of flowering plant species.^[7] Many ecoregions, such as the shola forests, also exhibit extremely high rates of endemism; overall, 33% of Indian plant species are endemic.^[8][9] India's forest cover ranges from the tropical rainforest of the Andaman Islands, Western Ghats, and Northeast India to the coniferous forest of the Himalaya. Between these extremes lie the sal-dominated moist deciduous forest of eastern India; teak-dominated dry deciduous forest of central and southern India; and the babul-dominated thorn forest of the central Deccan and western Gangetic plain.^[10] Important Indian trees include the medicinal neem, widely used in rural Indian herbal remedies. The pipal fig tree, shown on the seals of Mohenjo-daro, shaded the Gautama Buddha as he sought enlightenment. Glimpses of biodiversity India is one of the high biodiversity regions of the world with three biodiversity hotspots - the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas and the Indo-Burma regions. ... . ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 2000 KB) En: Peacock (Pavo cristatus), displaying male. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (2560x1920, 2000 KB) En: Peacock (Pavo cristatus), displaying male. ... Binomial name Pavo cristatus Linnaeus, 1758 Indian Peahen with chicks The Indian Peafowl, Pavo cristatus, is a species of bird in the peafowl genus Pavo of the pheasant family, Phasianidae. ... The Indomalaya Ecozone was previously called the Oriental region. ... Rainforests are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on earth Biodiversity or biological diversity is the variation of taxonomic life forms within a given ecosystem, biome or for the entire Earth. ... Subclasses Allotheria* Order Multituberculata (extinct) Order Volaticotheria (extinct) Order Palaeoryctoides (extinct) Order Triconodonta (extinct) Prototheria Order Monotremata Theria Infraclass Marsupialia Infraclass Eutheria The mammals are the class of vertebrate animals characterized by the production of milk in females for the nourishment of young, from mammary glands present on most species... For other meanings of bird, see bird (disambiguation). ... Subclasses Anapsida Diapsida Synonyms Reptilia Laurenti, 1768 Reptiles are tetrapods and amniotes, animals whose embryos are surrounded by an amniotic membrane, and members of the class Sauropsida. ... It has been suggested that Angiospermae, and Anthophyta be merged into this article or section. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Shola is a type of high-altitude stunted evergreen forest found in southern India. ... The South Western Ghats montane rain forests are an ecoregion of southern India, covering the southern portion of the Western Ghats range in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, at elevations over 1000 meters. ... In biology and ecology endemic means exclusively native to a place or biota, in contrast to cosmopolitan or introduced. ... Tropic wet forests in the World Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, also known as tropical wet forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome. ... This article or section may be confusing for some readers, and should be edited to be clearer or more simplified. ... The Agasthiyamalai range of the Western Ghats The Western Ghats are a mountain range in India. ... The Himalayas in Sikkim North-East India is the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States and the state of Sikkim. ... Pine forests are an example of a temperate coniferous forests Temperate coniferous forests are a terrestrial biome found in temperate regions of the world with warm summers and cool winters and adequate rainfall to sustain a forest. ... Once there was a man named Jeffrey Deffrey. ... Tropic wet forests in the World Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, also known as tropical wet forests, are a tropical and subtropical forest biome. ... Species Tectona grandis Tectona hamiltoniana Tectona philippinensis Teak (Tectona), also called jati is a genus of tropical hardwood trees in the family Verbenaceae, native to the south and southeast of Asia, and is commonly found as a component of monsoon forest vegetation. ... Trinidad and Tobago dry forest on Chacachacare showing the dry-season deciduous nature of the vegetation The tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forest biome, also known as tropical dry forest, is located at tropical and subtropical latitudes. ... Binomial name Acacia nilotica (L.) Willd. ... In isolation, Hawaiis Silverswords have adapted to xeric microclimates within volcanic craters, trapping and channeling dew and protecting leaves with reflective hairs. ... Binomial name Azadirachta indica A.Juss. ... Dioscorides’ Materia Medica, c. ... Binomial name Ficus religiosa L. The Sacred Fig Ficus religiosa, also known as Bo, Pipal (Peepul) or Ashwattha tree, is a species of banyan fig native to India, southwest China and Indochina east to Vietnam. ... Species About 800, including: Ficus altissima Ficus americana Ficus aurea Ficus benghalensis- Indian Banyan Ficus benjamina- Weeping Fig Ficus broadwayi Ficus carica- Common Fig Ficus citrifolia Ficus coronata Ficus drupacea Ficus elastica Ficus godeffroyi Ficus grenadensis Ficus hartii Ficus lyrata Ficus macbrideii Ficus macrophylla- Moreton Bay Fig Ficus microcarpa- Chinese... Mohenjo-daro (literally, mound of the dead), like Harappa, was a city of the Indus Valley civilization. ... Standing Buddha sculpture, ancient region of Gandhara, northern Pakistan, 1st century CE, Musée Guimet. ...

Many Indian species are descendants of taxa originating in Gondwana, to which India originally belonged. Peninsular India's subsequent movement towards, and collision with, the Laurasian landmass set off a mass exchange of species. However, volcanism and climatic changes 20 million years ago caused the extinction of many endemic Indian forms.^[11] Soon thereafter, mammals entered India from Asia through two zoogeographical passes on either side of the emerging Himalaya.^[10] As a result, among Indian species, only 12.6% of mammals and 4.5% of birds are endemic, contrasting with 45.8% of reptiles and 55.8% of amphibians.^[7] Notable endemics are the Nilgiri leaf monkey and the brown and carmine Beddome's toad of the Western Ghats. India contains 172, or 2.9%, of IUCN-designated threatened species.^[12] These include the Asiatic lion, the Bengal tiger, and the Indian white-rumped vulture, which suffered a near-extinction from ingesting the carrion of diclofenac-treated cattle. A taxon (plural taxa) is an element of a taxonomy, e. ... Gondwanaland redirects here. ... The India or Indian Plate is a minor tectonic plate. ... Bridge across the Álfagjá rift valley in southwest Iceland, the boundary of the Eurasian and North American continental tectonic plates. ... Laurasia was a supercontinent that most recently existed as a part of the split of the Pangaean supercontinent in the late Mesozoic era. ... The Deccan Traps is a large igneous province located in west-central India and is one of the largest volcanic features on Earth. ... The Dodo, shown here in illustration, is an often-cited[1] example of modern extinction. ... Zoogeography is the branch of the science of biogeography that is concerned with the geographic distribution of animal species. ... Binomial name Trachypithecus johnii (J. Fischer, 1829) Nilgiri Langur (Trachypithecus johni) is a lutung (a type of Old World monkey) found in the Nilgiri hills of the Western Ghats in South India. ... Binomial name Bufo beddomii Günther, 1876 Beddomes Toad Bufo beddomii is a species of toad found in the Western Ghats of India. ... The World Conservation Union or International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) is an international organization dedicated to natural resource conservation. ... Trinomial name Panthera leo persica Meyer, 1826 Current distribution of the Asiatic Lion in the wild Synonyms Leo leo goojratensis (India) Leo leo persicus (Persia) The Asiatic Lion (Panthera leo persica; also known as Indian Lion) is a subspecies of the lion found only in India. ... Trinomial name Panthera tigris tigris (Linnaeus, 1758) Distribution map The Bengal Tiger or Royal Bengal Tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is a subspecies of tiger found in parts of India, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan,Myanmar and in the south of Tibet. ... Binomial name Gyps bengalensis (Gmelin, 1788) The Indian White-rumped Vulture (Gyps bengalensis) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. ... Diclofenac (marketed as Voltaren®, Voltarol®, Diclon®, Dicloflex® Difen and Cataflam®) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) taken to reduce inflammation and an analgesic reducing pain in conditions such as in arthritis or acute injury. ...

In recent decades, human encroachment has posed a threat to India's wildlife; in response, the system of national parks and protected areas, first established in 1935, was substantially expanded. In 1972, India enacted the Wildlife Protection Act and Project Tiger to safeguard crucial habitat; further federal protections were promulgated in the 1980s. Along with more than five hundred wildlife sanctuaries, India now hosts fourteen biosphere reserves, four of which are part of the World Network of Biosphere Reserves; twenty-five wetlands are registered under the Ramsar Convention. Indias first National Park (IUCN Category II Protected area) was Hailey National Park, now Jim Corbett National Park, established in 1935. ... The Wildlife Protection Act of 1972 refers to a sweeping package of legislation enacted in 1972 by the Government of India. ... The Royal Bengal Tiger. ... India has over 500 animal sanctuaries, referred to as Wildlife Sanctuaries (IUCN Category IV Protected Area). ... The Indian government has established 4 Biosphere Reserves (UNESCO categories roughly corresponding to IUCN Category V Protected areas), which protect larger areas of natural habitat (than a National Park or Animal Sanctuary), and often include one or more National Parks and/or preserves, along buffer zones that are open to... The World Network of Biosphere Reserves was established at the International Conference on Biosphere Reserves in Seville in 1995. ... The list of Ramsar Sites in India comprises Indian wetlands deemed to be of international importance under the Ramsar Convention. ... The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty for the conservation and sustainable utilization of wetlands, i. ...

Economy

Main article: Economy of India

The Bombay Stock Exchange Sensex index reflects investor confidence in the Indian economy.

For most of its democratic history, India adhered to a quasi-socialist approach, with strict government control over private sector participation, foreign trade, and foreign direct investment. However, since 1991, India has gradually opened up its markets through economic reforms and reduced government controls on foreign trade and investment. Foreign exchange reserves have risen from US$5.8 billion in March 1991 to US$177 billion in January 2007, while federal and state budget deficits have reduced.^[13] Privatisation of publicly-owned companies and the opening of certain sectors to private and foreign participation has continued amid political debate. The economy of India is the fourth largest in the world as measured by purchasing power parity (PPP). ... Image File history File links The Bombay Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai. ... Image File history File links The Bombay Bombay Stock Exchange in Mumbai. ... The Bombay Stock Exchange The Bombay Stock Exchange Limited (formerly, The Stock Exchange, Mumbai; popularly called The Bombay Stock Exchange, or BSE) is the oldest stock exchange in Asia. ... The Bombay Stock Exchange The BSE Sensex or Bombay Stock Exchange Sensitive Index is a value-weighted index composed of 30 stocks with the base April 1979 = 100. ... Socialism refers to a broad array of doctrines or political movements that envisage a socio-economic system in which property and the distribution of wealth are subject to social control. ... The private sector of a nations economy consists of all that is outside the state. ... International trade is defined as trade between two or more partners from different countries (an exporter and an importer). ... Foreign direct investment (FDI) is defined as a long-term investment by a foreign direct investor in an enterprise resident in an economy other than that in which the foreign direct investor is based. ... In general, liberalization refers to a relaxation of previous government restrictions, usually in areas of social or economic policy. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

With a GDP growth rate of 9.2% in 2006, the Indian economy is among the fastest growing in the world.^[14] It has the world's third largest GDP of US $4.042 trillion as measured by purchasing power parity (PPP). India's per capita income (PPP) of US $3,700 is however ranked 117th in the world. When measured in terms of USD exchange-rate, India's GDP is US$785.47 billion, which makes it the twelfth largest economy.^[15] Map of world GDP (PPP) by country using the IMF list for 2005 There are three lists of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP) (the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year). ... Purchasing power parity (PPP) is in economics the method of using the long-run equilibrium exchange rate of two currencies to equalize the currencies purchasing power. ... The per capita income for a group of people may be defined as their total personal income, divided by the total population. ... Map of countries by GDP (PPP) per capita, based on the 2005 IMF data. ... ISO 4217 Code USD User(s) the United States, the British Indian Ocean Territory[1], the British Virgin Islands, East Timor, Ecuador, El Salvador, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Palau, Panama, Turks and Caicos Islands, and the insular areas of the United States Inflation 2. ... In finance, the exchange rate (also known as the foreign-exchange rate, forex rate or FX rate) between two currencies specifies how much one currency is worth in terms of the other. ... Countries by nominal GDP. Source: IMF (2005) This article includes a list of countries of the world sorted by their gross domestic product (GDP), the value of all final goods and services produced within a nation in a given year. ...

Wealth distribution in India, a developing country, is fairly uneven, with the top 10% of income groups earning 33% of the income.^[16] In 2007, The Australian reported that "India's recent economic gains, while enriching the social elite and middle classes, have failed to benefit almost half of its 1.1 billion people." This was prompted by a survey finding that 47% of Indian children suffered from malnutrition.^[17] In economics, Distribution of wealth refers to the proportion of capital controlled by a given percentage of a population. ...  High human development Medium human development Low human development Unavailable A developing country has a relatively low standard of living, an undeveloped industrial base, and a moderate to low Human Development Index (HDI) score. ... The Australian (informally referred to as The Oz) is a national daily broadsheet newspaper published by Rupert Murdochs News Corporation. ...

India has a labour force of 509.3 million, 60% of which is employed in agriculture and related industries. Major agricultural crops include rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, and potatoes. The agricultural sector accounts for 28% of GDP; the service and industrial sectors make up 54% and 18% respectively. Major industries include automobiles, cement, chemicals, consumer electronics, food processing, machinery, mining, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, steel, transportation equipment, and textiles.^[18] In economics the labor force is the group of people who have a potential for being employed. ...

In 2006, estimated exports stood at US$112 billion and imports were around US$187.9 billion. Textiles, jewelery, engineering goods and software are major export commodities. Crude oil, machineries, fertilizers, and chemicals are major imports. India's most important trading partners are the United States, the European Union, China, and the United Arab Emirates.^[18] More recently, India has capitalised on its large pool of educated, English-speaking people to become an important outsourcing destination for multinational corporations. India has also become a major exporter of software as well as financial, research, and technological services. The business process outsourcing industry in India refers to the Services Outsourcing Industry in India catering to mainly Western operations of MNCs (Multinational Corporations). ...

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of India

Tribes constitute 8% of India's people. Pictured here are Apatani tribal women from Arunachal Pradesh.

With an estimated population of 1.1 billion, India is the world's second most populous country.^[19] Almost 70% of Indians reside in rural areas, although in recent decades migration to larger cities has led to the exponential rise in the urban population. India's largest urban agglomerations are Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Hyderabad, and Bangalore. population growth, from 443 million in 1960 to 1,004 million in 2000 Map showing the population density of each district in India Map showing the population growth over the past ten years of each distrct in India Map showing the literacy rate of each district in India Map showing... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 3434 KB) Summary Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3008x2000, 3434 KB) Summary Licensing File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The following is a list of Indian city statuses used by the Government of India to allocate compensatory allowances to the cities in the country. ... This article lists the top fifty metropolitan areas in India by population as of 2007. ... “Bombay” redirects here. ... “Madras” redirects here. ...   (IPA: [] Bengali: কলকাতা) (formerly  ) is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. ... Delhi   (Hindi: , Urdu: ‎, Punjabi: ) is the second-largest metropolis in India after Mumbai with a population of 13 million. ... Hyderabad   or Hidarābād // (Telugu: హైదరాబాదు,Urdu: حیدر آباد ) is the capital city of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. ... Bangalore (proposed to be renamed Bengalooru or Bengaluru) (Kannada: ; pronunciation: in Kannada and in English) is the capital of the Indian state of Karnataka. ...

India is home to two major linguistic families: Indo-Aryan (spoken by about 74% of the population) and Dravidian (spoken by about 24%). Other languages spoken in India come from the Austro-Asiatic and Tibeto-Burman linguistic families. The Indian constitution recognises 23 official languages.^[20] Hindi and English are used by the Union Government of India for official purposes, wherein Hindi has a de jure priority. Sanskrit and Tamil enjoy classical language status in India. The number of dialects in India is as high as 1,652.^[21] Map of South Asia in native languages. ... The Indo-Aryan languages form a subgroup of the Indo-Iranian languages, thus belonging to the Indo-European family of languages. ... The Dravidian family of languages includes approximately 73 languages[1] that are mainly spoken in southern India and Sri Lanka, as well as certain areas in Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and eastern and central India, as well as in parts of Afghanistan and Iran, and by overseas Dravidians in other countries... The Austroasiatic languages are a large language family of Southeast Asia and India. ... The Tibeto-Burman linguistic subfamily of the proposed Sino-Tibetan language family is spoken in various central and south Asian countries: Myanmar (Burmese language), Tibet (Tibetan language), northern Thailand (Mong language), Nepal, Bhutan, India (Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Sikkim, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Nagaland, Manipur, Mizoram, Tripura and the Ladakh region of... Hindi (Devanagari: हिन्दी or हिंदी; IPA: ), an Indo-European language spoken mainly in northern and central India, is one of the official languages of the Union government of India [1][2]. It is part of a dialect continuum of the Indic family, bounded on the northwest and west by Punjabi, Sindhi, Urdu... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... The Government of India (Hindi: भारत सरकार Bharat Sarkar), officially referred to as the Union Government, and commonly as Central Government, was established by the Constitution of India, and is the governing authority of a federal union of 28 states and 7 union territories, collectively called the Republic of India. ... Look up De jure in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Sanskrit language ( , for short ) is an old Indo-Aryan language from the Indian Subcontinent, the classical literary language of the Hindus of India[1], a liturgical language of Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism, and one of the 23 official languages of India. ... Tamil (Thamizh) is a classical language of the Dravidian language family. ... A classical language, is a language with a literature that is classical—ie, it should be ancient, it should be an independent tradition that arose mostly on its own, not as an offshoot of another tradition, and it must have a large and extremely rich body of ancient literature. ... A dialect (from the Greek word διάλεκτος) is a variant, or variety, of a language spoken in a certain geographical area. ...

Although 80.5% of Indians report themselves as Hindus, India's Muslim population is the world's second largest; they constitute 13.4% of the population. Other religious groups include Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.9%), Buddhists (0.8%), Jains (0.4%), Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahá'ís and others.^[19] Eight percent of India's people are classified as tribal.^[19] Hinduism - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... A Muslim (Arabic: مسلم, Turkish: Müslüman, Persian and Urdu: مسلمان, Bosnian: Musliman) is an adherent of Islam. ... Christianity is a monotheistic[1] religion centered on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as presented in the New Testament. ... Sikhism (IPA: or ; Punjabi: , , IPA: ) is a religion that began in fifteenth century Northern India with the teachings of Nanak and nine successive gurus. ... Buddhism is a dharmic, non-theistic religion, which is also a philosophy and a system of psychology. ... Jainism (pronounced in English as IPA ), traditionally known as Jain Dharma (जैन धर्म), is a religion and philosophy originating in Ancient India with the teachings of Mahavira (ca. ... Zoroastrianism was adapted from an earlier, polytheistic faith by Zarathushtra (Zoroaster) in Persia very roughly around 1000 BC (although, in the absence of written records, some scholars estimates are as late as 600 BC). ... Seat of the Universal House of Justice in Haifa, Israel, governing body of the Baháís The Baháí Faith is a religion founded by Baháulláh in 19th century Persia. ... Ä€divāsÄ«s (आदिवासी), literally original inhabitants, or tribal people comprise a substantial indigenous minority of the population of India. ...

At the time of India's emergence as a nation-state in 1947, India's literacy rate was 11%.^[22] Since then, it has increased to 68.6% (58.25% for females and 78.8% of males). The state of Kerala has the highest literacy rate (91%); Bihar has the lowest (47%).^[23] The national sex ratio is 944 females per 1,000 males. India's median age is 24.66, and the population growth rate of 1.38% per annum; there are 22.32 births per 1,000 people.^[19]   (IPA: ; , Written as േകരളം in the native language Malayalam) is a state on the Western Coast of south-western India. ... Bihar (Hindi: बिहार, Urdu: بہار, IPA: ,  ) is a state of the Indian union situated in the eastern part of the country. ... Sex ratio by country for total population. ...

Culture

Main article: Culture of India

The Taj Mahal in Agra is India's most popular tourist destination.

India's culture is marked by a high degree of syncretism; it has managed to preserve established traditions whilst absorbing new customs, traditions, and ideas from invaders and immigrants. Many Indian cultural practices, languages, customs, and monuments are examples of this co-mingling over centuries. Famous monuments, such as the Taj Mahal and other examples of Islamic architecture, have been inherited from the Mughal dynasty. These are the result of traditions that combined elements from all parts of the country. Taj Mahal, a popular icon of India The culture of India was moulded throughout various eras of history, all the while absorbing customs, traditions and ideas from both invaders and immigrants. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2040x1681, 2396 KB) Description: Taj Mahal Source: Dhirad, picture edited by J. A. Knudsen Uploaded to en: on March 1, 2005, 14:30, by Deep750 who added the following comment On April 9, 2005, 19:22 Nichalp added that heemailed Deep750... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2040x1681, 2396 KB) Description: Taj Mahal Source: Dhirad, picture edited by J. A. Knudsen Uploaded to en: on March 1, 2005, 14:30, by Deep750 who added the following comment On April 9, 2005, 19:22 Nichalp added that heemailed Deep750... The Taj Mahal, viewed from the Northern bank of Yamuna river. ... Agra   (Hindi: , Urdu: ‎), (IPA: ) is a medevial city on the banks of the Yamuna River in India. ... Syncretism is the attempt to reconcile disparate, even opposing, beliefs and to meld practices of various schools of thought. ... The Taj Mahal, viewed from the Northern bank of Yamuna river. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Indian music is highly diversified. Classical music is mainly split between the North Indian Hindustani and South Indian Carnatic traditions. Highly regionalised forms of popular music include filmi and folk music like bhangra. Many classical dance forms exist, including bharatanatyam, kathakali, kathak, kuchipudi, manipuri, odissi and yakshagana. They often have a narrative form and are usually infused with devotional and spiritual elements. Timeline and Samples Genres Classical (Carnatic and Hindustani) - Rock - Pop - Hip hop Awards Bollywood Music Awards - Punjabi Music Awards Charts Festivals Sangeet Natak Akademi – Thyagaraja Aradhana – Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Media Sruti, The Music Magazine National anthem Jana Gana Mana, also national song Vande Mataram Music of the states Andaman and... The origins of Indian classical music, the classical music of India, can be found from the oldest of scriptures, part of the Hindu tradition, the Vedas. ... Dark green region marks the approximate extent of northern India while the regions marked as light green lies within the sphere of north Indian influence. ... Hindustani (हिन्दुस्तानी/ہندوستانی) Classical Music is an Indian classical music tradition that took shape in northern Indian subcontinent circa the 13th and 14th centuries AD in the courts of Delhi Sultanate[] from existing religious, folk, and theatrical performance practices. ... South India is a linguistic-cultural region of India that comprises the four Indian states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu and the Union Territory of Pondicherry, whose inhabitants are collectively referred to as South Indians. ... Carnatic music, also known as or Karnataka Shasthreeya Sangeetha is one of the two styles of Indian classical music, the other being Hindustani music. ... Filmi is Indian popular music as written and performed for Indian cinema. ... Indian folk music is diverse because of Indias vast cultural diversity. ... This article or section is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Indian classical dance is performed in different styles. ... Bharatanatyam dancer Bharatanatyam (also spelled Bharathanatyam, Bharatnatyam or Bharata Natyam) ( Sanskrit: भारतनाट्यम bʰāratanāṭyam, Tamil:பரதநாட்டியம் ) is a classical dance form originating from Tamil Nadu, a state in Southern India. ... Face of a Kathakali artist (Kathi Vesham) Kathakali (Malayalam:കഥകളി , Sanskrit:कथकळि) is a form of Indian dance-drama. ... Stamp issued in honour of Kathak Kathak is one of the classical dance forms of India (originally from North India), and the national dance of Pakistan. ... Kuchipudi (కుచిపుడి) is a classical dance form from Andhra Pradesh, a state of South India. ... Stamp issued in honour of the Manipuri dance Full Manipuri dance costume for Radha Manipuri dance is one of the major Indian classical dance forms. ... Odissi (or Orissi) is the traditional style of dance that originated in the state of Orissa in Eastern India, where it was performed by the maharis (temple dancers). ... A Yakshagana artist wearing pagaDe, one type of head-wear. ...

The earliest literary traditions in India were mostly oral, and were only later transcribed. Most of these are represented by religious texts such as the Vedas, the Mahabharata, and the Ramayana; Sangam literature from Tamil Nadu is among India's oldest. The many notable Indian writers of the modern era, using both Indian languages and in English, include Rabindranath Tagore. The Indian film industry is the world's most prolific; its most recognisable face is the Mumbai-based "Bollywood", which produces mainly Hindi films. Other strong cinema industries are based on the Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Bengali, and Marathi languages. Indian literature is generally acknowledged, but not wholly established, as the oldest in the world. ... Veda redirects here. ... Manuscript illustration of the Battle of Kurukshetra The (Devanagari: ) is one of the two major Sanskrit epics of ancient India, the other being the . ... For the television series by Ramanand Sagar, see Ramayan (TV series). ... now. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Indian English Literature. ... Rabindranath Tagore ( ; Bangla: ; 7 May 1861 – 7 August 1941), also known by the sobriquet Gurudev, was a Bengali poet, Brahmo Samaj (syncretic Hindu monotheist) philosopher, visual artist, playwright, composer, and novelist whose works reshaped Bengali literature and music in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. ... The Indian film industry is the largest in the world in terms of number of films (877 feature films and 1177 short films made in India were released in the year 2003 alone);[1] compared with 473 films released in the US in 2003. ... Bollywood (Hindi: , Urdu: ) is the informal name given to the popular Mumbai-based Hindustani language film industry in India. ... Kollywood is a name often applied to Tamil Cinema, based in Chennai (formerly Madras) in the state of Tamil Nadu in south India. ... This article is about the Telugu film industry. ... The Cinema of Karnataka encompasses movies made in the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Malayalam cinema, or movies in Malayalam language, forms a significant component of the Cinema of India, both as a form of art and as mass medium. ... Bengali cinema, or the Bengali film industry, is one of the earliest film industries in India. ... Marathi is one of the widely spoken languages of India, and has a long literary history. ...

The cuisine of India is extremely diverse, as ingredients, spices and cooking methods vary from region to region. Rice and wheat are the nation's main staple foods. The country is notable for its wide variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian cuisine. Spicy food and sweets are popular in India. Traditional Indian dress greatly varies across the regions in its colours and styles, and depend on various factors, including climate. Popular styles of dress include the sari for women and the lungi or dhoti for men. The Cuisine of India is very diverse and is a result of Indias diverse population. ... Species Oryza glaberrima Oryza sativa The planting of rice is often a labour-intensive process Terrace of rice paddies in Yunnan Province, southern China. ... Species T. aestivum T. boeoticum T. compactum T. dicoccoides T. dicoccon T. durum T. monococcum T. spelta T. sphaerococcum T. timopheevii References:   ITIS 42236 2002-09-22 For the indie rock group see: Wheat (band). ... For animals adapted to eat primarily plants, sometimes referred to as vegetarian animals, see Herbivore. ... Indian dress varies widely throughout India. ... A traditional north Indian style sari. ... A boy in a village of Narail, Bangladesh wearing a lungi with single knot. ... Similar to sarongs, dhotis are commonly worn with western-style oxford shirts by the men of South India. ...

A Toda tribal hut.

India's national sport is field hockey, although cricket is the most popular sport in India. In some states, particularly those in the northeast and the coastal states of West Bengal, Goa and Kerala, football is the more popular sport. In recent times, tennis has gained popularity. Chess, commonly held to have originated in India, is also gaining popularity with the rise of the number of recognised Indian grandmasters. Traditional sports include kabaddi, kho-kho, and gilli-danda, which are played nationwide. India is home to the age-old discipline of yoga, and also to the ancient martial art, kalarippayattu. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 648 KB) The hut of a Toda Tribe of Nilgiris, India. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1280x960, 648 KB) The hut of a Toda Tribe of Nilgiris, India. ... The neutrality of this article is disputed. ... A game of field hockey in progress Field hockey is a popular sport for men and women in many countries around the world; it is the second most popular team sport after football (soccer)[]. Its official name and the one by which it is usually known is hockey [1][2... For the insect, see Cricket (insect). ... The Himalayas in Sikkim North-East India is the easternmost region of India consisting of the contiguous Seven Sister States and the state of Sikkim. ... West Bengal   (Bengali: পশ্চিমবঙ্গ, Poshchimbôŋgo) is a state in eastern India. ... Goa   (Konkani: गोंय goṃya; Marathi: गोवा govā; Portuguese: Goa) is Indias smallest state in terms of area and the fourth smallest in terms of population (after Sikkim, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh). ...   (IPA: ; , Written as േകരളം in the native language Malayalam) is a state on the Western Coast of south-western India. ... Football (soccer) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ @import /skins-1. ... A tennis net Tennis is a game played between either two players (singles) or two teams of two players (doubles). Players use a stringed racquet to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponents court. ... Chess is a recreational and competitive game for two players. ... The title Grandmaster is awarded to world-class chess masters by the world chess organization FIDE. Apart from World Champion, Grandmaster is the highest title a chess player can attain. ... Kabaddi (sometimes written Kabbadi or Kabadi) (Hindi: कबड्डी; IPA: ) is a team sport originally from South Asia. ... Kho Kho is an Indian sport played by teams of twelve players who try to avoid being touched by members of the opposing team. ... Gilli िगल्ली -danda डन्डा is a game popular across the length and breadth of India and Pakistan. ... Yoga (Devanagari: योग) is one of the six schools of Hindu philosophy, focusing on meditation as a path to self-knowledge and liberation. ... The Indian subcontinent is home to a variety of martial arts, including Pehlwani, Kalarippayattu, Vajra Mushti and Gatka. ... Kalarippayattu (Malayalam:കളരിപയററ്) is an Indian martial art practised in Kerala and contiguous parts of neighboring Tamil Nadu. ...

Indian festivals come in a vast variety; many are celebrated irrespective of caste and creed. The most popular holidays are Diwali, Holi, Onam, Sankranti/Pongal, Gudi Padwa/Ugadi, Durgapuja, Dussehra, the two Eids, Christmas, and Vaisakhi. India has three national holidays. Other sets of holidays, varying between nine and twelve, are officially observed in the individual states. Religious practices are an integral part of everyday life and are a very public affair. Traditional Indian family values are highly respected, although urban families now prefer a nuclear family system due to the socio-economic constraints imposed by the traditional joint family system. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with :Indian festivals. ... Diwali, also called Deepavali or Divali, is a major Hindu festival that is very significant in Hinduism, Sikhism and Jainism. ... It has been suggested that Dol-Purnima be merged into this article or section. ... Onam (Malayalam: ഓണം) is an annual harvest festival, celebrated mainly in the Indian state of Kerala. ... Sankranthi, or Sankranti, is a festival that signifies the beginning of the harvest season for the farmers of India. ... This article is about the Pongal festival. ... // The celebration of springtime and harvest Gudi Padwa is a holiday celebrated in India. ... Ugadi (Telugu: ఉగాది, Kannada: ಉಗಾದಿ) (literally - the start of an era) is the new years day for the people of the Deccan region of India. ... In Hinduism, Durga (Sanskrit: , Bengali: ) is a form of Devi, the supreme goddess. ... Vijayadashami (also known as Dussehra) is a festival celebrated across India. ... The word Eid can mean several things: There are two Islamic festivals of Eid: One is called Eid ul-Fitr (Arabic: عيد الفطر) that marks the end of the holy month of Ramadan, The other is Eid ul-Adha (Arabic: عيد الأضحى) or Eid-e Qurban (Persian: عید قربان) which is celebrated to commemorate Prophet Ibrahim... Christmas is an annual holiday that marks the birth of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. ... Vaisakhi (Punjabi: , , also known as Baisakhi) marks the beginning of the new Spring year and the end of the harvest in India. ...

See also

This page lists articles on Wikipedia that are related to India and Indian culture. ... India has a large variation in climate from region to region, due to its vast size. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Glimpses of biodiversity India is one of the high biodiversity regions of the world with three biodiversity hotspots - the Western Ghats, the Eastern Himalayas and the Indo-Burma regions. ... . ... This article is in need of attention from an expert on the subject. ... Here are some of the mountains in India: Peaks Mount Abu Kanchanjenga highest in Sikkim and Nepal Doddabetta Kalsubhai Kamet Nanda Devi — second highest Ranges in India The Himalaya Western Ghats Eastern Ghats Aravalli Range Nilgiri Hills Vindhya Range Satpura Range Garo Hills Khasi Hills Shivalik Hills Annamalai and Cardamom... Map of the major rivers, lakes and reervoirs in India This is a list of rivers in India. ... This is a list of cities in India: * indicates capital cities. ... The divisions of a district. ... What follows is a list of unofficial, or quasi-official regions of India. ... India is subdivided into twenty-eight states and seven union territories; the states and territories are themselves further subdivided. ... This is a list of valleys in India. ... The archaeological record in India (that is Greater India or the Indian subcontinent, encompassing the territory of the modern nations of the Republic of India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal) shows first traces of Homo sapiens from ca. ... This is a timeline of Indian history. ... Economic history of India, in the sense of the meaning of the term economic in its current sense, is at least 5000 years old. ... Originating over 5,000 years ago, the linguistic history of India describes the evolution and transformation of early human communications techniques - from pictures, pictorial scripts and engravings - to the modern Indian languages that belong to the Indo-Aryan languages and the Dravidian languages. ... India has had a maritime history dating back around 5,000 years. ... Indias military India has a long military history, the modern armed forces were raised under British Raj in the 19th century. ... The Palaeolithic and Mesolithic in South Asia. ... Excavated ruins of Mohenjo-daro. ... This article or section may contain original research or unverified claims. ... The time period in the history of India known as the Vedic period or Vedic age is the period of the composition of the sacred texts called Vedas and other such texts in Vedic Sanskrit. ... This does not cite its references or sources. ... Magadha was an ancient kingdom of India, mentioned in both the Ramayana and the Mahabharata. ... Middle kingdoms of India refers to the political entities in India from the 6th century BCE through to the Islamic invasions and the related Decline of Buddhism from the 7th century CE. // Kingdoms and Empires The Aryans had invaded India from the Northwest, according to the Aryan Invasion Theory, and... During the middle ages, several Islamic regimes established empires in South Asia. ... The Hoysala Empire ruled part of southern India from 1000 to 1346. ... The Kakatiya Dynasty was a South Indian dynasty that ruled parts of what is now Andhra Pradesh, India from 1083 to 1323. ... The Vijayanagara empire was based in the Deccan, in peninsular and southern India, from 1336 onwards. ... The Mughal Empire (Persian: ‎ , Urdu: مغلیہ سلطنت), self-designation Gurkānī, گوركانى (which was also the self-designation of the Timurids in Central Asia and Khorasan) was an empire that at its greatest territorial extent ruled eastern parts of Khorasan (i. ... Extent of the Maratha Confederacy ca. ... In 1498, the Portuguese set foot in Goa. ... The flag of British India British India, circa 1860 The British Raj (Raj in Hindi meaning Rule from Sanskrit Rajya) was the British rule between 1858 and 1947 of the Indian Subcontinent, or present-day India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Myanmar, during the period whereby these lands were under the colonial... An engraving titled Sepoy Indian troops dividing the spoils after their mutiny against British rule gives a contemporary view of events from a British perspective. ... The Indian independence movement incorporated the efforts by Indians to liberate the region from British rule and form the nation-state of India. ... Britains holdings on the Indian subcontinent were granted independence in 1947 and 1948, becoming four new independent states: India, Burma (now Myanmar), Ceylon (now Sri Lanka), and Pakistan (including East Pakistan, modern-day Bangladesh). ... India under British Raj in 1922, prior to its partition and integration after independence. ... Combatants China India Commanders Lin Biao B.M. Kaul Strength 80,000[1][2] Casualties Never released [3] Killed 1,383 Captured 3,968 Missing 1,696 [3] The Sino-Indian War (Simplified Chinese: 中印边境战争; Traditional Chinese: 中印邊境戰爭; pinyin: Zhōng-Yìn Biānjìng Zhànzhēng; Hindi: भारत-चीन युद्ध Bhārat... Since India achieved independence in August 1947 and Pakistan was created as a separate Muslim nation, there have been three major wars and one minor war between India and Pakistan. ... Contents // Categories: Stub ... The Republic of India, the second most populous country and one of the fastest growing economies in the world, is considered as a major power and a potential superpower. ... The Preamble of the Constitution of India — Indias fundamental and supreme law The Fundamental Rights, Directive Principles of State Policy and Fundamental Duties are sections of the Constitution of India that prescribe the fundamental obligations of the State to its citizens and the duties of the citizens to the... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... India has a number of intelligence agencies. ... Indian Law is largely derived from the British Common Law. ... India has a multitude of Law Enforcement agencies. ... There are very few or no other articles that link to this one. ... Sansad Bhavan, The Parliament of India The Parliament of India (or Sansad) is bicameral. ... The Supreme Court of India is the highest court of the land as established by Part V, Chapter IV of the Constitution of India. ... Politics of India takes place in a framework of a federal parliamentary representative democratic republic, whereby the Prime Minister of India is the head of government, and of a pluriform multi-party system. ... Censorship in India mainly targets religious issues. ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... The situation of human rights in India is a complex one, as a result of the countrys large size and tremendous diversity, its status as a developing country, and its history as a former colonial territory. ... Map of India. ... Political parties in India lists political parties in India. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) (Hindi: , English: ), created in 1980, is one of the two major national political parties in India. ... For the Nepalese party, see Bahujan Samaj Party, Nepal. ... The Communist Party of India (CPI) is a political party in India. ... The Communist Party of India (Marxist), or CPI(M), is a political party in India. ... The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) is an Indian political party. ... Reservation in Indian law is a term used to describe the governmental policy whereby a percentage of seats are reserved in the Parliament of India, State Legislative Assemblies, Central and State Civil Services, Public Sector Units, Central and State Governmental Departments and in all Public and Private Educational Institutions, except... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... In India, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes are communities that are accorded special status by the Constitution of India. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... For the past decade or so, telecommunication activities have gained momentum in India. ... This is a list of major companies based in India including Public Sector Undertakings. ... The Bombay Stock Exchange The Bombay Stock Exchange Limited (formerly, The Stock Exchange, Mumbai; popularly called The Bombay Stock Exchange, or BSE) is the oldest stock exchange in Asia. ... The National Stock Exchange of India (NSE), is one of the largest and most advanced stock markets in India. ... This article is about healthcare in India: // Role of the Government The Indian constitution charges the states with the raising of the level of nutrition and the standard of living of its people and the improvement of public health. However, many critics of Indias National Health Policy, endorsed by... In New Delhi, a woman wields a pickaxe on a footpath maintenance project while her husband rests and her baby sleeps Although recent positive economic developments have helped the Indian middle-class a great deal, India still suffers from substantial poverty. ... The RBI headquarters in Mumbai The RBI Regional Office in Mumbai The RBI heaquarters in Delhi. ... ISO 4217 Code INR User(s) India Inflation 5. ... In New Delhi, a woman wields a pickaxe on a footpath maintenance project while her husband rests and her baby sleeps The standard of living in India is constantly improving. ... [[Image:Taj Mahal in March 2004. ... Taj Mahal, a popular icon of India The culture of India was moulded throughout various eras of history, all the while absorbing customs, traditions and ideas from both invaders and immigrants. ... Arts and entertainment in India have a rich and ancient history. ... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... Indian cuisine is distinguished by its sophisticated use of spices and herbs and the influence of the longstanding and widespread practice of vegetarianism in Indian society. ... Indian classical dance is performed in different styles. ... population growth, from 443 million in 1960 to 1,004 million in 2000 Map showing the population density of each district in India Map showing the population growth over the past ten years of each distrct in India Map showing the literacy rate of each district in India Map showing... Folklore in India paints pictures of piety, valour, gods and goddesses. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with :Indian festivals. ... Indian literature is generally acknowledged, but not wholly established, as the oldest in the world. ... The Indian subcontinent is home to a variety of martial arts, including Pehlwani, Kalarippayattu, Vajra Mushti and Gatka. ... Timeline and Samples Genres Classical (Carnatic and Hindustani) - Rock - Pop - Hip hop Awards Bollywood Music Awards - Punjabi Music Awards Charts Festivals Sangeet Natak Akademi – Thyagaraja Aradhana – Cleveland Thyagaraja Aradhana Media Sruti, The Music Magazine National anthem Jana Gana Mana, also national song Vande Mataram Music of the states Andaman and...

References

Jammu and Kashmir   (IPA: , Kashmiri:ज्वम त॒ कॅशीर جۄم تٕہ کٔشِیر, Hindi:जम्मू और कश्मीर, Urdu:جموں Ùˆ کشمیر) (often abbreviated as Kashmir), is the northern-most state of India, lying mostly in the Himalayan mountains. ... The foundation of the U.N. The United Nations (UN) is an international organization whose stated aims are to facilitate co-operation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress and human rights issues. ... January 9 is the 9th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (81st in leap years). ... The Manorama Logo in Malayalam Malayala Manorama (Malayalam: മലയാള മനോരമ) is a popular Malayalam newspaper in Kerala, India. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... Business Standard is a financial daily from Business Standard Ltd (BSL), a venture of the Anandabazar Patrika (ABP) group of publishers. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... December 28 is the 362nd day of the year (363rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 3 days remaining. ... The current BBC News logo BBC News and Current Affairs is a major arm of the BBC responsible for the corporations newsgathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... February 16 is the 47th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar. ... The Hindustan Times is a leading newspaper in India. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... July 8 is the 189th day of the year (190th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 176 days remaining. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... The Australian (informally referred to as The Oz) is a national daily broadsheet newspaper published by Rupert Murdochs News Corporation. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the Anno Domini (common) era. ... March 10 is the 69th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (70th in leap years). ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 14 is the 226th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (227th in leap years), with 139 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Manorama Logo in Malayalam Malayala Manorama (Malayalam: മലയാള മനോരമ) is a popular Malayalam newspaper in Kerala, India. ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 18 is the 322nd day of the year (323rd in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

External links

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Government

• Official entry portal of the Government of India
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General reference

• CIA World Factbook entry on India
• Encyclopædia Britannica entry on India
• BBC country profile of India

Other

• India travel guide from Wikitravel
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• India at the Open Directory Project (suggest site)