India ( i /ˈɪndiə/ ), officially the Republic of India (Bhārat Gaṇarājya), [12][c] is a country in South Asia. It is theseventh- largest country by area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the south, the Arabian Sea on the south-west, and the Bay of Bengal on the south-east, it shares land borders with Pakistan to the west; [d] China, Nepal, andBhutan to the north-east; and Burma (Myanmar) and Bangladesh to the east. In the Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity of Sri Lanka and the Maldives; in addition, India's Andaman and Nicobar Islands share a maritime border withThailand and Indonesia. Home to the ancient Indus Valley Civilisation and a region of historic trade routes and vast empires, the Indian subcontinent was identified with its commercial and cultural wealth for much of its long history. [13] Four religions—Hinduism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Sikhism—originated here, whereas Zoroastrianism and the Abrahamic religionsof Judaism, Christianity, and Islam arrived in the 1st millennium CE and also helped shape the region's diverse culture. Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of the British East India Company from the early 18th century and administered directly by the United Kingdom after the Indian Rebellion of 1857, India became an independent nation in 1947 after a struggle for independence that was marked by non-violent resistance led byMahatma Gandhi. The Indian economy is the world's seventh-largest by nominal GDP and third-largest by purchasing power parity(PPP). [9] Following market-based economic reforms in 1991, India became one of the fastest-growing major economies; it is considered a newly industrialised country. However, it continues to face the challenges of poverty,corruption, malnutrition, inadequate public healthcare, and terrorism. A nuclear weapons state and a regional power, it has the third-largest standing army in the world and ranks ninth in military expenditure among nations. India is
India(i/ndi/), officially theRepublic of India(Bhrat
Gaarjya),[12][c]is a country inSouth Asia. It is
theseventh-largestcountry by area, thesecond-most populouscountry
withover 1.2 billion people, and the most populousdemocracyin the
world. Bounded by theIndian Oceanon the south, theArabian Seaon the
south-west, and theBay of Bengalon the south-east, it shares land
borders withPakistanto the west;[d]China,Nepal, andBhutanto the
north-east; andBurma (Myanmar)andBangladeshto the east. In the
Indian Ocean, India is in the vicinity ofSri Lankaand theMaldives;
in addition, India'sAndaman and Nicobar Islandsshare a maritime
border withThailandandIndonesia.Home to the ancientIndus Valley
Civilisationand a region of historic trade routes and vast empires,
theIndian subcontinentwas identified with its commercial and
cultural wealth for much of its long history.[13]Four
religionsHinduism,Buddhism,Jainism, andSikhismoriginated here,
whereasZoroastrianismand theAbrahamic
religionsofJudaism,Christianity, andIslamarrived in the 1st
millenniumCEand also helped shape the region'sdiverse culture.
Gradually annexed by and brought under the administration of
theBritish East India Companyfrom the early 18th century
andadministered directly by the United Kingdomafter theIndian
Rebellion of 1857, India became an independent nation in 1947 after
astruggle for independencethat was marked bynon-violent
resistanceled byMahatma Gandhi.TheIndian economyis the
world'sseventh-largest by nominal GDPandthird-largest by purchasing
power parity(PPP).[9]Followingmarket-based economic reformsin 1991,
India became one of thefastest-growing major economies; it is
considered anewly industrialised country. However, it continues to
face the challenges ofpoverty,corruption,malnutrition,inadequate
public healthcare, andterrorism. Anuclear weapons stateand
aregional power, it has thethird-largest standing armyin the world
and ranksninth in military expenditureamong nations. India is
afederalconstitutional republicgoverned under aparliamentary
systemconsisting of29 states and 7 union territories. India is
apluralistic,multilingual, and a multi-ethnic society. It is also
home to a diversity ofwildlifein a variety ofprotected
habitats.Contents[hide] 1Etymology 2History 2.1Ancient India
2.2Medieval India 2.3Early modern India 2.4Modern India 3Geography
4Biodiversity 5Politics 5.1Government 5.2Subdivisions 6Foreign
relations and military 7Economy 8Demographics 9Culture 9.1Art and
architecture 9.2Literature 9.3Performing arts 9.4Motion pictures,
television 9.5Society 9.6Clothing 9.7Sports 10See also 11Notes
12References 13Bibliography 14External links
