India

India (Hindi: भारत, Bhārat) is a country in South Asia and the world's most populous nation, with an estimated 1.5 billion inhabitants in the 2020s, surpassing China. It is the seventh-largest country in the world by area and one of the fastest-growing major economies, with rapid expansion in technology, services, and manufacturing.

Its capital is New Delhi, part of the larger Delhi metropolitan region, while its largest city is Mumbai (formerly Bombay). India is linguistically diverse, with hundreds of languages spoken; among the most widely used are Hindi, Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, and Punjabi.

India was ruled by the United Kingdom until gaining independence in 1947. Since then it has fought several conflicts with Pakistan, most notably over the disputed region of Kashmir.

Geography

India occupies a vast and varied landscape, bordered by Pakistan to the west, China and Nepal to the north, Bhutan to the northeast, and Bangladesh and Myanmar to the east. To the south, it extends into the Indian Ocean, flanked by the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal.

Major geographic regions include:

• The Himalayas in the north, containing some of the world's highest peaks.
• The Indo-Gangetic Plain, one of the most fertile and densely populated regions on Earth.
• The Thar Desert in the northwest.
• The Deccan Plateau in central and southern India.
• The Western Ghats and Eastern Ghats, known for biodiversity and monsoon influence.

India has a wide range of climates, from alpine conditions in the Himalayas to tropical monsoon climates in the south.

Population and Languages

India is one of the most linguistically diverse countries in the world. The Constitution recognizes 22 official languages, though hundreds of additional regional and tribal languages are spoken.

Hindi is the most widely spoken language, while English is commonly used in government, business, and higher education. Major cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata are multilingual.

History

India's history stretches back thousands of years to the Indus Valley Civilization, one of the earliest urban cultures. Over time, the region saw the rise of major empires including the Maurya, Gupta, Mughal, and Maratha empires.

From the 18th century onward, much of India came under British rule. After a long independence movement led by figures such as Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru, India became independent in 1947. The partition of British India created the separate states of India and Pakistan, leading to mass migration and violence.

India and Pakistan have fought several wars, including in 1947–48, 1965, and 1971. The region of Kashmir remains a major point of tension.

Government and Politics

India is a federal parliamentary republic. The President serves as head of state, while the Prime Minister is head of government. The national legislature consists of two houses:

• The Lok Sabha (House of the People)
• The Rajya Sabha (Council of States)

India is divided into 28 states and 8 union territories, each with varying degrees of autonomy. Elections are held regularly and feature high voter participation.

Economy

India has one of the world's largest and fastest-growing economies. Key sectors include:

• Information technology and software services
• Manufacturing, including automobiles, pharmaceuticals, and electronics
• Agriculture, which employs a large share of the population
• Telecommunications and digital infrastructure
• Space research, led by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)

India is considered a major emerging global power.

Culture and Religion

India is home to several major world religions:

• Hinduism (majority)
• Islam (one of the world's largest Muslim populations)
• Christianity
• Sikhism
• Jainism
• Buddhism

There are also smaller communities of Jews, Zoroastrians, and Baháʼís.

Indian culture includes classical music, dance, literature, cuisine, and cinema, particularly the Hindi-language film industry known as Bollywood. Major festivals include Diwali, Holi, Eid, Christmas, and Vaisakhi.

Sports

Cricket is the most popular sport in India, and the national team is one of the strongest in the world. The Indian Premier League (IPL) is among the most-watched sporting leagues globally.

Other popular sports include field hockey, football (soccer), kabaddi, and wrestling.

Military and Gurkhas

India maintains one of the world's largest armed forces. The Gurkhas, recruited from northern India and Nepal, became famous for their bravery during World War I and World War II. Their traditional weapon, the kukri (often called the Gurkha knife), is a well-known symbol of their service.