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. Over time, many different 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. However, 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 ancient languages and regions. It started with the Latin word India, referring to a large area in Asia that includes modern-day South Asia. Other ancient names like Indos from Greek and Sindhu from Sanskrit also influenced the name.

Another important name for the country is Bharat, used in Indian poems and the Constitution of India. It originally referred to North India but is now used more widely. Hindustan is another historical name that became popular much later, during the time of the Mughal Empire, and it often means the northern part of the country or all of India.

History

Main article: History of India

Ancient India

The earliest humans arrived in India between 80,000 and 50,000 years ago, making it one of the most diverse places in the world. They lived as hunter-gatherers before settling down and farming. One of the world’s earliest civilizations, the Indus Valley Civilization, thrived from 2500 to 1900 BCE in what is now Pakistan and western India. It had big cities with advanced planning and arts.

Later, people speaking an early form of Sanskrit arrived from the northwest. This led to the development of Hinduism and the writing of important texts like the Rig Veda. By 400 BCE, new religions like Jainism and Buddhism appeared, teaching kindness to all living things. The Mauryan Empire became powerful under Emperor Ashoka, who later promoted Buddhism.

Medieval India

Main article: Medieval India

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

In the 1200s, Muslim leaders from Central Asia took control of northern India, forming the Delhi Sultanate. They ruled many parts but often let local people keep their own traditions. Later, the Vijayanagara Empire rose in southern India, becoming powerful and influencing the region for years.

Early modern India

In the 1500s, new rulers from Central Asia came to India and formed the Mughal Empire. They ruled with a mix of different cultures and brought peace, which helped India’s economy grow. Art, architecture, and learning flourished during this time. 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 gradually took control of large parts of India. This marked the beginning of British colonial rule.

Modern India

Main article: History of India (1947–present)

In the 1800s, new technologies like railways began to change India. Discontent grew, leading to the Indian Rebellion of 1857, which ended East India Company rule. The British government then took direct control. Over time, Indians began to demand independence.

After World War II, India gained independence in 1947 but was divided into two nations: India and Pakistan. India became a democratic republic in 1950. Since then, it has grown into a fast-growing economy but still faces challenges like poverty and regional conflicts.

Geography

See also: Geography of India

India makes up most of the Indian subcontinent. It sits on the Indian tectonic plate and is part of the Indo-Australian Plate. About 70 million years ago, the Indian Plate started moving northeast. This movement 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 over 7,500 kilometers long and includes 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 features 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 affects 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 a multi-party system. There are six recognised national parties in the country, including the Indian National Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party. The Congress is considered the centre in Indian political culture; the BJP is right-wing.

After India's independence in 1947, Jawaharlal Nehru became prime minister. The Congress party won many early elections. Later leaders included Indira Gandhi, who became prime minister after her father Lal Bahadur Shastri died. She led the country until she was succeeded by others, including Rajiv Gandhi and P. V. Narasimha Rao. In recent years, the BJP has grown stronger, with Narendra Modi serving as 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 was created between 1946 and 1949. It describes India as a federal state with a parliamentary democracy. The President is the head of state, while the Prime Minister, chosen by the people, is the head of government. The country has a strong central government, with a parliament that has two houses: the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. India also has an 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 is made up of 28 states and 8 union territories. Most of these areas have their own elected governments. The country is organized into many local government bodies to manage city, town, and village affairs.

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 a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. In the 1950s, India supported decolonisation and led the Non-Aligned Movement. India and China had a war in 1962 over disputed borders. India and Pakistan have fought several wars, especially over Kashmir.

India tested its first nuclear weapon in 1974 and carried out more tests in 1998. India has a "no first use" nuclear policy. Since the end of the Cold War, India has strengthened ties with the United States and the European Union. In 2008, India signed a nuclear agreement with the United States, allowing access to civilian nuclear technology despite not being part of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Economy

Main article: Economy of India

India has one of the world's largest economies. As of 2026, it is the 6th largest economy by total output and the third-largest when considering the power of money to buy goods and services (purchasing power parity). The country has been growing quickly, 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 sectors. The service sector, like banking and technology, is the biggest part, making up over half of the economy. Industry and farming each also play important roles. Many people in India work in agriculture, and the country is a big producer of foods such as milk and tea. India is also known for its growing technology and pharmaceutical industries, making it a key player in the global economy.

Industries

Main articles: Industry in India and Energy in India

See also: Energy policy of India

India has many important industries. The automotive 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 generates 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 country's population has grown quickly due to medical advances and better farming, but the rate of growth is slowing. Life expectancy has improved, and fewer children die before their fifth birthday compared to the past.

Languages

Main article: Languages of India

India has many languages from different language families. Hindi is the official language of the federal government, but English also plays an important role. The Indian Constitution recognizes 22 scheduled languages, including major regional languages like Bengali, Tamil, and Telugu, as well as others such as Sanskrit and Urdu. These languages are valued for India's cultural heritage.

Religion

Main article: Religion in India

India is home to followers of many religions. It is the birthplace of Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism. Most people in India are Hindu, but there are also large communities of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains. India is a secular country, meaning that the government treats all religions equally.

Education

Main article: Education in India

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

India's literacy rate has improved over time, though differences remain between rural and urban areas, and between men and women. The country has a large education system with many universities, colleges, and schools. Efforts to improve education have helped India's economic development.

Health

Main article: Health in India

India has a large number of cases of tuberculosis, affecting millions of people each year. Air pollution is also a serious problem, with many cities having very high levels of pollution that can harm health. Chronic diseases like heart disease and lung disease are leading 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. The caste system has historically divided Hindu society into four main groups, with further divisions called jatis. Though laws have worked to end discrimination, differences still exist today.

Families in India often arrange marriages for their children, and many weddings happen before the legal age. 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.