India (Republic of India)
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| India (Republic of India) | |
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| Conventional long name | Republic of India |
| Common name | India |
| Capital | New Delhi |
| Largest city | Mumbai |
| Official languages | Hindi, English |
| Area km2 | 3287263 |
| Population estimate | 1.4 billion |
| Government type | Federal parliamentary republic |
| President | Droupadi Murmu |
| Prime minister | Narendra Modi |
India (Republic of India) is a sovereign state in South Asia bordered by Pakistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar, with maritime boundaries near Sri Lanka and the Maldives. It is the world's most populous democracy and a founding member of multilateral organizations such as the United Nations, the Non-Aligned Movement, and the G20. The country has diverse geography from the Himalaya to the Deccan Plateau, and a complex modern history linking periods like the Indus Valley Civilization, the Mughal Empire, the British Raj, and the Indian independence movement.
Etymology and Symbols
The name "India" derives from the River Indus as documented by Herodotus, referenced in Achaemenid Empire records and later adopted by Greek language sources like Darius I. National symbols include the Tiranga flag adopted by the Constituent Assembly of India, the Lion Capital of Ashoka as the national emblem originally from the Maurya Empire, and the National Anthem of India "Jana Gana Mana" with lyrics by Rabindranath Tagore. Other state symbols include the Bengal tiger as the national animal, the Indian peafowl as the national bird, and the Lotus adopted as the national flower, each referenced in constitutional and cultural proclamations by institutions such as the Government of India and the Supreme Court of India.
History
Prehistoric and ancient developments include the Indus Valley Civilization and the Vedic period, followed by classical polities like the Maurya Empire under Ashoka and the Gupta Empire. Medieval history features incursions and states such as the Delhi Sultanate, the Vijayanagara Empire, and the Mughal Empire with rulers like Akbar and Shah Jahan. Early modern and colonial eras saw expansion by the East India Company, conflicts like the Indian Rebellion of 1857, and administration under the British Raj culminating in the Indian independence movement led by figures including Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, and Subhas Chandra Bose. Partition in 1947 created Dominion of Pakistan and led to the Partition of India; the modern republic emerged with the Constitution of India in 1950, shaped by leaders such as B. R. Ambedkar. Post-independence milestones involve wars with Pakistan (including the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971), conflicts with China in 1962, economic reforms in 1991 initiated by Manmohan Singh, and contemporary political developments under parties like the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
Geography and Environment
India spans physiographic regions including the Himalayan mountain range in the north, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, the Thar Desert, and the Deccan Plateau. Major rivers such as the Ganges, Brahmaputra, and Godavari support agriculture and have religious significance in contexts like the Kumbh Mela. Biodiversity hotspots include the Western Ghats and the Sundarbans, home to species like the Bengal tiger and the Indian rhinoceros; conservation efforts involve agencies such as the Wildlife Institute of India and treaties like the Convention on Biological Diversity. Environmental challenges include air pollution in cities like Delhi, water stress in regions such as Rajasthan, glacial retreat in the Himalayas, and cyclones affecting the Bay of Bengal coast, prompting responses by organizations like the National Disaster Management Authority.
Government and Politics
India is a federal republic with a parliamentary system based on the Constitution of India; the head of state is the President of India and the head of government is the Prime Minister of India. The bicameral legislature consists of the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha with electoral processes overseen by the Election Commission of India. Major political parties include the Indian National Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party, and regional parties like the Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. Judicial authority is vested in the Supreme Court of India and various high courts such as the Calcutta High Court; landmark decisions have involved laws like the Right to Information Act and controversies around the Article 370 abrogation in relation to Jammu and Kashmir. Foreign policy engages multilateral fora including the United Nations Security Council debates, strategic partnerships with the United States and Russia, and regional initiatives in the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation.
Economy
India has a mixed economy with sectors including information technology hubs like Bengaluru, manufacturing clusters such as Gujarat, and financial centers including Mumbai which houses the Bombay Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank of India. Economic reforms in 1991 under P. V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh accelerated liberalization, affecting industries from textiles to pharmaceuticals led by companies such as Sun Pharma and Cipla. Trade links involve partners like the European Union, United States, and China while infrastructure projects include the Golden Quadrilateral and initiatives like Make in India and Digital India. Challenges include income inequality measured by Gini coefficient analyses, unemployment concerns, and fiscal policy managed via the Ministry of Finance and the Goods and Services Tax regime.
Demographics and Society
India's population includes major ethnolinguistic groups speaking languages from families such as Indo-Aryan languages and Dravidian languages with large language communities including Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, and Marathi. Urbanization trends concentrate populations in metropolitan areas like Delhi, Kolkata, and Chennai, while rural societies persist across states like Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Social structures historically influenced by systems such as the caste system intersect with legislation like the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and movements led by activists such as B. R. Ambedkar. Public health initiatives are implemented by institutions like the All India Institute of Medical Sciences and programs addressing diseases like tuberculosis and vaccination campaigns driven by National Health Mission frameworks.
Culture and Religion
India's cultural heritage spans classical traditions such as Bharatanatyam and Hindustani classical music and modern arts including cinema industries like Bollywood and regional cinemas such as Tollywood (Telugu cinema). Literary contributions range from ancient texts like the Mahabharata and Ramayana to modern writers including Rabindranath Tagore, R. K. Narayan, and Arundhati Roy. Major religions practiced include Hinduism, Islam, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Christianity, with festivals such as Diwali, Eid al-Fitr, Vaisakhi, Vesak, and Christmas forming public life, and pilgrimage sites including Varanasi, Amritsar, and Bodh Gaya. Cultural institutions like the Archaeological Survey of India and events like the Jaipur Literature Festival promote heritage, while contemporary cultural diplomacy engages bodies such as the Indian Council for Cultural Relations.
Category:Countries in Asia