India

India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area and has been the most populous country since 2023. India is bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the southwest, and the Bay of Bengal on the southeast. It shares land borders with Pakistan to the west, China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east.

Modern humans arrived on the Indian subcontinent from Africa over 55,000 years ago. Many cultures and religions developed there, including Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and later Islam, Christianity, Judaism, and Zoroastrianism. India has a rich history of art, architecture, and writing.

Since gaining independence in 1947, India has been a federal republic with a democratic parliamentary system. Its population has grown from 361 million in 1951 to over 1.4 billion today, and the Indian economy has become a fast-growing major economy, especially in information technology. India still faces challenges such as gender inequality, child malnutrition, and air pollution. Despite these issues, India is known for its rich culture, diverse languages, and beautiful wildlife in protected habitats.

Etymology

Main article: Names for India

The name "India" comes from old languages and places. It began with the Latin word India, which described a big area in Asia including modern-day South Asia. Other old names like Indos from Greek and Sindhu from Sanskrit also helped shape the name.

Another key name for the country is Bharat, used in Indian poems and the Constitution of India. It first meant North India but now refers to the whole country. Hindustan is an older name that grew popular later, during the time of the Mughal Empire. It often means the northern part of India or sometimes the whole country.

History

Main article: History of India

Ancient India

Humans first lived in India a very long time ago, between 80,000 and 50,000 years ago. They were hunters and gatherers before they started farming. One of the world's earliest civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization, lived in big cities with good planning and art from 2500 to 1900 BCE.

Later, people speaking an early form of Sanskrit came from the northwest. This helped create Hinduism and important books like the Rig Veda. By 400 BCE, new religions like Jainism and Buddhism taught kindness to all living things. The Mauryan Empire became strong under Emperor Ashoka, who later supported Buddhism.

Medieval India

Main article: Medieval India

From 600 to 1200 CE, India had many small kingdoms instead of one big empire. During this time, Tamil poets wrote hymns that shared Hindu ideas across India. Indian culture traveled to Southeast Asia, influencing places like Thailand and Indonesia.

In the 1200s, leaders from Central Asia took control of northern India, forming the Delhi Sultanate. They ruled many areas but often let local people keep their traditions. Later, the Vijayanagara Empire grew powerful in southern India and had a big influence on the area.

Early modern India

In the 1500s, new rulers from Central Asia came to India and formed the Mughal Empire. They ruled with many different cultures and brought peace, helping India's economy grow. Art, buildings, and learning all flourished. However, by the 1700s, the Mughal Empire began to weaken.

European trading companies, especially the English East India Company, set up bases along India’s coast. With better weapons and ships, the company slowly took control of large parts of India. This started British colonial rule.

Modern India

Main article: History of India (1947–present)

In the 1800s, new technologies like railways started to change India. People became unhappy, leading to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended East India Company rule. The British government then took direct control. Over time, Indians asked for independence.

After World War II, India became independent in 1947 but was divided into two countries: India and Pakistan. India became a democratic republic in 1950. Since then, it has grown quickly but still faces challenges like poverty.

Geography

See also: Geography of India

India is a large country that covers most of the Indian subcontinent. It sits on the Indian tectonic plate and is part of the Indo-Australian Plate. A long time ago, the Indian Plate moved northeast. This created the Himalayas, a huge mountain range. It also formed the Indo-Gangetic Plain, a fertile area where many people live.

India has many rivers. The Ganges and Brahmaputra flow into the Bay of Bengal. Other important rivers include the Godavari, Mahanadi, Kaveri, Krishna, Narmada, and Tapti. India's coastline is very long and has sandy beaches, rocky shores, and marshy areas.

Climate

Main article: Climate of India

India's climate is shaped by the Himalayas and the Thar Desert. These affect the monsoons, the seasonal winds that bring rain. Most of India's rain falls between June and October. India has different climate zones, including tropical wet, tropical dry, subtropical humid, and montane. Temperatures have been rising, likely due to climate change, which can affect rivers and may increase droughts.

Biodiversity

Main articles: Forestry in India and Wildlife of India

India is a megadiverse country, home to many different plants and animals. It has many mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and flowering plants. Some of these species live only in India. India has many forests, including tropical moist forests, temperate coniferous forests, and dry deciduous forests. The country has national parks and protected areas to help save its wildlife, including tigers and the Ganges river dolphin.

Government and politics

Politics

Main article: Politics of India

See also: Democracy in India

India is a parliamentary republic with many different parties. Two big parties are the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. After India became independent in 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru was the first prime minister. Later leaders included Indira Gandhi and Narendra Modi, who has been prime minister since 2014.

Government

Main articles: Government of India, State governments of India, and Local government in India

See also: Constitution of India

The Constitution of India sets out how the country is run. The President is the head of state, and the Prime Minister, chosen by the people, leads the government. India has a parliament with two houses: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. There is also a strong independent judiciary, with the supreme court as the highest court.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Administrative divisions of India

See also: Political integration of India

India has 28 states and 8 union territories. Each state and union territory has its own government to handle local matters.

States

• Andhra Pradesh
• Arunachal Pradesh
• Assam
• Bihar
• Chhattisgarh
• Goa
• Gujarat
• Haryana
• Himachal Pradesh
• Jharkhand
• Karnataka
• Kerala
• Madhya Pradesh
• Maharashtra
• Manipur
• Meghalaya
• Mizoram
• Nagaland
• Odisha
• Punjab
• Rajasthan
• Sikkim
• Tamil Nadu
• Telangana
• Tripura
• Uttar Pradesh
• Uttarakhand
• West Bengal

Union territories

• Andaman and Nicobar Islands
• Chandigarh
• Dadra and Nagar Haveli and Daman and Diu
• Jammu and Kashmir
• Ladakh
• Lakshadweep
• National Capital Territory of Delhi
• Puducherry

Foreign relations

Main article: Foreign relations of India

India is part of the Commonwealth of Nations. India has worked to build friendships with many countries. India and China had a disagreement about their borders, and India and Pakistan have had some conflicts. India tested nuclear weapons in 1974 and again in 1998. Since then, India has built stronger ties with the United States and the European Union. In 2008, India made an agreement with the United States for peaceful nuclear technology.

Economy

Main article: Economy of India

India has one of the biggest economies in the world. As of 2026, it is the 6th largest by total output and the third-largest when looking at the power of money to buy goods and services (purchasing power parity). The country has been growing fast, with its economy expanding by more than 5% each year on average from 1990 to 2010.

India’s economy includes many people working in different jobs. The service sector, like banking and technology, is the biggest part, making up over half of the economy. Industry and farming also play big roles. Many people in India work in agriculture, and the country makes a lot of foods such as milk and tea. India is also known for its growing technology and medicine industries, making it important in the world economy.

Industries

Main articles: Industry in India and Energy in India

See also: Energy policy of India

India has many important industries. The car industry is growing fast, and the country is now one of the world’s top markets for vehicles. The information technology sector employs many workers and brings in a lot of money. India is also a leading maker of medicines, producing many generic drugs used around the world.

The country makes a lot of electricity, with efforts to use more clean energy sources. India is also famous for its tea, fishing, and tourism, with places like Mumbai and Bangalore being important centers for business and technology.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of India

India is the world's most populous country, with over 1.4 billion people. The population has grown because of better medicine and farming. But the growth rate is getting slower. More people live longer, and fewer children die young.

Languages

Main article: Languages of India

India has many languages. Hindi is the official language, but English is also important. The Indian Constitution recognizes 22 languages, including Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Sanskrit, and Urdu. These languages are part of India's culture.

Religion

Main article: Religion in India

India is home to many religions. It is where Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism began. Most people in India are Hindu, but there are also Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains. India is a secular country, meaning the government treats all religions the same.

Education

Main article: Education in India

See also: Literacy in India and History of education in the Indian subcontinent

India's literacy rate has gotten better over time, but there are still differences between rural and urban areas, and between men and women. The country has many schools, colleges, and universities. Improving education has helped India's economy grow.

Health

Main article: Health in India

India has many cases of tuberculosis each year. Air pollution is a big problem in many cities and can affect health. Diseases of the heart and lungs are common causes of death in the country.

Culture

Main article: Culture of India

India has a rich and diverse culture shaped by its long history and many influences. Families in India often arrange marriages for their children. Traditional clothing includes the sari for women and the dhoti for men, though modern styles are also popular. Indian food is known for its use of spices and varied dishes, from rice and bread to vegetables and meats.

India has many traditional sports and games, such as kabaddi and kho kho. Cricket is the most popular sport, with India achieving great success in international competitions. The country also has a strong tradition of chess, with many top players coming from India.