Overview
The world's largest democracy and second most populous country has emerged as a major power after a period of foreign rule and several decades during which its economy was virtually closed. A nuclear weapons state, it carried out tests in the 1970s and again in the 1990s in defiance of world opinion. However, India is still tackling huge social, economic and environmental problems.
Map
Facts
| Full name | Republic of India |
|---|---|
| Population: | 1.2 billion (UN, 2008) |
| Capital: | New Delhi |
| Most-populated city | Mumbai (Bombay) |
| Area: | 3.1 million sq km (1.2 million sq miles), excluding Indian-administered Kashmir (100,569 sq km/38,830 sq miles) |
| Major languages: | Hindi, English and at least 16 other official languages |
| Major religions: | Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism |
| Life expectancy: | 63 years (men), 66 years (women) (UN) |
| Monetary unit: | 1 Indian Rupee = 100 paise |
| Main exports: | Agricultural products, textile goods, gems and jewellery, software services and technology, engineering goods, chemicals, leather products |
| GNI per capita: | US $950 (World Bank, 2007) |
| Internet domain: | .in |
| International dialling code: | +91 |
Knowledge
-
Country profile: PakistanCountry profiles
The east wing - present-day Bangladesh - is on the Bay of Bengal bordering India and Burma. The west wing - present-day Pakistan - stretches from the Himalayas down to the Arabian Sea.
-
Religion & Ethics - History: Medieval PeriodReligion & Ethics
With the collapse of the Gupta empire, regional kingdoms developed which patronised different religions.
-
History - Tracing your Asian roots in BritainHistory
Most of the Asian migrants were Hindu, Muslim, Sikh, Buddhist Zoroastrian (Parsis or Parsees) and Christian (particularly Anglo Indians). The vast majority did not change their names legally.
-
Religion & Ethics - Theravada Buddhism: Theravada lifeReligion & Ethics
Theravada Buddhism is strongest in Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and Burma (Myanmar). The teachings were written down in Sri Lanka during the 1st century CE.
-
History - The Hidden Story of Partition and its LegaciesHistory
What issues were left unresolved at the time of India's partition in 1947, and how have they continued to plague both India and Pakistan since independence?
Coming Up
TV
-
Lost HorizonBBC Two, 23 Jul 09 13:00
Five people escaping from a revolution in India are kidnapped and taken by plane to an idyllic valley in Tibet where health, peace and longevity prevail.
Radio
-
Science In ActionBBC World Service, 19 Jul 09 04:32
ECLIPSE Jon Stewart looks forward to next weekâs Asian eclipse, likely to be the most observed in human history as it passes over India, China and Japan.
-
Give Me the MoonLITEBBC Radio 4, 20 Jul 09 21:00
Already, the USA, Europe, China, Japan and India have sent orbiters and there seems to be a rush, if not a race, back to the moon.
-
Open BookBBC Radio 4, 23 Jul 09 16:00
Mariella Frostrup talks to Aravind Adiga about his new novel Between the Assassinations, written before his first book, the Booker Prize -winning novel The White Tiger. The title refers to the period ...
News
News Articles
-
First Nano owner gets keys to car17 Jul 09 | South AsiaCritics say the Nano will add to India's already clogged up roads The four-door Nano has a 33bhp, 624cc engine at the rear. Tata says the Nano will be the least polluting car in India.
-
Profile: Mayawati Kumari16 Jul 09 | South AsiaRecognised as India's canniest grassroots politician, she has also been accused of autocratic ruthlessness and suffered scrutiny over her personal wealth.
-
Will history repeat itself in Afghanistan?15 Jul 09 | UK
This in turn caused widespread political disenfranchisement that manifested itself in violent rebellion. For most, the "cold, hard steel of the bayonet" enforced the authority of the British Empire.
-
Indian tiger park 'has no tigers'14 Jul 09 | South AsiaOne of India's main tiger parks, Panna National Park in the central state of Madhya Pradesh, admits it no longer has any tigers..
-
Eclipse fever in India village14 Jul 09 | South AsiaHowever, the maximum duration of the eclipse will be six minutes 38 seconds in the Pacific Ocean. In India, the eclipse will commence soon after sunrise.
News Clips
-
India puts Pakistan talks on hold17 Jul 09India's Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, has said his country will not start peace talks with Pakistan until the Mumbai attacks suspects are brought to justice.
Watch "India puts Pakistan talks on hold" now -
India leader's house set on fire16 Jul 09A senior Indian politician has had her house and car set on fire, after she criticised a rival politician over her policy of compensating rape victims. ...
Watch "India leader's house set on fire" now -
India leader arrested over comments16 Jul 09A senior leader of India's governing Congress party has been arrested after attacking Uttar Pradesh state's policy of compensating low-caste rape victims.
Watch "India leader arrested over comments" now -
Pet airline welcomes 'pawsengers'15 Jul 09A new airline is being launched in the United States, providing dedicated travel for cats and dogs. Rather than consigning their four-legged flyers to the cargo hold, as on many conventional planes, ...
Watch "Pet airline welcomes 'pawsengers'" now -
Indian fisherman stranded for six hours14 Jul 09Rescue teams spent six hours trying to save a stranded fisherman after heavy rains lashed western Maharashtra causing river levels to rise. ...
Watch "Indian fisherman stranded for six hours" now
Weather
Weather for New Delhi
| Friday | Saturday | Sunday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions |  heavy showers | heavy showers | heavy showers |
| Max Temperature | Max:37°C/99°F | Max:36°C/97°F | Max:37°C/99°F |
| Min Temperature | Min:28°C/82°F | Min:28°C/82°F | Min:28°C/82°F |
Sport
Sport Articles
-
Bangladesh aim for series victory16 Jul 09Wipa have asked Bharat Jagdeo, chairman of the Caricom heads of government, to intervene in the matter.
-
MCC calls for Test championship14 Jul 09We are hoping to stage one here next year against Bangladesh," said the MCC's head of cricket John Stephenson.
-
German Grand Prix as it happened12 Jul 09Fernando Alonso sets the fastest lap of the race in seventh. Then Massa, Rosberg, Barrichello, Button, Kovalainen, Fisichella. hang on, could Fisi deliver Force India's first point?
-
Webber charges to first F1 pole11 Jul 09Red Bull's Mark Webber qualifies ahead of Rubens Barrichello and Jenson Button at the German GP for his first Formula 1 pole.. Webber ...
-
German Grand Prix qualifying photos11 Jul 09
Action from Saturday's session at the Nurburgring. German Grand Prix qualifying photos Lewis Hamilton's McLaren is fastest in final ...
Sport Clips
-
India squad send message of unity to fans05 Jun 09India's squad for the World Twenty20 join captain Mahendra Dhoni to deliver a statement to their fans and dismiss reports of a rift within the team.
Watch "India squad send message of unity to fans" now -
1938 - England set record total of 90327 May 09Howard Marshall commentates on England reaching a remarkable 900 at the Oval. Not surprisingly, England's total of 903 for 7 declared remains the highest innings score in Ashes history. ...
Listento "1938 - England set record total of 903" now -
We'll keep fighting - Broad22 Dec 08England bowler Stuart Broad is pleased with the level of pressure his side's bowlers are managing to exert on India's batsmen in the second innings of the second Test in Mohali.
Listento "We'll keep fighting - Broad" now -
TMS Close of Play - First Test, day five15 Dec 08Test Match Special's Simon Mann and Vic Marks reflect on India's dramatic triumph over England in Chennai.
Watch "TMS Close of Play - First Test, day five" now -
TMS Close of Play - First Test, day four14 Dec 08Simon Mann and Vic Marks discuss the day's play in Chennai with the thoughts of England's Andrew Strauss and India's Virender Sehwag.
Watch "TMS Close of Play - First Test, day four" now
Spotted a problem with this page? Please report it here.
~RS~q~RS~-~RS~z~RS~14~RS~)
© MMIX