India is abou United States most populous country in t population of ...

Facts on
India
No apologies at all that this is a lengthy document
Because India is such an interesting and varied
country bullet points just cannot convey the breadth
and depth of information of interest about India.
The diversity in culture and foods of India, clothing
and languages, religion and life styles is marked by a
unique sense of integration - based on a common
heritage. This sense of unity also serves to preserve
India’s national integrity. An Indian is first an Indian,
and then a Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Punjabi, Bengali or
Sindhi. Each state in India is integral to its entity as a
whole even while carving a unique niche for itself.
India is the largest democracy in the
world.
India is about 1/3 the size of the
United States, yet it is the second
most populous country in the world, with a
population of 1,166,079,217. India is the seventh

largest country in the world, at 1.27 million
square miles.
Did you know ......
1. Chess was invented in India. The original word for “chess” is the
Sanskrit chaturanga, meaning “four members of an army”—which
were mostly likely elephants, horses, chariots, and foot soldiers
2. The 'Place Value System' and the 'Decimal System' were developed in India in 100 B.C.
3. The World's First Granite Temple is the Brihadeswara Temple at Tanjavur, Tamil Nadu.
The shikhara of the temple is made from a single 80-tonne piece of granite. This
magnificent temple was built in just five years, (between 1004 AD and 1009 AD) during
the reign of Rajaraja Chola.
4. The game of Snakes & Ladders was created by the 13th century poet saint Gyandev. It
was originally called 'Mokshapat'. The ladders in the game represented virtues and the
snakes indicated vices. The game was played with shells and dices. In time, the game
underwent several modifications, but its meaning remained the same, i.e. good deeds
take people to heaven and evil to a cycle of re-births.
5. The world's highest cricket ground is in Chail, Himachal Pradesh. Built in 1893 after
leveling a hilltop, this cricket pitch is 2444 meters above sea level.
6. India has the largest number of Post Offices in the world.
7. The largest employer in the world is the Indian Railways, employing over a million
people.
8. The art of Navigation & Navigating was born in the river Sindh over 6000 years ago. The
very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word 'NAVGATIH'. The word navy is
also derived from the Sanskrit word 'Nou'.
9. Mysore Zoo was established under royal patronage in 1892, making it one of the
oldest zoos in the world.
10. Bhaskaracharya rightly calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the Sun hundreds
of years before the astronomer Smart. According to his calculation, the time taken by the
Earth to orbit the Sun was 365.258756484 days.
11. The value of "pi" was first calculated by the Indian Mathematician Budhayana, and he
explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this
in the 6th century, long before the European mathematicians.
12. Algebra, Trigonometry and Calculus also originated in India.Quadratic Equations were
used by Sridharacharya in the 11th century. The largest numbers the Greeks and the
Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 10*53 (i.e. 10 to the
power of 53) with specific names as early as 5000 B.C.during the Vedic period.Even
today, the largest used number is Terra: 10*12(10 to the power of 12).
13. Until 1896, India was the only source of diamonds in the world
14. The Baily Bridge is the highest bridge in the world. This bridge is located in the
Himalayan mountains, between the River Dras and River Suru, in the Ladakh Valley. It is
30 meters (98 ft) long, and is at an altitude of 5,602 meters (18,379 ft) above sea level. It
was built in 1982 by the Indian Army.
15. Sushruta is regarded as the Father of Surgery. Over 2600 years ago Sushrata & his team
conducted complicated surgeries like cataract, artificial limbs, cesareans, fractures,
urinary stones, plastic surgery and brain surgeries.
16. Martial Arts were first created in India, and later spread to Asia by Buddhist missionaries.
17. Yoga has its origins in India and has existed for over 5,000 years.
18. India is one of the few countries in the World, which gained independence without
violence.

19. India is the only country other than US and Japan, to have built a super computer
indigenously.
20. Albert Einstein said: We owe a lot to the Indians, who taught us how to count, without
which no worthwhile scientific discovery could have been made.
21. Mark Twain said: India is the cradle of the human race, the birthplace
of human speech, the mother of history, the grandmother of legend,
and the great grand mother of tradition. Our most valuable and most
instructive materials in the history of man are treasured up in India
only.
22. Hu Shih, former Ambassador of China to USA said: India conquered
and dominated China culturally for 20 centuries without ever having to
send a single soldier across her border.
23. Indian Vinod Dahm was the creator of Pentium chip
24. Indian Sabeer Bhatia was the founder and creator of Hotmail
25. The Kumbh Mela (or Grand Pitcher Festival) is a huge Hindu religious festival that takes
place in India every 12 years. In 2001, 60 million people attended, breaking the record for
the world’s biggest gathering. The mass of people was photographed from space by a
satellite.
26. Many Indians find toilet paper repellent and consider it cleaner to splash water with the
left hand in the appropriate direction. Consequently, the left hand is considered unclean
and is never used for eating.
27. It is illegal for foreigners to import or export Indian currency (rupees)
28. Cows can be found freely wandering the streets of India’s cities. They are considered
sacred and will often wear a tilak, a Hindu symbol of good fortune. Cows are considered
one of humankind’s seven mothers because she offers milk as does one’s natural
mother.
29. Many Indian wives will never say her husband’s name aloud, as it is a sign of disrespect.
When addressing him, the wife will use several indirect references, such as “ji” or “look
here” or “hello,” or even refer to him as the father of her child.
30. A widow is considered bad luck - otherwise, her husband wouldn’t have died. Elderly
women in the village might call a widow “the one who ate her husband.” In some
orthodox families, widows are not allowed near newlyweds or welcomed at social
gatherings.
31. The earliest cotton in the world was spun and woven in India. Roman emperors would
wear delicate cotton from India that they would call “woven winds.” Mogul emperors
called the fabrics “morning dew” and “cloth of running water.
32. India is the world’s largest producer of dried beans, such as kidney beans and chickpeas.
It also leads the world in banana exports;
33. The Bengal tiger is India’s national animal. It was once ubiquitous throughout the country,
but now there are fewer than 3,000 wild tigers left.
34. India has the world’s largest movie industry, based in the city of Mumbai (known as the
“City of Dreams”). The B in “Bollywood” comes from Bombay, the former name for
Mumbai. Almost all Bollywood movies are musicals.
35. Mumbai (Bombay) is India’s largest city, with a population of 14 million. In 1661, British
engineers built a causeway uniting all seven original islands of Bombay into a single
landmass.
36. Mohandas K. Gandhi (1869-1948) 1948) is known around the world as Mahatma, which is an
honorific title meaning “Great Soul” in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit. He
devoted his life to free India from British rule peacefully and based his campaign on civil
disobedience. His birthday, October 2, is a national holiday. He was assassinated in
1948.
37. The Lotus temple is one of the most visited temples in the world, with over 50 million
visitors per year. The lotus is sacred to both Hindus and Buddhists. The Bahá'í house of
worship in Delhi, known as the “Lotus Temple,” is shaped like a lotus flower with 27
gigantic “petals” that are covered in marble.

38. The Banyan, or Indian fig tree, is considered a symbol of immortality and is mentioned in
many Indian myths and legends. This self-renewing plant is India’s national tree.
39. Marigold flowers are used as decoration for Hindu marriages and are a symbol of good
fortune and happiness.
40. The official name of India is the Republic of India. The name “India”
derives from the River Indus, which most likely is derived from the
Sanskrit sindhu, meaning “river.” The official Sanskrit name of India
is Bharat, after the legendary king in the epic Mahabharata.
41. Introduced by the British, cricket is India’s most popular sport. Hockey
is considered the national sport, and the Indian field hockey team
proudly won Olympic gold in 1928.
42. Most historians agree that the first recorded account of plastic surgery is found in ancient
Indian Sanskrit texts.
43. India has the world’s third largest road network at 1.9 million miles. It also has the world’s
second largest rail network, which is the world’s largest civilian employer with 16 million
workers.
44. Though the Ganges is one of the dirtiest rivers in the world, bathing in the river is thought
to wash away one’s sins
45. Raziya Sultana (1205-1240) 1240) was the first woman leader of India. She was considered a
great leader, though she ruled for only three years before being murdered.
46. It is traditional to wear white, not black, to a funeral in India. Widows will often wear white
in contrast to the colourful clothes of married or single women.
47. All of India is under a single time zone.
48. India experiences six seasons: summer, autumn, winter, spring, summer monsoon, and
winter monsoon.
49. The Taj Mahal (“crown palace”) was built by Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan (1592-1666)
for his beloved wife Mumtaz Mahal (1593-1631). 1631). This architectural beauty has been
called “marbled embroidery” for its intricate workmanship. It took 22,000 workmen 22
years to complete it.
50. When the first independent prime minister of India, pacifist Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-
1964), was featured in Vogue, his distinctive close fitting, single-breasted jacket briefly
became an important fashion statement for the Mod movement in the West. Named the
Nehru jacket, the prime minister’s coat was popularized by the Beatles and worn by such
famous people as Johnny Carson (1925-2005) 2005) and Sammy Davis Jr. (1925-1990).n
51. Varanasi, also known as Benaras, was called "the Ancient City" when Lord Buddha
visited it in 500 B.C., and is the oldest, continuously inhabited city in the world today

Population
India is a country with a population of around 1.17 billion
India is the second most populated country is the world after China
India has more than two thousand ethnic groups
Indian large population has always been a major issue along with problems like poverty,
illiteracy and unemployment. India is also a country that has the maximum number of youths.
Indian population accounts for 16% of the total world population.
The population density of the nation amounts to 324 people per square kilometer. India has a
poor sex ratio with only 927 females per 1000 males.
More than 70% of India’s population lives in rural areas.
There are more than 550, 000 villages and 200 cities and towns in India.
22% of the population lives below poverty line.
The standard of living and the quality of life especially those of women remains poor
compared to that of people in developed nations.
The unemployment rate in India is 7.8%. However with globalization, privatization and
liberalization problems of unemployment have been solved to certain extent.
Though Indian population is seen as a hurdle along its progress, it is also a power for India.
No other country has such human capital and it truly makes India what it is rightly called as a
‘Young Nation’ emerging as a global power.
Population figures
Rank Country Population Date
# 1 China: 1,324,190,000 2009
# 2 India: 1,170,250,000 2009
# 4 United States: 306,694,000 2008

Ancient India
India never
invaded any
country in
her last
100,000 years
of history
The name 'India' is
derived from the
River Indus, the
valleys around
which were the
home of the early
settlers. The Aryan
worshippers
referred to the
river Indus as the
Sindhu
The Persian
invaders
converted it into
Hindu. The name
'Hindustan'
combines Sindhu
and Hindu and
thus refers to the
land of the
Hindus
Over 5000 years ago
Indians established
Harappan culture
in Sindhu Valley
(Indus Valley
Civilization)
when many
cultures were still
only nomadic
forest dwellers
Ancient India was a country that covered the territories of Pakistan, Bangladesh apart from
the territory of current India. Ancient Indian history can be broadly divided into three ages
namely the Bronze Age, Indus valley civilization and the Vedic age.
The history of ancient India dates back 1700 BC beginning with the Indus Valley Civilization,
which flourished in the north-western part of the Indian subcontinent. Indian history can be
divided into the three ages namely the Bronze Age civilization, the Iron Age Vedic period
were major kingdoms were born and the Golden Age of India which saw the rise of the Gupta
empire. After the Gupta Empire, the rule of the Chalukyas, Cholas, Pallavas and Pandyas
prevailed during which Hinduism and Buddhism spread to the south-east Asia.
In the 6th century BC, great scholars and monks like Mahavira and Gautama Buddha were
born. The history of Buddhism in India was a special chapter, which has given the world a
new religion. Buddhism was founded by Siddharth Gautama. Gautama was a prince who
abandoned his kingdom in search of the meaning of life. Gautama Buddha diluted the culture
of priesthood and caste hierarchy in the 5th century B.C. Gautam and Mahavir (the founder
of Jainism) gave the world a practical means of seeking the truth.
The Harappan civilization was established in the northwest. It was primarily an agricultural
economy, which extended into an urban mode of society. Long distance trade started at this
time. This period of Indian history also saw extensive agricultural development around the
Yamuna, Ganga and several other southern rivers which boosted population, trade and
urbanization.
Early in the 8th century AD, with the conquest of Baluchistan and Sindh by Muhammad bin
Qasim, the religion Islam arrived in the country. It was the Islamic invasions from Central Asia
which occurred between the 10th and 15th centuries AD and brought most of northern India
under the rule at first of the Delhi Sultanate and later of the Mughals.
Remarkable development in the field of art and architecture was seen during the rule of the
Mughals. At the same time, several independent kingdoms, such as the Vijayanagara Empire
flourished in southern India.
With the beginning in the mid-18th century, India was annexed by the British East India
Company. It led to the Indian Uprising of 1857 as the countrymen were dissatisfied with the
rule of the British. India was then directly administered by the British Crown during which
there was a rapid development of infrastructure and an economic decline in the country. In
the early 20th century, a nationwide struggle for independence was launched by the Indian
National Congress. The country got its independence from Great Britain in 1947. The nation
was there after being partitioned into the dominions of India and Pakistan. In 1971, Pakistan's
eastern wing became the nation of Bangladesh.

Independence
Although modern images
of India often show poverty and lack of
development, India was the richest country on earth until the time of British
invasion in the early 17th Century. Christopher Columbus was attracted
by India's wealth.
India got its independence on August 15th, 1947. It was the day when the Indians got
liberated from the rule of the british. The entire freedom struggle involved a lot of political
organizations, non-violent movements, philosophies and other acts. India got its
independence after almost hundred years of struggle and bondage.
The uproar of Indians against their independence was a result of british policy of divide and
rule, exploiting the masses, devoiding them of basic human rights and other such issues.
Even though the 1947 Indian independence was not a one man show, there was one man
without whom India would not have been able to achieve independence in a non-violent way.
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi is therefore known as ‘the father of India’ all over the world.
Gandhi and the Independence of India is intimately connected to each other. His noncooperation
movement along with philosophy of non-violence catapulted the Indian masses
towards their freedom from the British rule.
The first Indian protest against the British rule took place in 1857 when soldiers of British
East India Company rebelled under the leadership of Mangal Pandey against the tyranny of
the company and its disrespect for Indian culture. The revolt was crushed with the British
separating the princely states from British India. This was typical of the British’s policy of
divide and rule.
The movement for Indian Independence reached its culmination between 1918 and 1922 with
a series of non-violent efforts by the Indian National Congress under the guidance of
Mahatma Gandhi. This set the stage for India’s final liberation from the British Raj and led to
its partition with Pakistan on the mid-night of 15th August 1947. Partition was the price India
had to pay for its independence.
The British Indian Empire
and surrounding countries in 1909

Modern History
The subsequent partition of the sub-continent - into present-day India and Pakistan - sowed
the seeds for future conflict. There have been three wars between India and its arch-rival
Pakistan since 1947, two of them over the disputed territory of Kashmir.
A peace process, which started in 2004, stayed on track despite tension over Kashmir and
several high-profile bombings until the Mumbai attacks of November 2008, which police
blamed on Pakistani militants. India announced that the process was on pause the following
month.
Communal, caste and regional tensions continue to haunt Indian politics, sometimes
threatening its long-standing democratic and secular ethos.
In 1984 Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was gunned down by her Sikh bodyguards after
ordering troops to flush out Sikh militants from the Golden Temple in Amritsar.
And in 1992, widespread Hindu-Muslim violence erupted after Hindu extremists demolished
the Babri mosque at Ayodhya.
Independent India's first prime minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, dreamed of a socialist society and
created a vast public infrastructure, much of which became a burden on the state.
From the late 1980s India began to open up to the outside world, encouraging economic
reform and foreign investment. It is now courted by the world's leading economic and political
powers, including its one-time foe China.
The country has a burgeoning urban middle class and has made great strides in fields such
as information technology. Its large, skilled workforce makes it a popular choice for
international companies seeking to outsource work.
But the vast mass of the rural population remains impoverished.
Their lives continue to be influenced by the ancient Hindu caste system, which assigns each
person a place in the social hierarchy. Discrimination on the basis of caste is now illegal and
various measures have been introduced to empower disadvantaged groups and give them
easier access to opportunities - such as education and work.
Nuclear tests carried out by India in May 1998 and similar tests by Pakistan just weeks later
provoked international condemnation and concern over the stability of the region.
The US quickly imposed sanctions on India, but more recently the two countries have
improved their ties, and even agreed to share nuclear technology.
India launches its own satellites and in 2008 sent its first spacecraft to the moon. It also
boasts a massive cinema industry, the products of which are among the most widely-watched
films in the world.

Family
Family has always been at the base of Indian society. Most of the Indians take pride in the
essence of family life. However the recent changes in the socio-political and economic arena
have had a significant impact on individuals and families. India is a country that truly befits
the phrase” unity in diversity” with so many religions, languages, cultures, castes and yet the
oneness that binds them together. Each family unit in India is influenced by his or her
cultures and values. Indian joint family system was quite prevalent a few years back.
However, with western influences, more and more people are now willing to stay as a nuclear
family especially in urban areas. Traditional roles in family structure are now changing but
even modern and educated families have the intrinsic values of family life in India.
Family ties are very important to Indians. Arranged marriages within the caste system are still
very much prevalent all over the country. The traditional role of a man to support the family
economically and the traditional role of a woman to look after the domestic chores can be
seen in rural areas. Working women which are now common in urban areas are still expected
to fulfil their domestic responsibilities.
Most Indian families are conservative and sons are always more preferred than daughters as
sons normally earn money for the family and support their parents during their old age. Indian
family life has its own merits and demerits. With a family, there is emotional security, cooperation,
values etc.
However individual freedom might get restrained. Sharing and caring is another important
aspect that Indian joint families believe in. An Indian family typically consists of a man, his
wife, their children, the man’s parents and unmarried sisters, if any. The man mostly make
his parents live with him and looks after them. The family system is given a lot of importance
in India and has worked more often than not.
Marriage
Most Indian marriages are arranged and within the community. Normally, the parents of the
prospective spouses get together either through a common relative or through a
matchmaker. Most Indians get together with their family and celebrate Indian festivals like
diwali, holi, navratri etc with great joy.
Names
A name becomes the identity tag of a person till the end of his or her life. Indians believe that
the name given to a child exerts a special influence on the course of his or her entire life and
all associations in its course. Indian baby’s names are mostly decided by priests after
studying the horoscope of the child in traditional families. This is an age-old practice in India
is taking a backseat in urban cities only lately. Indian baby names almost always have a
meaning attached to them. According to Indians the sound and meaning of names create a
positive or negative energy in the lives of individuals. A name giving or naming ceremony is
performed in most Indian families as a way of presenting the child to the world. The name
giving ceremony is usually very elaborate and is carried out by the family priest. The whole
family is required to be present and it is believed that the child will develop personality traits
according to the name given to him.
Indian christian names have evolved into a unique mixture of Indian and Western patterns.
The south Indians and tamil baby names have a simple naming system. Their names are
based on their village name or their family name. The concepts of an initial name, a middle
name and a family name or surname is alien to a Tamilian. Tamilians have a single name like
Sriram or Lakshmanan

Festivals
Based on the religion, there are many religious festivals that are widely observed in India and
they hold a great importance for the people. India's secular governance states that no
religious festival should be given the status of a national holiday. Holi, Ganesh Chaturthi,
Diwali, Durga puja, Dussehra and Sankranthi are the most popular Hindu festivals in India.
The Islamic Eid festivals of Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Adha are the most celebrated among the
Muslims. Christmas, Buddha Jayanti, and Guru Nanak's Birthday are holidays among the
remaining religious groups. However, the best part is that be it any festival Indians from all
castes and communities come together to celebrate the event.
Food and drink
Tea stalls are made by small time vendors who sell tea; coffee and milk on make shift stalls
on the roadside.
Indian dishes are special because of the typical Indian herbs and spices used in them. Indian
masala dishes, especially the Indian curry is famous all over the world. Indian Hindus and
Jains are predominantly vegetarian. Vegetarianism has also served to mould the character of
Indian cuisine.
Food is an integral part of Indian culture. Choice of food and techniques of cooking vary with
communities, states and religions in India. Indian cooking is unique due to its huge variety,
special ingredients and numerous cooking styles. Many recipes for Indian rice dishes and
Indian side dishes emerged during the Vedic times. These were regularly made by Vedic
Hindus.
Foreign influences from Christian countries, Mughals, Portuguese, Turkey, Arabia and Persia
moulded Indian cooking with time and circumstances.
Indian recipes are intimately connected with culture, religion, region and festivities. Any
cooking classes that are conducted to teach one to prepare Indian food would consist of
recipes made from rice, whole-wheat flour, pulses, Bengal gram, pigeon pea, black gram and
green gram. Groundnut oil in popularly used for cooking in North India while Mustard oil is
the traditional medium of cooking is the eastern parts of the country. Indian curries are mostly
prepared with vegetable oil. The use of vanaspati ghee is popularly used to make sweets in
India.

Caste system
The word caste is derived from the term 'casba'. It depicts a ranking system of human groups
based on hereditary and occupation. The traditional Caste system in India is a rigid mode to
compartmentalize society. The Indian caste system is highly complex. Its functionality in
Indian society is highly surprising because it has many drawbacks. The rigid structure of the
caste system in India has abided through centuries.
Religion and caste also plays a major role in giving names to children. Many upper caste
Indians use ancestral village names, honorifics, occupations, titles, caste derivatives as their
family names. Indian names are also sometimes influenced by region or the place an
individual belongs to. Most people in India are able to identify the caste of a person through
his or her name and surname.
In India, caste system comprises closed groups, whose members are severely obliged to
restrain themselves to certain hereditary occupations. Particular castes are allowed to marry
and socialize only within their own groups. In India an Individuals social status is gauged by
his birth. This also serves to determine his caste. Nowhere in the world is caste exalted to
such a degree as in India.
The Indian word for caste is ‘jati’. Thousands of ‘jatis’ are strewn all over India. Each jati has
its own governance, customs, traditions, religion, rules and style of living. The ancients
divided Indian society in four groups-namely
• Brahmans who came from the priestly group of learning,
• Shatriyas who were the warrior and ruling section of society,
• Vaishyas who were businessmen, traders and farmers;
• Shudras who comprised of laborers and humble peasants.
• The untouchable or Panchamas were placed below the category of Shudras.
The rigid hierarchy of the Indian caste system has been severely criticized by individuals with
a humanitarian vision from India and outside India. Many Christian missionaries and Indian
led many crusades against discriminations based on caste in Indian society.
The caste system is still very much prevalent in India and the effects of caste system in
modern India can be seen in the form of quota systems, reservations, marriages etc.
The government of India has decided to issue job quotas to the less privileged castes and the
so called backward classes. Caste based reservations in India have ignited the communal
fire in a different way. Caste based positive reservations were designed to reverse the
discriminations based on caste.
Inter caste marriages have served to abate the rigidity of caste culture in Indian society.
Caste based violence and caste politics has opened the eyes of many people to the dangers
of caste practices in modern India.
There are multiple effects of caste system in modern India. Metropolitan India has started
walking away from the rigidity of the Indian caste system. This is the result of co mingling with
other communities, higher education, globalization and economic growth.
Scheduled castes and tribes are also a part of the population of India. Scheduled castes
amount to16.2% and scheduled tribes amount to 8.2% as per the 2001 Census. There are
reservations for these special category people as they belong to the backward class and off
late the increase in this quota has created a lot of controversy in the country.

Religion
The four religions born in India - Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and
Sikhism, are followed by 25% of the world's population
Jainism and Buddhism were founded in India in 600BC and 500BC respectively
Over 80% of Indians practice Hinduism
There are 300,000 active mosques in India, more than in
any other country, including the Muslim world
India also has one of the world's largest Muslim
populations amounting to 120 billion
Jews and Christians have lived continuously in India
since 200BC and 52AD respectively
The oldest European church and synagogue in India are in
the city of Cochin, they were built in 1503 and 1568 respectively
The largest religious building in the world is Angkor Wat, a Hindu Temple in
Cambodia built at the end of the 11th century
The Vishnu Temple in the city of Tirupathi built in the 10th century, is the world's
largest religious pilgrimage destination. Larger than either Rome or Mecca,
an average of 30,000 visitors donate $6 million (US) to the temple everyday
Sikhism originated in the Holy city of Amritsar in Punjab. Famous for housing
the Golden Temple, the city was founded in 1577
India provides safety for more than 300,000 refugees originally from Sri Lanka,
Tibet, Bhutan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh, who escaped to flee religious
and political persecution
His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, the exiled spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhists,
runs his government in exile from Dharmashala in northern India
Islam is India's and the world's second largest religion
India is the birthplace of many religions like Buddhism, Hinduism, Jainism and Sikhism.
These religions have extended to acquire the status of world religion today. Many nations
invaded India from time to time to influence its culture. Indian life was variously affected by
Persians, Turkish, Arabian and British influences from time to time. This combined with the
rich traditions of ancient Indian culture has served to change the face of the world in some
ways.
Religion with its rituals and philosophy forms the life style of any average individual born and
brought up in India. Popular faiths like Jainism and Buddhism which have originated in India
are practiced all over the world today.
Communal clashes in India do occur but more often than not they are based vested political
interests than genuine religious differences. The freedom to practice any religion of his
choice is a fundamental right of every Indian citizen. There is an ongoing attempt to modify
the Indian constitution in order to establish a uniform civil code for all Indian citizens. This
concept is still in the process of taking manifestation as a directive principal. Religious
communities follow their own personal codes for now. However Indian law is the same for
people of all communities in India.
All religions of India have a wide reach and are recognized for their strength all over the
globe. Indian society follows a rigid caste system. Indian people normally marry within their
own communities and castes. Most Indians have a tolerant attitude towards other castes and
communities.

Clothes
Indian clothing for women is something that allures almost everyone’s attention. It is one of
the most sensuous yet serene clothing throughout the globe. The sari that is worn by Indian
women is considered to be one of the most elegant and beautiful dresses in the world. A sari
is a long piece of cloth that is wrapped by in different styles. The salwar kameez is also
another dress form popular for females. It consists of a loose trouser and a long loose shirt
with a dupataa around it. The clothing from India especially the Indian drapes and folds have
captured the glamorous platform of global fashion with its enchanting detailing and concepts
in recent years.
Some women also cover their heads with a cloth known as the ‘odhani’ which is quite similar
to the ‘dupataa’. Tribal women in India wear unique costumes, which are woven, styled
and colored in their own traditional style. India women’s clothing might
change with states however; its essence and its beauty will be seen all
across the country. Indian women are also known for their heavy
ornamentation.
Like men across the globe, most Indian men wear pants and shirts.
Rural men may be found in something called as a ‘dhoti’ which is a
cloth draped around the legs. A long loose shirt which is known as a
‘kurta’ is also wore by some Indian men.
Language
• English enjoys associate status but is the most important language for national, political,
and commercial communication;
• Hindi is the national language and primary tongue of 40% of the people (mostly used in
Northern India)
• There are 14 other official languages: Bengali, Telugu, Marathi, Tamil, Urdu, Gujarati,
Malayalam, Kannada, Oriya, Punjabi, Assamese, Kashmiri, Sindhi, and Sanskrit;
• Hindustani is a popular variant of Hindi/Urdu spoken widely throughout northern India but
is not an official language
• Percentage primary language Hindi 40%, Bengali 8.1%, Telugu 7.2%, Marathi 7%, Tamil
5.9%, Urdu 5%, Gujarati 4.5%, Kannada 3.7%, Malayalam 3.2%, Oriya 3.2%, Punjabi
2.8%, Assamese 1.3%, Maithili 1.2%, other 5.9%
• There are more than two hundred spoken regional languages in India.
Literacy (age 15 and over can read and write)
- total population: 59.5%, male: 70.2%, female: 48.3% (2003 est.)

Indian national pride
Indian people are fiercely proud to be Indian,
especially proud of their culture and heritage.
The national flag of India, which is treated with reverence, is in tricolor having three horizontal
stripes with deep saffron at the top, white in the middle and dark green at the bottom in equal
proportions. The ratio of the width to the length of the flag is two is to three. In the centre of
the white band, there is a wheel in navy blue to indicate what is known as the Dharma
Chakra which is considered to be the wheel of law in the Sarnath Lion Capital. This chakra is
a Buddhist symbol dating back to 200th century BC. It has 24 spokes in it which stands as a
metaphor of life in movement and death in stagnation. The saffron color stands for courage
and sacrifice; the white stands for purity and truth and the color green stands for faith and
fertility. It was on 22nd July 1947 that the design of the National Flag of India was adopted by
India's constituent assembly. The country flag of India symbolizes freedom. India’s first Prime
Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru called the flag a symbol of freedom for all people and not
just for the countrymen.
This is the symbolism, which is unfurled on all occasions of Indian flag hoisting, to fill the
hearts of Indians with patriotism. A national protocol is supposed to be observed while
displaying the national flag in India. The flag is supposed to be hoisted at sunrise and
lowered at sunset except in special circumstances. It is also prohibited to show the Indian
flag upside down and considered irreverent to keep the flag in a dirty and tattered mode.
When talking about the Indian Flag, it represents the hopes and aspirations of the people of
India. It is the symbol of national pride and patriotism. It is advised that the National Flag of
India shall be made of hand woven wool or cotton or silk or khadi bunting.
National Emblem -
National Animal -
National Bird -
National Flower -
National Tree -
National Fruit -
National Currency -
National Sport -
Replica of the Lion Capital of Sarnath
Tiger (Panthera tigris)
Peacock
Lotus
Banyan
Mango
Rupee (One Rupee=100 paise)
Field Hockey
(

Indian Art
India is known for its rich Indian paintings like the Madhubani painting, Mysore painting, Warli
art, Tanjore paintings, etc. However the modern Indian painting seems to be influenced from
the western art. Indian art has developed through specific stages and each stage marks
peculiar characteristics. The wide scope of the Indian art mingles with the cultural history,
religions and philosophies. Indian art can be classified into specific periods each reflecting
certain religious, political and cultural developments: Hinduism and Buddhism art of the
ancient period (3500BC-present), Islamic art (712-1757 AD), The colonial period art (1757-
1947), Independence and the postcolonial period art, Modern and Postmodern art in India.
Each period is unique in its art, literature and architecture and other craft. Art in India rises to
the peak of achieving the ideals of one philosophy in a visual form. Indian artists are known
for their innovation and creation. They master the process of visualizing abstract ideas and
the culture of the land.
Mysore painting
Since India is known for its unity in diversity, the same can be said for Indian art as well.
Each religion provides its own nuances, metaphors and rich associations. They are combined
with wild imaginations, humanization of peculiar Gods and characterization of people. The
purpose and ideal of a traditional Indian life are exhaustively interpreted on canvas art prints.
Art in ancient India began with rock paintings done by primitive men and women in their
caves. When historians studied the remains of Harappa and Mohenjodaro, they formed an
impression of a highly accomplished and intelligent culture. A heightened sense of aesthetic
awareness and accomplished craftsmanship was visible in the architecture and artifacts
found during excavations on these sites. The Harappan seals also revealed a detailed
understanding of human and animal anatomy on deep study. The tradition of symbolism in
Indian art was also clear from them.
Ancient India figure sculpture art form was first discovered in the famous
figure of a dancing girl. This piece of sculpture was recovered through
excavations in Mohenjodaro. The use of symbols in art forms was popular
at this time. Symbols were rampantly used as tools of artistic expression to
visualize abstract thought and spiritual philosophy.
Ancient Indian temple architecture, murals, sculptures and paintings are
also treasures, which mirror the nature of ancient Indian art. Fire altars,
which were erected in temples during the Vedic period, are considered
brilliant, in terms of mathematical and astronomical demonstrations. They
depict a high degree of intellectual knowledge and aesthetic sensitivity at
the same time

Media
Indian broadcasting has flourished since state TV's monopoly
was broken in 1992. The array of channels is still growing.
Billion-dollar Bollywood film industry produces hundreds of
movies each year.
New Indian songs are more influenced from the western style of music and more often than
not, they are a good blend of Indian as well as western music.
These types of songs are categorized as ‘indi-pop’ songs and
they sure belong to a specific genre. One can notice that the
latest Hindi Bollywood songs are composed from a multiple
tradition of classical, folk, and pop instrumental music culture.
Private cable and satellite stations command large audiences. News programmes often
outperform entertainment shows. Many 24-hour news channels are up and running and more
are planned.
The cable TV market is one of the world's largest.
Since they were given the green light in 2000, music-based FM radio stations have
proliferated in the cities. But only public All India Radio can broadcast news.
Established newspapers are slugging it out with new rivals
India's press is lively. Driven by a growing middle class, newspaper circulation has risen and
new titles compete with established
dailies.
Paris-based Reporters Without Borders says press freedom is threatened by "the violence of
political parties as well as religious and separatist groups" (India - Annual report 2008).
India facts at a glance

Communications
With the increasing use of mobile phones in India, the number of mobile phones as a
percentage of population makes India the second largest in the world. India is already one of
the fastest growing telecom networks in the world. This is due to its high population and fast
rate of growth.
Rural India is still inadequate in terms of connectivity for efficient
telecommunication. BSNL is one of the main public sector
telecommunication companies in India. It has been rated one of the 10 largest in
the world. AirTel, AirCel, Spice, Hutch, BPL, MTNL, Bharti Telecom, Reliance and
Tata Indicom are the other active telecommunication operators in India.
India’s mobile phone industry is one of the fastest growing industries in the world. Mobile
phones in India were formally launched in august 1995. For the first few years after the
advent of mobile phones, monthly subscriptions were added to the tune of 0.05 to 0.1 million
in India.
Reduced call and roaming rates, price reduction in the cost of the handset, attractive
schemes that benefit the customer etc are all being used so that more number of people go
mobile. Users are also enjoying a host of other services that the network companies are
providing. Mobile phone companies are manufacturing cheap handsets and the network
service provider are offering life-time prepaid services to millions of low-income earners so
that they can expand their business in the market and maintain their rate of growth
Telephone main lines in use = 37.54 million (2009) - country in comparison to the world -: 7 th
Internet users = 81 million (2008) - country in comparison to the world - 4 th
Bharti AirTel in India state that they crossed 300 million subscribers mark at the end of
September 2009. That number is pretty close to the population of United States.
World
Ranking
Country or
region
Number of
mobile phones
Population
% of
population
Last
updated
— The World 4,100,000,000 6,768,179,187 60.6 Dec 2008
1 st People's Republic
of China
720,000,000 1,324,190,000 54.0 Aug 2009
2 nd India 509,726,000 1,170,250,000 43.31 Sep 2009
3 rd United States 271,000,000 306,694,000 88.04 Dec. 2008

Education
The world's first university was established in Takshila in 700 BC. More than 10,500
students from all over the world studied more than 60 subjects. The University of
Nalanda built in the 4th century was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India
in the field of education.
Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to mankind. The Father of
Medicine, Charaka, consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
Through university education individuals can pursue several professions like
Medicine, Law, Engineering, Teaching, Arts and Humanities. Most Indian
universities have good infrastructure for research, which is an integral part of
higher education. The government of India supports many Indian universities.
There are also many private and foreign universities in India.
Indian Colleges offer various courses in liberal arts and sciences. All states in India have
several colleges for higher education. Engineering colleges offer engineering studies at the
degree level. Engineering courses in India last from four to five years, depending on the
university and college of affiliation.
Medical colleges vary widely, ranging from singular colleges which train doctors to
conglomerates which train students in other aspects of medical care. The Medical Council of
India has to confer recognition on institutes for them to be credible as Medical Colleges.
There are many colleges offering MBA in India. With the boom in the private and the
business sector, more and more MBA colleges are being established in India with foreign
college’s affiliation.
This boom in education facilities has helped Indian children to receive quality education and
that its benefit will can be visible in the long run. More schools surely mean more
opportunities and choices for India’s children and parents.
Education spending
World ranking Country
Education spending
(% of total government expenditure)
= 65 Portugal
12.7%
= 65th India
12.7%
= 65 Finland
12.7%
# 69 Congo, Republic of the 12.6%
# 70 Dominican Republic 12.4%
= 71 Jamaica
12.3%
= 71 Lebanon
12.3%
# 73 Brazil
12%
# 74 Georgia
11.8%
= 75 United Kingdom 11.5%

Healthcare
Healthcare is an important sector in any country. In India, healthcare is the responsibility of
individual states and needs considerable attention. Raising the level of nutrition amongst the
people, improvement in the public health, tackling health problems, proper vaccination etc
are some of the health concerns that the administration needs to take care of. There is a
National Health Policy too which is endorsed by Parliament. However critics say that this
policy fails to achieve its stated goals. Health problems such as failure to integrate health
services with wider economic and social development, the lack of nutritional support and
sanitation, and the poor participatory involvement at the local level still persist.
The Indian government has been setting up goals and strategies to improve healthcare
through its five year plans. The government has also been sponsoring health programs such
as the polio eradication project which has been quite successful in the country. The Central
Council of Health and Family Welfare is the centre state consultation for healthcare in India. It
is the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare which provides administrative and technical
services for the healthcare segment and also manages medical education.
Indian health care policies have not fully succeeded to adapt health-serving measures to
issues of wider socio-economic developments. Healthcare in India is constantly plagued by
the menace of poverty, illiteracy, high population growth rate and corruption, which in turn
leads to poor sanitation, exploitation, lack of nutritional awareness and poor local
participation.

Geography
Location:
Area:
Area - comparative:
Land boundaries:
Coastline:
Climate:
Terrain:
Elevation extremes:
Natural resources:
Southern Asia, bordering the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal,
between Burma and Pakistan
total: 3,287,590 sq km (8 th largest in world)
land: 2,973,190 sq km
water: 314,400 sq km
slightly more than one-third the size of the US
total: 14,103 km
border countries: Bangladesh 4,053 km, Bhutan 605 km, Burma 1,463
km, China 3,380 km, Nepal 1,690 km, Pakistan 2,912 km
7,516.6 km encompassing the mainland, Lakshadweep Islands, and
the Andaman & Nicobar Islands
Can be broadly be classified as a tropical monsoon one. But, in spite
of much of the northern part of India lying beyond the tropical zone,
the entire country has a tropical climate marked by relatively high
temperatures and dry winters. There are four seasons - winter
(December-February), summer (March-June), south-west monsoon
season (June-September), and post-monsoon season (October-
November).
upland plain (Deccan Plateau) in south, flat to rolling plain along the
Ganges, deserts in west, Himalayas in north
lowest point: Indian Ocean 0 m
highest point: Kanchenjunga 8,598 m
coal (fourth-largest reserves in the world), iron ore, manganese, mica,
bauxite, titanium ore, chromite, natural gas, diamonds, petroleum,
limestone, arable land
Land use: arable land: 54.35%
permanent crops: 2.66%
other: 42.99% (1998 est.)
Irrigated land:
Natural hazards:
590,000 sq km (1998 est.)
droughts; flash floods, as well as widespread and destructive flooding
from monsoonal rains; severe thunderstorms; earthquakes
Environment - issues: deforestation; soil erosion; overgrazing; desertification; air pollution
from industrial effluents and vehicle emissions; water pollution from
raw sewage and runoff of agricultural pesticides; tap water is not
potable throughout the country; huge and growing population is
overstraining natural resources
Environment - international agreements:
party to: Antarctic-Environmental Protocol, Antarctic-Marine Living
Resources, Antarctic Treaty, Biodiversity, Climate Change,
Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification,
Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship
Pollution, Tropical Timber preservation, Wetlands, Whaling

Indian Politics
The world's largest democracy and second most populous country emerged as a major
power in the 1990s. It is militarily strong, has a big cultural influence and a fast-growing and
powerful economy.
With an electorate of 714 million (larger than the European Union and United States
combined), it was the largest democratic election in the world to date. 344 million people
voted in 2009 election - Congress-led alliance of PM Manmohan Singh won second mandate
President: Pratibha Patil
Pratibha Patil became India's first female president in July 2007,
after being voted into office by members of state assemblies and
the national parliament.
Mrs Patil, the candidate of the ruling Congress Party, was
previously the little-known governor of the northwestern desert state
of Rajasthan. She drew criticism during the campaign over scandals
involving family members, and over controversial remarks.
India has had several women in powerful positions - most notably
Indira Gandhi, one of the world's first female prime ministers in
1966 - but activists complain that women still face widespread
discrimination.
Indian presidents have few actual powers, but they can decide
which party or individual should form the central government after
general elections.
Prime minister: Manmohan Singh
Elected 16 April 2009 and 13 May 2009.
The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) led by the Indian National
Congress formed the government after obtaining the majority of seats
based on strong results in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala, Maharashtra,
Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Manmohan
Singh became the first prime minister since Jawaharlal Nehru in 1962
to be re-elected after completing a full five-year term. The emphatic
defeat of the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
confounded predictions of a close contest.
Mr Singh said his priorities were to reduce poverty and to
plough on with economic reforms. He stated a desire for friendly
relations with India's neighbours, especially Pakistan.
During his first year in office he held together a coalition which
included communist allies and ministers accused of corruption.
He continued to pursue market-friendly economic policies and
oversaw the introduction of nuclear non-proliferation legislation.
But his promised "New Deal" for rural India - an attempt to raise the poorest citizens out of
poverty - has still to bear fruit.

Military
Military branches:
Army, Navy (includes naval air arm), Air Force (Bharatiya Vayu Sena),
Coast Guard (2009)
Military service age and obligation:
16 years of age for voluntary military service; no conscription; women
officers allowed in noncombat roles only (2008)
Transnational Issues
Since China and India launched a security and foreign policy dialogue in 2005, consolidated
discussions related to the dispute over most of their rugged, militarized boundary, regional
nuclear proliferation, Indian claims that China transferred missiles to Pakistan, and other
matters continue; various talks and confidence-building measures have cautiously begun to
defuse tensions over Kashmir, particularly since the October 2005 earthquake in the region;
Kashmir nevertheless remains the site of the world's largest and most militarized territorial
dispute with portions under the de facto administration of China (Aksai Chin), India (Jammu
and Kashmir), and Pakistan (Azad Kashmir and Northern Areas); India and Pakistan have
maintained the 2004 cease fire in Kashmir and initiated discussions on defusing the armed
stand-off in the Siachen glacier region;
Pakistan protests India's fencing the highly militarized Line of Control and construction of the
Baglihar Dam on the Chenab River in Jammu and Kashmir, which is part of the larger dispute
on water sharing of the Indus River and its tributaries; UN Military Observer Group in India
and Pakistan (UNMOGIP) has maintained a small group of peacekeepers since 1949; India
does not recognize Pakistan's ceding historic Kashmir lands to China in 1964; to defuse
tensions and prepare for discussions on a maritime boundary, India and Pakistan seek
technical resolution of the disputed boundary in Sir Creek estuary at the mouth of the Rann of
Kutch in the Arabian Sea; Pakistani maps continue to show its Junagadh claim in Indian
Gujarat State; discussions with Bangladesh remain stalled to delimit a small section of river
boundary, to exchange territory for 5
Bangladeshi exclaves in India and Indian exclaves in Bangladesh, to allocate divided
villages, and to stop illegal cross-border trade, migration, violence, and transit of terrorists
through the porous border; Bangladesh protests India's attempts to fence off high-traffic
sections of the border; dispute with Bangladesh over New Moore/South Talpatty/Purbasha
Island in the Bay of Bengal deters maritime boundary delimitation;
India seeks cooperation from Bhutan and Burma to keep Indian Nagaland and Assam
separatists from hiding in remote areas along the borders;
Joint Border Committee with Nepal continues to examine contested boundary sections,
including the 400 square kilometer dispute over the source of the Kalapani River; India
maintains a strict border regime to keep out Maoist insurgents and control illegal cross-border
activities from Nepal

Indian Economy
India's economy encompasses traditional village farming, modern agriculture, handicrafts, a
wide range of modern industries, and a multitude of support services. Overpopulation
severely handicaps the economy and about a quarter of the population is too poor to be able
to afford an adequate diet. Government controls have been reduced on imports and foreign
investment, and privatization of domestic output has proceeded slowly. The economy has
posted an excellent average growth rate of 6% since 1990, reducing poverty by about 10
percentage points. India has large numbers of well-educated people skilled in the English
language; India is a major exporter of software services and software workers. The severe
monsoon of mid-2002 has reduced agricultural output by perhaps 3%. The World Bank and
others worry about the continuing public-sector budget deficit, running at approximately 10%
of GDP in 1997-2002.
The economy of India is the twelfth largest economy in the world by market exchange rates
and the fourth largest by purchasing power parity (PPP).
India was under social democratic-based policies from 1947 to 1991. The economy was
characterised by extensive regulation, protectionism, and public ownership, leading to
pervasive corruption and slow growth. Since 1991, continuing economic liberalisation has
moved the economy towards a market-based system. A revival of economic reforms and
better economic policy in 2000s accelerated India's economic growth rate. By 2008, India had
established itself as the world's second-fastest growing major economy. However, the year
2009 saw a significant slowdown in India's official GDP growth rate to 6.1% as well as the
return of a large projected fiscal deficit of 10.3% of GDP which would be among the highest
in the world.
India's large service industry accounts for 54% of the country's GDP while the industrial and
agricultural sector contribute 29% and 17% respectively. Agriculture is the predominant
occupation in India, accounting for about 60% of employment. The service sector makes up a
further 28%, and industrial sector around 12%. The labour force totals half a billion workers.
Major agricultural products include rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane,
potatoes, cattle, water buffalo, sheep, goats, poultry and fish. Major industries include
textiles, chemicals, food processing, steel, transportation equipment, cement, mining,
petroleum, machinery, information technology enabled services and software.
Agriculture
• India is the largest producer of cashew nuts, coconuts, tea, ginger, milk, turmeric etc.
India has almost a 10% share in the world fruit production and it ranks first in the
production of banana.
Agriculture is not only the dominant occupations of the people of India but is also one of the
most important economic sectors for the country. Almost two-thirds of the working population
of India is dependent on agriculture for its livelihood.
Almost two-thirds of the working population of India is dependent on agriculture for its
livelihood. As much as 43% of the Indian land area is used for agricultural activities. Even
though there may be a steady decline of contribution of agriculture in the GDP of India due to
industrialization and other reasons, it still plays a significant role in the socio-economic
development of India. The concept of sustainable agriculture in India was based on
thousands of years of farming with the specific knowledge of climatic conditions. However
with the advent of British, it was in a shambles. But with green revolution and other measures
to increase production, India did it again.

Poverty
Poverty is still rampant in India. There are 22% of people living under the poverty line in India
according to a 2004-2005 survey by NSSO. The estimate was based on monthly
consumption of goods, daily wages, self employment and landless laborers. However
Economic growth and positive commercial developments have served to reduce poverty
substantially over the years in India.
The causes of poverty in India are its high population growth rate, agrarian form of economy,
primitive agricultural practices, illiteracy, ignorance, unemployment, underemployment, caste
based politics, urban rural divide, social iniquity and discrimination. One third of the Indian
population has emerged from the squalor of poverty in recent year’s, in spite of the above
factors.
The issue of urban poverty in India can be best expressed with the term pseudo urbanization.
Pseudo urbanization is a state when a city is unable to contain its populace in terms of
providing livelihood, housing and infrastructure. This is mainly due to the vast and continuous
immigration of the rural poor into urban areas. Immigration creates a shortage of resources in
the cities. Urban poverty in India and other third world countries has resulted in the formation
of large slums and shanty towns.
Indian government has launched various plans to eradicate poverty in India since 1950. For
the problem of poverty in India, solutions have been found with some success in recent
times. A very good example of this is the civic drive to make the poor self sufficient for the
three basic requirements of food, clothing and shelter. The most successful part of the
scheme has been food rationing, which has made food available to the poor at controlled
prices.
The eradication of poverty in India has still to go a long way. Poverty solutions in India are
expected to make better progress with many programs set up for change.
Globalization and privatization have also widened the rich poor gap with the rich becoming
richer and the poor becoming poorer. The constant rising inflation has made life tuff for the
weaker sections of the society and forces them into child labour. Though poverty reduction
programs have not failed, it still requires a lot of effort on the part of the government to make
the poor people self sufficient. It is not just important to help the needy people with money
and shelter, but the government needs to provide them with jobs so that they can have a
steady income. The figures for poverty show that the economic prosperity has indeed been in
India, but the distribution of wealth is not at all even.
http://www.factsaboutindia.org/