INDIA is one of the oldest civilisations in the world with rich cultural heritage. India (Bharat), officially the Republic of India, lies in South Asia. It is the 7th largest country by geographical area, the second most populous country (estimated population of1.12 billion), and the most populous democracy in the world. It covers an area of 32, 87,263 sq km, extending from the snow-covered Himalayan heights to the tropical rain forests of the south. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the west, and the Bay of Bengal on the east, India has a coastline of 7517 kilometers. It borders Pakistan to the west; china, Nepal, and Bhutan to the north-east; and Bangladesh and Burma to the east.

The civilization of India is one of the oldest civilizations in the World, spanning more than 4000 years. The Indus Valley civilization, known to be one of the earliest civilizations, flourished on the Indian subcontinent from 2600 B.C. to c. 2000 B.C. Vasco da Gama, the Portuguese explorer, landed in India in 1498, and for the next 100 years the Portuguese had a virtual monopoly on trade with the subcontinent. By the 19th century, United Kingdom had assumed complete political control of virtually all Indian lands. In the 1920s and 1930, a nonviolent movement led Mahatma Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru helped India gain independence in 1947 but was partitioned with independent governments for the Dominion of India and the Dominion of Pakistan. India became a republic three years later on 26th January 1950. The constitution defines India as a sovereign, socialist, secular, democratic republic. The President of India is the Head of the State, while the Prime Minister is the Head of the Government, and exercises most executive powers.

India is a federal republic with twenty-eight states and seven Union Territories.

India is a land of diverse cultures with Hindu (81%), Islam (13%), Christian (2%) and Sikh (2%) as the main religions.

The current president of India is Pratibha Patil (2007) and the current Prime Minister is Dr. Manmohan Singh (2004). New Delhi is the capital of India.

Since its independence, India has developed and maintained cordial relationships with most nations. It has played an influential role in ASEAN, SAARC, and the WTO. India is a founding member and long time supporter of the United Nations.

India’s climate varies from tropical monsoon in south to temperate in north.

With a GDPgrowth rate of 9.4% in 2006-07, the economy is among the fastest growing in the world.

India has the world’s second largest labour force with 516.3 million people. Major agricultural crops include rice, wheat, oilseed, cotton, jute, tea, sugarcane, and potatoes. The agricultural sector accounts for 28% of GDP; the service and industrial sectors make up 54% and 18% respectively. Some of the major industries include automobiles, cement, chemicals, consumer electronics, food processing, machinery, mining, petroleum, pharmaceuticals, steel, transportation equipment, and textiles. India has also become a major exporter of software as well as financial, research, and technological services.

India has recently capitalised on its large pool of English-speaking, and trained professionals to establish itself as an important outsourcing destination for multinational corporations and a popular destination for medical tourism.

The people and their lifestyles, art and handicrafts go on to reflect the varied hues of Indian culture and heritage, which truly epitomises the nationality of the country. Indian cuisine is characterized by a wide variety of regional styles and sophisticated use of herbs and spice. Hindi is the national language while English enjoys associate status.

Since 1991, India has gradually opened up its markets through economic reforms and reduced government controls on foreign trade and investment. India has become one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

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