Official Name: Republic of India 

Independence Day 15 August 1947 

Geography 

Country in southern Asia, located on the subcontinent of India. 
 
It is bounded

•  On the north by Afghanistan, China, Nepal, and Bhutan 
•  On the east by Bangladesh, Myanmar  and the Bay of Bengal 
•  On the south by the Palk Strait and the Gulf of Mannar and the Indian Ocean
•  On the west by the Arabian Sea and Pakistan
 
India is divided into 26 states and 6 union territories

 Total Area: 3.3 million sq. km (1.3 million sq. mi.)

Capital New Delhi 

Other Major cities

• Mumbai
• Calcutta
• Chennai
• Bangalore
• Hyderabad 
• Ahmedabad 

 

Climate: Temperate to subtropical monsoon. 

Nationality:  Indians

Constitution: January 26, 1950

Population  one billion; urban 32%

Annual growth rate: 1.8%

Ethnic groups: 

• Indo-Aryan 72%
• Dravidian 25%
• Mongoloid 2% others

 Religions:

•  Hindu 81.3%
•  Muslim 12%
•  Christian 2.3%
•  Sikh 1.9%
•  Other groups including Buddhist, Jain, Parsi 2.5%.

Languages: 

• Hindi
• English
• 16 other official languages 

Literacy Rate Is 54%

Economy 

GDP: $390 billion.

Real growth rate (1998-99): 6.8%.

Per capita GDP: $420.

Natural Resources: 

•  Coal
•  Iron ore
•  Manganese
•  Mica
•  Bauxite
•  Chromite
•  Thorium
•  Limestone
•  Barite
•  Titanium ore
•  Diamonds crude oil

 
Agriculture (25% of GDP): Main Products

•  Wheat
•  Rice
•  Coarse grains
•  Oilseeds
•  Sugar
•  Cotton
•  Jute
•  Tea

Industry (29% of GDP): Products

•  Textiles
•  Jute
•  Processed food
•  Steel
•  Machinery
•  Transport equipment
•  Cement, aluminum
•  Fertilizers
•  Mining
•  Petroleum
•  Chemicals
•  Computer software 

 Exports Is $34 billion

•  Agricultural products
•  Engineering goods
•  Precious stones
•  Cotton apparel and fabrics
•  Handicrafts
•  Tea

Imports Is $42 billion 

•  Petroleum
•  Machinery and transport equipment
•  Edible oils
•  Fertilizer
•  Jewelry
•  Iron and steel