India (1947 – Present)

India, a country that occupies the greater part of South Asia. Its capital is New Delhi, built in the 20th century just south of the historic hub of Old Delhi to serve as India’s administrative center. Its government is a constitutional republic that represents a highly diverse population consisting of thousands of ethnic groups and likely hundreds of languages. With roughly one-sixth of the world’s total population, India is the second most populous country, after China.

It is known from archaeological evidence that a highly sophisticated urbanized culture—the Indus civilization—dominated the northwestern part of the subcontinent from about 2600 to 2000 BCE. From that period on, India functioned as a virtually self-contained political and cultural arena, which gave rise to a distinctive tradition that was associated primarily with Hinduism, the roots of which can largely be traced to the Indus civilization.

Other religions, notably Buddhism and Jainism, originated in India—though their presence there is now quite small—and throughout the centuries residents of the subcontinent developed a rich intellectual life in such fields as mathematics, astronomy, architecture, literature, music, and the fine arts.

Throughout its history, India was intermittently disturbed by incursions from beyond its northern mountain wall. Especially important was the coming of Islam, brought from the northwest by Arab, Turkish, Persian, and other raiders beginning early in the 8th century CE.

Eventually, some of those raiders stayed; by the 13th century much of the subcontinent was under Muslim rule, and the number of Muslims steadily increased. Only after the arrival of the Portuguese navigator Vasco da Gama in 1498 and the subsequent establishment of European maritime supremacy in the region did India become exposed to major external influences arriving by sea, a process that culminated in the decline of the ruling Muslim elite and absorption of the subcontinent within the British Empire.

Direct administration by the British, which began in 1858, effected a political and economic unification of the subcontinent. When British rule came to an end in 1947, the subcontinent was partitioned along religious lines into two separate countries—India, with a majority of Hindus, and Pakistan, with a majority of Muslims; the eastern portion of Pakistan later split off to form Bangladesh.

Many British institutions stayed in place (such as the parliamentary system of government); English continued to be a widely used lingua franca; and India remained within the Commonwealth. Hindi became the official language (and a number of other local languages achieved official status), while a vibrant English-language intelligentsia thrived.

India remains one of the most ethnically diverse countries in the world. Apart from its many religions and sects, India is home to innumerable castes and tribes, as well as to more than a dozen major and hundreds of minor linguistic groups from several language families unrelated to one another. Religious minorities, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Jains, still account for a significant proportion of the population; collectively, their numbers exceed the populations of all countries except China.

Earnest attempts have been made to instill a spirit of nationhood in so varied a population, but tensions between neighbouring groups have remained and at times have resulted in outbreaks of violence. Yet social legislation has done much to alleviate the disabilities previously suffered by formerly “untouchable” castes, tribal populations, women, and other traditionally disadvantaged segments of society.

At independence, India was blessed with several leaders of world stature, most notably Mohandas (Mahatma) Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, who were able to galvanize the masses at home and bring prestige to India abroad. The country has played an increasing role in global affairs.

Contemporary India’s increasing physical prosperity and cultural dynamism—despite continued domestic challenges and economic inequality—are seen in its well-developed infrastructure and a highly diversified industrial base, in its pool of scientific and engineering personnel (one of the largest in the world), in the pace of its agricultural expansion, and in its rich and vibrant cultural exports of music, literature, and cinema.

Though the country’s population remains largely rural, India has three of the most populous and cosmopolitan cities in the world—Mumbai (Bombay), Kolkata (Calcutta), and Delhi. Three other Indian cities—Bengaluru (Bangalore), Chennai (Madras), and Hyderabad—are among the world’s fastest-growing high-technology centres, and most of the world’s major information technology and software companies now have offices in India.

Facts

Also Known As	Bharatavarsha • Republic of India • Bharat
Head Of Government	Prime Minister: Narendra Modi
Capital and Largest City	New Delhi
Population	(2023 est.) 1,428,681,000
Population Rank	1th
Currency Exchange Rate	1 USD equals 82.774 Indian rupee
Head Of State	President: Droupadi Murmu
Form Of Government	multiparty federal republic with two legislative houses (Council of States [2451]; House of the People [5452])
Official Languages	Hindi; English
Official Religion	none
Official Name	Bharat (Hindi); Republic of India (English)
Total Area (Sq Km)	3,287,469
Total Area (Sq Mi)	1,269,299
Rank by Area	7th
Monetary Unit	Indian rupee ₨3
Urban-Rural Population	Urban: (2018) 34% • Rural: (2018) 66%
Life Expectancy At Birth	Male: (2021) 65 years • Female: (2021) 68.7 years
Literacy: Percentage Of Population Age 15 And Over Literate	Male: (2018) 82% • Female: (2018) 66%
GDP Nominal (U.S.$)	3.73 Trillion
Rank by GDP Nominal	5th
GDP PPP (U.S.$)	13.74 trilion
Rank GDP PPP	3th
GDP Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2022) 2,521
GDP PPP Per Capita (U.S.$)	(2022) 8,358

राष्ट्रीय गान | National Anthem

Jana Gana Mana is the national anthem of India originally written in Bengali by Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore. The national song of India is Vande Mataram. 
The duration of singing the national anthem is approximately 52 seconds. On some occasions, the national anthem is also sung in an abbreviated form, in which only the first and last lines are spoken, which takes about 20 seconds. Jana-Gana-Mana was adopted by the Constituent Assembly as the national anthem of India on 24 January 1950.

राष्ट्रीय गीत| National song

The national song of India "Vande Mataram", was written by Shri Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, a great litterateur of Bengal, "Vande Mataram" was first used in the year 1880 in his famous novel "Anandmath".

Land

India’s frontier, which is roughly one-third coastline, abuts six countries. It is bounded to the northwest by Pakistan, to the north by Nepal, China, and Bhutan; and to the east by Myanmar (Burma). Bangladesh to the east is surrounded by India to the north, east, and west. The island country of Sri Lanka is situated some 40 miles (65 km) off the southeast coast of India across the Palk Strait and Gulf of Mannar.

The land of India—together with Bangladesh and most of Pakistan—forms a well-defined subcontinent, set off from the rest of Asia by the imposing northern mountain rampart of the Himalayas and by adjoining mountain ranges to the west and east. In area, India ranks as the seventh largest country in the world.

Much of India’s territory lies within a large peninsula, surrounded by the Arabian Sea to the west and the Bay of Bengal to the east; Cape Comorin, the southernmost point of the Indian mainland, marks the dividing line between those two bodies of water. India has two union territories composed entirely of islands: Lakshadweep, in the Arabian Sea, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, which lie between the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea.

Largest City of India

Rank	City	State / UT	Area (km2)	Area governed by
1	Delhi	Delhi	1,397.3	Municipal Corporation of Delhi
2	Bangalore	Karnataka	741	Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike
3	Visakhapatnam	Andhra Pradesh	681.96	Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation
4	Hyderabad	Telangana	650	Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation
5	Lucknow	Uttar Pradesh	631	Lucknow Municipal Corporation
6	Indore	Madhya Pradesh	525	Indore Municipal Corporation
7	Ahmedabad	Gujarat	505	Amdavad Municipal Corporation
8	Pune	Maharashtra	516.5	Pune Municipal Corporation
9	Surat	Gujarat	474.85	Surat Municipal Corporation
10	Bhopal	Madhya Pradesh	463	Bhopal Municipal Corporation
11	Meerut	Uttar Pradesh	450	Meerut Municipal Corporation
12	Mumbai	Maharashtra	440	Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation
13	Chennai	Tamil Nadu	426	Greater Chennai Corporation
14	Warangal	Telangana	406.97	Greater Warangal Municipal Corporation

Religion

India is known for its rich religious diversity. The country is home to several major religions, each with its own beliefs, practices, and followers. The prominent religions in India include:

• 79.8% Hinduism
• 14.2% Islam
• 2.3% Christianity
• 1.7% Sikhism
• 0.7% Buddhism
• 0.4% Jainism
• 0.23% unaffiliated
• 0.65% other

1. Hinduism: Hinduism is the largest religion in India, with the majority of the population identifying as Hindus. It is a complex and diverse religion with a wide range of beliefs and practices. Hinduism encompasses various deities, rituals, and philosophical traditions.
2. Islam: Islam is the second-largest religion in India, with a significant Muslim population. Muslims in India follow the teachings of Prophet Muhammad as revealed in the Quran. Islam has a strong historical presence in India, and the country is home to several important Islamic sites.
3. Christianity: Christianity has a substantial following in India, particularly in the southern states and certain northeastern regions. Christians in India belong to various denominations, including Roman Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox.
4. Sikhism: Sikhism originated in India and has a significant presence in the state of Punjab. Sikhs follow the teachings of the ten Gurus, with the Guru Granth Sahib as their holy scripture. The Golden Temple in Amritsar is a prominent Sikh pilgrimage site.
5. Buddhism: Although Buddhism originated in India, its followers are now a minority. However, India remains an important center for Buddhism, with significant sites such as Bodh Gaya, where Gautama Buddha attained enlightenment.
6. Jainism: Jainism, an ancient religion of non-violence and spiritual liberation, has a considerable following in India. Jains emphasize principles such as truth, non-violence, and asceticism.

Apart from these major religions, India is also home to smaller religious communities, including Zoroastrians (Parsis), Jews, Baha’is, and various indigenous tribal religions.

The Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of religion and respects the diversity of religious beliefs and practices. People of different faiths coexist and contribute to the religious tapestry of India, making it a unique example of religious pluralism.

Government

Government is a system or body that has the authority to make and enforce laws, regulations, and policies within a particular geographic area or jurisdiction. It is responsible for maintaining order, providing public services, and governing the affairs of a nation, state, or community.

Government type of India	Federal parliamentary constitutional republic

The structure and organization of governments vary across countries, ranging from democratic systems with elected representatives to authoritarian regimes. The form of government can be a democracy, monarchy, republic, or other systems, depending on the political structure and governing principles adopted by a particular country or region.

Executive

Governments have executive branches responsible for implementing and enforcing laws. This includes managing administrative functions, executing policies, and overseeing government agencies and departments.

• President	Droupadi Murmu (2023)
• Vice President	Jagdeep Dhankhar (2023)
• Prime Minister	Narendra Modi (2023)
• Chief Justice	Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud (2023)
• Lok Sabha Speaker	Om Birla (2023)

Legislature

Governments create laws and regulations to establish a framework for the functioning of society. These laws define the rights and responsibilities of individuals and organizations, maintain social order, and promote the welfare of the citizens.

Legislature	Parliament
• Upper house	Rajya Sabha
• Lower house	Lok Sabha

Judiciary

Governments provide a judicial system that interprets and applies laws, resolves disputes, and ensures justice. The judiciary acts as an independent body to administer justice and protect the rights of individuals.

Hierarchy of Courts in India	1. Supreme Court 2. High Court 3. District Court 4. Executive /Revenue Court

Public Services

Governments provide various public services to meet the needs of citizens. These services include education, healthcare, transportation, infrastructure development, public safety, and social welfare programs.

All-India Public Services	Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Indian Police Service (IPS) Indian Forest Service (IFS)

Defense and Security

Defense and security in India are primarily handled by the Ministry of Defense, which is responsible for formulating and implementing policies related to the country’s defense and security. Here are some key aspects of defense and security in India:

1. Armed Forces: India has a comprehensive defense force comprising the Indian Army, Indian Navy, and Indian Air Force. These three branches work together to protect the country’s territorial integrity, maintain peace, and deter external threats. The President of India serves as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces.
2. Border Security: India shares borders with several neighboring countries, and border security is of paramount importance. The Border Security Force (BSF) guards India’s land borders, while the Indian Coast Guard protects the maritime boundaries. Additionally, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) is responsible for safeguarding the border with China.
3. Nuclear Deterrence: India is recognized as a nuclear-armed state. It maintains a credible minimum deterrence policy, whereby it possesses a nuclear arsenal for self-defense and as a deterrent against potential adversaries. The Nuclear Command Authority oversees the management and control of India’s nuclear weapons.
4. Counterterrorism: India faces the challenge of terrorism, both from domestic and cross-border sources. Several terrorist organizations have targeted Indian cities in the past. The government takes counterterrorism measures to prevent such attacks, including intelligence sharing, law enforcement operations, and strengthening security forces.
5. Defense Industry: India has been progressively developing its indigenous defense industry to reduce dependency on imports and enhance self-sufficiency. It encourages research, development, and production of defense equipment through public and private sector partnerships, aiming to strengthen the country’s defense capabilities.
6. International Cooperation: India actively engages in defense cooperation and partnerships with various countries, including joint military exercises, technology sharing, and defense trade. It is a member of several international forums and organizations related to defense and security.

It’s important to note that the specifics of defense and security policies and strategies evolve over time to address emerging challenges and regional dynamics. The Government of India remains committed to ensuring the defense and security of the nation and its citizens.

Economy

India has one of the largest, most highly diversified economies in the world, but, because of its enormous population, it is—in terms of income and gross national product (GNP) per capita—one of the poorest countries on Earth.

Since independence, India has promoted a mixed economic system in which the government, constitutionally defined as “socialist,” plays a major role as central planner, regulator, investor, manager, and producer. Starting in 1951, the government based its economic planning on a series of five-year plans influenced by the Soviet model.

Initially, the attempt was to boost the domestic savings rate, which more than doubled in the half century following the First Five-Year Plan (1951–55). With the Second Five-Year Plan (1956–61), the focus began to shift to import-substituting industrialization, with an emphasis on capital goods. A broad and diversified industrial base developed.

However, with the collapse of the Soviet system in the early 1990s, India adopted a series of free-market reforms that fueled the growth of its middle class, and its highly educated and well-trained workforce made India one of the global centres of the high-technology boom that began in the late 20th century and produced significant annual growth rates.

The agricultural sector remains the country’s main employer (about half of the workforce), though, with about one-fifth of the gross domestic product (GDP), it is no longer the largest contributor to GDP. Manufacturing remains another solid component of GDP. However, the major growth has been in trade, finance, and other services, which, collectively, are by far the largest component of GDP.

Many of the government’s decisions are highly political, especially its attempts to invest equitably among the various states of the union. Despite the government’s pervasive economic role, large corporate undertakings dominate many spheres of modern economic activity, while tens of millions of generally small agricultural holdings and petty commercial, service, and craft enterprises account for the great bulk of employment. The range of technology runs the gamut from the most traditional to the most sophisticated.

There are few things that India cannot produce, though much of what it does manufacture would not be economically competitive without the protection offered by tariffs on imported goods, which have remained high despite liberalization. In absolute terms and in relation to GDP, foreign trade traditionally has been low. Despite continued government regulation (which has remained strong in many sectors), trade expanded greatly beginning in the 1990s.

Probably no more than one-fifth of India’s vast labour force is employed in the so-called “organized” sector of the economy (e.g., mining, plantation agriculture, factory industry, utilities, and modern transportation, commercial, and service enterprises), but that small fraction generates a disproportionate share of GDP, supports most of the middle- and upper-class population, and generates most of the economic growth. It is the organized sector to which most government regulatory activity applies and in which trade unions, chambers of commerce, professional associations, and other institutions of modern capitalist economies play a significant role. Apart from rank-and-file labourers, the organized sector engages most of India’s professionals and virtually all of its vast pool of scientists and technicians.

Neighboring Countries of India

Neighboring Countries of India
Country	India
Number of Neighboring Countries	9
Length of Land Border	15,106.7 km
Coastline	7,516.6 km

Afghanistan 

Afghanistan – Also known as The Islamic Republic of Afghanistan. Not to mention the vast mass of land spreads approximately 6,52,000 sq.km. Furthermore, the Major dependency of the country’s economy is agriculture, the manufacture of textile, cotton, woollens, carpets, and handicrafts.

Facts about Afghanistan

• Capital – Kabul.
• Currency – Afghan Afghani.
• State/Provinces – 34 Provinces.
• Border – Durand line.
• Border length – 106 km.
• Bordering states – Jammu & Kashmir ( P.O.K.)

Pakistan 

Pakistan – Being located to the west of India, Pakistan has a coastline along the Gulf of Oman & the Arabian Sea. With a total land area of approximately 7,96,095 sq. km. After its independence, Pakistan was formed into East & West Pakistan. Moreover, these territories being geographically & culturally different, a civil war followed in 1971 separating the two. As a result, Bangladesh was formed and West Pakistan in the northwest of India became the Republic of Pakistan.

Few facts about Pakistan

• Capital -Islamabad.
• Currency – Pakistani rupee.
• State/Provinces – 4 Provinces.
• Official languages– Urdu, English.
• Border– Radcliffe line.
• Borderline – 3323 km.
• Bordering States – Jammu & Kashmir, Punjab, Gujarat & Rajasthan.

Bangladesh

Bangladesh – Situated in south Asia Bangladesh is officially called The People’s Republic of Bangladesh. Among the neighbouring states of India, Bangladesh is the eighth-most populated country in the world. Initially, a part of Pakistan, Bangladesh was known as East Pakistan till it gained independence in the 1971 Liberation war.

Important facts about Bangladesh

• Capital – Dhaka.
• Currency – Bangladeshi Taka.
• Sate/ Provinces – 8 Provinces.
• Official languages – Bengali.
• Border – Radcliffe line.
• Borderline – 4096.7 km.
• Bordering states – West Bengal, Mizoram, Meghalaya, Tripura & Assam.

Bhutan 

Bhutan – Officially known as the kingdom of Bhutan, it is located in the north of India. Being a landlocked country it has an area of approximately 38, 394 sq. km. In fact, Bhutan is the smallest among the neighbouring states of India. Being a constitutional monarchy the economic contributors to the country are agriculture, forestry, tourism & hydropower.

Facts about Bhutan

• Capital – Thimphu.
• Currency – Ngultrum (BTN)
• State/Provinces – 20 States.
• Official languages – Dzongkha.
• Borderline – 699 km.
• Bordering states – Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Sikkim, and West Bengal.

Myanmar 

Myanmar – Situated in East Asia is Myanmar also known as Burma and officially known as The Republic of the Union of Myanmar. In addition to an area of approximately 6, 76,578 sq. km. it’s the largest of the mainland Southeast Asian states. Meanwhile, the question often being how many neighbouring countries of India is a democracy, the military in Burma is now in charge of declaring a state of emergency.

Important facts about Myanmar

• Capital – Naypyidaw.
• Currency – Burmese Kyat.
• Official languages – Burmese.
• Borderline – 1643 km.
• Bordering states – Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland, Mizoram, and Manipur.

China 

China – Situated in East Asia. China also known as People Republic of China (PRC). it is the most populated as well as the 4th largest country in the world. If you ask what are the neighbouring countries of India with the fastest growing economies? The answer would be China. Additionally, the president of China is the head of the state. It is also a matter of question how many neighbouring countries of India except China, are connected by exchange of Buddhism religion or silk route.

Important facts about China

• Capital – Beijing.
• Currency – Chinese Yuan.
• State/Provinces – 26 Provinces.
• Official languages – Mandarin
• Border – McMahon line.
• Borderline – 3488 km.
• Bordering states – Jammu & Kashmir, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh & Uttarakhand.

Nepal 

Nepal – Also known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Nepal is a landlocked country situated to the north of India. With an area of 1,47,181 sq.km. It is the 93rd largest country in terms of landmass. Furthermore, Nepal has eight of the ten tallest mountains in the world. In addition to Mt. Everest, the highest point on earth. Being the biggest contributor to the country’s economy is tourism.

Important facts about Nepal

• Capital – Kathmandu.
• Currency – Nepalese rupee.
• Official languages – Nepali.
• State/Provinces – 7 Provinces.
• Borderline – 1751 km.
• Bordering states – West Bengal, Sikkim, Uttarakhand, Bihar & Uttar Pradesh.

India also has a maritime border with Sri Lanka to the southeast and the Maldives to the southwest. The country has a diverse range of cultures, languages, religions, and geographies, and its relationships with its neighboring countries can be complex and multifaceted.

Maldives 

Maldives – Wondering what are the neighbouring countries of India that share sea borders? The Maldives is one of them. The island nation is situated in the southwest of India and is officially called The Republic of Maldives. Notably, Maldives has more than a thousand islands. Though area wise it’s one of the smallest countries in the world it is a presidential republic and the president is the head of the state. It is approximately 298 sq. km. only.

Important facts about the Maldives

• Capital – Male.
• Currency – Maldivian Rufiyaa.
• Official languages – Dhivehi.
• State/Provinces – 1.
• Borderline – Sea border.
• Bordering states – lies below the Lakshadweep Island in the southwestern part of the Indian Ocean.

Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka – Also known as the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka lies near the southern area of India separated by the Palk Strait. In case you are still wondering what are the other neighboring countries of India that share sea borders, Sri Lanka is the 2nd country to be so after the Maldives. Specifically, located in the Indian Ocean to the southwest of the Bay of Bengal & to the southeast of the Arabian Sea. The president is the chief of the state & the head of the Government.

Important facts about Sri Lanka

• Capital – Commercial capital is Colombo & Legislative capital is Jayewardenepura Kotte.
• Currency – Sri Lankan rupee (LKR).
• Official languages – Tamil, Sinhala.
• State/Provinces – 9 States.
• Borderline – Sea border.
• Bordering states – The Gulf of Mannar separates it from India.

States and union territories of India

India is a federal republic with 28 states and 8 union territories. Here is a list of the states and union territories of India:

India is a federal union comprising 28 states and 8 union territories, with a total of 36 entities. The states and union territories are further subdivided into districts and smaller administrative divisions.

As we know that, India is a federal republic with 28 states and 8 union territories. Here is a list of the states and union territories of India:

Polity – KnowledgeSthali

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