India

India (Hindi: Bhārat), officially the Republic of India (Hindi: Bhārat Gaṇarājya), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh largest country by geographical area, the second most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east, India has a coastline of 7,517 kilometers (4,671 mi). It borders Pakistan to the west; China, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh and Burma to the east. India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka, the Maldives, and Indonesia in the Indian Ocean.India is set apart from the rest of Asia by the Himalayas, the highest, youngest and still evolving mountain chain on the planet. The subcontinent as it is rightly called, touches three large water bodies and is immediately recognizable on any world map.

India is the second most culturally, linguistically and genetically diverse geographical entity after the African continent.In a country as diverse and complex as India, it is not surprising to find that people here reflect the rich glories of the past, the culture, traditions and values relative to geographic locations and the numerous distinctive manners, habits and food that will always remain truly Indian.

Over 800 million Indians (80.5%) are Hindu. Other religious groups include Muslims (13.4%), Christians (2.3%), Sikhs (1.9%), Buddhists (0.8%), Jains (0.4%), Jews, Zoroastrians, Bahá’ís and others. Tribals constitute 8.1% of the population.The Indian film industry is the largest in the world. Bollywood, based in Mumbai, makes commercial Hindi films and is the most prolific film industry in the world.

Location: Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, between Burma and Pakistan.

Capital: New Delhi

Official language: Hindi, English

Government type:  Federal Republic

President: Pratibha Patil

Prime Minister: Manmohan Singh

National Holiday: Republic Day, 26 January (1950)

Area

• total: 3 287 590 km²
• land: 2 973 190 km²
• water: 314 400 km²

Climate: varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north.

Population: 1 129 866 154 (July 2007)

Currency: Indian rupee (INR)

Internet domain: .in

International dialing code: +91

Sources: www.wikipedia.org

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