India (country)

India (country)
Conventional long name	Republic of India
Common name	India
Capital	New Delhi
Largest city	Mumbai
Official languages	Hindi; English
Ethnic groups	Indo-Aryan peoples; Dravidian peoples; Tibeto-Burman peoples; Austroasiatic peoples
Government type	Parliamentary system; Federalism
Area km2	3287263
Population estimate	1.4 billion
Currency	Indian rupee
Independence	15 August 1947

India (country) is a federal republic in South Asia located on the Indian subcontinent, bounded by the Arabian Sea, the Bay of Bengal, and the Himalayas. It is the world's most populous democracy and a founding member of institutions such as the United Nations and the Non-Aligned Movement. India has a pluralistic society shaped by millennia of interactions among regional polities, trade networks, and religious movements.

Etymology and Symbols

The name derives from the Indus River (ancient Sindhu), used by Greeks as Indós, and later by Persians and Europeans; the modern constitutional name is the Republic of India. National symbols include the Flag of India (tricolor and Ashoka Chakra), the State Emblem of India (adapted from the Lion Capital of Ashoka), the National Anthem of India "Jana Gana Mana" by Rabindranath Tagore, and the National Song of India "Vande Mataram" by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay. Other symbols recognised by statute include the Bengal tiger as national animal, the Indian peafowl as national bird, and the Lotus as national flower.

History

Ancient civilizations on the subcontinent include the Indus Valley Civilization and the Vedic period, which intersected with the rise of urban kingdoms such as the Maurya Empire under Ashoka and the Gupta Empire. Medieval eras saw the growth of regional dynasties like the Chola dynasty, the Delhi Sultanate, and the Vijayanagara Empire, alongside the spread of Buddhism, Jainism, Hinduism, and Islam in South Asia. Early modern history was marked by the Mughal Empire and maritime trade links with Portugal, the Netherlands, France, and England; the British East India Company and later the British Raj consolidated colonial rule. Anti-colonial movements led by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, and organizations like the Indian National Congress and the All-India Muslim League culminated in independence and the Partition of British India into successor states in 1947. Post-independence developments include the adoption of the Constitution of India (1950), wars with Pakistan and China, the Green Revolution, and economic reforms beginning in 1991 under leaders such as P. V. Narasimha Rao and Manmohan Singh that led to rapid integration into global markets.

Geography and Environment

India's topography ranges from the alpine zones of the Himalayas to the Thar Desert, the Indo-Gangetic Plain, and the Deccan Plateau, with extensive coastlines on the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal. Major rivers include the Ganges, the Yamuna, the Brahmaputra, and the Godavari; large lakes and wetlands such as the Chilika Lake and the Sundarbans mangrove forest are ecologically significant. India hosts biodiversity hotspots like the Western Ghats and the Eastern Himalaya and contains protected areas including Jim Corbett National Park and Kaziranga National Park. Challenges include air pollution in cities like Delhi, water stress in regions such as Rajasthan, monsoon variability, and threats from climate change impacting Himalayan glaciers and coastal zones.

Government and Politics

India is a constitutional republic with a parliamentary system; the President of India is the head of state and the Prime Minister of India is the head of government. Legislative authority is vested in the bicameral Parliament of India comprising the Rajya Sabha and the Lok Sabha. The judiciary is headed by the Supreme Court of India. Major political parties include the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Indian National Congress, and regional parties such as the Trinamool Congress and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam. India participates in regional and international organisations including the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation, the G20, and the World Trade Organization. Constitutional provisions protect fundamental rights and outline a framework for federalism and secular governance amid ongoing debates over issues like affirmative action, electoral reform, and civil liberties.

Economy

India has a mixed economy with large services, industrial, and agricultural sectors; prominent industries include information technology services centred in Bengaluru, pharmaceuticals in Hyderabad, textiles in Surat, and automotive manufacturing in Pune. The country conducts monetary policy via the Reserve Bank of India and fiscal policy through the Ministry of Finance; reforms such as the Goods and Services Tax and Liberalisation policies of 1991 accelerated growth and foreign investment. India is a member of the World Bank and receives remittances from the Indian diaspora in regions like the Gulf Cooperation Council states and North America. Challenges include income inequality, informality in labour markets, infrastructure deficits, and regional development disparities.

Demographics and Society

India's population comprises diverse linguistic, religious, and ethnic communities; major languages include Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, and Urdu. Religious traditions with large followings include Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, and Jainism. Urban centres such as Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, and Chennai are demographic and cultural hubs. Educational institutions include the Indian Institutes of Technology and the All India Institute of Medical Sciences; public health services and initiatives like the National Health Mission address widespread health needs. Social policies such as reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes address historical inequalities, while social movements—ranging from the Dalit movement to regional autonomy campaigns—shape contemporary discourse.

Culture and Heritage

India's cultural heritage includes classical arts such as Carnatic music, Hindustani classical music, classical dance forms like Bharatanatyam and Kathak, and a literary history spanning Sanskrit epics like the Mahabharata and the Ramayana to modern writers such as Rabindranath Tagore, R. K. Narayan, and Arundhati Roy. Film industries, notably Bollywood in Mumbai and regional cinemas in Tollywood and Kollywood, are globally influential. Architectural landmarks include the Taj Mahal, Qutub Minar, and surviving urban forms of the Harappan civilization. Festivals—Diwali, Holi, Eid al-Fitr, Christmas, Guru Nanak Jayanti—reflect plural religious traditions. Culinary diversity spans regional cuisines from Punjabi cuisine to South Indian cuisine and street food cultures in cities like Kolkata and Chennai.

Category:Countries of Asia