Overview
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. 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, 2009) |
| 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: | 62 years (men), 65 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 $1070 (World Bank, 2008) |
| Internet domain: | .in |
| International dialling code: | +91 |
Knowledge
-
Country profile: PakistanCountry profiles
The modern state was born out of the partition of the Indian sub-continent in 1947 and has faced both domestic political upheavals and regional confrontations. Created to meet the demands of Indian Muslims for their own homeland, Pakistan was originally in two parts.
-
History - British History in depth: The HiddenHistory
Accessibility links The Hidden Story of Partition and its Legacies By Dr Crispin Bates Last updated 2009-11-05 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? On this page Page options...
-
History - Tracing your Asian roots on the IndianHistory
Accessibility links Tracing your Asian roots on the Indian subcontinent By Abi Husainy Useful addresses in India North India Punjab State Archives Puralekh Bhavan Plot No.3, Sector-38 Chandigarh, India Gujarat State Archives, State Archives Building Sector-17, Opposite Rose Garden and New...
-
Radio 4 In Our Time - In Our time DebateRadio 4 In Our Time
I know one layer is trade activity, eg East India Company merchants sending out crewel-work (embroidery) hangings to be copied by Indian textile painters.
-
History : British History Timeline
This victory, and the enormous wealth of Bengal, are often seen as important factors in establishing eventual British control over all of India. April 1760 Tacky leads a slave rebellion in Jamaica Tacky's Revolt was the largest of many slave uprisings in the British West Indies in the 18th century,...
Coming Up
TV
-
The Year of Anish KapoorBBC One, 17 Nov 09 22:35
Kapoor talks candidly about his childhood in India, his early years as an artist and his creative process. An insight into one of Britain's most accomplished and popular sculptors. ...
Sport
-
County ins & outs16 Nov 09 | Counties
India) Overseas player 2010: TBC Ins: Stephen Moore (Worcestershire),...
-
Dravid steals Tendulkar limelight16 Nov 09 | Cricket: India 385-6 v Sri Lanka Coverage: Regular score updates plus daily reports on BBC Sport website Dravid became the fifth-highest run scorer in Test history India legend Sachin Tendulkar was overshadowed on day one of his 20th anniversary Test as Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni stole the...
-
Tendulkar reaches career landmark15 Nov 09 | CricketTendulkar has become a cricket icon since making his debut at the age of 16 First Test, Ahmedabad: India v Sri Lanka Venue: Sardar Patel Stadium Starts: Monday, 16 November at 0400 GMT Coverage: Regular score updates plus daily reports on BBC Sport website Tributes have poured in for India...
-
India & Sri Lanka in Bangladesh 201012 Nov 09 | Cricket5 India v Sri Lanka, Dhaka (d/n) 7 Bangladesh v India, Dhaka (d/n)
-
India-Australia match washed out11 Nov 09 | CricketThe pitch in Mumbai was too wet for any play The final one-day international between India and Australia was called off without a ball being bowled because of a waterlogged pitch in Mumbai. The pitch for the seventh match in the series at the DY Patil Stadium was still too wet following...
-
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 09In Test cricket, only Sri Lanka have bettered it - scoring 952 for 6 declared against India in 1997.
Listento " 1938 - England set record total of 903 " now -
We'll keep fighting - Broad22 Dec 08Interview - England's Stuart Broad England 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. Search for more TMS video from the India tour...
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. Search for more TMS video from the India tour...
Watch " TMS Close of Play - First Test, day four " now
Weather
Weather for New Delhi
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Conditions |  sunny | sunny | sunny |
| Max Temperature | Max:28°C/82°F | Max:27°C/81°F | Max:25°C/77°F |
| Min Temperature | Min:17°C/63°F | Min:15°C/59°F | Min:14°C/57°F |
News
-
Sachin Tendulkar: An incredible journey16 Nov 09 | South Asia
Sachin Tendulkar is one of the greatest cricketers of all time Tributes to Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar have poured in on the 20th anniversary of his Test debut. The 36-year-old started his 160th Test when India began a three-match series against Sri Lanka on Monday.
-
Indian heroine's letter unearthed16 Nov 09 | South AsiaThe Rani of Jhansi: an 'iconic talisman' in the independence struggle A previously undiscovered letter written by one of India's best known female rebels against British colonial rule has been found by academics. The letter was written by Lakshmibai, Rani of Jhansi, shortly before the Indian...
-
India train accident kills seven14 Nov 09At least seven people have been killed and dozens more were injured when an express train crashed near the Indian city of Jaipur. All 15 carriages of the Mandore Express, travelling between Jodhpur and Delhi, were derailed.
Watch " India train accident kills seven " now -
India train accident kills seven14 Nov 09 | South AsiaAt least seven people have been killed and dozens more were injured when an express train crashed near the Indian city of Jaipur. All 15 carriages of the Mandore Express, travelling between Jodhpur and Delhi, were derailed.
-
Obama seeks to reassure Asia allies12 Nov 09 | Americas...Chinese are everywhere, their workers are everywhere, from India to Burma to Iran". He added that the US was watching China take over economically in some parts of the world.
-
Gosport weight lifter takes title11 Nov 09Dean Bowring from Gosport in Hampshire has won the heavyweight class at the World Power Lifting Championships in India.
Watch " Gosport weight lifter takes title " now -
India invests in the gold rush10 Nov 09India's government recently made a landmark purchase of 200 tonnes from the International Monetary Fund - the single biggest gold purchase by a central bank in the past 30 years. It has now decided to purchase more gold reserves indicating a move away from the dollar.
Watch " India invests in the gold rush " now -
'Toxic' US ship banned in India10 Nov 09 | South AsiaThe ship arrived in Indian waters on 8 October India has blocked entry to a former US naval ship heading for break-up at a scrap yard on its west coast, citing environmental and pollution concerns. The ministry of environment and forests said it inspected Platinum-II and found the ship contained...
-
China protest over Dalai Lama visit09 Nov 09The Dalai Lama has held a mass audience with tens of thousands of devotees on a visit to a region near India's border with Tibet drawing protests from China. More than 30,000 people packed into grounds near the remote Tawang monastery in the northeast Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh to hear the...
Watch " China protest over Dalai Lama visit " now -
Dalai Lama defends India visit08 Nov 09The Dalai Lama has hit back at China over criticism of his return to a remote monastery in north-eastern India. Beijing is opposed to the week long visit to the state of Arunachal Pradesh and has accused the Tibetan spiritual leader of trying to harm its relations with India.
Watch " Dalai Lama defends India visit " now
Spotted a problem with this page? Please report it here.
~RS~q~RS~-~RS~z~RS~07~RS~)
)
© MMIX